Best Eco-Friendly Hotels Around the World: The 10 Best Sustainable Hotels
When I am traveling, I research the best eco-friendly hotels in the area where we’re going. It’s important to me to support businesses that are working towards a more sustainable future.
To be clear – just having a recycling program does not make a hotel eco-friendly. Are the building materials sustainably sourced? Is the surrounding environment incorporated into the design of the hotel? These are the things I looked for when selecting the best eco-friendly hotels in the world!
Whitepod Eco-friendly Hotel, Switzerland
Experience the beauty of the Swiss Alps through this eco-friendly accommodation, where guests stay in energy-efficient pods. Environmental conservation was considered in every avenue here from its construction to its operation.
Get this -the pods even change color depending on the season to blend in with the surrounding scenery. How cool is that? Energy and water use are controlled for a low-impact stay, and even the staff walk to work at this eco-luxury hotel.
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Maldives
Stay guilt-free at this gorgeous hotel in the Maldives. Park Hyatt is the only resort in the Maldives to hold an EarthCheck certification. The eco-friendly resort blends beauty and environmental conservation effortlessly. The hotel harvests rainwater and reduces its plastic use. To continue to protect the surrounding reef, there are actually resident marine biologists that monitor the water daily.
Soori Bali, Bali
Soori Bali isn’t just one of the most beautiful resorts in Bali, but it also incorporates smart conservation practices too. All of the hotel’s water derives from its rainwater filtration system. This area of the world receives plenty of rain, so it would be wasteful if this Bali resort didn’t take advantage of this natural resource. Besides its rainwater system, the hotel was also built with locally-sourced and eco-friendly materials.
The Hideout, Koh Yao Noi, THAILAND
These adorable hideout treehouses in Thailand are electricity-free, saving energy throughout the resort. The hideout is plastic-free and has a solar-filtered saltwater infinity pool. This eco-friendly hotel is a great spot to relax WIFI free, take a local cooking class, or partake in one of their wellness packages & retreats.
Jetwing Surf, Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s first eco-luxury surf resort, is nestled on a stretch of beach in Pottuvil Point only a few minutes away from the surfer’s paradise Arugam Bay. This property has comfortable amenities inspired by a unique style of architecture with structures made using wood, woven coconut palm leaves, and reeds. Check out the diagram below to see each way sustainability is implemented throughout the property.
Join the first Sustainable Arugam Bay Tour!
Kachi Eco-Luxury Lodge, Uyuni, Bolivia
“At Amazing Escapes, we believe that sustainable tourism, even top-of-the-range, is the best way to raise travelers’ awareness of environmental conservation while bringing sound economic development opportunities to isolated communities.” – Amazing Escapes
Amazing Escapes made friends with the community of Jirira in 2015 when they chose the community to set up a temporary camp for one of their expeditions. The community’s kindness and cooperation on top of the beauty of the magical salt flats made Jirira a perfect location for Kachi Lodge. It was unthinkable to develop this project without local participation so from the beginning, they were integrated into the operations. Today, some of them hold positions essential to the functioning of Kachi Lodge.
Apart from a great relationship with the community, the preservation of the environment has been at the heart of the project. Before settling on the Salar, they wanted to be sure that the lodge was built with the least possible impact so they invested in cutting-edge technologies in both water and energy management systems.
Recommended Reads:
Unique Places to Stay in Bolivia
Amazing Photos of Bolivia’s Salt Flats
Ultimate Guide to Visiting Bolivia’s Salt Flats
Treehouse Lodge, Payorote, Peru
Located in Saquena, Treehouse Lodge is in a national park on the waterfront. Tour the amazon as you wander through this magical hotel in the sky. Treehouse Lodge has recently added a solar power system that will operate all of the electrical needs of the amazon lodge including lights, kitchen, refrigeration, and communication.
The Lodge was built by hand, with no heavy equipment, careful to leave the most minimal footprint possible. Every effort was made to preserve every tree and plant on the property. Take the opportunity to explore the area for water adventures, hiking/biking, and ecotours. Enjoy onsite activities like fishing, kayaking, and boat tours.
Recommended Read:
What to Do with One Day in Lima Peru
AZULIK TULUM
Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the jungle, experience an incredible place to stay in Tulum where art and nature intertwine. Elevated wooden paths twist and turn through the jungle, which allows trees to grow freely and the jungle’s native inhabitants to move undisturbed below. Azulik is lit exclusively by candlelight at night, creating a natural ambiance perfect for a relaxing retreat or a romantic getaway.
The beach offers visitors a freeing place to enjoy themselves where clothing is optional. On-site, are 48 unique villas, a contemporary art gallery, a House of Ancestral Medicine, a spa, a fashion boutique, a beach clubhouse, and three restaurants.
Recommended Read: Unique Places to Stay in Tulum
Fairmont Banff Springs
Nestled in the heart of Banff National Park, the world-famous Fairmont is situated just a few minutes from Bow Falls and the Mount Rundle Trailhead. Banff Upper Hot Springs and the scenic Banff Gondola are only a 10-minute drive away. The property is part of the Energy and Carbon Management Program and has an extensive recycling program in place as well as seven vehicle charging stations.
Recommended Read: Stunning Lakes in the Canadian Rockies National Parks
ION Adventure Hotel
Combining the latest green technology with sleek Nordic design, ION Adventure Hotel is a luxurious eco-friendly hotel in Iceland’s Golden Circle. The hotel incorporates lava, reclaimed wood, Icelandic wool, and other natural recycled materials into its construction, and everything from the bed linen to the food in the restaurant is organic and fair trade. Electric car charging ports are located in the parking area, allowing guests to jump into nearby Thingvellir National Park with ease.
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