There are hotel rooms with a view. Then there are glass hotel rooms that hang up to 3,000 feet off the side of a remote Asian mountain. Indonesia’s new “hanging hotel” promises the latter, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
Safety was, of course, a priority for the design team who adhered to international standards for its construction. Each one-ton pod is suspended with 20 steel cables, each capable of supporting two full tons.
Getting to each cabin is a death-defying feat unto itself — one that’s likely as terrifying as overnighting in the rooms. Each pod is only accessible via ferrata (“iron ladder”) and a zipline secured to the mountain. Professional guides personally lead each guest to their room.
Inside, the 8×20-foot and 8×26-foot pods are surprisingly roomy and well-appointed. All are equipped with air-conditioning, electricity, and even bathrooms. (Jacuzzi tubs and minibars are notably absent, however.)
The Indonesian skylodge isn’t the first hotel of its kind in the world. That honor goes to Peru’s Natura Vive Skylodge Adventure Suites, a similar property located in the Sacred Valleym an hour outside of Cusco. Rooms there are suspended no higher than 1,300 feet. However, it’s billed as a thoroughly luxury experience with a gourmet wine dinner, a three-room suite-style layout, a dining area, and plush down bedding.
The skylodge concept had been stuck in the planning stages since 2013. After numerous delays, Padjajaran Anyar finally opened its doors in January 2018. A one-night stay via Airbnb will set you back Rp. 5,000,000 — roughly USD $350. But can you really put a price on a once-in-a-lifetime terrifying night of restless sleep in a glass pod? We think not.
Feature image courtesy of Padjajaran Anyar/Instagram.
