Are these UFOs that have landed on stilts or are they “just” tree houses? One thing is certain: anyone who sees the futuristic structures on the Elbe island of Krautsand feels like they are in another world - and yet they have not left Germany.

Visitors have the choice between Jojo, Lotti and Anni, that's the name of the three tree or stilt houses. All three float in the middle of old, gnarled willows - but each has its own peculiarities. From Jojo you have the most beautiful view of the paddocks, the resting places of the wild geese and you can watch the neighbor, who starts in the morning to get coffee and cake: In the "first" row are Lotti and Anni. Only a horse pasture and the dike separate these two from the Elbe, where you can watch the passing ships. Here you can be very close to nature: the tree houses are almost on the border with the bird sanctuary. On the pastures, a fox or a deer will sometimes meet up.

The owners of the tree houses, Klaus Mayer and his wife Maika Engelke, live right next door on the Icelandic horse farm. Their goal is to make guests feel as comfortable as they do on this beautiful piece of earth. A vacation from the Elbe island of Krautsand is not only wellness for the body, but also for the soul.

Here the beautiful sentence applies: "Less is sometimes more". Instead of an expensive swimming pool, there is a HotPot in which you can look into the starry sky. Instead of a television there are binoculars and a wonderful view of nature. Instead of an entertainment program, there is the beach and the mudflats for walking and the opportunity to ride.

The interior of the bright tree houses also feels more like less: The oak furnishings are simple but beautiful. There are cozy pillows, skins and blankets everywhere. You can light the numerous candles for pleasant light in the evening. In the tree houses you feel safe and close to nature.

On the nearby Elbe, four kilometers of the finest sandy beach and fresh water mud are waiting. The North Sea near Cuxhaven or the Natureum, located at the east mouth between Hamburg and Cuxhaven, are suitable for excursions, surrounded by mudflats, grassland and dikes in the glacial valley of the Elbe. Visitors will find a paradise here to explore, understand and preserve this unique coastal nature. Trips by bus "Voglkieker", the moor railway "Moorkieker" and the ship "Tidenkieker" to the migratory birds, into the moor or on the Elbe are popular with young and old.