Editor's pick Amangiri
9.8Canyon Point, Utah, USA
Resort designed around an ancient geological mesa formation
From $2,000 / night
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184 stays · 57 countries · 14 kinds of unusual
Hotels worth the trip.
Treehouses above the Arctic Circle, rooms under the sea, castles, caves and camps. Chosen for the story, compared for the price.
The shortlist
Stays people screenshot
Editor's pick 
Around Rangali IslandRangali Island, Maldives
Only two-story underwater suite in the world
From $8,000 / night
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Around UluruLongitude 131°
9.7Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
Direct sunrise views of Uluru from your private pavilion bed
From $1,500 / night
Check ratesunderwater rooms
Pemba Island
Tanzania
Pemba Island, Tanzania
The entire bedroom is submerged 4 meters below the Indian Ocean surface
From $1,500 / night
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Around UçhisarMuseum Hotel
9.6Uçhisar, Cappadocia, Turkey
30 unique antique-furnished cave suites
From $400 / night
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Editor's pick Kruger National Park, Limpopo, South Africa, South Africa
Exclusive private concession inside Kruger National Park
From $1,800 / night
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Around HanazonoZaborin
9.6Hanazono, Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Private outdoor onsen in every villa
From $800 / night
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Editor's pick Ashford Castle
9.5Cong, County Mayo, Ireland
800-year-old authentic Irish castle
From $500 / night
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Collection · 01
Treehouse Hotels
Suspended high above the forest floor, treehouse hotels transform a childhood dream into sophisticated adult luxury. From Scandinavia's minimalist glass-and-timber retreats to tropical jungle platforms in Costa Rica and Bali, these canopy-level escapes deliver an unmatched connection with nature wrapped in genuine comfort.
- 1 Soneva Kiri Koh Kood, Trat Province, Thailand from $1,500
- 2 Treehotel Harads, Swedish Lapland, Sweden from $300
- 3 Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses Kaikōura, New Zealand from $550
- 4 Nothofagus Hotel & Spa Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile from $400
- 5 Free Spirit Spheres Vancouver Island, Canada from $350
Collection · 02
Cave Hotels
Carved from volcanic tufa, soft sandstone, and ancient limestone, cave hotels place you inside the earth itself. Turkey's legendary Cappadocia leads the world in cave hotel excellence, but extraordinary rock-hewn retreats also await in Greece, Spain, Tunisia, and the American Southwest.
- 1 Museum Hotel Uçhisar, Cappadocia, Turkey from $400
- 2 Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita Matera, Italy from $300
- 3 Benesse House Naoshima Naoshima Island, Kagawa, Japan from $350
- 4 Cappadocia Cave Suites Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey from $180
- 5 Gamirasu Cave Hotel Ayvali, Cappadocia, Turkey from $180
Every kind of unusual
All 14 kinds Treehouse Hotels
16 stays · Sleep among the canopy, above it all
Cave Hotels
27 stays
Underwater Rooms
6 stays
Castle Hotels
48 stays
Bubble Hotels
7 stays
Floating Hotels
9 stays
Cliffside Hotels
11 stays
Desert Camps
9 stays
Ice Hotels
6 stays
Jungle Lodges
9 stays
Safari Lodges
14 stays
Overwater Bungalows
11 stays
Lighthouse Hotels
4 stays
By budget
Destinations
Where in the world?
- Europe 8 guides →
- Africa 13 guides →
- Asia 18 guides →
- North America 35 guides →
- South America 8 guides →
- Oceania 5 guides →
- Middle East 3 guides →
Looking for a specific country? Unusual hotels by country.
Latest guides
All guidesGuide · Feb 10, 2026
South America Niche Hotels: How to Get to the Atacama, Amazon & Cloud Forest
The Atacama desert lodges in Chile. The private Amazon rainforest reserve in Brazil's Mato Grosso. The glass-walled cloud forest lodge two hours from Quito. South America's most extraordinary places to stay are spread across a continent of 18 million square kilometres. This is the routing guide.
Guide · Jan 15, 2026
Africa Safari: Flights to Remote Lodges, Bush Transfers & What to Pack
The distance between the international flight and the safari camp is the part most travellers underestimate. Understanding the light aircraft connections, domestic flight routing, and lodge transfer logistics is what separates a smooth Africa trip from an exhausting one. This is the operational guide.
Guide · Dec 1, 2025
Japan: Getting to the Best Ryokans, Onsen Towns & Niche Stays by Rail
Japan has the world's finest rail network and some of the world's most extraordinary places to sleep. The Japan Rail Pass is the key that unlocks both. This guide covers the rail routes to the best ryokan destinations — from Hakone to Kyushu's onsen towns — and the unique stays that make each arrival worth the journey.
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Quick answers
What are the most unusual types of hotels in the world?
StayAtNiche covers 14 types of unusual stays: treehouse hotels, cave hotels, underwater rooms, castle hotels, bubble hotels, floating hotels, cliffside hotels, desert camps, ice hotels, jungle lodges, safari lodges, overwater bungalows, lighthouse hotels, train hotels.
Are unusual hotels more expensive than regular hotels?
Not always. Prices range from around $100 a night for simple cave rooms and glamping domes to $1,000+ for underwater suites and private-island villas. Each listing shows a typical nightly range; always check live rates for your dates.
When should I book a treehouse, ice or underwater hotel?
Book 6 to 12 months ahead for peak seasons. Ice hotels are seasonal (roughly December to April), aurora stays fill up early in winter, and small properties with only a handful of rooms often sell out first.
How does StayAtNiche make money?
We earn a commission when you book through some of our links, at no extra cost to you. Links are marked as sponsored and our scores are editorial. See our affiliate disclosure for the full list of partners.