6 Of The Best Luxury Eco Hotels Around The World
It’s been 10 years in the making but the highly anticipated resort Banwa Private Island has now made its debut in the untouched North Palawan region of the Philippines. Here’s a list of several other exclusive private retreats that will get you close to nature without comprising on luxury and style. Banwa Private Island, Philippines.
Set within an archipelago of around 1,780 emerald forested islands, Banwa shines for its natural beauty and seclusion. The 15-acre island is home to six stylishly designed beachfront villas, 12 gardens rooms, and one residential 360-degree suite, positioned at the highest point of the island for unrivalled views over the ocean. Each villa comes with its own Jacuzzi deck, private infinity pool and dedicated butler service, and floor-to-ceiling windows ensure the beach and ocean views never go unseen. Explore the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Tubbataha Reef and the Puerto Princesa Underground River, another UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Back at the resort, Banwa Private Island’s head chef will cook up a storm with ingredients grown from the island’s own organic farm. Two wells provide naturally replenishing fresh spring water drawn from a depth of 500 ft below the island’s white sand.
Bardessono is amongst a small group of LEED Platinum-certified hotels in the US, proving that a hotel can provide a green, yet fully luxurious guest experience at the same time. Almost everything at the hotel, from the Coyuchi cotton bed linens to the seasonal menu at the restaurant, is organic and sourced from within a 100-mile radius. The hotel’s other environmental initiatives include non-toxic, non-allergenic materials used in construction, recycling and composting programmes as well as natural heating and energy sources.
Southern Ocean Lodge is Australia’s first true luxury lodge, offering a unique and exclusive travel experience on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Floating atop a secluded cliff on a rugged stretch of coast, the lodge features 21 organic lavish suites with bespoke furniture pieces, glass-walled ensuites and an outdoor terrace, each with breath-taking views of the great Southern Ocean. The locally commissioned designer furnishings, recycled timbers, hand-cut limestone walls and sandblasted floors provide a complementary, ground-breaking sustainable theme to the luxe establishment.
Responsible luxury is the running theme at Nihi Sumba, from the restaurants’ local ingredients, water recycling and compost system to the community outreach programmes. The aim of The Sumba Foundation is to reduce the level of poverty on the island, and the resort works on this by supporting local healthcare, providing access to clean water and education, and helping to tackle the problem of Malaria on the island. Chris Burch, the owner of Nihi Sumba, covers all the admin costs of the foundation, allowing 100% of the donations to go directly to the outreach programmes.
Hotel Forsthofalm is an environmentally-friendly ski hotel with a thoughtful waste, water and energy concept. It is built almost entirely of timber, glass and other recyclable materials. The hotel also prides itself on serving organic, locally sourced produce and meats, and their spa and bathroom products are all made within Austria with locally sourced herbs.
The Brando is an exquisite luxury resort on the private atoll of Tetiaroa, which comprises a dozen islets surrounding a sparkling lagoon around 50 km north of Tahiti. The all-inclusive resort is a venture of sustainable development combined with designs that reflect the Polynesian lifestyle and culture. Each of the 35 private villas comes with its own private beach area and plunge pool, all of which are powered with seawater air-conditioning and renewable energies.
