YURTS
Historically built to withstand the long winters of Mongolia, the elements are easily shaken off by this crafty structure. A yurt has a low, wide, cylindrical base that is constructed with expandable sections of wooden latticework. The roof is a conical shaping of poles connected from the exterior skeleton to a central wheel that is supported by floor posts. The exterior fabric is tightly wrapped around the framework and can be several layers thick. Yurts can withstand high winds and extremely low temperatures, making them the ideal year-round glamping accommodation.
TREE HOUSES
Tree houses are not just for kids! Built high in the branches of a tree, a tree house is a typically wooden structure that utilizes the shapes of the trunk and the strongest boughs to create a horizontal space in a vertical world. They are accessed by ladders, occasionally linked by suspended bridges, and can even have running water and electricity. Cunning craftsmanship keeps these lofty rooms in their place and the rewards for the climb are peace and quiet, fresh canopy air, and spectacular views.
TIPIS
The tipi, or teepee, commonly traced back to the migratory American Indians, is an ingeniously simple compilation of only a few raw materials. Wooden poles erected in a triangular shape and tied together at the top form the skeleton of the structure. A durable fabric, historically animal skins, now typically a weather resistant canvas or heavy cotton, is wrapped snugly around the poles, leaving only a hole at the top to release smoke, a small door, and sometimes a window or two. A central fire would heat the structure in winters. Today, these conical constructions are a warm, spacious and historical alternative to a modern tent.
SAFARI TENTS
The idea of the safari tent was probably imagined hundreds of years ago. Kings, nomads, hunters and vacationers alike have found good use of this sensible and portable lodging. Today, safari tents are the premier lodging for upscale African safari organizations, and have been adopted by many glamping site owners in other parts of the world. Safari tents are large, rectangular structures, supported by a framework of aluminum or fiberglass poles and occasionally have a platform or hard flooring. The walls and peaked roof are typically made of a light but weather resistant and durable fabric like canvas. Spacious and quadrangular interiors allow for simulation of home spaces and almost no limit to the potential for luxury.
CARAVANS
Road trips are an almost universal holiday tradition and campervans have been there since the idea was born. A miniature house on wheels, the campervan can be anything from a modest bedroom to a luxurious multi-room arrangement with a kitchen and bathroom. In the glamping world, this alternative lodging is a stationary accommodation, placed in a fabulously unique location, and made available to travelers who want the home-on-the-road experience without the long hours of driving and piggybank-draining gas costs.