Eco Friendly Hotels
Eco Friendly Hotels

Clean break: 8 of the best eco hotels in the world

08 Oct 2019 | Updated on: 27 Sep 2022 |By Anna Prendergast

Scroll on for an exclusive reader offer when booking a villa before 1 November 2019

Nihi Sumba, Indonesia

Wellness retreat Nihi Sumba works closely with the philanthropic Sumba Foundation, and is dedicated to making a serious contribution to the local community. The foundation has built more than 60 water wells and 240 water stations and opened primary schools and medical clinics, with the support of the hotel’s owner Chris Burch. He covers the administrative costs of running the foundation, so that 100 per cent of the donations can fund projects that tackle poverty, malaria and water access. Nihi Sumba also runs entirely on biofuel, and grows produce for the restaurant in an on-site organic garden.

From approx. £700 for a villa, nihi.com

The Brando, French Polynesia

The Brando’s goal is to be one of the first carbon-neutral hotels in the world, by using biofuel, solar energy and sea-water air conditioning (a highly efficient cooling method which harnesses the cold of the ocean depths). Named after actor and owner Marlon Brando, whose vision was always to rely on renewable energy without compromising on luxury, and located on Tetiaroa, a private island in French Polynesia, the hotel was built using materials of local or certified origin. The culture of the motu (reef islet) is fundamental to the hotel, as is the biodiversity. As well as thatched-roof, ocean-view villas for guests, there’s an Ecostation for scientists and conservation to carry out research on Tetiaroa’s ecology.

From approx. £2,600 for a villa, thebrando.com

Song Saa, Koh Rong, Cambodia

Whether you’re on a sunbed at a signature over-water villa or doing sunrise yoga on a sala, the ocean is at the forefront of Song Saa’s collective mindset. Marine conservation comes first, and owners Melita and Rory Hunter set up Cambodia’s first ever government-recognised private marine reserve, which protects the underwater environments and species such as sea turtles, mangroves and Cambodia’s rare sea grass meadows.

From approx. £815 for a villa, songsaa.com

Zuri Zanzibar, Tanzania

On the northern tip of Unjuga, Zanzibar archipelago’s largest island, Zuri is a village-like complex which weaves nature and heritage from the area into the modern African design. The hotel is the first ever to be awarded EarthCheck’s Sustainable Design Gold Certification. It also offers young locals tourism training in Kendwa and partners with social enterprises such as The Seaweed Co, which provides female seaweed farmers with the chance to support themselves economically. The focus here is on social sustainability, and the hotel has created and supported infrastructures like a local library.

From £399 for a double room, zurizanzibar.com

Six Senses, Fiji

Tucked into a secluded bay on Malolo Island, Six Senses takes full advantage of Fiji’s tropical climate, harnessing the year-round sunshine using solar-charged Tesla batteries to sustain the hotel. Programmes are in place to plant coral and reforest the reef, and sustainability officer Jesse Matai takes guests on night-time walks to spot endangered species and native creatures. Close by are some of the world’s top surf spots, such as sufer Kelly Slater’s favourite left-hand barrel, Cloudbreak.

From £615 for a double room, sixsenses.com

Olas Tulum, Mexico

Formerly known as Casa de las Olas, the ‘house of waves’ is run by a team of barefoot, go-slow staff with voices softer than the white sand on the beach. With aerodynamic architecture, solar panels, strategically placed palapas, a black water waste system, rain water irrigation and a compost heap for food waste, every step has been taken into consideration to reduce guests’ carbon footprints during their stay. And you’ll want to take home everything you’ve learned – such is the passion with which owner Jimmy talks about sustainability around the communal breakfast table.

From £195 for a double room, casadelasolas.com

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hawaii

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is Hawaii’s first LEED-certified hotel. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system rates buildings for their green credentials, and energy efficiency is a fundamental part of the hotel’s design. There’s an on-site renewable solar thermal system and low-flow plumbing, as well as farm-to-table restaurant Ka’ana Kitchen and spa treatments that make use of locally-grown sunflower oil. Guests are invited to make their own leis and learn how to husk a coconut.

From £601 for a double room, hyatt.com

Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls, Zambia

Anantara’s Zambia outpost has launched an initiative to help support local female farmers in a drive to empower the area’s local community. Last year, tourism was Zambia’s fastest-growing national economic sector, and Anantara’s response has been to ensure agricultural smallholders such as the Maramba Women’s Mushroom Farm don’t suffer the inevitable consequences of increased demand, prices and taxes. The hotel has developed training programmes for sustainable agriculture techniques and provided educational resources for finance and marketing, as well as a biweekly Smallholder Farmers’ Market.

From £112 for a double room, anantara.com

Exclusive offer for A&K clients

Enjoy one night’s complimentary chef service on selected properties in Italy, France and Spain for bookings of 12 people or more, if you book 1 November 2019 for travel in 2020.

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