10 great caves you can stay in

Occupying the slopes above the renowned Pigeon Valley, this sublimely sited luxury hotel has some of the best views in Cappadocia.

From terraces, the Seki Lounge and many of the rooms the panorama is magnificent. It’s also exceptionally good-looking, with lots of wood and glass to complement Cappadocia’s statutory bare stone interiors.

Prolific decks, patios and courtyards, as well as the light-flooded Seki Lounge, make this as much a resort hotel as a mere B&B base.

There’s an impressive range of rooms, some with their own pools, all in cave style, but with plenty of natural light.

This extraordinary 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom cave house has been carved into an eye-popping natural cavern in the Ozark mountains, on a private 256-acre estate.

This is the real deal, with rooms, fittings and furnishings complementing exposed, natural craggy rock and the occasional stalactite.

Step outside for hiking, canoeing, fishing, and horseback riding.

Granada has a long history of cave communities, notably in the soft-rocked suburb of Sacromonte, formed by those expelled as undesirable by the city: gypsies, Jews and Muslims.

So it’s perhaps not surprising to find this complex of unusual, man-made 18 cave ‘houses’, set in a restored farmhouse in nearby Benalua. Each is uniquely designed, with a cave-like interior.

Set into hills, surrounded by acres of wild bushland, you’ll find this one-bedroom, self-contained cave, cleverly carved into the natural contours of the local rock.

There’s a modern kitchenette, fireplace and views out onto a forested valley. A true wild cave sleep experience, without sacrificing on home comforts.

This spectacular nature reserve, three hours from Cape Town, is home to a unique spa resort and its ten unusual ‘cave suites’.

Although the facades are man-made, the suites are cleverly integrated into the surrounding rock topography to be almost indistinguishable. Cave-like interiors and uninterrupted landscape views reconnect you with your primitive self.

You can also opt for one of their two ‘open-air suites’, situated away from the main lodge for more privacy and utter tranquillity. Guests sleep out under a carpet of stars, and wake to sunrise and uninterrupted views of the bushveld.

The Loire Valley was for centuries famously home to ‘troglodytes’, local residents who lived in caves dug into the soft bedrock. Today, you’ll still find troglodyte homes, restaurants, zoos – and hotels.

This cosy four-star is one of the best, with calming, luxurious ‘troglodyte’ rooms carved into the neighbouring cliff. There’s a fine seafood-theme gastronomic restaurant and lovely views over the Loire River.

It’s close to Tours, making it an excellent central base to explore the Loire Valley’s main attraction.s

If you want to unwind and recharge, look no further. This family-run hideaway is a labour of love – the owners built it themselves, with great respect for local traditions.

It’s blissful tranquillity – an aura of absolute calm surrounds this secluded hideaway. There are sweeping views of the caldera and Oia whichever way you look.

Carved out of the terraced cliff face, each of the 20 studios and suites is unique in layout and location. Splashes of fuchsia and lilac brighten up the dramatically sparse, whitewashed interiors.

The infinity pool has spawned countless imitators, but none can rival it.

Phenomenal views of the flooded volcanic caldera make it hard to leave your private patio. But there’s a superb spa, gym, yoga shala and lap pool should you feel the urge to move.

This unique retreat hidden within 3 acres of woodland, took thousands of man-hours to sculpt, and required the excavation of over seventy tonnes of rock.

A site occupied for nearly 800 years, today it’s a one-bed, self-contained accommodation and an uber-romantic, get-back-to-nature getaway for couples.

Granada has a long history of cave communities, notably in the soft-rocked suburb of Sacromonte, formed by those expelled as undesirable by the city: gypsies, Jews and Muslims.

This unique cave house, also set into the soft clay bedrock outside of Granada, is a more luxury affair than the nearby Hotel Cuevas La Granja.

It’s a private, secluded complex, hidden in the Andalusian countryside, that cleverly integrates into the topography. It comes with three bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a living room and a pool. Perfect for families and groups.