🏨 Unusual hotels in the world: 13 options for a night in salt, ice and in a tree

A regular room with a TV and a buffet breakfast doesn't stick in your memory. A night in a hotel made of salt, ice, or up in a tree is far more vivid. We've rounded up 13 hotels where the building itself has become the attraction. Some are seasonal, some sit far from any city, so these nights get booked well in advance. According to Village Vacances Valcartier resort, Hôtel de Glace opens in January and welcomes guests until mid-March (source).

Below you'll find not just descriptions, but also who such an overnight stay suits and who it doesn't. Each entry includes the property's location and an honest catch, if a source confirms one.

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How to choose an unusual hotel

💡 In short:

The list has 13 hotels on four continents: from the Uyuni salt flat to an ice castle in Quebec.
Almost all properties are seasonal or remote, so book ahead.
As of 09/2026, data verified only for Palacio de Sal on the official Palacio de Sal website.

1. Palacio de Sal, Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia

The world's first hotel built entirely from salt. The walls, floors, furniture, and beds here are all made from salt blocks. According to the official website, the building stands on the shore of Salar de Uyuni, 25 km from the town of Uyuni. At night, a clear sky opens up over the white plain, and by day you walk on the crunchy salt crust.

Location: shore of the salt flat, 25 km from Uyuni (as of 09/2026, official website).
Who it's for: you're traveling to see the salt flat and want to sleep right at its edge.
Price: Palacio de Sal rates on Trip.com

2. Hotel de Glace, Quebec, Canada

North America's only ice hotel stands in the Village Vacances Valcartier park, about 20 minutes from Quebec City (as of 09/2026, resort). Every winter it's rebuilt from scratch around a new theme, so the interiors change year to year. The ceilings rise to the height of a two-story house, and the furniture is carved directly from ice. You spend the night in a room with sub-zero temperatures.

Not for: anyone who needs warmth and a regular bed.
Location: Village Vacances Valcartier, about 20 minutes from downtown Quebec City.
The catch: the hotel operates only in winter, from January to mid-March.

Snow hotel with arched entrances in winter

3. Desert Lotus Hotel, Inner Mongolia, China

The hotel is built in the Xiangshawan Desert, where winters bring snowstorms and summers turn hot and dusty. But that very climate is what makes it unusual. White panels form the shape of a lotus flower, its petals unfolding over the sand. To hold steady on shifting dunes, the structure is anchored to a steel frame with no water or concrete.

Who it's for: those ready for sharp weather swings and eager to see the desert without the crowds.
Not for: families with small children and anyone who needs a mild climate.

4. Treehouse hotels in Olympos, Turkey

On Turkey's Turquoise Coast, at the end of a pine valley, lies the village of Olympos, where local hotels specialize in treehouses, and simple wooden bungalows are tucked right among the branches. One of the first such hotels, Kadir, now occupies an entire village of bungalows, huts, and buildings.

Who it's for: a budget trip, if you want to sleep in the forest near the sea.
Location: Olympos village, Lycian coast, Turkey.

Kadir's wooden cabins among trees and mountains

5. Adrere Amellal, Siwa, Egypt

This eco-hotel sits at the foot of the White Mountain, a few kilometers from the Siwa oasis, on the shore of a salt lake. According to the hotel, it has about 40 rooms, each decorated by hand in the local style. The walls are built from kershef, a mixture of earth, salt, and stone, the roofs are made of palm, and the furniture was crafted by local artisans.

There is no electricity or telephone here at all. In the evening, the space is lit by beeswax candles and torches, and the desert sky stays free of light pollution. Old olive and palm groves grow nearby, and Roman springs bubble up.

Who it's for: those who want to disconnect from the grid.
Not for: those who need air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and an elevator.
The catch: there is no electricity or internet in the rooms (as of 09/2026, official website).

Adrere Amellal eco-lodge near a cliff in Siwa

6. Aydinli cave house hotel, Goreme, Turkey

Aydinli Cave House is a small family-run hotel carved into the soft rock right in the old part of Goreme. The rooms have kept the shape of natural caves, and their names come from the former purpose of each space. A former food storage room and pigeon roost became a living room with carved details and its own terrace. The rooftop offers views of Goreme and Rose Valley, and breakfast features traditional Turkish dishes.

Location: old part of Goreme, Cappadocia.
Who it's for: couples and anyone who wants to combine cave living with a valley view.
Price: Aydinli Cave Hotel prices on Trip.com

Hot air balloons over Goreme rock formations, Cappadocia

7. Earthship Biotecture, Tres Piedras, New Mexico

The Earthship project builds "earthship" homes from recycled and natural materials. This type of accommodation treats its own wastewater, generates energy, and even grows food. Despite being self-sufficient, you still get Wi-Fi and a TV inside. The project has been developing in New Mexico for decades and is open to guests.

Who it's for: those interested in living off the urban grid.

Earthship house with sloped glazing in a grassy hill

8. Neemrana Fort-Palace, India

Neemrana is a hotel in a centuries-old palace, not far from Delhi. The palace consists of several sections that climb up the hillside. The gardens cover several hectares, and hanging gardens, several pools, and an Ayurvedic spa complete the picture. People come here not just for weekends, but also for weddings and conferences.

Who it's for: those who want to live in a palace without traveling far from Delhi.
Location: India, not far from Delhi.

Nimran Fort Palace on a hill from a hot air balloon

9. Hang Nga "Crazy House," Da Lat, Vietnam

Crazy House, also known as Hang Nga Villa, is located in the city of Da Lat. It's a guesthouse with animal sculptures, caves, and winding concrete paths. According to the official website, the project was created by architect Dang Viet Nga. Staircases, bridges, and tunnels connect the rooms, and a sculpture garden surrounds the property.

Who it's for: those who want to spend the night inside an art object, not next to one.
Price: Crazy House prices on Trip.com

Whimsical concrete structures of Crazy House in Dalat

10. Seaventures Rig Resort, Mabul Island, Malaysia

The resort occupies a former oil platform at the top of the Coral Triangle, one of the best places for diving. An elevator lowers divers straight into the water, right to the reef system. Dives are included in the cost of your stay. In the evenings, there's live music and barbecues.

Who it's for: divers who want the reef right beneath their feet.
Not for: those who don't dive and are looking for a beach vacation.

Seaventures Dive Resort platform in the sea off Mabul

11. Kumbuk Hotel, Buttala, Sri Lanka

This eco-hotel shaped like an elephant stands on the bank of the Kumbukkan Oya River. The building is made of grass and branches and sways slightly in the wind. Its two floors accommodate a small group of guests. You'll see real elephants in the nearby Yala reserve, and the hotel itself is complemented by separate chalets.

Who it's for: those who want quiet by the river and a trip to see elephants.
Location: Buttala, near Yala reserve, Sri Lanka.

12. Magic mountain hotel, Chile

This hotel is built into a mountain shaped like a volcano. Instead of lava, a waterfall flows down from the top, and over the years the water has covered the slope with so much vegetation that the building almost blends into the forest. A hanging monkey bridge leads to the house, and that crossing alone becomes part of the experience. The rooms are named after local birds.

Who it's for: those who want to sleep in a forest with a waterfall above the roof.

Villarrica Volcano above the forests and fields of Chile

13. Hotel Unbalance, Peru

Hotel Unbalance is still a project by a Madrid-based firm. The idea is for the building to hang from a cliff above the Pacific Ocean near Lima. The central section is left hollow so the shadow doesn't block the water views that locals value. The building's tilt creates an optical illusion: it looks like it's about to fall, even though the structure is stable. The project includes rooms, exhibition halls, and restaurants.

Location: cliffs of Lima, Peru.
Who it's for: people who follow unusual architecture and are willing to wait for the opening.
The catch: the property doesn't exist yet, it's only in renderings and plans.

Miraflores cliffs and the Pacific Ocean in Lima

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which unusual hotel lets you sleep on an ice bed?

Hotel de Glace near Quebec City. According to Village Vacances Valcartier resort, it opens in January and welcomes guests until mid-March, and it's rebuilt from scratch every winter around a new theme. You'll sleep in a room where the temperature stays below freezing.

Where is the hotel built from salt?

It's Palacio de Sal on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia. According to the official website, it's 25 km from the town of Uyuni. The walls, floors, furniture, and beds here are all made of salt. At night the sky over the plain is perfectly clear, so bring warm clothes: it gets cold in the desert.

Is it true that Adrere Amellal has no electricity?

Yes, that's Adrere Amellal in the Siwa Oasis. According to the hotel, it has neither electricity nor telephones: in the evening, light comes from beeswax candles and torches. The eco-hotel has about 40 rooms in total, each decorated by hand.

Which hotel lets you stay in a tree?

In the village of Olympos on Turkey's Turquoise Coast. Local hotels, including Kadir, specialize in treehouses: simple wooden bungalows are set right among the branches. For a budget trip, this option works out more convenient and cheaper than a hotel by the sea.

What is Crazy House in Dalat?

It's Biệt thự Hằng Nga in Dalat. According to the official website, the project was created by architect Dang Viet Nga. Inside you'll find concrete caves, a sculpture garden, and walkways between rooms. Today the building has become one of the landmarks of the Vietnamese city of Dalat.

Should you book a hotel like this in advance?

Yes. Most of the properties on this list are small and seasonal. Hôtel de Glace only welcomes guests in winter, and cave and palace hotels fill up quickly on weekends. Book several months ahead, otherwise you'll be left with only the most expensive rooms.

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In short: what to book

Choose a hotel based on your scenario, not the photos. If you want the most photogenic option, book a night at Palacio de Sal by the salt flat. If you're after cold and a winter fairy tale, wait for January and check into Hotel de Glace. For budget romance, the treehouses in Olympos work well, and for silence without a power outlet, Adrere Amellal in Siwa.

The matrix is simple: if you want cold and ice, it's Quebec; if you want salt and stars, it's Uyuni; if you want a palace and history, it's Neemrana; if you want caves and Cappadocia, it's Aydinli Cave House. One click for prices: check prices on Trip.com. Before you travel, also compare insurance options: compare insurance options.

13 Unusual hotels in the world: a night in salt, ice and in a tree