Destinature Elbe Huts

Reviewed by Emily McDonnell

A collection of wooden tiny houses surrounded by trees at the edge of the Elbe river, created with comfortable luxury and sustainability principles

Type:

Tiny houses

Costs:

From €20

Sleeps:

22 huts and houses for 2-3

Where?

Hitzacker (Elbe), 3 hours from central Berlin

What?

If you shut your eyes and picture total escapism, the chances are you’re lain in a meadow under the stars, listening to wind blow through the trees and you fall asleep to the smell of a dying fire. The thought of such a scene instantly relaxed my mind and body, so just imagine how great it would be to have this fantasy become a reality! Well, luckily for us all, it exists. At the edge of the Elbe, between Hamburg and Berlin, are a scattering of wooden tiny houses built with the purpose of connecting you with nature.

The retreat is completely sustainable as the huts are build with locally-sourced, sustainable materials, plus they are all built on stilts so as not to damage the land. While the hut structures are simple, comfort is key, and you get little luxuries like organic mattresses and organic food, served at the on-site bistro where you can start your day with fresh, locally-sourced produce. After a long day exploring the Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve - which the huts are at the heart of - by foot, by bike or by boat, unwind in one of the mini saunas or hot tub under the nights’s sky. Created for unique experiences and lasting memories, Destinature Elbe Huts is the epitome of restful adventure.

Why?

I fell in love because...

Nature is key here: in the smallest tiny houses you can open the roof to see the stars while still being protected by insects
You really have the ability to slow down and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones

You must...

Spend the evening in one of the saunas (there are several small saunas, so you have total privacy)
Take a bike ride along the Elbe’s cycle path, through the Elbtalaue biosphere reserve

You might dislike...

The smallest tiny houses are effectively just beds inside a wooden wagon, but the mattresses are incredibly comfy and you can move them around the grounds to find a spot perfect for you
Only the larger huts have toilets (which are dry toilets), meaning other hut categories need to go to the wet room where there are normal toilets

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WERKHAUS destinature Dorf

Who?

Introducing Eva and Holger!

"We always wanted to create accommodation that was sustainable and close to nature, where you arrive by bike and feel right at home."‍

They love…‍

“The special thing about our tiny house ‘village’ is its proximity to nature. You can really holiday under the stars: spend time around the fireplace with your loved ones and relax in the sauna and hot tub.”‍

Eva and Holger’s insider tips

Enjoy a long, lazy breakfast on the terrace and absorb the calming energy of nature (our bistro serves organic, locally sourced produce).
Next to the Destinature Elbe Huts is the Hitzacker Archaeological Centre, where you can learn about how people lived in the Bronze Age.
Take a little stroll through Hitzacker; there are pretty little half-timbered houses, brick buildings, nice little shops and cafés and even a vineyard (plus you have a great view over the Elbe).
Take a trip to Sammatz and visit the Archehof. Here there are impressive parks and gardens, a forest lake and numerous animals, in addition to a garden café and farm shop, which sells bread from the farm's own bakery, homemade cheese and other organic products.

What people
are saying.

"Unique experience, innovative and creative. Best accommodation on the Elbe Cycle Path."

Claudia & Don

"Extravagant location with a top team that is fully responsive to guests."

Markus

The essentials.

Sleeping arrangements: There are 22 tiny house huts in 3 categories: standard, plus and bed-to go. The standard huts can sleep up to 4 people, the plus huts can sleep up to 3, and the bed-to-go sleep 2.
Bathroom set up: There are toilets and showers (warm!) in the wetroom block. 'Plus' category huts have a private dry toilet.
Food: There’s an onsite bistro serving a range of food and drink throughout the day, and there are shops and restaurants in the next-door village.
For families: Kids are more than welcome. There are play facilities for them on-site, too.
On-site equipment: There are hot tubs and saunas available for guest to use.
Optional extras: You can charge your e-bike overnight, should you need to.
Help: There’s an on-site team who are around to help you, should you need it.
Remember to pack: A torch, and - if you stay in a bed-to-go - some extra layers, just in case it’s a cold night.
Pets: Dogs are allowed in three of the huts; please state when booking.
‍Sustainability: Destinature Elbe Huts have an incredibly strong focus on sustainability, and all huts are built entirely of natural wood from certified forests. Plus all mattresses made of sustainable high-tech materials. The entire hut village can be dismantled residue-free. The aim of this project is to strengthen the growing ecological awareness in tourism.

Where?

Destinature Elbe Huts is located in Hitzacker at the heart of the Lower Saxony Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve.

You can easily drive, and there’s on-site parking available.

It’s easy to arrive by train: get off at Hitzacker, from where it’s a 1,300m walk. Trains come via Bf. Lüneburg (which you can get to directly from Hamburg). You can - of course - also arrive by bike if you’re cycling along the Elbe cycle path.