The world’s most sustainable hotels: stay in eco-friendly style
If you care about the planet, then rest easy at these eco-friendly hotels.
We’ve already talked about the best boutique hotels in Europe and the best hotel TV shows, but where do you go if you’re an eco-conscious traveller? While the idea of sustainable hotels might initially be thought of as something of an oxymoron, in fact, most new-build properties are factoring this into their design. Looking to build with eco-friendly materials, planting gardens with fresh produce, and constructing grey water recycling facilities, along with abandoning traditional in-room extras such as plastic water bottles, toothbrushes and shampoos are now top priorities for hoteliers across the globe. Thankfully, a number of forward-thinking resorts have this down already, so here we present a guide to the world’s most sustainable hotels.
The world’s most sustainable hotels for eco-friendly holidays
1. Bambu Indah | Bali, Indonesia
Curated by John and Cynthia Hardy – acclaimed designers and long-term Bali residents, Bambu Indah is a must-visit for any eco-conscious traveller heading to Bali. The property is the perfect blend of living-off-the-land and a luxe hotel. Expect to wake up to the sound of fresh spring waterfalls and unadulterated nature, before spending the day adventuring through tropical jungle, lazing in hammocks suspended over the river, grazing through the permaculture farm and even washing local buffalo. A true natural wonderland, you’ll want to stay here indefinitely.
Read our full story on the best eco-friendly hotels in Bali too.
Find out more about Bambu Indah or Book through Booking.com
2. The Hideout | Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
Just a 30-minute boat ride away from Phuket, The Hideout can be found within an old cashew nut plantation on Koh Yao Noi. Made up of just four open-air treehouse suites, each is crafted fro locally sourced and sustainable materials. Spend time in the saltwater infinity pool, enjoy meals created from local produce, and completely switch off at this electricity-free resort where the island breeze will cool your stay.
Read our full story on the best eco-friendly hotels in Thailand.
Find out more about The Hideout Koh Yai Noi
3. Adrère Amellal | Egypt
Nestled away near the Salt Lakes of Siwa, Adrère Amellal offers you the chance to detach from the world and connect fully with nature. Lit by gas lamps, candles, and the moon, the property is free from electricity so you can dine beneath the stars. The architecture here is crafted from kershaf, a traditional blend of clay, sand, and salt and all the produce comes from the hotel’s own gardens. We love the natural spring swimming pool that is shaded by a palm grove.
Read the full story on the best eco-friendly hotels in Egypt.
Find out more about Adrère Amellal
4. The Kip | Sri Lanka
A former fisherman’s house, this four-room B&B is all about returning to a more conscious way of life. Surrounded by jungle and just steps away from the beach, enjoy surfing in the morning before refueling at the popular onsite cafe. Expect comfortable beds and cool design here as you drift off to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore – heaven!
Read our full story on the best eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka.
Find out more about The Kip or Book through Booking.com
5. The Pig at Combe | United Kingdom
Sitting pretty near the south coast in Devon, The Pig at Combe does sustainability the right way. Showcasing upcycled furniture across the property, it also uses LED lighting to reduce energy consumption and a number of recycled products.
Enjoy a menu of delights crafted from ingredients grown on site in one of the three kitchen gardens and relax in rustic spaces that ooze British charm.
Read our full story on the best eco-friendly hotels in the United Kingdom.
Learn more about The Pig at Combe
7. Pench Tree Lodge | India
Wildlife enthusiasts will love this sustainable hotel that offers ethical glamping adventures. Located just 20 minutes from Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh, each of the 12 treehouses and cottage resorts are constructed from natural materials, including sal wood.
Enjoy being nestled amid 40 acres of forest as you take a dip in the pool and learn more about the surrounding flora and fauna.
Read our full story on the best eco-friendly hotels in India.
Discover more about Pench Tree Lodge
8. Saffire Freycinet | Australia
You can’t get more sustainable than Tasmania, a state that went carbon neutral in 2015 and celebrates organic produce and local communities. Saffire Freycinet sits in the spectacular Freycinet National Park, and is one of the most luxurious and eco-friendly resorts in Australia.
The hotel has replanted more than 30,000 native plants to regenerate the area, chooses majority Tasmanian products, and uses airflow systems to heat and cool the property.
Made up of 20 suites overlooking the Hazard Mountains, guests can choose from luxury suites to private pavilions, which have separate kitchen and dining areas. Each is designed in a beautiful minimalist style that celebrates nature, using Tasmanian timber furniture, plus, you’ll get a private terrace, courtyard with a plunge pool or lounge, and a double shower and bath.
With unparalleled access to the park, make sure to take advantage of experiences like hiking, beekeeping, oyster farming, and water sports in the bay. There’s also a spa offering massages, treatments, meditation, and even bespoke food menus, although you’re sure to be impressed by Palatte Restaurant, which serves multi-course menus using whatever is available fresh that day paired with delectable local wines.
Learn more about Saffire Freycinet
9. Tierra Patagonia | Chile
Chilean architects Cazú Zegers, Roberto Benavente, and Rodrigo Ferrer were behind the design for Tierra Patagonia, a hotel built from local natural materials and inspired by the shape of fossils. Blending seamlessly in with surrounds, during the build, landscape artists removed the on-site vegetation and tended it before replanting it around the site when it was complete.
Inside, LED lighting is in place to reduce energy waste with textiles and furnishings crafted from local natural materials. But it’s the layout of the structure that is perhaps most interesting, as it utilises the sun in a way that allows for no air-conditioning in summer and low-heating in winter. We also love that Tierra Patagonia supports reforestation by planting a tree for every visitor who stays with them.
Read more about Tierra Patagonia or Book through Booking.com
10. Sussurro | Mozambique
An African escape in the south of Mozambique, Sussurro is right on the coast of the Indian Ocean, complete with palm trees, beaches, and open-plan living. Sustainability starts from the word go, as the whole resort is off-grid and solar powered, but you’ll have all the home comforts you could need.
The private bungalows are breezy and spacious, with four poster beds, outdoor baths and locally crafted decor, along with a waterfront veranda. You can opt to make your stay all inclusive too, in which you’ll get meals and drinks included, and the food is something you don’t want to miss.
The restaurant uses ingredients from local farmers and fishermen to create a plant-heavy menu of seasonal dishes such as curried mangrove crab and aubergine ravioli. Experiences include riding on a traditional African dhow at sunset, a picnic on a remote island and snorkelling trips in this protected marine area, or you could simply relax by the saltwater pool with a cocktail. The sustainability efforts are second to none, with the hotel using only materials 100% sourced in Africa, no single-use plastics, and organic, local ingredients.
Read more about Sussurro
11. Bawah Reserve | Indonesia
To create a property with light impact on the earth in Indonesia, Singaporean architect Sim Boon Yang was charged with the design of Bawah Reserve. The design for the property took inspiration from the silhouettes of the surrounding islands, resulting in organic curves that add an elegance to the luxury resort.
As a rare ecosystem, home to many rare and endangered species of both flora and fauna, the construction of the reserve was done without any machinery. Natural materials such as bamboo and local stone were employed to create the hotel, and even the jetty was designed in conjunction with divers to ensure none of the coral reef below was impacted. And, as water is a precious resource for the reserve, rainwater is carefully collected and drinking water is made through the onsite desalination plant.
Learn more about Bawah Reserve
12. GoldenEye | Jamaica
A boutique hotel with a rich history, GoldenEye as Bond fans may guess, is the former home of author Ian Fleming, who fell in love with this tropical stretch of island in Jamaica. The hotel is a collection of villas, cottages, and huts right on the beach, each sat either by the sand or over the sparkling blue lagoon, with outdoor showers, dining and direct water access.
Outdoor living and activities are the focus here, from SUP and sailing to deep-sea fishing or a trip to the coffee plantations in the Blue Mountains. All of this, while remaining one of the most sustainable hotels in Jamaica that funds marine and turtle conservation, uses organic, local ingredients on the menus, and reduces its carbon footprint via the GoldenEye Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving natural resources and biodiversity. Back at the hotel, you can enjoy some of these fresh ingredients with lunch at Bizot Bar, drinks at the Bamboo rum bar or private dining by candlelight.
Take a look at our picks for the best boutique hotels in The Caribbean too.
Find out more about GoldenEye or Book through Booking.com
13. Whitepod Eco-Luxury Resort | Switzerland
If you’re looking for a sustainable snow experience, then you simply can’t beat Whitepod Eco-Luxury Resort in Switzerland. Launched in 2004, this unique hotel is made up of geodesic domes that require 30% less energy than a conventional building. The shape of these buildings also require less materials than traditional structures, as they are put together from self-supporting triangular framework.
At Whitepod, you’ll find limited transport, a wood-pellet heating system, water-saving devices on taps and timers on all water boilers. All food and beverages are sourced locally first and if necessary, seasonal and sustainable European goods are employed.
Find out more about Whitepod Eco-Luxury Resort or Book through Booking.com
14. Svart Hotel | Norway
The world’s first energy positive hotel not only has a good looking carbon footprint, but also cuts one hell of a figure. World-renowned architecture and design firm Snøhetta conceived the donut-like form for the property at at the base of the Svartisen glacier, and construction preserved flora and fauna on the site to tread as lightly as possible.
“We estimate the hotel to save 85% of its annual energy consumption and harvest enough solar energy to cover both the hotel operations, including its boat shuttle operation and the energy needed to construct the building,” the website explains.
Learn more about Svart Hotel
15. Kittawa Lodge | Australia
We love an off-grid escape, and Tasmania is the best place to find them. Kittawa Lodge on King’s Island stands out for its scenic coastal location, abundant wildlife, and incredibly stylish design. Scandi-chic is the focus of the two lodges, with varying tones of grey, dark stone and soft furnishings all laid out cleanly – windows maximise the view, while rooms feature wood-burning fireplaces, concrete baths and a fully-equipped living and dining space.
If you’re wondering how to survive somewhere so off-grid, worry not, the owners have stocked your kitchen with goodies, including soft drinks and spirits, there are yoga classes, hiking tours, surfing and golf. You can book things DIY or choose to have everything catered, but either way you can expect to enjoy Tasmania’s uniquely fresh, produce along with regional wines from local businesses.
Discover more about Kittawa Lodge or
16. Song Saa Private Island | Cambodia
The epitome of sustainable design, Song Saa Private Island proves that luxury and eco-responsibility can exist simultaneously. Crafted from reclaimed timber and materials from Cambodia itself, the design for the tropical getaway was the brainchild of Melita Koulmandas Hunter.
Each villa is home to up-cycled decor and repurposed furniture, with driftwood being made into tables, salvaged wood from discarded fishing boats transforming into floor boards and even old oil drums being given new life as useful products like lamps.
A particularly impressive and unique part of the green resort is the purpose-built sewage and irrigation system that recycles 100% of the waste created. The custom-built wastewater treatment facility then cleans all of the water and the grey water is then used for irrigation while the organic waste becomes fertiliser.
Even the food programme at Song Saa Private Island considers the environment. The resort works with local fishermen who employ sustainable fishing methods, while the majority of the vegetables used are grown onsite. Green has never looked so good.
Heading to Cambodia? These are the best boutique hotels in Siem Reap.
Find out more about Song Saa Private Island or Book through Booking.com
17. COMO Laucala Island | Fiji
We think being 86% self-sustained definitely warrants you a place on the list of world’s most sustainable hotels. On a private island in beautiful Fiji, COMO Laucala Island is spread over 12 square kilometres, with 25 villas and 240 acres of farmland. Growing its own vegetables, herbs and fruit and raising its own cattle, pigs, goats and ducks, means that the majority of the food served at this hotel is homegrown.
Villas are set across the property with some amid the plantations and other ringed by rainforest or set above water. No matter the location, each has been crafted from natural materials and inside, locally-grown rain trees were used for countertops, doors and turned-wood handles.
The commitment to sustainability at this lux resort continues into the spa. Homegrown herbs, spice and flowers are used to create the hotel’s four signature scents, while local products such as volcanic soil are utilised for body scrubs.
Find out more about COMO Laucala Island
18. Azulik | Mexico
This adults-only retreat in Tulum, Mexico is somewhere that needs to be seen to be believed. Designed to help reconnect people with nature, the hotel embraces an environmentally-friendly design ethos and responsible business practices.
Featuring villas, restaurants, fashion boutiques, an art gallery and a clothing-optional beach club, the architecture was created to mimic treehouses with high paths and hanging bridges allowing the surrounding jungle to grow freely.
Each of the 48 villas have been hand-built from local wood and have been designed in a way that means they don’t require air-conditioning, and the property has also ditched Wi-Fi, televisions and electric light.
Read our picks for the best boutique hotels in Mexico too.
Find out more about Azulik or Book through Booking.com
19. Soneva Fushi | Maldives
Not only are Soneva resorts synonymous with luxury, but the brand has established itself as one of the most sustainable in the world. Located in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll on the private Kunfunadhoo Island, Soneva Fushi has nailed the luxury paradise vibe with spacious overwater villas and unparalleled dining options, from a garden bistro to a treetop restaurant only reached by zipline.
Not to mention the experiences, which range from swimming with manta rays to private beach dinners, their sustainability efforts appear around every corner – they have permaculture gardens, recycled food sources and the world’s first sustainable surfing tours, complete with recycled boards, suncream and gear. They leave the remainder of the island untouched and protect local species, which guests can learn about; plus, they use bamboo for building, are 100% carbon neutral, carry out coral restoration programmes and source all ingredients sustainably. The list of eco-friendly programmes goes on for so long that they even have an A-Z glossary of all their sustainable practices; it’s the ultimate eco-friendly stay.
Read our picks for the best luxury hotels in the Maldives for lovers of good design.
Learn more about Soneva Fushi or Book through Booking.com
20. Fogo Island Inn | Canada
Sitting on a remote, windswept island in Canada, Fogo Island Inn is an escape from the world for those who don’t want to sacrifice comfort. The striking property was built using local wood, almost no plastic, and filtered rainwater, and in your room, you’ll find refillable bottles, local toiletries, and even ethically sourced mattresses.
There are just 29 unique rooms here designed with floor-to-ceiling windows to allow guests epic views of the wildlife strolling past and uninterrupted ocean vistas. You may want to stay cosy in your suite, but the activities are endless in this spectacular corner of the world; snowmobiling, boat building, pottery making, heli-hiking, and whale watching are just a few on offer.
The onsite restaurant serves authentic farm-to-table meals featuring foraged fruits and plants, North Atlantic seafood and other seasonal ingredients, and if all of that tires you out, there’s a relaxing sauna and hot tub on the roof.
Fogo Island Inn also features on our guide to the world’s most beautiful hotel architecture.
Discover more about Fogo Island Inn
21. Jicaro Island | Nicaragua
It’s small, it’s remote and it’s simply paradise – it’s Jicaro Island Ecolodge, a boutique hotel in the middle of Lake Nicaragua where seclusion and world-class service are guaranteed.
The sustainability practices here are impressive – the hotel was built out of trees salvaged from Hurricane Felix, they source local produce, and have a community outreach programmer to support a local school.
The luxe, wooden lodgings were designed by Matthew Falkiner and feature nine private two-storey cabins in indoor-outdoor style. Expect views over the lake and sounds of the rainforest around your room, which includes breezy bedrooms, private terrace and hammock.
Remote it may be, but lacking in activities it is not. Three freshly prepared meals per day are included in your stay, you can unwind in the pool or at the swim-up bar, or go on a walk through the rainforest with your own nature guide. There’s also a wellness centre offering massages, or you can grab a kayak or paddleboard and head out on the lake.
Find out more about Jicaro Island or Book through Booking.com
22. The Brando | French Polynesia
Hidden away on the breathtaking private island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia, The Brando is all about carefree luxury in the heart of nature. Just 35 villas welcome guests to spend time exploring wildlife including manta rays, exotic birds, and of course sea turtles that frequent the sandy white beaches.
As stewards of the land, the property was crafted with local and recycled materials with the design sitting harmoniously into the landscape. A pioneering deep seawater air-conditioning system reduces energy consumption and the resort is getting close to reaching its goal of being carbon neutral and entirely self-sustainable.
Discover more about The Brando
23. Gangtey Lodge | Bhutan
Those lucky enough to explore Bhutan usually opt to stay at a magnificent Six Senses resort, but there’s a new luxury player on the scene. Designed in rustic yet luxury farmhouse style, the hotel has just 12 suites and breathtaking views over the mountains and valley from every window – if you’re lucky, you’ll spot the endangered black-neck cranes that call the region home.
The hotel is head-to-toe timber, and each suite has rolltop baths in a window nook for a relaxing soak with a view. There are also heated slate floors, spacious living areas and a comfy king-sized bed, along with a wood-burning fireplace.
Experiences are all about immersing yourself in Bhutanese culture: guests can enjoy traditional hot stone baths and massages to recuperate after various adventures, such as archery, guided hiking and cycling, spiritual butter lamp ceremonies and monastery visits. Plus, dining is led by Chef Adrian Broadhead, who uses local ingredients in the spacious dining room and terrace, while private experiences like panoramic picnics and cooking classes can also be arranged.
Read more about Gangtey Lodge
24. Shinta Mani Wild | Cambodia
It’s no secret that we love Bill Bensley and this wild and hidden Cambodian property is a perfect example of why. Deep within the rainforest where three of Cambodia’s most beautiful national parks converge, Experiences abound, from arriving by zipline and enjoying riverfront cocktails, to going on a jungle cruise, an orchid walk or for a swim in a nearby waterfall.
The 15 canvas-roofed tents are dotted along the river and have essentials like king-sized beds and aircon. But they’re also dotted with Khmer antiques and include private verandahs with outdoor soaking tubs, fully-stocked mini fridge and walk-in rain showers.
The model here is all-inclusive, meaning guests get meals, drinks, activities and even spa treatments included. And talking of meals, The Headquarters serves seasonal, locally-grown ingredients in traditional Khmer dishes, while The Landing Zone lets you sip on cocktails overlooking a thundering waterfall.
Did we mention that when building the hotel, almost no rainforest was damaged? Staff are also from the local village and single-use plastics are banned, plus part of each room rate goes towards their Wildlife Alliance ranger camp – you can even join them on a rainforest patrol.
Learn more about Shinta Mani Wild
25. Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort | Portugal
You’ll find Santa Barbara on the dramatic, windswept island São Miguel in The Azores, complete with countryside surroundings and endless sea views. Sustainability translates seamlessly into the design, with the hotel being built from local wood and stone, with plenty of greenery.
There are 30 studios and villas, each with kitchenettes and private balconies. Most include Jacuzzis, while others have plunge pools and hammocks, all tied together with wood furnishings and Azorean motifs.
While you’re there, you can try surfing, paddleboarding and a host of other watersports, or book a cruise to see the island’s famous marine life, including whales and dolphins. There’s also a tranquil pool, hiking trails, beach area and wellness retreat, alongside their restaurant, which dishes up seasonal Azorean cuisine using products from their farm.
What makes it eco? Aside from the building materials, the property is energy efficient, staff take part in beach cleanups, rainwater is used throughout the hotel, they follow a programme to minimise waste, the list goes on and on.
Find out more about Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort or Book through Booking.com
But wait, there’s more…
- Read all about the best boutique hotels in Brighton, UK
- Check in at Amerikalinjen Hotel in Oslo, Norway
- Or find a bunch of hotels where celebrities did weird things
