Who hasn't dreamed of a tree house as a child, where you can spend the night all alone, without parents? Sometimes wishes only come true much later, and yet you are as excited as a child and don't sleep a wink because the stars shine so brightly above you, northern lights flicker in the sky, lions roar in the African bush - or because you have never in your life experienced the infinity of the desert as intensely as you did that night.

Special Experiences tours are exactly what the name promises: once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you won't soon forget; experiences that appeal to all the senses because they allow for individual experiences, away from mass tourism. This starts with the accommodations, which find architecturally fascinating solutions to let us feel nature as close as possible, but at the same time are so luxuriously equipped that even discerning travelers do not have to make any compromises. Underfloor heating, private saunas, whirlpools: All no problem - you'll find plenty of special accommodations with such amenities. Workaholics and social media fans, on the other hand, should read the fine print carefully before booking. Not all tree houses, luxury tents and lodges have internet connection. Technically, this would rarely be a problem, but it would detract from the unique experience. And basically, this is an idea of romance that has proven to be timeless: One feels small before the majesty of nature, is shaken by the beauty of the world. You become humble that you are allowed to experience this - and fill up your empty batteries with memories that are something very special.

©Creativelab/Shawn van Eeden

Desert Whisper

Living like James Bond: a luxurious lodge that perfectly fits into the stony Namib desert

A lodge that looks like a UFO that has landed in the desert: "Desert Whisper" is a luxurious hideaway in the lonely expanses of the Namib, designed as a complete package for two. Activities, meals and drinks are included, and a private guide is available for excursions into the Gondwana Namib Park; Namibia's gigantic sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just 60 kilometres away. The sunsets over the desert are spectacular - more solitude with maximum luxury is hardly possible. Price per night from € 515.

• Location: On a mountain in the Gondwana Namib Park in Namibia, which is famous for its fascinating rock formations and plateaus.
• Ideal for: Couples looking for an undisturbed weekend alone in the desert are in the right place.
• Highlight: Not a soul to be seen far and wide, and the stars are indescribable - how good that a telescope is at the ready!

Desert Whisper, store.gondwana-collection.com
11 Hugo Hahn Street, Windhoek, Namibia, T: +264 (0)81 129 2424

©Creativelab/Shwan van Eeden

Lion Sands Treehouse

In the middle of the African bush you lie down on a platform in the open air in the four-poster bed

The tree houses in South Africa are the perfect place for romantic nights for two. The 40 square metre platforms stand on stilts, on which a bed is enthroned under the open sky. There is no electricity, but there are plenty of oil lamps. If you want to know what the jungle sounds like at night, this is the place to be: lions, hyenas, hippos and leopards have already been sighted. A guide brings the guests to the tree house before sunset and picks them up again in the morning hours. As food they get a luxurious picnic basket. Price per night from € 240,-.

• Location: In the north of South Africa; situated in a national park with lots of wildlife.
• Ideal for: Safari lovers who want to experience big cats up close (but at a safe distance due to the altitude).
• Highlight: No Wi-Fi! "Wi-Fi: You must be joking!" is clearly stated on the homepage of the provider. Mobile phone reception is available.

Lion Sands Treehouses, sabi-sands.com
Portion 4, Shaws Gate, Kruger 1350, South Africa, T: +27 11 447 7172

©Dookphoto

Memories Aicha

A luxury camp in Jordan that looks like something out of a science fiction movie

Living like in the Arabian Nights? In the glass domes of the "Memories Aicha Luxury Camp" in Jordan, this is possible. The accommodations look like something out of a space fantasy set on Mars. Gold dominates the interior, the traditional furniture is made of wood and there is even a chandelier hanging from the ceiling - future and past enter into an exciting fusion here. At sunset, the mountains around glow a deep red, and the starry sky is also easy to watch in the glass dome, which is air-conditioned. Internet access is not available here either. Price per night from € 160.

• Location: You feel like you're on Mars, but you're only 280 kilometers from Tel Aviv International Airport.
• Ideal for: Discerning adventurers and daydreamers who want to combine luxury and science fiction.
• Highlight: Fascinating hikes in this area; the sunset can be enjoyed from a plateau.

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp, mlc.jo
Wadi Rum, St. Umm Eshrin, Aqaba, Jordan, T: +962 777 563 472

©GettyImages

Treehotel

In the northern Swedish "Treehotel" the childhood dream of spending the night in a tree house comes true.

The sturdy pines have to withstand wind and weather, and at a height of up to six metres they also support six tree houses, each in a different style. "The Mirrorcube", for example, is a reflecting cube, the outer walls reflecting the nature of the surroundings. Britta Jonsson-Lindvall and her husband Kent came up with this hotel. The view is spectacular, reindeer cross the way. Thanks to underfloor heating, it's cosy and warm even in winter, and there's Wi-Fi too. Kent and Britta's nearby 1930s-style guesthouse serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Price per night from € 500.

• Location: The tree houses were built in northern Swedish Lapland, near the river Lule. Wide forests, lots of nature!
• Ideal for: Outdoor enthusiasts who want to see the Northern Lights - from September to March this is possible.
• Highlight: Scandinavian cuisine is world-famous. In the "Treehotel" restaurant, local products are turned into small works of art on the plate - and at "Ice Dining", dinner is served by candlelight in a tepee tent on the frozen river.

Treehotel, treehotel.se
Edeforsväg 2a, 96024 Harads, Sweden, T: +46 928 103 00

©Treehotel

The Arctic Treehouse

Lapland is an extreme landscape where you can experience the seasons first hand.

In the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise in winter and the northern lights flicker across the sky at night; in summer, the sun shines all night long. The "Arctic Treehouse" in Finland therefore has huge windows through which you can see the landscape as if on a panoramic screen. Scandinavian design creates a feel-good atmosphere, and it also offers a private sauna and creative cuisine from the region. Getting snowed in here in winter feels like something out of a fairy tale - if you want, you can book a dog sled tour (and not only then): there's plenty of snow. Price per night from € 423.

• Location: In Lapland near the Finnish city of Rovaniemi, the "official home of Santa Claus".
• Ideal for: Families or couples who want to experience winter up close and love Scandinavian design.
• Highlight: Here you can tick off two once-in-a-lifetime experiences: watching spectacular northern lights from your bed and a fairytale ride on a dog sled through the deep snow-covered landscape.

Arctic Treehouse Hotel, arctictreehousehotel.com
Tarvantie 3, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland, T: +358 50 517 6909

©Al Argueta/Alamy Stock Photo