With all the rustic camping, uphill hikes and early mornings that make you wince, eco-tourism, at first glance, doesn’t sound like the most luxurious way of vacationing. But what if we told you it doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on comfort and everyday luxuries? When eco-resorts enter the picture, your sustainable vacation doesn’t have to be limited to nature camps and mosquito nets and canned food.
Around the world, these resorts are finding intelligent ways to care for the planet while offering incredible experiences. Picture treetop pods in Switzerland, sun-drenched villas in the Maldives, rainforest retreats in Sri Lanka or cliffside hideaways in Santorini. Each stay shows that traveling responsibly can still feel indulgent.
We’ve curated a list of the best eco-resorts around the world that let you unwind while leaving a lighter footprint.
Eco-resorts In Asia
Gayana Marine Resort, Malaysia
The Gayana Marine Resort features about 45 overwater villas that offer panoramic views of the aquamarine sea, mangrove forests or tropical jungles. Each villa is designed to harmonise with the natural surroundings, enhancing the tranquil sounds of the surface beneath. The resort is also home to the Marine Ecology Research Centre, dedicated to coral reef restoration and the protection of marine life.
Trisara, Thailand
On Phuket’s northwest tip, Trisara’s private pool villas sit amid lush greenery with views of the Andaman Sea. Villas come with private pools and a canopy of green, but the real draw is how it slows you down—morning yoga by the waves, meditation in shaded salas and spa rituals rooted in Thai healing.
Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam
Tucked inside a protected marine park, Six Senses Con Dao is all about barefoot luxury with a conscience. Private villas, a turquoise bay and forested mountains set the scene for yoga, holistic spa treatments and days that feel as good for you as they do for the environment.
Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sri Lanka
Located amidst the paddy fields and reed beds of a charming old village in Sri Lanka, Jetwing Vil Uyana is a luxurious eco-resort that offers a unique blend of nature and comfort. The resort’s design incorporates sustainable practices and guests can enjoy spa treatments that draw inspiration from traditional Sri Lankan wellness rituals.
Barefoot At Havelock, Andaman Islands
At Radhanagar Beach, the forest runs straight into the sand and Barefoot feels stitched right into this amalgam. Cottages built from local timber hide among trees, power hums quietly from eco-systems you barely notice. Days roll by in treks through the jungle, dolphin dives and suppers of grilled fish under a starlit sky.
Aarunya Nature Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
This resort spills across tea and spice gardens with the misty Knuckles peak in the distance. Villas come with plunge pools and wide decks, but the real draw is the slow rhythm—yoga at sunrise, Ayurvedic rituals in the spa, garden-to-table meals and the hush of mountain air.
Ulaman Eco Luxury Resort, Indonesia
In Bali’s rainforest, Ulaman’s bamboo architecture rises and curves as if grown from the ground itself. Villas are powered by renewable energy, pools are river-fed and the spa works with local herbs. Days are slow with yoga, meditation or walks amidst the green.
Nay Palad Hideaway, Philippines
On Siargao, Nay Palad sits between mangroves and sandbank. Villas are open and airy, built with local materials and most meals are sourced from nearby farms. You can surf, paddle or just float in a pool that blends into the scenery.
Anantya By The Lake, Tamil Nadu
On the quiet shores of Chittar Lake, Anantya’s villas are the kind of place where you end up staying longer than planned. Kayak at sunrise, wander through trails or sit on the deck with nothing but still water for company. The kitchen sources much of its produce from nearby farms and eco-touches like solar panels and rainwater treatment are built into daily life here with little fuss.
Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa
Up in the Chorla Ghats, Wildernest is for travelers who like their getaways raw and real. Cottages are wooden and open to the valley and the air is damp and fragrant with earth. Wi-Fi is optional, trails are muddy and the pools come with the most spectacular views. The resort uses local materials, sources food nearby and runs small-scale renewable systems.
Khem Villas, Rajasthan
Near Ranthambore, Khem is tucked among scrub and trees. Villas are spacious but unobtrusive, meals come from on-site gardens or local farms and wildlife strolls through without asking for permission. Solar power, water treatment and waste reduction are part of the operation.
Spice Village, CGH Earth, Kerala
Set in the spice hills of Thekkady, the Spice Village allows you to experience the life of the local people firsthand. Stay in thatched cottages and learn something new about sustainable living everyday. The spa uses local oils, meals are freshly harvested and the eco-conscious ethos is threaded through everything including solar panels, water recycling and organic gardens. They also have a paper-making centre where the in-house waste paper is repurposed for making stationery and craftwork for the hotel.
LAP Stays Wanderer’s Nest, Himachal Pradesh
Tucked in the last village before the Indo-Tibetan border, Wanderer’s Nest is where the mountains feel like an arm’s length away . The teal-roofed building stands out against the rugged backdrop, offering cosy rooms with balconies that frame the snow-capped peaks. Inside, you’ll find a warm lounge, a sun terrace and a café serving everything from chai to Chinese fare. It’s a haven for trekkers and solo travelers, with staff who double as impromptu guides and fellow wanderers.
Satoyama Jujo, Japan
Housed in a repurposed 150-year-old kominka (a traditional Japanese house), the inn harmonises traditional Japanese architecture with modern comforts. The “mountain-to-table” dining experience features locally sourced ingredients and the open-air baths offer serene views of Mount Makihata.
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Barefoot luxury meets eco-conscious living on this lush island in the Baa Atoll. Villas are crafted from reclaimed wood, meals are garden-to-table and the spa blends ancient healing with modern wellness. But it’s not just about indulgence—Soneva Fushi is a pioneer in sustainability, turning waste into compost and powering up with solar energy.
Eco-resorts In Australia
Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Australia
The Spicers Tamarind Retreat has earned Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Certification, underscoring its commitment to responsible tourism. Here you can unwind in elegant villas, indulge in spa treatments and savor award-winning cuisine at The Tamarind, all while immersed in the quaint rainforest surroundings.
Eco-resorts In Middle East
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
This Six Senses property is perched right on the mountains of Zighy Bay. You can arrive by paragliding, which feels ridiculous until you land and realise how perfectly tucked-in the place is. The spa draws on local herbs, the food leans organic and staff quietly keep everything running with minimal waste. Between mountain trails and the Gulf of Oman, you feel both remote and perfectly cared for.
Güral Premier, Turkey
Set in Tekirova with pine forests serving as the backdrop and the Mediterranean out front, Güral Premier is a sprawl of gardens, pools and low-rise villas built in traditional Turkish style. Its real pause point is the Quu Spa—3,500 square metres of hammams, saunas and treatment rooms that balance the resort’s high-energy edges.
Eco-resorts In Europe
Whitepod, Switzerland
High up in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod swaps hotel rooms for geodesic domes heated by pellet stoves. You can hike, sled or simply soak up mountain stillness, with a spa on hand for when you want the wellness dialed up.
Magma Resort, Greece
Set on the lava sculpted slopes of Vourvoulos in Sarontini, Magma offers luxurious accommodations with stunning views of the Aegean Sea. Lava Spa is one of the island’s biggest, underground havens with a heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room and tailored treatments. Add Michelin-level eating, sea views to wake up to and yoga on terraces overlooking the Aegean,–and you’ll find the perfect blend of luxury with eco-smarts. luxury with eco-smarts.
Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort, Portugal
Located on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort offers a blend of luxury and sustainability. The resort’s wellness offerings include oceanside massages, a wellness room with a hot tub for private use and daily yoga sessions. Here you can enjoy farm-to-table dining that emphasises local ingredients, all while taking in the breathtaking coastal views.
Loire Valley Lodges, France
In the wood-strewn depths of Touraine, Loire Valley Lodges feels like stepping into a painting. Treehouse-style lodges built on stilts with local chestnut, oak and douglas, each designed by a different artist, are set across 300 hectares of forest. No TV in your suite, instead you’ll wake to chirping of birds, roam forest paths, soak in a Nordica bath or enjoy in-lodge massages using forest-essenced oils.
Mas Salagros EcoResort & SPA, Spain
Just 30 minutes from Barcelona, Mas Salagros is a fully organic escape set in a forested nature reserve. Think restored 15th-century farmhouse meets bio-green roofs, biomass heating and solar-panel power. Wellness here flows through its AIRE Ancient Baths, outdoor yoga in dappled light, forest-guided walks and tasting menus at Michelin Green Star Restaurant 1497, all made with ingredients from the resort’s own orchards.
Hotel Plesnik, Slovenia
Logar Valley’s Hotel Plesnik feels stitched into the mountains. Rooms open to alpine meadows, wellness treatments pull from local herbs and the food is deeply connected to the land. Days here are simple: hike, soak, sit by the river, repeat.
OLM Nature Escape, Italy
Perched in South Tyrol, OLM is made from local wood and designed to run on its own energy. Suites open onto alpine views, many with private saunas and terraces where the morning light hits the peaks just right. Trails start from the doorstep, ponds invite a quiet swim and the whole place feels like it grew out of the mountains.
Eco-resorts In Africa
Thaba Eco Hotel, South Africa
Just outside Johannesburg, Thaba sits within a private nature reserve. The hotel runs on strong eco principles—solar power, water conservation, waste management. Trails, birdwatching and a spa rooted in African botanicals are all part of the experience.
Antsanitia Resort, Madagascar
On Madagascar’s northwest coast, Antsanitia looks out over mangroves and the Mozambique Channel. Villas are airy and low-impact, seafood is pulled in by local fishers and most of the power comes from solar. Days here slip between trips to the river, coconut-oil massages and lemur sightings.
Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti
Here, luxury leans into the wild. The lodge runs largely on solar power, backs wildlife conservation and sources much of its menu from nearby communities. Between game drives you can float in an infinity pool while elephants wander past or join a sunrise yoga session on a rocky kopje.
The Majlis, Kenya
Small, airy cottages scattered along Ras Kitau Bay make The Majlis feel more like someone’s private hideaway than a resort. The water laps close to your deck, the sun is relentless and the wind carries the scent of the Indian Ocean. Staff know the area, the food is local and the whole place runs on an hybrid energy system that relies on their inhouse generators and solar panels.
Eco-resorts In North America
Secret Bay, Dominica
The name probably gives it away but Secret Bay does feel more like a hideout from your usual routine than a resort. Wooden villas are tucked into rainforest cliffs, each with a plunge pool and endless sea views. The resort is Green Globe certified, committed to zero plastics and rooted in local culture. Life here is quiet, slow and indulgent without excess.
Palmaïa, The House Of Aïa, Mexico
On Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Palmaïa is as much a wellness retreat as a resort. Plant-based dining, sound therapy, yoga and beachside ceremonies create a gentle rhythm. The design is modern but the ethos is clear: be closer to nature, and live more intentionally while enjoying the sea at your doorstep.
VIDA, Cayman Islands
VIDA takes a quieter approach to Caribbean living. A small eco-retreat focused on freediving, yoga and farm-to-table dining, it swaps glitz for grounding. The wellness offerings include plant-based dining and holistic therapies that promote relaxation and rejuvenation.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, Canada
Tucked into Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, this isn’t your typical luxury stay. Think canvas tents with cedar hot tubs, whale sightings from your deck and a chef who forages the forest for dinner.
Eco-resorts In South America
Refugia Chiloé, Chile
On a quiet hill above Pullao Bay, Refugia leans into Chiloé’s wild rhythms. Wood-shingled rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows frame sea and wetland views, while saunas, pools and spa treatments tap into local herbs and traditions. Days here are spent kayaking, walking among birdlife, riding the Williche boat between islands, and feasting on farm-and-sea fare.
Eco-resorts In Antarctica
Echo Camp By White Desert, Antarctica
Ever wondered what it’s like to sleep under the Southern Cross? Echo Camp offers a front-row seat to Antarctica’s icy beauty. Stay in futuristic pods with panoramic views, dine by candlelight in a dome and wake up to the sound of glaciers calving.
Related: Eco-Tourism Takes Root In Meghalaya With Green Deposit
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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