1 Costa Rica
Treehouse Hotel, Punta Uva, is made entirely of wood from fallen trees, the two-storey building fitting into the nooks and crannies of a sangrillo tree on the beach. Profits help fund a Green Iguana protection programme. US$120 per night for two, costaricatreehouse.com.

2 China
There are four treehouses on the island of Hainan, overlooking the beach. The largest is three storeys and is accessed via a suspension bridge. The staircases, furniture and viewing platforms are all hand carved by local craftspeople. From about £35 per night. treehousesofhawaii.com.

3 US
The double-deck Cedar Creek treehouse hovers 15m above ground, making the most of the views of Sawtooth Ridge and Mount Rainier. Wrapped round the trunk of a 200-year-old red cedar, it has sleeping space for five, a sunroom, kitchen and observation deck. From $250 per night for two, including one-hour guided tour, cedarcreektreehouse.com.

4 Honduras
High in the branches of a century-old mango tree overlooking the Caribbean sea on the island of Roatan. Walls are only waist-high, allowing 360-degree views and making it less vulnerable to the elements. The treehouse was undamaged by Hurricane Wilma. From US$50 per night for two, fostersroatan.com/westbay.

5 India
The Keralan rainforest is 1,200m above sea level. A further 27m up in the leafy canopy are two treehouses a mile apart - part of the Green Magic Treehouse Resort. Both have wrap-around balconies and thatched roofs. One is accessed by a rope bridge, the other by an ingenious "water lift". $240 per night with all meals. palmlandtours.net.

· All these treehouses feature in Treehouses by Paula Henderson and Adam Mornement, published by Frances Lincoln. Available to Guardian readers for £20 (usual price £25) with free p&p. Call 01235 827746 quoting ref: 46THTG.