You can book stays in gorgeous stargazing domes with private saunas and hot tubs

11 January 2023 , 12:55

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The domes are being built in the wilds of Washington in the Cascade Range (Image: Youri Benoiston)

A new camping dome lets you gaze up at the glorious night sky from the warmth and comfort of the indoors - and comes with serious perks like private sauna access and a hot tub.

Oculis Lodge is a new site in the Cascade Mountain, USA which aims to let people "live out (their) campground fantasies without sacrificing the luxuries of a hotel."

Each 700 sq/foot dome is designed specifically to immerse campers in the outdoors as much as possible, while taking advantage of the clear mountain skies.

The domes have a king-sized bed, two queen-size beds in the loft for another four guests, a deck hammock, smart home technology and a fire pit.

A telescope is also provided so guests can take a closer look at stars above.

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The domes are built high up in the Cascade Mountains (Youri Benoiston)

The oval-shaped interior means you can have an amazing stargazing experience right from the bed or the living room through the 15 feet-wide skylight.

After a long night of gazing you can limber up with a morning session of yoga held on the outside heated deck.

A dip in the six-person hot tub can also help you unwind and relax after a day on the nearby ski-slopes.

Every unit comes with a personal sauna that can fit four people and will be filled up with groceries of your choosing ahead of your arrival.

A 15-foot skylight lets you gaze out at the stars (Youri Benoiston)

The campsite is a 25-minute drive to the ski slopes of Mount Baker, which is well known for summer and winter activities.

During the winter of 1998-99, the mountain received 1,140 inches of snowfall – verified as the World Record for snowfall during a single winter season on a mountain.

According to the Lodge's website: "Oculus means eye in Latin. In architecture, it's a window or shape that has an opening of an oval or circular shape.

"It symbolizes the union of the earth and sky, which allows human prayer to ascend to the heavens. It links architecture to the cosmos. It was also used as a sundial to track the time of day.

You can wake up for an early morning yoga sessions on the heated terrace (Youri Benoiston)

"The concrete dome is similar in shape and structure to an egg which has always been a fascination.

"The egg shows us that relatively soft and weak material can be used to create a very strong structural shape."

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Domes can be booked from £295 a night, or £1,567 for a week. You can find out more on oculislodge.com.

Milo Boyd