Whether it’s seeing the Northern Lights or a thundering waterfall, witnessing the wonders of nature during your travels can make for the journey of a lifetime.
To make the experience all the more magical, spend the night in a spot with a spectacular front-row view of this spectacle of nature.
Here, we present seven retreats for nature lovers that guarantee breathtaking vistas, from a Hawaiian cabin to a contemporary hotel in Iceland.
They are all on the rental site’s site Coolstays. Scroll down to choose your favourite…
NORTHERN LIGHTS – THE ARCTIC HIDEAWAY, NORWAY
Check in to The Arctic Hideaway in Norway’s Fleinvaer Archipelago to witness the Northern Lights
If the idea of seeing the Northern Lights is a dream, then The Arctic Shelter in Norway, the place to lay your head is an experience “like no other,” according to Coolstays.
The retreat, consisting of a series of eco-friendly cabins, is located on Sorvaeret Island in the Fleinvaer Archipelago and is ‘surrounded by rugged mountains’.
The best time to see the Northern Lights, Coolstays reveals, is during the winter months, a time of year when guests can also enjoy “incredible views of the moon and stars.”
One of the cabins at the retreat — which was created by jazz musician and composer Havard Lund — houses a music studio, while another has a sauna, Coolstays says. Prices start at £173 ($222) per night for up to 10 guests.
METEOR SHOWERS – ROCK REACH HOUSE, CALIFORNIA
Watch “meteor shower dance across the desert” while staying at California’s Rock Reach House
California’s Joshua Tree National Park is “considered one of the best stargazing spots in the US, being so high above sea level and with little light pollution,” according to Coolstays.
To witness this starry sky for yourself, the rental site recommends checking in Rock Reach house just outside the national park where you can ‘watch meteor shower dance through the desert’ from the comfort of the property’s outdoor hot tub.
Billed as the “ultimate chill-out pad,” the two-bedroom abode also features a yoga platform, outdoor fireplace, and deck that’s “made for drinks under the stars and deep discussions late into the night.”
The house sleeps up to four people and prices range from £189 ($242) to £692 ($887) per night.
BLACK LAVA FIELDS – LAVA HOUSE, HAWAII
‘Anyone fascinated by volcanic activity’ should stay in Hawaii’s Lava Home rental, says Coolstays
The aptly named ‘Lava house‘ is located near the base of the Kilauea volcano on the Hawaiian island of Hawai’i.
Everyone fascinated by [volcanic] activity should consider a stay at this cozy, off-grid cabin,” says Coolstays.
Describing a stay at the property, the rental site continues: “Relax on your terrace or in your outdoor pool, which offers views of the volcano, the [North Pacific Ocean]and black lava fields as far as the eye can see.’
The cabin consists of three bedrooms and prices range from £262 ($336) to £407 ($522) per night.
HOT SPRINGS – THE RETREAT, ICELAND
The Retreat hotel is ‘right on the edge’ of Iceland’s most famous geothermal spa, the iconic Blue Lagoon
Coolstays notes that Iceland is famous for its thermal landscape, with visitors bathing in mineral-rich hot springs “warmed by ancient lava fissures below.”
The retreat hotel is ‘right on the edge’ of the country’s most famous geothermal spa, the iconic Blue Lagoon, giving guests the chance ‘to wake up and enjoy an early morning soak in the warming waters’.
The rental company adds: “You can also sit outside on your private balcony watching the steam rise from the spring or visit the sauna or massage room.”
Prices start at £1,200 ($1,538) per night for a double room at the contemporary hotel.
WATERFALLS – GRAN MELIA IGUAZU, ARGENTINA
Admire views of the Iguazu Falls with a stay at Gran Melia Iguazu in Argentina’s Iguazu National Park
Those who would like to see the largest waterfall system in the world, the Iguazu Falls, should consider staying at the Iguazu Falls Gran Melia Iguazureveals Coolstays.
Located in Argentina’s Iguazu National Park, the “beautiful” hotel offers views of the falls from multiple vantage points – which lie along the border of Argentina and Brazil.
Coolstays lists them, saying, “Guests can enjoy the amazing waterfall views from their deluxe room or suite, the infinity pool, or the fabulous on-site restaurants.”
It adds: ‘You can guarantee that a stay in this beautiful location will be an experience you will never forget.’ Prices range from £613 ($785) to £1,500 ($1,923) per night.
STARGAZE IN THE DESERT – WADI RUM BUBBLE LUXOTEL, JORDAN
Spend a night under the stars in Jordan’s amazing Wadi Rum Valley with a stay at the Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel
Jordan’s Wadi Rum Valley offers “one of the best stargazing experiences you can have,” according to Coolstays.
To experience it for yourself, the rental site proposes to spend ‘a night under the stars’ in the Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotelwhich is ‘in the heart’ of the desert desert.
Guests stay in ‘bubble’ pods that offer ‘comfortable beds, private terraces and large windows so you can enjoy the spectacular sunsets from the comfort of your own bed’.
Coolstays adds: ‘In addition to some outdoor seating, you also have your own sunken hot tub where you can relax and unwind in pure luxury under the stars.’ Prices start at £280 ($359) per night for a ‘bubble’ for two people.
LIGHTNING TOWER – MIRROR HOUSES, ITALY
This pair of holiday homes in Italy each have a ‘quirky reflective exterior’ that ‘provides quite a spectacle when lightning strikes’
Northern Italy sees some of the most frequent lightning in Europe, so anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of the giant sparks of electricity should stay in Mirror Houses in Bolzano’, says Coolstays.
Overlooking the mountains of the Dolomites, these two holiday homes each have a ‘quirky reflective exterior’ that ‘provides quite a spectacle when lightning strikes’.
The properties, designed by architect Peter Pichler, share a garden full of apple trees and a salt water swimming pool. Prices start at £1,175 ($1,506) per week.
Other homestay rental sites are available.
