Discover seven of the world’s best luxury resorts dedicating their time & profits to helping restore sustainable balance through a number of innovative processes
Held world-wide on 22nd April 2021, the theme for this year’s Earth Day is ‘Restore Our Earth‘. With a focus on the processes, technologies and innovative thinking that will help restore the world’s ecosystems, discover seven luxury resorts putting sustainability at their centre.
Luxtripper, the luxury travel company, is marking the occasion by recognising the work of some of its most eco-conscious partners who dedicate their time, resources and profits to reduce their impact on the environment, and support local wildlife and communities to thrive.
From private island havens to rainforest lodges, dream in sustainable style with these incredible properties:
1 Misool Eco Resort, West Papua, Indonesia
In a small, pristine corner of the Indonesian archipelago on a secluded private island, sits the 11-cottage Misool eco-resort, the perfect place for those seeking adventure and relaxation.
Guests here spend their days scuba diving on the nearby coral reefs, enjoying fresh organic produce at the in-house restaurant, or relaxing at the resort’s Wellness Centre with its traditional Indonesian spa treatments and scrubs hand-blended from local ingredients.
The Misool eco-resort has also assumed the responsibility to protect one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions.
Its sustainability highlights include:
- Every piece of lumber used in building the resort was milled from salvaged driftwood and free-fallen timbers collected in Raja Ampat.
- There is an emphasis across the resort on employing and buying from local people, as well as implementing social projects to provide alternative means of income to local people.
- The water system is sustainable, with collected rainwater used for showering
- Wastewater is processed, treated and then redirected to the gardens and toilet facilities
- The resort is also home to the Misool Conservation Centre, providing a well-equipped, functional base for scientific research and conservation projects, both social and environmental.
- The resort has also implemented a community agreement for a 200 sq. km marine-protected area where no fishing is allowed.
A North Lagoon Villa at the Misool Eco Resort costs from £590 per night. Find out more here.
2 Ongava Lodge, Namibia
Situated in the privately-owned Ongava Game Reserve on a stunning hilltop overlooking Etosha National Park, Ongava Lodge is a relaxing retreat in nature.
Rock-and-thatch chalets with their own private viewing decks are integrated within this African landscape, and the bar, lounge and dining areas offer impressive views across the camp’s waterhole. Guests can enjoy remarkable tours in nature, including rhino approaching, game drives, and bird watching, making Ongava the ideal place for an unforgettable holiday in Namibia.
Ongava is also responding to the needs of the planet with the Ongava Research Centre, an interactive hub for conservation science, where cutting edge technology meets field-based research. Guests at Ongava have the option of being immersed in and contributing to developing creative, knowledge driven solutions with resident scientists, visiting researchers, conservationists, and rhino security personnel.
Chalets at Ongava Lodge cost from £550 per night. Find out more here.
3 Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Malaysian Borneo
The Borneo Rainforest Lodge is a luxurious resort on the banks of the tranquil Danum River. It boasts an exclusive selection beautiful chalets and villas tucked in the Danum Valley’s ancient rainforests, with private plunge pools and spacious balconies.
Following a day’s trekking in the rainforest to see some of the region’s much-loved wildlife including the spectacular orangutans, guests can relax with a wide range of Malaysian dishes at the Lodge’s restaurant or enjoy the Danum Valley Trekking Treatment at the on-site spa.
Since 2014, the Borneo Rainforest Lodge has been implementing a Green Practice Initiative to help preserve one of the last remaining lowland rainforests in Borneo and protect rare species such as the Orangutan, Bornean pygmy elephant, Sumatran rhino, clouded leopard, and Malay sun bear.
Other sustainability highlights include:
- Reducing chemical usage using eco-friendly repellents, toiletries and cleaning agents, home-made insecticide and natural fragrances
- Cutting energy consumption with solar panels, LED lights and energy-saving bulbs
- Recycling plastic and human waste
- A commitment to measuring, monitoring and continuously minimising the resort’s environmental impact
A villa at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, including a private plunge pool and spectacular views across the rainforest, costs from £830 per night. Find out more here.
4 The Brando, French Polynesia
A remote location in the Tetiaroa Atoll, the Brando is an exclusive resort in French Polynesia surrounded by glistening turquoise water and lush, tropical foliage. Once the private retreat of Marlon Brando, guests can experience ultimate luxury in a selection of villas boasting private pools, direct beach access, and alfresco bathtubs.
The cuisines of Michelin-star chefs feature in the resorts’ Polynesian and Japanese-inspired restaurants, and the Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa offers a wide variety of holistic treatments where guests can listen to the sounds of the surrounding nature as they find inner peace.
The resort is serious about maintaining its delicate balance with the island – sustainability highlights include:
- All building materials used are of local or certified origin, renewable, or incorporate recycled components.
- The resort uses a pioneering deep seawater air-conditioning system to reduce energy demands and relies entirely on renewable energy sources including solar power and biofuel whenever it can be procured.
- Setting a new world standard, the resort is close to reach its goal of being carbon neutral and self-sustainable.
- It has built its own Eco station to lead scientific and cultural missions to protect the atoll and inspire sustainable interdependence.
A one-bedroom villa at The Brando costs from £2,495 per night. Find out more here.
5 El Nido Resorts, Miniloc Island, Philippines
El Nido is the Philippines’ picture-perfect paradise, with its lush limestone islands covered with tropical foliage, glassy turquoise water shimmering in the sun and secluded coves waiting to be discovered.
The resort boasts a variety of luxury rooms and cottages positioned on stilts above the water and with views across the glistening Bacuit Bay, perfect for those wanting true escape into nature. Guests can savour traditional Filipino dishes in the bamboo-decorated restaurant, explore the glassy water lagoons by kayak, or soak-up ocean views from the outdoor Beach Bar whilst sipping tropical cocktails.
The resort is dedicated to sustainability, with highlights including:
- State-of-the-art water and sewage treatment plants to protect local marine life and for use across the resort
- Activities for guests that are low impact, sustainable and educational, both in understanding the impact on the environment and celebrating local communities and their culture
- A database detailing of flora and fauna in the local area to support scientific studies and conservation
- Committed protection of turtles, giant clams and other marine life
- Regular coastal clean-up activity, clearing beaches of marine debris
- Employment and livelihood opportunities for the local community
- Environmental and sustainability training programmes for all staff
Guests can stay in El Nido’s Garden Cottage from £580 per night. Find out more here.
6 Grootbos Garden Lodge, South Africa
With a backdrop of ancient milkwood forests, the Grootbos Garden Lodge boasts some of the most impressive coastal scenery in the Western Cape. Its views stretch down to the magnificent curve of Walker Bay, where it is possible to see whales basking off the shoreline.
Each of its 11 freestanding suites is built from stone, wood, and thatch, with beautiful views from its floor to ceiling windows and private wooden deck. Perfect for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of activities to enjoy at the lodge, including a botanical safari tour, or an eco-friendly boat trip to seek out the ‘Marine Big 5’.
Grootbos is a world leader in sustainable tourism and has been awarded some of the highest international accolades possible. Its mission is to conserve the unique Cape Floral Kingdom, and to develop sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism, enterprise development, sports development, and education.
Sustainability highlights include:
- Conserving, rehabilitating, and protecting the natural environment of the Western Cape region, particularly the flora and fauna on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the Walker Bay region.
- Training and skills development for disadvantaged people in the local communities to help them find employment or become start their own enterprise.
- Developing sustainable and innovative solutions to tackle the issue of food insecurity.
- Using organic produce and regional wines from the Reserve in the on-site restaurant
- Ecological, educational, social, and scientific research to support the environment and local communities.
A Garden Lodge Luxury Suite at the Grootbos Private Reserve costs from £825 per night. Find out more here.
7 Lapa Rios, Costa Rica
This 930-acre private nature reserve is located at the southern-most tip of the Osa Peninsula, Central America’s last remaining lowland dense tropical rainforest and home to 2.5% of the biodiversity of the whole world.
Lapa Rios offers 17 private luxurious bungalows and shared areas, all designed in harmony with surrounding forest and beaches, and built with locally harvested materials and with stunning views over the rainforest and ocean. The resort has a canopy look-out gallery where guests can spot monkeys, toucans, and sloths. Activities include hikes along miles of trails with their spectacular waterfalls, naturalist-led interpretive guided tour of the local rainforest, kayaking in the ocean mangroves, and dolphin and whale watching in the huge bay.
Lapa Rios’ sustainability highlights include:
- The resort was built using local and renewable materials, including bamboo, wood, and local vines.
- 100% of its energy comes from renewable sources, including 220 solar panels and 10 nano turbines for hydro power.
- Locally sourced food supports communities, reduces the need to transport common ingredients, and avoids non-recyclable packaging.
- Food scraps fed to pigs creates methane gas to fuel the staff kitchen stove.
- Support for local suppliers, including farmers, plant/tree growers, indigenous artists, and tour operators.
- Education for staff on sustainability issues, teaching best practices for the workplace.
Deluxe Bungalows at Lapa Rios cost from £750 per night. Find out more here
Luxtripper specialises in experiential, multi-destination and adventure travel in more than 90 countries around the world.
For more information on Earth Day 2021, visit EARTHDAY.ORG
All images courtesy of Luxtripper
