Building in suburbia is one thing, but creating a cosy, off-grid home in a remote location takes innovation and courage. From Arctic escapes to desert hideaways, we've gathered together the world's most secluded, self-sufficient properties. Venture off the beaten path and step inside these wow-factor wilderness homes...

When it comes to off-grid living, things don't get much more exciting than this. Spectacular and unique in equal measure, this impressive observation tower can be found in Tiller, Oregon, and soars up 40 feet into the air. Talk about extreme living!

The unique tower can be found secluded in a 40-acre meadow inside a private estate. Surrounded by the Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County, the retreat can't really get any more remote, which makes it perfect for those seeking some time away from the rat race. 

Known as Summit Prairie, the high-altitude home was built in 2009 and was modelled after the Fire Lookout Towers constructed by the US Forest Service in the early 1900s. Yet there's nothing old-fashioned about this pad. Inside, you'll find everything you could need for modern living, including hot running water and comfortable beds.

Despite its amazing interior and beautiful view, the tower's exterior is also worth a mention. It comes complete with endless land for hiking and foraging, as well as hammocks and a wood-fired, spring-fed hot tub.

Outside, you can sit back and watch the world go by on your own private terrace. With not a soul for miles around, this is the ultimate off-grid option for anymore seeking a digital detox. There's even an outdoor shower located on the balcony, where you can take in amazing landscape views while you bathe. If you fancy spending the night here, then head over to Airbnb.

Proving that not all eco homes are made equal, The Off-grid itHouse is a fine example of modern desert architecture. Located in Pioneertown, California, the striking sustainable structure was designed by architect Taalman Koch in 2007 and yet it hasn't aged a day...

The compact cabin is formed from prefabricated components that were made off-site, in order to better control construction waste and the overall quality of the finished product. The home's glass walls and easy, open-plan layout means it has an idyllic indoor-outdoor flow, while its construction method means it has a minimal impact on the environment upon which it stands.

The house boasts a chic industrial aesthetic, thanks to its exposed structural elements, steel accents and metallic colour palette. The house is entirely off-grid and solar panels provide energy and hot water. It also offers passive heating and cooling, while its site orientation allows for natural cross ventilation even on the hottest of summer days. 

Plus, to ensure the internal environment stays nice and comfortable, the glass house also comes equipped with sun-shading screen and privacy zones. Designed for four adults, the off-grid property features two bedrooms, one bathroom, a dining area, a kitchen and a living room that offers framed views of the California high desert.

The property has gained plenty of recognition, too. Dwell called it one of the "best homes in America', while the Los Angeles Times declared it one of the best houses of all time in Southern California. If, like us, you've fallen in love, then you can spend the night in this gorgeous off-grid home. 

Built to blend in with their dramatic desert surroundings, these modern metal cabins, which form one property, were built from weathered steel. They can be found in the depths of Joshua Tree National Park in sunny California. Created by Cohesion Studio, the eye-catching home was designed for keen travellers seeking an off-grid adventure that also allowed for modern luxuries.

Known as Folly, the rust-coloured structures were created with indoor-outdoor living in mind, and even feature an outdoor bathroom. A couple of hours away from Los Angeles, this secluded desert spot is no stranger to intense sunshine, which is the main power source for the off-grid dwelling.

Inside, the property offers all the modern conveniences you could wish for. Accommodation includes a kitchen, dining area and bathroom, with a mezzanine bedroom that includes a skylight for stargazing. Outside, you'll find a small patio with a sunken bathtub – the perfect spot to soak up nature at its best.

The buildings themselves were constructed from locally-sourced salvaged steel, while the interior offers a rustic, urban finish with plywood walls and metal finishes. A large solar panel powers the home, with guests able to monitor their energy consumption and control lighting, temperature and security during their stay.

Available to rent on Airbnb, with a Mini Cooper thrown in for the ultimate road trip, lucky guests can truly enjoy a taste of off-grid living, thanks to the cabin's open-air bedroom. Sleep under the stars and drift off while you listen to the sound of nearby crickets. What could be better than that?

Perched just moments away from the rugged mountain passes of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, USA, this unique off-grid cabin is a concrete home with a difference.

Designed by architects GreenSpur, the cabin is just 160 square feet and was built to be a self-sufficient retreat in the heart of the scenic hiking region.

Offering an off-grid experience like no other, these cabins by Off the Map allow you to spend the night below the stars, in the depths of the Finnish Arctic. 

For those looking to escape to a truly remote location, the Off the Map Wilderness Camp is made up of three mobile sleeping huts, which can be moved around the Finnish landscape thanks to their sledge-style bases.

An incredible glazed roof allows for breathtaking vistas across the Arctic skies, offering travellers the chance to spot the elusive Northern Lights.

This impressive solar-powered house lies in the wilderness of Ontario, Canada, in a dense forest area some 160 miles from Toronto.

The property was curated by architect Kelly Doran of the MASS Design Group to promote sustainable living in far-off locations. Positioned on the banks of the idyllic Lake Havelock, the home is insulated with straw bales and runs entirely off solar power.

Covering 2,500 square feet, the home boasts a simple open-plan layout with a spacious kitchen, dining room and lounge. A wood-burning stove sits at the centre of the home, heating the communal areas. Boasting incredible lakeside views, the property's generous three bedrooms feature sleek and stylish décor.

Known as the Bivouac Luca Pasqualetti, this incredible off-grid hut was designed by Italian architects, Roberto Dini and Stefano Girodo. Located in the remote heights of the Italian Alps, the mountain shelter is nestled on a small ledge in the Morion Ridge in Valle d’Aosta. 

Due to its extremely isolated position, many mountaineers avoid the region. The architects of the shelter wanted to encourage people to rediscover this remote area by improving the facilities it offered for hikers.

The hut's interior can cater for up to eight people at once, with kitchen and dining facilities, eight separate beds and equipment storage facilities. Located 10,794 feet above sea level, the cabin frames breathtaking views across the mountain range. 

Designed by architecture studio Raumhochrosen, this secluded retreat lies in the depths of Austria's Wienerwald municipality. Known as Tom's Hut, the cabin was created as a wilderness retreat for a life coach and songwriter in need of respite from his busy lifestyle.

The compact timber cabin was prefabricated off-site, before being erected in its woodland position. Vertical timber cladding covers the hut's exterior, while a pitched metal roof helps to protect the home from heavy rainfall.

Designed by Moscow-based firm, BIO-architects, the prefabricated hut was gifted to the town of Kandalaksha, after it won a nationwide competition where members of the public nominated a town that could benefit from a tiny modular cabin. 

Designed by Out of the Valley, this compact oak frame cabin can be installed almost anywhere, for the ultimate escapist retreat. Created to help homeowners reconnect with the natural world, the cabin boasts integrated solar panels so you can pitch up far away from civilisation.

The oak cabin has a traditional trussed frame and can be erected in just two days. The dark wooden exterior allows the cabin to blend into any woodland setting, while the interior boasts gorgeous whitewashed panelling and a stylish kitchen space.

Powered by roof-mounted solar panels, the 258-square-foot cabin can be customised to meet the individual needs of homeowners. Commissions have included a sauna, yoga studio and gorgeous summerhouses.

Known as La Invernada, this one-of-a-kind property can be found inside a natural forest landscape in the Curicó region of Chile. The unique tiny home was designed by the architects at GAAA Studio to softly blend in with its surroundings.

The compact cabin was constructed from laminated Chilean pinewood, polycarbonate and mesh, in order to represent a different aspect found in nature: light, leaves and trees. The micro home was creating using a CNC machine and assembled on-site with wood joints and screws. The prefabricated home took just 20 days to build.

La Invernada is entirely off-grid and finds itself situated on a wooden deck that extends from its sloping plot and is supported by stilts. This way, the architects were able to constructed the cabin without having a significant impact on the forest itself. Instead, they worked around the natural contours of the land. Inside, you'll find three compact floors and the main living area downstairs benefits from an amazing triple-height ceiling.

The house offers just 580 square feet of space, which includes a lounge with a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette, a small bathroom and a bedroom that opens onto a small exterior deck. Every room also comes complete with clever space-saving storage and custom-built furniture that perfectly matches the home's exposed structural materials. 

Upstairs, the floors get progressively smaller, due to the cabin's arched roof, and can be accessed via a ladder. Both of these tiny top floor rooms are covered in cushions, making them the perfect places to unwind and soak up unforgettable forest views. At one with nature, this remarkable tiny home truly has to be seen to be believed.

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