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The Best Eco Resorts From Around the World
Ecotourism has grown to be a significant part of the travel market and this has meant a rise in eco-conscious resorts looking to reduce their environmental impact, give something back to the community and attract a new kind of mindful traveller. Here are some of the best:
Six Senses Con Dao was built within a beautiful national marine park in South-east of Vietnam. The resort was designed and then built to blend in and reduce the environmental impact on its protected surroundings and uses materials from local, sustainable and reclaimed sources.
The centre of the resort was imagined and created to resemble a traditional fishing village with its own market place. The village has natural ventilation to reduce the use of air conditioning and was built with reclaimed teak and local wooden panels. The resort is committed to helping the local community and buys fresh products from the local market and fishing village to feed its hungry guests. In 2011 this five star resort was awarded the Green Good Design Award and in 2012 the Best Sustainable Resort in Vietnam by the International Hotel Rewards.
It’s worth mentioning that this hideaway, on the private island of Hadahaa, just for the marine biologist they have on staff. This valuable team member makes sure the required operating procedures and practices are met for the resort to follow EarthCheck certification standards. They also employ a number of energy saving techniques, water conservation, community initiatives and waste management.
This five star luxury hotel has nestled its bungalows within the local landscape to minimise its impact on the surrounding tropical vegetation, coral reefs, white sandy beaches and turquoise crystal water. All of this has helped the resort gain recognition and in 2012 they earned the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award and the Green GOOD DESIGN Award.
The Milia Mountain Retreat believes you will find “respect to humanity and its needs” at their resort in a small, forgotten corner of Western Crete.
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About 30 years ago the local Cretans decided to rescue the island from the degradation of uncontrolled hunting and deforestation - and they succeeded. This area of Kissamos is now an organic garden where clean energy techniques are applied. The cottages have been renovated according to their original structure and use local materials. There are also terrace gardens to help prevent mountain erosion. Combined together with the impressive landscape, clean air and local, organic food a getaway at Milia Mountain Retreat promises to make you a new person. National Geographic seem to agree and have highlighted Milia Mountain Retreat as one of the top 50 ecolodges in the world.
The owner of Spice Island Beach Resort, Sir Royston Hopkins, does a lot to treat the natural beauty of theis pace with the respect it deserves. He cares about the environment that hosts him and has put in place a lot of practices to prevent unnecessary damage.
From non chlorine swimming pools, replanting of beachfront trees, grinding of used bath soaps to make laundry detergent, switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products and employee training programs about conservation efforts, the Spice Island Beach Resort has done a lot to deserve its Green Globe Award.
Being located in the one of Australia’s national parks, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat had to be green from its top to its roots.
The retreat hosts a lot of eco activities for the wild hearted, including a tree top walk on suspension bridges that are 15 metres above the ground. This offers a very different perspective of the forest and lets you experience the flowering and fruiting trees right at the top! It’s also possible to have close encounters with the local inhabitants through wildlife shows starring eagles, reptiles and falcons. However, choosing a rainforest for your holiday doesn’t mean you have to give up on some pamper time. O'Reilly's has a Lost World Spa that uses local, natural elements to restore your mind and body.
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