The Rise of Glamping: Where Comfort Meets the Outdoors

Glamping, the fusion of "glamorous" and "camping," has evolved from a niche curiosity into a $3.5 billion global industry. The appeal is straightforward: immersion in nature without sacrificing comfort. No sleeping on the ground, no struggling with tent poles at midnight, no cold canned food. Instead, you get real beds, functioning bathrooms, curated decor, and often a level of luxury that rivals boutique hotels.

What has changed in recent years is the sheer variety and ambition of glamping properties worldwide. From geodesic domes perched on Scandinavian clifftops to treehouses wired with underfloor heating in the English countryside, the options now span every continent and every budget tier.

This guide covers 20 of the best glamping destinations in the world, organized by accommodation type, with specific properties, pricing, and practical details.

Safari Tents: Where Glamping Began

Safari-style tents represent the original glamping experience, rooted in the luxury camps of East Africa where early 20th-century explorers combined expedition life with silver service.

1. Angama Mara -- Maasai Mara, Kenya

Perched on the rim of the Great Rift Valley overlooking the Mara Triangle, Angama Mara is arguably the most dramatically positioned safari camp in Africa.

Accommodation: 30 tented suites with floor-to-ceiling glass fronts, king beds, copper bathtubs, and private decks
Price: From $1,100 per person per night (all-inclusive: meals, game drives, drinks)
Best time to visit: July through October for the Great Migration
What is included: Twice-daily game drives, all meals and drinks, laundry, Wi-Fi, photography studio access
Book through: Direct at angama.com or through luxury travel agents

The camp's location directly above the spot where the film "Out of Africa" was filmed gives every sunrise a cinematic quality. Hot air balloon rides over the Mara ($450 per person) are available as an add-on.

2. Sal Salis -- Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

A beachfront wilderness camp on the shores of the Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's largest fringing coral reefs.

Accommodation: 16 eco-luxe wilderness tents with hardwood floors, solar-powered fans, and ensuite composting toilets
Price: From $750 AUD ($500 USD) per person per night (all-inclusive)
Best time to visit: March through October (whale shark season: March-July)
What is included: Snorkeling gear, guided snorkeling trips, kayaks, bush walks, gourmet meals, drinks
Book through: Direct at salsalis.com.au

This is one of the few places on earth where you can swim with whale sharks directly from your campsite's beach. The camp operates entirely off-grid with solar power, and its environmental footprint is minimal.

3. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge -- Vancouver Island, Canada

Set in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Clayoquot Sound, this property combines Pacific Northwest wilderness with genuine luxury.

Accommodation: 25 white canvas tents on elevated wooden platforms with antique furnishings, wood stoves, and ensuite bathrooms
Price: From $2,000 CAD ($1,500 USD) per person per night (all-inclusive)
Best time to visit: May through September
What is included: All meals, drinks, guided activities (horseback riding, kayaking, bear watching, fishing, foraging)
Book through: Direct at wildretreat.com

The culinary program is exceptional. Chefs forage local ingredients daily, and meals rival top urban restaurants. Bear watching excursions along the Bedwell River run from mid-August through October.

4. Mahali Mzuri -- Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya

Sir Richard Branson's Kenyan safari camp occupies a private conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara.

Accommodation: 12 luxury tented suites with king beds, private verandas, copper bathtubs, and infinity pool access
Price: From $950 per person per night (all-inclusive)
Best time to visit: July through October
What is included: Game drives, bush walks, meals, house drinks, laundry
Book through: virginlimitededition.com

The private conservancy means far fewer vehicles at wildlife sightings compared to the public Mara reserve. Off-road driving is permitted, allowing closer approaches to wildlife.

Treehouses: Childhood Dreams, Adult Comfort

5. Treehotel -- Harads, Swedish Lapland

Seven architecturally distinct treehouses suspended in a boreal pine forest, each designed by a different Scandinavian architect.

Accommodation: Rooms include The Mirrorcube (a reflective glass box), The UFO (a flying saucer), The Bird's Nest (a massive nest structure), and The 7th Room (a stunning modern cabin)
Price: From $500-$1,200 per night depending on room
Best time to visit: December-March for Northern Lights; June-August for midnight sun
What is included: Breakfast; activities like Northern Lights tours, dog sledding, snowshoeing are available at extra cost
Book through: treehotel.se or through Booking.com

The Mirrorcube is nearly invisible against the forest canopy, reflecting the surrounding trees in its mirrored walls. The 7th Room, added most recently, features a net balcony suspended over the forest floor.

6. Chewton Glen Treehouse Suites -- Hampshire, England

These are not rustic treehouses. These are five-star suites elevated in the forest canopy of a legendary English country house hotel.

Accommodation: 14 treehouse suites with king beds, wood-burning stoves, freestanding bathtubs, private hot tubs, and full kitchenettes
Price: From $1,000 per night
Best time to visit: Year-round; autumn foliage is particularly stunning
What is included: Access to the hotel's spa, restaurant, and grounds; breakfast delivered via a hamper basket
Book through: chewtonglen.com

Breakfast arrives in a wicker basket via a zip-line to your treehouse deck. The spa at the main hotel offers treatments using local botanicals, and the surrounding New Forest National Park provides excellent walking and cycling trails.

7. Lion Sands Game Reserve Treehouses -- Sabi Sand, South Africa

Three open-air treehouses elevated above the African bush offer a completely open-to-the-elements sleeping experience.

Accommodation: Three treehouses (Chalkley, Tinyeleti, Kingston) with elevated platforms, luxury bedding, and lantern lighting. No walls.
Price: Included for guests staying at Lion Sands lodges (from $600 per person per night)
Best time to visit: May through September (dry season, better wildlife viewing)
What is included: Full board at the main lodge, game drives, treehouse overnight experience with sundowner drinks and dinner
Book through: lionsands.com or moreSafaris.com

You sleep under the stars with nothing between you and the African night sky. A ranger is stationed nearby for safety. The sounds of the bush -- hippos, hyenas, nightjars -- create an unforgettable audio landscape.

Geodesic Domes: Modern Design Meets Nature

8. EcoCamp Patagonia -- Torres del Paine, Chile

The world's first geodesic dome hotel, situated in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park.

Accommodation: 28 domes ranging from Standard (shared bathrooms) to Suite Domes (private bathrooms, wood stoves, panoramic windows)
Price: From $300 per night (Standard) to $800 per night (Suite)
Best time to visit: October through March (Patagonian summer)
What is included: Meals, guided treks, yoga sessions, and park access
Book through: ecocamp.travel

Suite Domes have transparent ceilings that allow you to stargaze from your bed. The camp runs on solar and hydroelectric power and composts all organic waste. Guided multi-day treks to the W Circuit and base of the Torres are the main activities.

9. Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel -- Valais, Switzerland

Geodesic pods set at 1,400 meters altitude in the Swiss Alps with views of the Dents du Midi mountain range.

Accommodation: 18 pods with wood stoves, private terraces, and ensuite bathrooms. Some pods have private hot tubs.
Price: From $400 CHF ($450 USD) per night
Best time to visit: December-March for skiing; June-September for hiking
What is included: Breakfast, access to the private ski slope and snowshoe trails (winter), hiking trails (summer)
Book through: whitepod.com

Each pod is heated entirely by a wood-burning stove, and the design minimizes environmental impact. In winter, the property operates its own small ski area with three runs, exclusively for guests.

10. Highlands Camp -- Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Eight geodesic domes set on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa's most spectacular wildlife destinations.

Accommodation: 8 dome tents with king beds, ensuite bathrooms, and heated floors
Price: From $1,200 per person per night (all-inclusive)
Best time to visit: June through October; February for calving season
What is included: All meals, drinks, crater floor game drives, guided bush walks, Empakaai Crater treks
Book through: asiliaafrica.com

The Ngorongoro Crater contains the highest density of wildlife in Africa. From the camp at 3,000 meters elevation, you descend 600 meters to the crater floor for game drives that routinely encounter lion prides, elephants, buffalo, flamingos, and the critically endangered black rhino.

Yurts: Nomadic Tradition Meets Modern Comfort

11. Longitude 131 -- Uluru, Australia

While technically luxury "tented pavilions" rather than traditional yurts, these structures draw from nomadic design principles and deserve inclusion.

Accommodation: 16 luxury tents with panoramic views of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta
Price: From $1,600 AUD ($1,100 USD) per person per night (all-inclusive)
Best time to visit: April through October (cooler, dry season)
What is included: All meals, drinks, guided cultural walks, sunrise and sunset viewing experiences, Sounds of Silence dinner
Book through: longitude131.com.au

Waking up to the sunrise illuminating Uluru from your bed is one of Australia's most iconic travel experiences. The Table of Dune dinner places you under the stars with a multi-course meal and astronomical storytelling.

12. Patagonia Camp -- Torres del Paine, Chile

18 luxury yurts overlooking Lake Toro with the Torres del Paine massif as a backdrop.

Accommodation: 18 yurts with king beds, wood stoves, private decks, and ensuite bathrooms
Price: From $600 per night (all-inclusive)
Best time to visit: October through March
What is included: All meals, guided excursions (hiking, kayaking, horseback riding), park transfers
Book through: patagoniacamp.com

The yurts are connected by elevated wooden walkways through native lenga forest. Each yurt has floor-to-ceiling windows facing the lake and mountains.

13. Canopy and Stars at The Yurt Farm -- Ceredigion, Wales

A collection of hand-crafted Mongolian yurts in the Welsh countryside.

Accommodation: 4 yurts sleeping 2-6 people, with wood burners, outdoor cooking areas, and communal bathhouse
Price: From $130 per night
Best time to visit: May through September
What is included: Wood, bedding, cooking equipment, fire pits
Book through: canopyandstars.co.uk

This represents glamping at a more accessible price point. The yurts are authentically constructed but fitted with real beds, sheepskin rugs, and fairy lights. The location in the Cambrian Mountains provides genuine remoteness and dark sky stargazing.

Airstreams and Vintage Trailers

14. AutoCamp -- Multiple Locations, USA

AutoCamp operates luxury Airstream trailer parks in some of America's most desirable outdoor destinations: Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Catskills, Russian River (Sonoma), and Cape Cod.

Accommodation: Polished aluminum Airstream trailers with memory foam beds, mid-century modern decor, Malin + Goetz toiletries, and Pendleton blankets. Luxury tents and cabins also available.
Price: From $200-$500 per night depending on location and season
Best time to visit: Varies by location; generally spring and fall for best weather and availability
What is included: Linens, towels, complimentary s'mores kits, fire pits, communal clubhouse
Book through: autocamp.com

The Yosemite location in Midpines is particularly well-positioned, just 30 minutes from the park entrance. The clubhouse serves as a social hub with locally sourced food and drink.

15. Vintages Trailer Resort -- Paso Robles, California

A curated collection of vintage trailers from the 1940s through 1970s, each individually restored and themed.

Accommodation: 17 trailers including a 1947 Spartan Manor, a 1959 Boles Aero, and a 1974 Airstream Sovereign
Price: From $175-$350 per night
Best time to visit: March through November (wine country harvest is September-October)
What is included: Linens, outdoor lounge areas, fire pit, swimming pool, continental breakfast on weekends
Book through: the-vintages.com

Paso Robles is one of California's premier wine regions, with over 200 wineries within a 30-minute drive. The resort's location on the Cass Vineyard property means you can walk to a tasting room.

Overwater and Floating Structures

16. Gili Lankanfushi -- North Male Atoll, Maldives

While technically a luxury resort, the overwater villas here exemplify glamping's spirit of sleeping surrounded by nature.

Accommodation: 45 overwater villas built entirely from sustainable materials. The Private Reserve is the largest overwater villa in the world.
Price: From $1,500 per night
Best time to visit: November through April
What is included: Breakfast, minibar, snorkeling gear, bicycles, Wi-Fi
Book through: gili-lankanfushi.com

The "no news, no shoes" philosophy encourages guests to disconnect. Glass floor panels in the villas reveal the marine life below. The coral reef accessible directly from the villa is home to reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles.

17. Arctic Bath -- Harads, Swedish Lapland

A floating hotel and spa in the Lule River, designed to resemble a bird's nest of logs.

Accommodation: 6 floating rooms and 6 land-based cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows, heated floors, and minimalist Scandinavian design
Price: From $500 per night
Best time to visit: December-March for Northern Lights; June-August for midnight sun
What is included: Breakfast, spa access (cold baths and saunas)
Book through: arcticbath.se

The cold bath experience is central to the concept. Guests alternate between the icy river water (temperatures hover around 4 degrees Celsius in winter) and the wood-fired sauna. In winter, the entire structure freezes into the river.

Unique and Unconventional

18. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort -- Finnish Lapland, Finland

The original glass igloo resort, offering panoramic views of the Northern Lights from a heated glass enclosure.

Accommodation: Glass igloos (2-4 person), log chalets, and snow igloos (yes, made of actual snow)
Price: From $500-$800 per night for glass igloos
Best time to visit: Late August through April for Northern Lights; December-March for snow activities
What is included: Breakfast; activities like reindeer safaris, husky rides, and ice fishing available at extra cost
Book through: kakslauttanen.fi

The thermal glass used in the igloos prevents condensation and maintains comfortable interior temperatures even when exterior conditions drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius. An aurora alarm system wakes you if the Northern Lights appear during the night.

19. Bubble Lodges -- Multiple Locations, France

Transparent inflatable bubbles placed in scenic locations throughout the French countryside.

Accommodation: Inflatable transparent domes with real beds, telescopes, and sometimes hot tubs. Privacy is maintained through strategic placement.
Price: From $150-$350 per night
Best time to visit: April through October
What is included: Bedding, breakfast, telescope, heating system
Book through: attraprevesbulle.com (Attrap'Reves) or bubbletree.fr

The concept is simple but captivating: fall asleep watching the stars through 360-degree transparent walls. Fresh air is circulated through a silent ventilation system that also keeps the bubble inflated. Properties near Marseille, in Burgundy, and in the Loire Valley are among the most popular.

20. Baumraum Treehouses -- Multiple Locations, Germany

Architect Andreas Wenning's studio designs minimalist, architecturally significant treehouses that serve as both art installations and accommodation.

Accommodation: Varies by location, but all feature clean-lined modern design elevated in mature trees
Price: From $200-$600 per night
Best time to visit: Year-round, depending on location
What is included: Varies by property
Book through: baumraum.de or through individual property websites

These are not whimsical children's treehouses. They are serious architecture suspended in the canopy. The Cliff Treehouse in the Harz Mountains and the Between Alder and Oak property near Bremen are standout examples.

Glamping Comparison by Type

Type	Price Range	Comfort Level	Nature Immersion	Best For
Safari Tents	$500-$2,000/night	Very High	High	Wildlife, Africa, romance
Treehouses	$130-$1,200/night	High	Very High	Families, couples, unique stays
Geodesic Domes	$300-$1,200/night	High	High	Mountains, stargazing, eco-travel
Yurts	$130-$1,100/night	Moderate-High	High	Budget glamping, cultural immersion
Airstreams	$175-$500/night	Moderate	Moderate	Road trip vibes, US national parks
Overwater	$500-$1,500+/night	Very High	High	Romance, marine life, tropical
Glass/Bubble	$150-$800/night	Moderate-High	Very High	Stargazing, Northern Lights, unique

Where to Book Glamping Experiences

Several platforms specialize in glamping accommodation:

Glamping Hub (glampinghub.com): The largest dedicated glamping platform with over 35,000 listings worldwide. Good filtering options by type, location, and amenity.
Hipcamp (hipcamp.com): Originally US-focused but expanding internationally. Strong for private land camping and glamping, especially on farms and ranches.
Under Canvas (undercanvas.com): Operates luxury tent camps near US national parks (Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Moab, Smoky Mountains, Acadia). Consistently high quality.
Canopy and Stars (canopyandstars.co.uk): Curated UK and European glamping properties with detailed editorial reviews.
Plum Guide (plumguide.com): While not glamping-specific, their vetting process often surfaces exceptional unique stays.
Airbnb: Search using filters for "unique stays," "treehouses," "yurts," or "tiny homes."
Booking.com: The "Glamping" category filter has expanded significantly and now includes thousands of properties.

What to Pack for a Glamping Trip

Glamping eliminates the need for most traditional camping gear, but a few items will enhance your experience:

Layers: Even luxury tents can get cool at night. Bring thermal base layers and a warm fleece.
Headlamp or flashlight: Pathways between structures are often unlit.
Insect repellent: You are outdoors. Bugs exist.
Power bank: Charging options in remote locations may be limited.
Binoculars: Essential for safari and wildlife-focused glamping.
Camera with low-light capability: Many glamping destinations offer extraordinary night skies.
Comfortable walking shoes: Terrain around glamping sites is often uneven.

Plan Your Glamping Adventure with TripGenie

Finding the perfect glamping property is only the beginning. You also need to plan transportation to often-remote locations, coordinate activities, and build in enough time to actually enjoy the experience without rushing. TripGenie can help you design a trip that combines glamping stays with nearby attractions, dining, and activities, all organized into a logical day-by-day itinerary that minimizes transit time and maximizes time outdoors.

Final Thoughts

Glamping has matured well beyond its early reputation as "camping for people who do not like camping." The best glamping properties today offer experiences that are genuinely impossible in conventional accommodation: sleeping in a glass igloo while the Northern Lights dance overhead, waking to the sound of elephants from your Kenyan tent, or watching the Milky Way from a transparent bubble in the French countryside.

The key is matching the experience to your priorities. If wildlife is your draw, African safari tents deliver. If architectural uniqueness matters most, treehouses and geodesic domes satisfy. If you want a budget-friendly introduction, yurts and Airstreams provide comfort at accessible price points.

Whatever your preference, the outdoors has never been more comfortable.

Best Glamping Destinations: 20 Luxury Outdoor Experiences Around the World