Who’d have thought it? You travel all the way to the Panamanian rain forest and it rains! Fortunately there’s no expense spared on Weird & Wonderful Hotels, and the production team remembered to pack their state-of-the-art, waterproof camera protector – aka a plastic sheet! With disaster averted, the crew were able to get some great (albeit slightly damp) footage of Canopy Tower Eco Lodge.

Our production team are off again, shooting even more fantastic examples of Weird & Wonderful Hotels.

Despite their camera equipment raising a few eyebrows at Tanzanian customs, the team managed to make it safely to Chole Mjini where they enjoyed a night in one of their fabulous tree houses. Nothing like waking up to the dawn chorus just a few feet from your bed!

Image courtesy of Anna Sulzmann

Chole Mjini is located 100 Km south of Zanzibar on the tiny island of Mafia. But don’t worry, you won’t be sleeping with the fishes here or waking up with a horses head in your bed!

Instead you’ll be roosting in one of seven rustic tree-houses, and enjoying a truly back-to-basics lifestyle. Shed your inhibitions (and clothes) in one of the open air showers, but leave your hairdryer at home because there’s no electricity here!

A you might expect from a tree house hotel, bird watching is excellent at Chole Mjini. You’ll also get the rare opportunity to observe the local population of giant Madagascan bats. No need to pack your garlic though, we’re told they’d rather nibble on fruit than your neck!

Image courtesy of Scurvy Dog Photography

A human-sized bird’s nest might sound like a flight of fancy, but at Treebones Resort it’s actually a reality!

The bird brain behind this idea is resident artist, Jayson Fann, whose giant woven nest gives visitors the chance to experience the ultimate in ‘extreme eco-sleep’. We’re not exactly sure what that means,  but the nest definitely offers a superb perch from which to admire the stunning scenery of Big Sur.

But if the thought of spending a night here ruffles your feathers, then we recommend one of the 16 Mongolian Yurts which make up the rest of the resort. You’ll be afforded a lot more privacy and shelter from the elements!

So, in a reversal of evolution, it’s back in the trees for you guys! Quirky sure is the order of the day in this very weird – but very wonderful – hotel!

Let’s head off to the west coast rainforest of Vancouver Island and let our spirits go free!

In the wonderful world of Free Spirit Spheres, your treetop home ensures there’s something for every adult. From relaxing to ‘twitching’ to getting that whole ‘treehouse’ thing out of your system!

Suspended between the trees, the spheres gently sway, transporting you into an altogether different dimension!  The experience of a lifetime!

Start your day with the sound of birdcalls at Canopy Tower, in the heart of Panama’s Soberanía National Park.

You may be on your holidays, but, for the wildlife that surrounds you, it’s business as usual!  The birds sing, the monkeys howl and the butterflies flutter by! And with your bedroom at treetop level, you are truly at one with nature.

While you breakfast with the birds, you can watch a ship cruise seamlessly through the Panama Canal – breathtaking!

Guten tag! Welcome to Germany’s Baumhaus Hotel.  Satisfy the ape-man in you and live among the treetops!

At any of Baumhaus’ off-beat locations, you can say goodbye to the formal and hello to the fun!  Cook yourself an off-the-wall meal in the cuisine of quaintness and lay your head down on a bunk with a view. 

In true German style there is also a beer-filled mini bar available to all guests. Bis später!

Image courtesy of Mialiv

In the Swedish city of Västerås, the city’s central park is the home of a surprising secret.  Look up and you will find the Woodpecker Hotel – a one-room hotel, situated in the branches of a 130-year-old oak tree.

To gain access, guests must make their way up a rope ladder, which can be pulled up if they fancy a bit of privacy.  And whilst the ladder may be wobbly, this isn’t the case for the hotel itself!  It is both stable and serene – providing an excellent view of the park as well as nearby Lake Mälaren.

The hotel is the brainchild of Swedish artist, Mikael Genberg, who is also the man behind Västerås’ Utter Inn, also seen right here on Weird and Wonderful Hotels.