Amazing Eco Stays
Many hotels have begun to take positive initiatives toward reducing their carbon impact. However, these ultra-sustainable resorts go above and beyond the ordinary by incorporating eco-friendly thinking into every part of their design, from supplying green energy to operating their own trash recycling programs and even attempting to be energy positive. Oh, and they are really lovely and exquisite. Intrigued? These are the world's greenest hotels.
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park, Australia
Karijini Eco Retreat, surrounded by vast grasslands, shimmering ponds, and spectacular canyons, is an ideal location for exploring Western Australia's outback. Better, it is entirely Aboriginal-owned. The resort is run by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC), one of Australia's major Aboriginal corporations, and it works to reduce poverty and promote development among the Banjima, Yinhawangka, and Nyiyaparli peoples.
Zuri Zanzibar, Zanzibar, Tanzania
The villas, the most luxurious lodging choice, include a beachfront position, an infinity pool, and a big patio to soak up the sun. Inside, artwork by modern African artists and woodwork made by local artisans take center stage, amid amenities like as king-sized mattresses, eco-friendly air conditioning, and even an "entertainment room".
The hotel has a waste management program that focuses on minimizing trash and handling it more sustainably. It has also installed rubbish collection sites on the beach and in the surrounding region. In 2019, Zuri Zanzibar received a gold certification from sustainable tourism company Earth check, which stated that "sustainable design principles were integrated from the outset with the building concept respecting the original terrain configuration and utilizing local materials and architectural traditions."
Mashpi Lodge, Mashpi, Ecuador
With its pergola roof, massive terrace, and floor-to-ceiling windows, everything is intended to take advantage of the stunning position. Rooms provide visitors the opportunity to view the forest from various heights, while natural materials and simple furniture throughout create a sense of calm. Meanwhile, at the hotel's neighboring Samay Wellness Center, visitors may relax even more in a covered open-air hot tub while listening to birds and jungle rustling.
The Headwaters Eco Lodge, Glen Orchy, New Zealand
The retreat's eco cottages are decorated in a rustic and homey style, with salvaged and recycled wood interiors and earth-toned soft furnishings. Alternatively, backpackers and hikers can choose for more modest bunk rooms or camping sites. There's also a protected outdoor firepit where you can congregate and enjoy amazing views of neighboring Lake Wakatipu during the day or stargaze at night.
Glenorchy Eco Retreat not only has net-positive energy, but it also consumes 50% less energy and water than comparable facilities, owing to efforts such as rainwater recycling, high-efficiency appliances, and buildings that are slanted to take advantage of sunshine. The hotel received the world's first "Living Building Certification" from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) after demonstrating exceptional sustainability over a 12-month period.
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Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba, Caribbean
All 104 rooms and suites are extraordinarily vast - regular rooms start at 350 square feet, while penthouse suites are a massive 850 square feet (79 square meters) - and luxuriously equipped. The four penthouse apartments provide panoramic views of Eagle Beach and a secluded patio, as well as a private cabana on the beach. There are several fantastic eating alternatives, including the beachfront Elements Restaurant, which is a popular among travelers.
Pikaia Lodge, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador
The Galápagos islands are well-known for their remarkable biodiversity, which Pikaia Lodge wants to display and safeguard. The lodge, located on Santa Cruz Island in the center of the archipelago, is built on the edge of a volcano crater, straddling higher-elevation tropical woods and lower-elevation desert grassland. Since its establishment in 2006, it has tried to reforest land that had been burned by cattle ranching, and the number of native turtle and bird species in the region has already recovered.
Soneva Kiri, Koh Kood, Thailand
The resort is the ideal of relaxed luxury. The resort consists of 34 opulent villas ranging in size from one to six bedrooms, each furnished in a minimalist style with timber interiors, lavish white linen, and earth-toned soft furnishings. Outside, private pools along with luxurious daybeds make it even simpler to unwind and rest. There are also several tempting eating alternatives, ranging from traditional Thai cooking at Kruua Mae Tuk to Japanese and Persian fusion cuisine at The View (which, as expected, overlooks the Gulf of Thailand).
In 2008, the hotel group discontinued supplying branded plastic water bottles at its locations and began generating its own drinking water. This has helped fund over 500 projects in more than 50 countries to improve drinking water supply and sanitation, which are managed by the Soneva Foundation. The organization also recycles 90% of its solid waste, some of which is used in new initiatives. For example, the Soneva Glass Studio invites renowned artists to produce one-of-a-kind and stunning glassware for resorts using discarded glass.