As our planet is gradually getting hotter with each passing year, it has become absolutely necessary to switch to sustainable practices in one of the largest global industries – tourism. As awareness of sustainable tourism grows, more and more travel accommodation providers are shifting to greener practices. These practices revolve around renewable energy sources, sustainable waste management and water and energy conservation, to name a few.
Today, you can also find plenty of luxury resorts switching over to eco-friendly practices in an effort to make the Earth a better place to live. Many of these resorts are in some of the most naturally stunning settings, providing unique accommodation experiences and making you admire nature even more without compromising on high-end luxury. Scroll down and discover the top eco-luxury resorts in the world.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on June 02, 2024.
1. Turtle Bay Resort; Hawai'i, USA (from USD 918)
Luxurious but pricey, worth the splurge for the location and amenities.
Modern, clean, spacious rooms, beautiful pools, and beaches with plenty of activities.
Idyllic North Shore setting, perfect for a peaceful and relaxing stay.
Excellent dining options, though on the expensive side; consider exploring nearby food trucks.
Admire the remarkable coast and the magnificent Pacific Ocean while staying at this sustainable luxury resort on the island of O'ahu in Hawai'i. With over 650 ac (263 ha) of conservation space, this resort is doing its part in protecting the ecosystem. During your stay at the green-award-winning resort, you can participate in the beach clean-up programmes organised in partnership with several environmental groups.
From budget guest rooms to lavish ocean bungalows, all units run on solar energy and have a special energy management system in place. The resort also boasts four outdoor pools, all of which are made safe to swim in with natural saltwater rather than chlorine-based compounds. Moreover, the eight dining spots here use local and organic produce. There are even four charging stations here if you plan to bring an eclectic vehicle.
Turtle Bay Resort
Address: 57-091 Kamehameha Highway
17493.07 km (10869.7 mi) from Nyange sandbank
2. Terranea Resort; California, USA (from USD 778)
Sitting on the edge of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California, this stunning resort offers 270-degree views of the magnificent Pacific Ocean. Sprawled over 102 ac (41 ha), over 75 ac (30 ha) of the area is set aside for natural landscape and habitat. Since 2017, the resort has been redistributing safe and unserved surplus food with the help of other non-profit organisations.
Among other facilities, the resort boasts seven on-site restaurants offering al fresco dining overlooking the ocean, all of which use locally sourced products from its surroundings. You can even join the resort’s kelp forest cleanup through a kayak tour. After a full day, you can soak in any of the four saltwater pools or relax in the on-site spa.
Terranea Resort
Address: 100 Terranea Way
16178.62 km (10053.0 mi) from Nyange sandbank
3. Six Senses Laamu; Laamu, Maldives (from USD 2614)
Luxury pricing with value for money. Special perks offered.
Abundant activities, kids club, stunning house reef for snorkeling and diving, spacious and well-maintained villas.
Breathtaking Maldives location with warm, welcoming atmosphere and beautiful beaches.
Exceptional dining experiences, varied and delicious food, phenomenal breakfast, and themed food evenings.
Set on an atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Six Senses Laamu features on-land and over-water villas, conveniently allowing you to witness marine life, including dolphins, manta rays and parrotfish. Moreover, this place boasts an organic garden, which, along with the local fishermen, supplies the produce to the on-site restaurants.
The resort and other organisations run the Maldives Underwater Initiative, which works towards conserving marine life and protecting the atoll. It also features an immersive learning centre, the Sea Hub for Environmental Learning in Laamu, ideal for learning about marine conservation experiences.
Six Senses Laamu
Address: Olhuveli Island
3907.49 km (2428.0 mi) from Nyange sandbank
4. Soneva Fushi; Baa Atoll, Maldives (from USD 3547)
Pricy but worth the cost, exceptional overall
Outstanding water retreat with slide, luxurious overwater villa, attentive personal butlers, kids club 'The Den'
Beautiful Maldives experience, calm and exciting jungle-like setting, sea plane ride with lovely views
Heavenly breakfast with fresh, delicious choices, excellent dining with spectacular views, attentive and accommodating staff
For your next eco-friendly luxury getaway, book a super-spacious, foliage-hidden villa at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives and have an unforgettable experience discovering the wonders of ocean life. Among several unique experiences, you can discover magnificent marine life by going underwater for a longer period with the help of a glider. Some accommodations here even have a private waterslide that directs you to the sea.
The resort is continuously making efforts towards marine conservation and aims to propagate 150,000 corals every year in partnership with several non-governmental organisations. With this place’s waste-to-wealth initiative, the resort recycles its solid waste at Eco Centro. The resort also provides equal employment opportunities for a balanced gender representation.
Soneva Fushi
Address: Kunfunadhoo Island
3972.55 km (2468.5 mi) from Nyange sandbank
5. Lapa Rios Lodge; Puntarenas, Costa Rica (from USD 1039)
Luxurious, but expensive at over 2,000 USD per night.
Unique jungle resort with abundant wildlife, but lacking consistent concierge service.
Secluded jungle location with challenging road access, but offers a superb and tranquil experience.
Perfect dining experiences with abundant wildlife and peaceful atmosphere.
Set within Central America’s only remaining lowland rainforest, Lapa Rios Lodge offers lavish accommodations amidst the rawest forms of nature. The resort’s premier accommodations, deluxe bungalows, don’t include air conditioning but have open-air architecture, allowing constant airflow.
The resort’s total energy requirements are met by 220 solar panels and 10 hydro-turbines, providing constant energy even when it’s cloudy. In an effort to support the community, the resort promotes the local Costa Rican culture and buys supplies and products from the local growers, enabling a farm-to-table cuisine experience.
Lapa Rios Lodge by Böëna
Address: Cabo Matapalo. Puntarenas
13665.29 km (8491.3 mi) from Nyange sandbank
6. Song Saa Private Island; Koh Ouen, Cambodia (from USD 1263)
Luxurious villas at reasonable rates, with inclusive packages available.
Sustainable resort with community outreach, stunning design, and personalized service.
Secluded island setting with breathtaking views and ample activities.
Opportunities for improvement in the dining options, with potential for reworking.
This resort on a private island offers an opportunity to reconnect with nature. You can choose from a range of natural settings for your eco-luxury retreat, with jungle villas, ocean-view villas and overwater villas. The lavish accommodations also have iPod and Android docking stations and a stocked minibar.
The resort has championed recycling and reusing, as villas and flooring are built from salvaged and recycled timber sourced from defunct factories, warehouses and discarded shipping boats. Even the materials for the furniture are from handpicked, thrown-out driftwood. Plus, the resort has its own sewage and irrigation system, ensuring all waste gets processed or recycled and nothing enters the sea.
Song Saa Private Island
Address: Koh Ouen
7343.56 km (4563.1 mi) from Nyange sandbank
7. Chumbe Island Coral Park; Mbweni, Tanzania (from USD 275)
High-end eco-lodge, worth the cost for unique experience and conservation support.
Rustic yet comfortable bungalows, sustainable practices, minimal impact tourism.
Private island with pristine coral reefs, secluded and peaceful atmosphere.
Delicious home-cooked meals, candlelit beach dinners, diverse and plentiful options.
Chumbe Island Coral Park is a private nature reserve just off the coast of Zanzibar and the island of Unguja in Tanzania. This place is taking significant strides towards protecting the ecosystem with its forest reserve with rare wildlife and a fully protected coral reef sanctuary.
The resort features seven palm-thatched eco-bungalows set between the beach and the forest, providing you with a secluded stay. Accommodations also have African art decor, solar water heating and photovoltaic roof panels. During your stay, you can sample succulent seafood sourced locally and savour Zanzibari, Indian, African and Arabic fusion cuisines on the terrace and under the palm trees.
Chumbe Island Coral Park
Address: Chumbe Island
8.31 km (5.2 mi) from Nyange sandbank
8. NIHI Sumba; East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
This resort redefines luxury while practising sustainability. It even features 27 unique villas with private pools. During your stay, indulge in the unique experience of Spa Safari, a full- or half-day session. This offering includes a refreshing swim in the sea, an open-fire-cooked breakfast and a range of historic Indonesian healing techniques accentuated by the healing properties of lush nature.
This leading responsible tourism resort has been the recipient of multiple awards over the years. Moreover, it continues giving back through community developments and provides opportunities by getting supplies from the locals.
NIHI Sumba
Address: Desa Hobawawi, Kec. Wanokaka, West Sumba
8825.1 km (5483.7 mi) from Nyange sandbank
9. Alila Seminyak; Bali, Indonesia (from USD 355)
Reasonable pricing for beachfront location, but higher prices for food and drinks
Multiple pools, beachfront access, spa treatments, and spacious rooms
Conveniently close to Seminyak attractions, with stunning beach views and sunsets
Delicious and varied breakfast options, with some mixed reviews on food and drink quality
Alila Seminyak is ideal for a tranquil retreat immersed in Balinese culture. All luxury units at the resort are built with contemporary architecture and include private terraces or balconies. After a full day outdoors, you can rejuvenate at the on-site spa with the treatments provided using ancient healing techniques.
To support and give back to the community, the resort sponsors students from a children’s foundation and offers training in the art of food and beverage hospitality. It also boasts organic farming and offers zero-waste cocktails and a farm-to-table culinary experience.
Alila Seminyak
Address: Jalan Taman Ganesha no. 9, Petitenget
8372.04 km (5202.2 mi) from Nyange sandbank
10. Banyan Tree Mayakoba; Playa del Carmen, Mexico (from USD 824)
Luxurious but worth it, with expensive dining and spa options.
Private villas with pools, complimentary bikes, nature trails, and a beach club.
Set in a nature preserve, close to Playa del Carmen and with a hidden gem, El Pueblito.
Amazing dining experiences at various restaurants, though some items are overpriced.
Reconnect with nature and experience Asian culture mixed with local Mexican traditions during your stay at this eco-friendly luxury resort. For the ultimate luxury and privacy, many villas and suites include private pools and terraces, allowing guests to relax and admire breathtaking views in seclusion.
The resort has been making efforts to protect sea turtles, conserve coral reefs and clean local communities, among its several eco-friendly and local community projects. Due to its sustainable initiatives, this place has been certified by ecotourism organisations such as EarthCheck, PROFEPA and Distinctive S.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Address: Carretera Federal Chetumal Puerto Juarez
14005.42 km (8702.6 mi) from Nyange sandbank
Travel lavishly and responsibly with eco-luxury resorts
As more and more hotels and resorts switch to eco-friendly practices, travellers can also support these accommodations and explore responsibly. So, if you are looking for a luxurious escape, switch to sustainable accommodations and book one of these unique eco-luxury resorts to have an unforgettable and responsible time in the lap of nature.
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