Somerset, UK, Europe

This Somerset wellness sanctuary and working regenerative farm is actually set in a rolling 173 acres of ancient woodland and rewilded meadows. Guests can stay in the Hermitage as part of an official programme or book a boutique, eco hotel break or fly solo on an independent stay in a Farmhouse.

Bouteco loves: The many passionate eco experts invested and involved in their many initiatives. Russell Rigler, horticulture hero, can talk you through the nutritional and ecosystem impact of their biodiverse edible walled garden. If you can get a walk with Martin White, groundskeeping guru, hearing how their eco-engineering beavers are thriving and the plans for wildcat and white stork breeding programme.

www.42acres.com

Bali, Indonesia, Asia

This all-villa resort high up on a cliff in Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula has been the inspiration for thousands and thousands of Instagram posts. The unmistakable architecture of the one- two- and three-bedroom stand-alone abodes create a distinct silhouette against those panoramic views out at an uninterrupted ocean horizon.

Bouteco loves: What really impresses us is their Platinum-level EarthCheck certification – this leading system of scientific benchmarking, certification and advice is the real deal when it comes to seals of approval. The design and build cunningly incorporated lava rocks, which occur naturally in Uluwatu, absorbing that searing Indo sun, cleverly keeping the energy consumption to a minimum. We loved having a poke around their below-stairs bottling plant where they create their purified drinking water which is served in reusable glass bottles – an initiative that has wiped out what would usually be an eye-watering amount of plastic bottles in a part of the world with a paucity of municipal waste systems.

www.alilahotels.com

Scotland, UK, Europe

Showcasing remote, raw Scottish Highlands landscape with authenticity three cottages and the main Victorian lodge get you as close to nature as is possible in its 23,000 acres. Set amid mountains, forests, rivers and lochs, an hour and half’s drive north of Inverness, they’re a compellingly remote retreat that lures outdoors experts such as Bear Grylls and Wim Hof; Alladale also organises experiences for local schools through its Highland Outdoors Wilderness Learning initiative.

Bouteco loves: A stay here supports rewilding par excellence; they have planted over a million trees here in the Highlands, restoring damaged peatlands and bringing back native species such as the red squirrel and the Scottish wildcat.

www.alladale.com

Gstaad, Switzerland, Europe

When folks picture an eco hotel, they might not envisage a 56-room luxury retreat quite of this calibre. Alpina Gstaad strives to engage its well-heeled guests with those leading underprivileged lives. A creative approach to this is their ice-cream van art installation. The original Shadowman Van by street artist Richard Hambleton is part of the impressive permanent art collection. It’s twinned with a second piece in a refugee settlement they support in Uganda’s Kampala slum in Kyebando.

Bouteco Loves: We love this hotel because we know they’re pioneers of the concept of ‘social offsetting’, so when you sip a tipple in their bar here in this billionaire hotspot, you also know that those who run the hotel are also supplying clean water in a refugee camp, funded by stays here.

www.thealpinagstaad.ch

Grampians National Park, Australia, Australia & Oceania

Accredited by Eco Tourism Australia, worms take care of the food waste and a revegetation programme takes care of the indigenous plant population. Take on a birdwatching trail in the surrounding Grampians National Park, and spot native species such as kangaroos, echidnas and wallabies from your verandah.

Bouteco loves: Water at this self-sufficient nature retreat is collected on-site, and the spacious, self-catered lodges are solar-powered.

www.ecolodges.com.au

Epirus, Greece, Europe

If sustainability is a reverence for maintaining a balance with nature, Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas has been created in tune with the setting. The owner of this 24-room retreat in the Pindus Mountains hiked many trails in the Zagori region before being drawn to the charming village of Aristi.

Bouteco loves:This is a tale of sensitive, sustainable building practices and a love of localism. The stone and wood used to create the hotel have been locally sourced, and the property ticks with heat pumps, and LED bulbs, ensuring a low impact on nature down to filtering all wastewater, striving to be kind and gentle to the land in every way.

www.aristi.eu

Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Australia & Oceania

A Wild Bush Luxury property in the Flinders Ranges where just 10 guests at a time are lucky enough to share this remote 60,000-acre private wildlife conservancy dedicated to the conservation of Australia’s unique wildlife and birds. Head out on safaris through spectacular ancient landscapes and kangaroos, emus and all the characters we know make South Australia so appealing are there for the spotting.

Bouteco loves: Conservation here has extended to protecting millions (yes, millions) of species — a crucial protector of biodiversity, one of the greatest challenges facing the planet. Their Conservation Levy ensures that every stay supports their incredible work.

www.arkabaconservancy.com

Cornwall, UK, Europe

Eco creds meet ocean views at these six lovely lodges on the North Cornwall coast. Three miles from surfer-chic Bude and only a skip from Widemouth Bay's unspoiled, sandy strand, their wood-burning stoves and outdoor decks make these retreats perfect for bang-on-the beach breaks, whatever the season. Add to that a 'think local' mindset and support for Surfers against Sewage and we know they're on our wavelength.

Bouteco loves: It's the mix of contemporary design and renewable technologies that makes these lodges so appealing. There's not a whisper of oil or gas in action thanks to the use of renewable technologies — photovoltaic panels power the electricity and heat water and air source heat pumps activate the underfloor heating with green-roof insulation and low-energy appliances incorporated into the architecture and operation.

www.atlanticviewlodges.co.uk

Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Retreat to the hot tub at one of 14 private villas here on this Patagonian reserve, and your only voyeurs are likely to be eagles, sheep, or if you squint, the odd puma. When you stay, they give you your own guide and 4WD vehicle to commandeer, to explore Torres del Paine National Park.

Bouteco loves: The Awasi Foundation protects hundreds of hectares of woodland in Iguazú and Patagonia. Thanks to this, they can declare their lodges carbon neutral since they’re preserving areas that absorb more than 10,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, which exceeds the emissions generated by all three of their lodges and the equivalent of the footprint of that of their guests’ journeys to stay with them.

www.awasi.com

Bali, Indonesia, Asia

Founders of Bali’s Green School, John and Cynthia Hardy started this hideaway in the jungle with 11 antique Javanese bridal homes in 2005. The treehouses and open-to-the-elements abodes are what have made this bamboo wonderland in Sayan Ridge world famous. The name translates as ‘beautiful bamboo’ in Bahasa Indonesia here where nature is always the headline act— from the natural swimming pool using lava stones and vegetation to organically cleanse, filter the water, to the lack of hi-tech enhancements.

Bouteco loves: If John is on the island, be sure to join him for a ‘trash walk’ along the river’s edge, spearing garbage and hearing his plans to make the world greener, along the way.

www.bambuindah.com

London, UK, Europe

This six-storey, intimate hotel on South Bank is finished to a five-star standard, drawing on the creative influences of its neighbourhood. The design team has imagined the fantasy art school, and then elevated that feel and finish to create a dynamic destination with highest-quality guest rooms and inviting social and event spaces.

Bouteco loves: We love this hotel — and yes, we’re biased. We worked with them as they were just breaking ground. They studio space hosts artists and sculptors through a partnership with Contemporary Collective, meaning their makers in residence programme can nurture up and coming talents. A Bouteco consultancy client, they recruited with purposing, through The Clink, Waterloo Job Shop and Women Returners, working with charities that are improving prospects for people who are otherwise disadvantaged.

www.bankside.com

Anambas Archipelago, Indonesia, Asia

As part of the WWF’s Signing Blue initiative, Bawah was carefully constructed to protect the mangroves, marine life and natural biodiversity on the Anambas archipelago and its surrounding marine conservation zone. Hearing that the tropical private island has an in-house marine biologist to relocate turtle eggs to increase successful hatchlings, always tugs on the heartstrings.

Bouteco loves: The Bawah Anambas Foundation was set up to protect and improve the overall ecosystem of the Anambas in the South China Sea; they lead reforestation projects as well as work with communities to educate them about waste management and help develop organic farms within their villages.

www.bawahreserve.com

Bali, Indonesia, Asia

This independently-owned all-suite Balinese boutique hotel down a lane off Ubud’s main artery lures you to an infinity pool in the jungle and an excellent rooftop restaurant, where the earth-to-table menu is made up of ingredients from their own organic gardens.

Bouteco loves: Small, but perfectly formed, the hotel’s organic farm feedd their open-to-the-elements Copper Kitchen & Bar.

www.bisma-eight.com

Cartagena, Colombia, South America

Blue Apple Beach on Tierra Bomba island is about lazy days and sashaying to island sounds by night. Blending an electric Colombian joie de vivre with the same spirit that lured the beautiful bohemian set to Ibiza and the South of France over the years. Stay in one of the five bedrooms in the former private home or the five cabanas, and it won’t take long to slip into a rhythm that reminds you it was a beach club before a boutique hotel.

Bouteco Loves: 65% of their energy is from solar panels, they water their gardens with greywater and reducing their waste year on year is an obsession. Toast all that with one of their knockout cocktails.

www.blueapplebeach.com

Tuscany, Italy, Europe

A stay at this grand 18th-century villa (built using locally sourced stone and slate) revolves around the charming estate’s sprawling 750-acre organic farm, where vegetables, grains and flowers are grown for both the on-site restaurant and the natural spa treatments, and the property makes use of swales and solar panels, pioneering techniques the region has never benefited from before.

Bouteco loves: Take a tour of Borgo Pignano’s working estate with Enzo, head farmer and gamekeeper. The fruits of this farm provide 70 per cent of the menu. Powered by renewable energy, from wood chip-fired boilers and solar panels.

www.borgopignano.com

Tetiaroa, French Polynesia, Australia & Oceania

It’s rare desert island retreats manage to be so ridiculously spoiling and sybaritic and yet so sensitive to sustainability — no wonder the A-Listers love it. It may be the panoramas of the lagoon here northeast of Tahiti that are likely to have you swooning, but the scientific smarts of the hotel’s air-con system is also what’s seductive. Here at this paradise private-island resort, the 35 carbon-neutral beachfront villas flaunt the Brando’s own seawater-cooled invention — powered by sun rays and coconut oil SWAC is their cunning AC system.

Bouteco loves: Scientific research and innovative solutions such as SWAC demonstrate that it’s often the out-of-sight activity that makes a hotel stand out.

www.thebrando.com

Dunfanaghy, Ireland, Europe

Landscapes don't come wilder than the windswept west of Ireland, which makes this super-stylish bed and breakfast all the more extraordinary. With its contemporary lines set against the organic contours and curves of the countryside, this spectacularly transformed bungalow offers a brilliant blend of untamed nature and modern design. And with every element being sourced from Donegal or elsewhere in the Emerald Isle, a stay at this husband-and-wife-run B&B has a pleasingly dainty footprint.

Bouteco loves: A true treat here is unwrapping the Breac. House Rituals Box. Spilling over with the talents of three local artisans, the hand-crafted, wooden box contains natural soaps made with locally foraged ingredients and wrapped in bespoke, plastic-free packaging. Members of Sustainable Tourism Ireland and Leave no Trace, these communitarians also honour Horn Head’s status as a Special Area of Conservation, working hard to maintain harmony with nature — from a super-efficient approach to energy use to keeping guest numbers down to a minimum.

www.breac.house

Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom

Organic and ethical are the stand-out themes that win our heart at this rough-luxe restored pub restaurant with rooms on the main high street of this hippy hub with an eco-minded spirit throughout. Thrift-shop chic and upcycled furniture add patina and character to this centuries-old inn which invites you to eat, drink and sleep organic, right down to the Naturalmat beds.

Bouteco Loves: Solar panels and a heat recovery system are at play here, you won’t see any disposable or plasticky things, and its honourable provenance principles are articulated at every opportunity.

www.bullinntotnes.co.uk

Glenorchy, New Zealand, Australia & Oceania

Designed according to the rigorous Living Building Challenge, New Zealand's first energy net-zero hotel and campsite sets the standard for eco-smart built environments, and they put all profits back into the local-led Glenorchy Community Trust. Explore Lake Wakatipu and the mountains at your feet by foot, horseback, heli-hike or bicycle.

Bouteco loves: They successfully achieved the Living Building Challenge accreditation which attests to their holistic construction methodology which assesses integrity based on honouring a sense of place, health and happiness, equity, land regeneration and beauty in the design process, as well as considering the technical aspects of green building such as thermal comfort, energy and water use. Generating 105% of the energy used is impressive.

www.theheadwatersecolodge.com

Namib Tsaris Conservancy, Namibia, Africa

As featured in “The Bucket List: Eco Experiences” by Juliet Kinsman, published by Rizzoli.

This eco-camp promise the most comfortable digs in the vast Namid Desert. Built almost entirely from oil drums, wooden pallets and other recycled materials, it's a beautifully simple retreat that's been designed to blend into the landscape. It's set on a private conservancy that's home to a good range of wildlife, while the world-famous Sossusvlei sand dunes are within easy day-trip distance.

Bouteco loves: The conservation fees that Camp Sossus generates are helping to rewild tracts of former farmland into wildlife-friendly zones.

Algarve, Portugal, Europe

"This one's on my wish list, and we haven't visited this restored 19th-century estate in person yet, but I love that they are passionate about permaculture and they feed and water you with natural wines, home-made almond milk, eggs from their own chickens and they don't have a food-waste generating breakfast buffet" — Juliet Kinsman

Share your favourite #BoutecoLoves tips on Instagram to help us steer each other to the heroes!

www.casa-mae.com

Umbria, Italy, Europe

A rare, and very special destination, this once-abandoned estate has gone through a slow, sensitive painstaking restoration to create this 36-suite stay at the edge of Umbria.

Bouteco loves: Thank heavens this 3,700-acre estate was acquired in 1994 by Count Antonio Bolza, as it’s become a family legacy thanks to London-trained architect, Count Benedikt, and his wife, Donna Nencia Corsini’s loving restoration. They’ve worked with the home owners to breathe new life into the properties’ Umbrian heritage in a great act of cultural conservation.

www.reschio.com

Riau Islands, Indonesia, Asia

As featured in “The Bucket List: Eco Experiences” by Juliet Kinsman, published by Rizzoli.

This breezy, open-to-the-elements bamboo adults-only island resort close to Singapore, in the South China Sea, is as sexy as it is environmentally conscious. Pronounced’ chem-puh-dak’, whisper sweet nothings to each other as you overlook jungle and ocean from your private pool — the only audience you’re likely to have is a pair of hornbills. It’s but a short stumble to the water’s edge restaurant where the menu showcases ingredients from their farm, plus you know that a percentage of your room rate is going towards the Island Foundation’s community-based projects supporting education, better health and ethical practices.

Bouteco loves: Empowering staff through microbusinesses and financial sytsems: one family of a bartender makes the bamboo straws used in the bar. After the Australian banker-turned-hotelier got chatting to his employees about how they finance purchases such as motorbikes and houses, he learned that they were getting finance but at interest rates of one-to-two per cent a month. He calculated the lowest rate as 48 per cent a year. “These loans were from licensed banks, not loan sharks.” The government pension scheme was not going to provide for them, either, so they set up a voluntary internal savings and loans scheme called Koperasi.

www.cempedak.com

Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa

As featured in “The Bucket List: Eco Experiences” by Juliet Kinsman, published by Rizzoli.

It's thanks to the military that Chumbe Island (a former base) remains quite so pristine. Off-limits for years, this tiny, uninhabited isle has incredible coral gardens that are essentially a private playground for guests of this eco-camp. Its seven palm-thatched bungalows blend with their beach and forest surroundings, while proceeds from the camp's operation fund local conservation projects and schools.

Bouteco loves: With its solar power, rainwater harvesting and composting toilets, Chumbe truly embodies ecotourism's leave-only-footprints mantra.

chumbeisland.com

Olderkesi Conservancy, Kenya, Africa

As featured in “The Bucket List: Eco Experiences” by Juliet Kinsman, published by Rizzoli.

This safari lodge doesn’t just approach conservation the right way; they are setting a benchmark with what they call their Theory of Change. Calvin Cottar created the Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust and set this framework, to layout their manifesto of how they’re helping the local Maasai people benefit from tourism, boosting biodiversity, and allowing wildlife conservation.

Bouteco loves: Their aim is for Cottar’s 1920s Camp to be financially successful and sustainable for another hundred years. Remaining faithful to their ancestors’ tradition of providing authentic safari experiences their priority is ensuring a legacy of wilderness, wildlife, comfort and security and honouring a balance between conservation, prosperous commerce, community and culture. With no hunting as when their forefathers started out; the only shooting here is with seriously impressive long lenses. Calvin Cottar started creating the Olderkesi Conservancy two decades ago and in that time trialled their out-of-the-box ideas so that natural biodiversity and tourism could be seen to improve rural livelihoods, and provide more effective wildlife conservation.

www.cottars.com

Langkawi, Malaysia, Asia

As featured in “The Bucket List: Eco Experiences” by Juliet Kinsman, published by Rizzoli.

Set against a wilderness backdrop of primordial mountains, the pristine 10 million-year-old rainforest is home to a wealth of flora and fauna: you may well spot Dusky langurs, Tokay geckos and Sunda colugos during your stay. The resort’s private footpath leads to dreamy Datai Bay’s idyllic white-sand beach, one of the Top 10 Beaches worldwide as awarded by National Geographic.

Bouteco loves: As the Datai’s ambassador, Juliet, founder of Bouteco, is excited to raise awareness around their sustainability initiatives and showcase the Datai Pledge as a case study for how a luxury hospitality business can model positive-impact practices. Having met with Piet, Mark at the start of our permaculture journey, and having been on industry panel discussions with Irshad, she is eager for more share in their expertise and knowledge. Appreciating the power of tourism to educate all about conservation, Juliet hopes that by helping us open source our practices and partnerships, we can inspire more businesses to host guests in a way that does good for people and planet.

www.thedatai.com

Troll Peninsula, Iceland, Europe

Deplar Farm is the ultimate basecamp for adventures ranging from heli-skiing to fly fishing and sea kayaking — and this 12-suite former farmhouse is a premier location for viewing the Northern Lights due to its lack of artificial light and proximity to the Arctic Circle.

Bouteco loves: If living life more sustainably is connecting with nature in the open air, then do it here in the Fljót Valley on the mountainous Troll Peninsula in Northern Iceland, tucked beneath some of the highest peaks in the country.

www.elevenexperience.com

Aquitaine, France, Europe

As featured in “The Bucket List: Eco Experiences” by Juliet Kinsman, published by Rizzoli.

The art-filled, family-friendly 13th-century château of Domaine des Etangs grows over 140 seasonal plants and vegetables in its kitchen garden.

Bouteco loves: The chef and groundskeeper work together to forage and farm-fresh, organic ingredients for the seasonally focused restaurant, and invite guests to connect with the land from which they're sourced – meet the herd of Limousine cows or stroll through the sustainably managed forest.

www.aubergeresorts.com

Patagonia, Chile, South America

If there's ever an apocalypse, this remarkable camp should be the blueprint upon which society is rebuilt. A collection of geodesic domes surrounded by trees and craggy peaks, Ecocamp Patagonia is a low-impact development combining exceptional food and drink with cosy comforts and campsite camaraderie. Set in Torres del Paine National Park, it's a full-on immersion in nature offering gentle hikes or more challenging, guided adventures to seek wild horses and pumas.

Bouteco loves: The property embraces sustainability in all its many guises: using renewable resources, buying locally and sourcing staff from the region. Looks good, feels good, does good.

www.ecocamp.travel

Greater Blue Mountains, Australia, Australia & Oceania

A unique reservation in New South Wales, you can even make like you’re all there to do valuable conservation work when it comes to wombats and woodland (while indulging in first-class food and wine and the full gamut of five-star facilities).

Bouteco loves: Join the knowledgeable Field Guides to make a hands-on contribution to the restoration and protection of the thousands-of-acres reserve which provides a protected habitat for native wildlife.

www.oneandonlyresorts.com

Loch Moidart, Scotland, UK, Europe

Time spent on Vanessa Branson's private island, Eilean Shona, off the coast of Western Scotland tunes us into nature with wild swimming and kayaking with seals. Hike to its peaks and look out at the Hebridean islands, the Isle of Skye to the north, and the isles of Eigg, Muck, and Rum to the south. This wilderness and clear, clear waters inspired Peter Pan creator JM Barrie’s vision of Neverland.

Bouteco loves: Since they're also busy planting trees aplenty on this car-free island, and three of the nine characterful rental cottages exist off-grid, high-drama adventures here are also low-carbon.

www.eileanshona.com

Sacred Valley, Peru, South America

There's a strong connection with history at this wonderful lodge in the Sacred Valley. Gaze from your window out at ages-old agricultural terraces built by the Incas, while the magic of Cusco and Machu Picchu are both within easy reach. An elevated take on all-inclusive, with a clutter-free, sleek aesthetic combined with valuable nods to indigenous culture, this sophisticated ranch-style retreat is the best base in the Urubamba mountain range from which to explore this extraordinary part of the world.

Bouteco loves: All Explora properties operate to the highest standards of sustainable tourism, embracing efficiencies and effective waste management. And from an enriching guest experience perspective, they go the extra mile to get guests engaging with local culture and communities.

www.explora.com

Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan, Middle East

The 26-room solar-powered lodge of Feynan lies in the heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve in Wadi Feynan. A true eco-lodge, its design riffs on the caravanserais of the Middle East’s ancient trading days. Sip mint tea with the Bedouin people, or shadow a shepherd for the day — a lot of hotels promise authentic experiences, few deliver them with such integrity. Sweeping rooftop views over the desert don’t come as dramatic as in this former copper-mining valley — and there’s a 10-inch telescope to eyeball the sienna-toned terrain which is alive with pink oleanders. While there’s no booze available for sundowners, guests are invited to bring their own alcohol.

Bouteco loves: Even the fridges here run on sun which means they have limited supply and forgo serving meat.

www.ecohotels.me

Wales, UK, Europe

Living off the land never looked so easy – or charming – as it does at family-run Fforest Farm on the banks of Afon Teifi, where cabins, a converted farmhouse and geodesic domes beckon. The sea, Wales' organic farming and their own garden soil surrenders suppers of spider crabs, farm-fresh eggs and seasonal ingredients to be charcoal-grilled on an open fire.

Bouteco loves: Rewire yourself to disconnect digitally, and reconnect with your surroundings in real time by way of canoeing, climbing and coasteering, bushcraft workshops and archery lessons.

www.coldatnight.co.uk

Bali, Indonesia, Asia

Tuning into nature is inevitable at Fivelements, the riverside wellness retreat 15 minutes south of bustling Ubud. Here in this thatched, bamboo paradise, a swerve of the road through endless bright-green rice fields, it’s just the sound of the jungle blended with wind chimes and birdsong — and maybe the New Age playlist plumbed into the rooms… Every detail feels characterful and considered, and every tableau is a charm — this is wild, tropical wellbeing at its most organic and transformational.

Bouteco loves: Follow twisting paths, tiny bridges and stepping stones through the enchanting gardens past yoga pavilions, the vegan restaurant and the secluded suites and a grandstand view of that frothy river is never far away. Home-made plant-based potions are a highlight of the Beauty Rituals. With the energy from the powerful river heading at speed and the rustle of swaying bamboo arching over the terrace it feels as though it's healing in itself just being here among so many plants and trees layered in such different shapes and shades of foliage.

www.fivelementsbali.com

Newfoundland, Canada, North America & The Caribbean

Seemingly perched on haphazard stilts, this ruler-straight white rectangle cuts a strong silhouette at the edge Canada’s easternmost shoreline. Jutting over the rocky coast of the Atlantic, this 29-room hotel and the five art studios is in fact a change-making social enterprise. Innkeeper and founder, Zita Cobb, has not only set new standards in its design, the build of the hotel saw everything as locally sourced as possible. Finding that the only nails on the market that suited their needs were from China, they made their own. The steel frame of the wooden-clad construction is insulated to the max, rainwater is collected for the toilets, and wood-fired boilers and solar panels power the hot water and underfloor heating.

Bouteco loves: As contemporary as it looks, this timeless classic is a celebration of traditional crafts and Newfoundland’s enduring rugged natural landscape. Fogo Island Inn in Canada is an icon for its architecture and their Economic Nutrition label which offers full financial transparency

www.fogoislandinn.ca

Dolomites, Italy, Europe

Once a summer retreat for prayer-weary pontiffs, this mountaintop property has wellness woven into its every fibre. Expanded and re-interpreted with modern, above-the-trees towers, the hotel's thrilling architecture works in tandem with minimal interiors to embrace the glorious Dolomites panorama. With all that mountain-fresh air, restorative spa treatments and spirit-lifting views, it's little wonder that staying here feels like a brush with divinity.

Bouteco loves: The entire property was built to achieve carbon neutrality — it's powered solely using renewable energy. And we love the spa for only using plant-based ingredients rich in vitamins and minerals. We'll toast that with one of their bark-infused cocktails here on the southern slope of the Ploseberg, please.

www.forestis.it

Gal Oya National Park, Sri Lanka, Asia

Get seriously intimate with nature when you stay in one of 10 thatched cabins in these untamed acres of jungle near Gal Oya National Park. Two hours east of Kandy, the luxury of these simple stand-alone cabins is that your stay doesn’t simply insist you switch off (there’s no wifi or phone signal) — time here ensures you completely disconnect from home and reap the benefits of being in Sri Lanka’s wilderness. Leaving an especially good taste is the fact every delicious breakfast, lunch and supper is made entirely from just-plucked ingredients grown within grasp.

Bouteco loves: Take hikes up Monkey Mountain, boat safaris along the Senanayake Samudra reservoir or meet members of the last Vedda tribes, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka, before their original way of life disappears forever.

www.galoyalodge.com

Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica, North America & The Caribbean

This island retreat's suites, cottages and beach huts honour GoldenEye's cultural heritage and links to music, cinema and literature while looking to the future with an organic farm, sustainable fishing practices, sea turtle protection and coral reef restoration. Though built around the villa where Ian Fleming penned the James Bond novels, it's a hushed and understated heritage befitting a world-class spy. This Caribbean dream also encompasses cottages, beach huts and private villas scatted among beaches, coves and flower-filled, tropical gardens. Dining here is a particular treat, with a focus on local dishes and seasonal produce grown on a nearby farm.

Bouteco loves: Conserving their tropical beauty is undoubtedly what helps entice leisurely A-Listers back to their private lagoon season after season. Energy- and water-saving strategies put GoldenEye on a sustainable footing, organic ingredients are prioritised and there are projects to restore local coral beds and depleted fish stocks.

www.goldeneye.com

Dorset, UK, Europe

This hotel lives up to its name from its construction to its kitchen – wood furniture is made using storm-felled trees; wallpaper is Forest Stewardship Council certified and made using vegetable inks; waste oil is turned into fuel and coffee grinds are composted in a community-run veg garden.

Bouteco loves: You’d never know this is a green hero, were you to book in blind here, near Bournemouth's beach: exemplary environmental practices are built into the maintenance of this cutie, and you’re not force-fed their eco-credentials at every turn.

www.thegreenhousehotel.co.uk

Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

In this 2,500-hectare private reserve amid the fynbos (the shrubby Cape bushland, which translates from Afrikaans as meaning ‘big bush’, all 27 stand-alone suites have decks facing out at Walker Bay, with cosy sitting rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and mini stocked kitchens.

Bouteco loves: This is in fact one of the most biodiverse patches of land in the world, so of course t they work hard to look after the environment. But as well as giving you access to botanical safaris, a stay here supports their foundation which helps not only with conservation but significant community projects.

www.grootbos.com

Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK, Europe

A serendipitous wrong turn in 2007 led Neil and Zoe Kedward to discover a derelict manor house in the Narberth Hills. By June 2008, the Grove of Narberth opened with four bedrooms, aiming to provide a comfortable stay for mountain bikers on this former farmland — today, it has two dozen, including suites with glass-box porches and solar-powered cottages.

Bouteco loves: The property shines as an eco-friendly retreat, powered by a biomass boiler and solar panels. Martin Hulbert’s imaginative interiors feature hand-loomed upholstery, textured wool cushions, and original artworks, all reflecting Pembrokeshire’s stunning landscape. Every detail, from Persian rugs sourced from local antique shops to refurbished grand armchairs, showcases a blend of sustainability and style, making the Grove a quintessential boutique eco-hotel.

www.grovenarberth.co.uk

Tulum, Mexico, North America & The Caribbean

This hippie-chic hangout here on the Yucatan peninsula where eco-luxe lovers are well known for indulging their appetite for nature, aesthetics, and a little hedonism astride a sceney beach setting. We haven’t explored here first hand yet (we sure will when we can travel again) but we’re pretty convinced these 32 guest rooms will all let you have a holiday with a delicate footprint.

Bouteco loves: Palapa thatching and local-carpenter-built abodes speak to a love of light-touch construction. The founders also declare a dedication to ensuring their business employs local, and nurtures micro-entrepreneurship. And you won’t see a scrap of single-use plastics — which is why NGO Oceanic Global awarded them the Oceanic Champion Badge for adopting The Oceanic Standard (TOS).

www.ourhabitas.com

Hacienda Zuleta, Ecuador, South America

This is a hacienda with a big history, a big heart and so much more than an aristocratic home from home. This working farm and estate two hours north of Quito has a noble heritage — huge land owners, they were also among the first to give land back, gifting what was lower down and properly arable to the local community, along with titles.

Bouteco loves: "Sustainability has always been our way of life and showing responsibility for our community” Fernando Polanco told us over his farm’s delicious cheese last night and at the most beautifully set breakfast I’ve ever seen (in corridors that once acted as classrooms). Fifth generation, Fernando is a descendent of Galo Plaza Lasso who, when Galo was President of Ecuador, changed society by introducing the women’s vote and their right to inherit equally. Fernando's grandmother introduced embroidery and now its culture is stitched into the Zuleteño heritage and part of what makes this part of Ecuador so interesting.

www.zuleta.com

London, UK, Europe

It’s hard to magic up an unmistakably eco-hotel right in the heart of world capital. When Tim and Kit Kemp created Ham Yard here a skip from Piccadilly Circus, their construction achieved BREEAM Excellent rating. One of the greatest contributions to the UK’s carbon emissions come from the heating of homes and interiors — so when a building has followed green building certifications such as this it means it requires a lot less energy. Ham Yard's Excellent Energy Performance Rating set a dazzling benchmark for new-builds — and places it in a different league to older hotels that would be hard-pushed to improve to this standard retrospectively.

Bouteco loves: The roof garden here presents a pocket of biodiversity which is a much-appreciated home to birds and insects.

www.firmdalehotels.com

Hampshire, UK, Europe

Four hundred-plus acres of nature, Heckfield Place has an impressive biodynamic farm that feeds Skye Gyngell’s culinary imagination. The sophisticated interior design at this 18th-century Georgian property is a joy to behold but it’s knowing how much has considered in terms of sustainability that makes it especially pleasing — from the biomass fuel to the love and care that goes into tending all their trees.

Bouteco loves: The farm has BDA certification as well organic status, thanks to the commitment of Jane Scotter of Fern Varrow and culinary director Skye Gyngell working closely together. Also noteworthy is the composting system and carbon-sequestering management.

www.heckfieldplace.com

Alentejo, Portugal

Reason alone to spend time in Alentejo, five-star working farm and adeja places a strong emphasis on its relationship with nature from how they make their award-winning wine to their holistic approach to wellness. Drink in the views from the rolling countryside from their beautifully designed, spacious suites, villas and bedrooms.

Bouteco loves: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is part of the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program, the only programme in the country that provides for the implementation of sustainable measures in several areas of activity, namely in the reduction of water consumption, in measures to preserve the environment, from working conditions to respecting the ecosystem. Malhadinha Nova is one of the first ten producers in the country to receive this seal of Sustainable Production. We’ll drink to that.

www.malhadinhanova.pt

Paris, France, Europe

This eco-aware boutique hideaway is but a stroll from the Arc de Triomphe, proudly showcasing all the textures of traditional craftsmanship through organic, natural material. A skip from Ave de Champs-Élysées, this demure, diminutive two-building bolthole has 35 rooms across six floors and is minutes away from bus, rail and Metro connections, making it perfectly positioned for greener getaways.

Bouteco Loves: The uplifting little touches that convey their care for the environment such as through their inspired wood sign that offers a fresh way of reminding us of the benefits of reusing our towels.

www.hidden-hotel.com

Stockholm, Sweden, Europe

Set on a peaceful island a ferry hop from many of Stockholm's stand-out attractions, this reimagining of a 17th-century naval barracks, which later served as a hospice for the underprivileged, is a stylish Scandinavian lesson in how to make a boutique-eco hotel on the waterfront.

Bouteco loves: As well as retaining many of this long, characterful building's original historic features, the storytelling around the property's repurposing is pitch perfect throughout. The cultural conservation creds of this Eco-labeled escape also extend to it being a partner of the Museum of Modern Art.

www.hotelskeppsholmen.se

London, UK, Europe

Inhabit Hotels works with like-minded businesses as part of their mission to create restorative, environmentally and socially conscious places to stay in London. We have worked with them as consultants since they started, to help this brand talk their walk and showcase the role of sustainable, responsible design and practices in all their operations. The first hotel in Paddington is the recipient of a Green Key award.

Bouteco Loves: We adore how they share details of all their sustainability-minded suppliers and celebrate their community of interesting partners — of course we’re a little biased since we helped them craft their storytelling, but we’re also big fans of Goldfinger’s furniture, Holland & Harvey’s sensitive architecture, Aerende’s social-impact homewares, Globechain’s circular economy cunning and Belu’s filtered water which raises funds for Water Aid.

www.inhabithotels.com

London, UK, Europe

We’ve loved working with this hotel brand which launched the concept of a mindfulness-themed city stay. We’re especially excited about them opening a sister stop-off in West London on a tree-lined square near Lancaster Gate.

Bouteco Loves: The wellbeing theme runs through every aspect of time here, from organic Naturalmat beds to Eco-Natural Treadmills, which of course strives for sustainability not just for individuals but for all. Air- and water-filtration systems are in place, guided meditations and yoga sessions made available, and the next-level plant-based menus could convert committed carnivores to veganism.

www.queensgardens.inhabithotels.com

Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, Central America

400 acres of primary forest and seven beaches make up this private, tropical island resort which gets its name from the Indigenous people — palenque means sanctuary in their tongue. Isla Palenque is all about the hyperlocal — whether its natural materials or the organic ingredients served.

Bouteco loves: We are superfans of the Cayuga Collection of hotels — particularly after seeing how they looked after their teams during the pandemic. As advocates of transparency and educating ourselves on what makes a hotel tick, their 'Back of House' tours let you see their sustainability efforts for yourselves. Having a poke around kitchen, laundry and maintenance led by a sustainability manager, a naturalist or the manager lift the lid on just the lengths they go to be greener.

www.islapalenque.com

St Lucia, Caribbean Sea, North America & The Caribbean

When Nick Troubetskoy first conjured this hotel in 2007, the Canadian architect probably didn’t even shout about having sustainable in his vernacular. After remodelling Anse Chastanet in St Lucia into an eco-resort in the 70s, amid 600 acres of nature overlooking the Caribbean Sea, it was only natural to take his dynamic new-build to the next level — literally.

Bouteco loves: Tour the hotel’s organic Emerald Farm which provides 40 per cent of the produce served at Jade Mountain and learn about the different plant species and their healing power.

www.jademountain.com

Vanua Levu Island, Fiji, Australia & Oceania

The oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau barely needs an introduction — and this five-star resort on the island of Vanua Levu is named after his pioneering son. Committed to the preservation of the biosphere and the indigenous Fijians and their culture, is what this eco-friendly resort in 17 acres of coconut plantation is all about. Their environmental efforts extend to outreach programmes with the community and schools as well as hosting eye clinics for locals in Savusavu.

Bouteco loves: There’s nothing more powerful when it comes to the stoking of a passion for preserving nature than immersing yourself in it — and Fiji Island Resort's PADI dive school promises access to unrivalled dive sites such as Shark Alley, and the Big Blue. The full-time marine biologist helps you explore the underwater world while their work protects the Namena Marine Reserve.

www.fijiresort.com

Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua, Central America

This eco-lodge on a tiny private island in Lake Nicaragua is a 15-minute private boat ride from Marina Cocidulce. A solar-powered escape designed with the environment in mind at every turn. It's hard to beat a yoga session on the deck here or a whirl in one of the two open-air treatment rooms overlooking this soul-uplifting watery paradise.

Bouteco loves: There are only nine casitas, considerately constructed using locally-sourced materials that includes timber salvaged from 2007’s Hurricane Felix. Also, hats off to finding a way to somehow capture and repurpose the gas emissions from their pigs to pass onto a neighbour for them to use as power.

www.jicaroisland.com

Atlas Mountains, Morocco, Africa

The world’s most special Berber mountain resort — and the inspiration for our documentary Changing Worlds in the atlas Mountains — Kasbah du Toubkal is an extraordinary community-run lodge in the High Atlas which empowers local Berbers to host guests of its 14 rooms for remote off-the-grid escapes, within an hour and a half’s drive of Marrakech. Set up in 1995 to support the local Berber people by creating an economic engine for their community in one of the hardest to reach but beautiful hiking areas of North Africa.

Bouteco loves: One of the founders noticed girls from the local hilltop communities weren’t going to school: it was too difficult for them to get there, and it meant walking hours and crossing rivers and slippery slopes. There are cultural reasons, also, but by renting an apartment near a government school where they could live in the week, they presented a solution. As well as providing accommodation, they recruited a responsible, caring housemother to host. Through donations, the charity Education For All now hosts six dedicated boarding houses, and they’ve helped hundreds get a secondary education.

www.kasbahdutoubkal.com

Bali, Indonesia, Asia

Bold architecture meets hand-crafted fabrics and mid-century-style furniture at Katamama. Next door to Bali's best-known beach club, Potato Head, this design hotel is as much about quality cocktails as it is about curative, restful holidays – right in the heart of Seminyak. Particular praise is merited by its focus on all things local and hand made: everything from the bricks in the hotel's walls to its in-room amenities and furnishings is a proud celebration of Indonesian artistry and craftsmanship.

Bouteco loves: From the wide-brim hats and basketry woven by indigenous artisans to the botanically-tinted textiles, natural soaps and bamboo cutlery, every detail of Katamama's design and guest experience is thoughtfully considered in a way that honours Indonesia’s arts and history, old and new.

www.potatohead.co

Benguerra Island, Mozambique, Africa

A collection of one-bedroom bungalows comprise Kisawa, a new private island off the coast of this southern African country where they’ve worked with locals to create a charismatic sanctuary which not only supports marine conservation but is helping cultivate the talents of the next generation of Mozambicans. The 12 residences have gently, slowly and lovingly evolved to create the most private of hideaways. Next-level escapes where time spent is adapted to individual tastes and rhythms, whether sating an appetite for indulgence, wellness or adventure. Each abode gazes out onto sand dunes, the beach and beyond to an Indian Ocean horizon, organically sculpted into the pristine East African setting. This southernmost tip of a castaway isle within the Bazaruto Archipelago National Marine Park is perfectly placed for ocean exploring, be that snorkelling with sea turtles, diving with sharks or spotting dugongs from Kisawa's own boat.

Bouteco loves: Tradition meets innovation at this groundbreaking resort, where 3D-printing technology is just one of the inspired sustainable architectural components and tiles have been made with the isle's own sand and seawater. The design of this high-end low-impact intimate resort is what first grabbed media attention — but it’s about much more than the hi-tech. Teamed with local wood, reeds, cork, rammed earth and other natural materials, the low-impact development blends into the scenery. With its light touch on the land, and deep engagement with culture and nature, welcome to a new narrative for luxury travel here in Mozambique.

www.kisawasanctuary.com

Uvita, Costa Rica, Central America

Six detached ocean-view villas overlooking Punta Uvita, this member of the Cayuga Collection of Sustainable Luxury Hotels & Lodges, has been a good guy all along the way, skipping plastic and hiring locally with microbusinesses galore in their supply chain. Not just a pretty place — they’re also dedicated to keeping southern Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches exactly that.

Bouteco loves: All Cayuga-run hotels are beloved by Bouteco. Here they feed you greens from their own greenhouse and their fermentation composting system keeps things going in a virtuous circle. They support education — what we consider the biggest priorities —investing in classrooms and teaching materials for local schools.

www.kuracostarica.com

Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, Central America

Seventeen rustic thatched bungalows make up the first eco-lodge in Costa Rica which remains one of the world’s most beloved. Look out across almost a thousand acres of Central America's last remaining tropical lowland rainforest knowing you’re helping to preserve this magical wilderness. Here in the Corcovado National Park on this Pacific coast of Costa Rica, 2.5% of the world's biodiversity lives and thrives.

Bouteco loves: Employees are as local as it gets and here at Lapa Rios the team, including management, are almost all Costa Rican and many come from the immediate neighbourhood — this socio-economic support is more precious than ever.

www.laparios.com

Dolomites, Italy, Europe

Sister to Lake Garda’s chi-chi spa retreat, this brand new retreat is just outside Pinzolo’s Madonna di Campiglio ski resort. It’s impressive to see what they call "bio-architecture" exists in such harmony with the wooded mountain landscape. As appealing in summer as in snowy season, hiking, biking and climbing make five-star Lefay Dolomiti a year-round wellness destination.

Bouteco loves: It’s rare to be able to give the assurance that advanced spa, detox and wellbeing programmes (including osteopathy through to Ayurveda) are not just good for you but also the wider world — but having hosts so committed to using renewable energy sources makes that possible.

www.dolomiti.lefayresorts.com

The Red Centre, Australia, Australia & Oceania

Stay in one of these luxury tented pavilions, which delicately balance impeccable interior design with wide-open wilderness, and you can say you're in the only place in the world that lets you ogle the centrepiece of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park from bed. Its creation was approved under the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act which involved extensive consultations with the Central Land Council and Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, including studying cultural maps to confirm there were no sacred sites in the immediate area of the property.

Bouteco loves: The artworks by indigenous artists from neighbouring Maruku and Ernabella communities are a poignant reminder of how precious it is to spend time at these coordinates. The hotel can arrange experiences that allow you to meet the wise Aboriginal makers of the paintings, ceramics and carvings. As for the energy consumption, solar panels provide hot water and the swimming pool is heated using energy-efficient heat-pump technology.

www.longitude131.com.au

South Island, New Zealand, Australia & Oceania

The name means 'healing the land': and the owners live up to their promise with the largest privately-run conservation initiatives in the country, planting over a million trees, investing in plant regeneration and designing a bird-breeding programme.

Bouteco loves: Timber, wood, sheepskin textures hint at the retreat's commitment to taking care of the land from which they came, where native weka and pukeko birds have flourished as a result of 1.36 million native plants being reintroduced.

www.mahuwhenua.co.nz

Mashpi Reserve, Ecuador, South America

Nature is at its richest all around 24-suite Mashpi Lodge in the Ecuadorian rainforest promises high design at 3,116 feet above sea level, framed by lower montane forest and rainforest, and powered by hydroelectricity, even has a Scientific Research Centre to improve knowledge about the reserve’s biodiverse ecosystem.

Bouteco loves: Mashpi partnered with Rainforest Connection, an eco-acoustic monitoring company, to strategically place solar-powered mobile recording systems around the reservation to act as ‘forest guardians’. How? They detect sounds related to illegal deforestation and poaching and then those tech whizzes convert real-time data into conservationism in parts previously near-impossible to monitor. With an uptick in illegal logging from those who’ve fled cities during the pandemic, it’s a vital piece of policing.

www.mashpilodge.com

Crete, Greece, Europe

A 400-year-old villa attached to a tiny working organic farm near Chania, which invites you to stay in one of only three stylish apartments in the centuries-old farmhouse.
Here near the storied capital of this Greek island, they use natural organic compost, so no toxic fertilisers or harmful pesticides are present, which means a healthier environment. Food miles are low, low, low, and they stay true to responsible sourcing of all goods working with local producers for all supplies. Even the natural mattresses, linens and towels are made in Greece.

Bouteco loves: Thanks to the wisdom of Venetian architecture which works with nature, this historic 17th-century building considers the airflow in a way that means they don’t have to rely on air-conditioning, keeping their carbon footprint low.
Water is heated by solar energy, and pools are cleaned with sea salt and electrolysis, instead of harsh chlorines.

www.metohi-kindelis.gr

Crete, Greece, Europe

Back-to-basics slow living at these solar-powered 16th-century stone cottages on Crete's western forested slopes is agrotourism at its nature-loving best. Roughly hewn stone walls, patinaed wood floors, wood-burning stoves, handcrafted furniture and authentic Greek home cooking.

Bouteco loves:This is filoxenía​ at its best — the Greek word for hospitality, roughly translated as meaning the kindness shown to a stranger. Say the word, and you can also do cookery or art lessons.

www.milia.gr

West Papua, Indonesia, Asia

Rare underwater species, from manta rays to a kaleidoscopic array of coral, make these islands as compelling as can be for thrill-seeking divers and wildlife adventurers. Just off the northwest tip of New Guinea’s West Papua province, this Indonesian archipelago seems remote, regardless of where you call home — but the journey is worth it. Not only for a spell in one of the 20 overwater villas fashioned from driftwood and fallen branches but thanks to the dynamic foundation.

Bouteco loves: Working with private businesses and like-minded partners from the scuba-diving industry, and through donations from guests in 2018, almost $200k raised went towards Misool’s inspiring work protecting the marine environment and communities of Raja Ampat.

www.misool.info

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, Central America

Nicaragua's first luxury ecolodge is constructed using raw materials and salvaged furnishings. Take cues from the go-slow sloths that hang by the balcony in this protected wildlife reserve and in summer, witness endangered sea turtles hatching on the beach. Most of the vegetables are grown on-site, and water is heated using solar energy.

Bouteco loves: Almost half of this 4,000-acre property is Reserva Silvestre El Aguacate — a private reserve — where reforestation and a protection programme works to prevent poaching and illegal logging and deforestation. A sanctuary for regional wildlife here along Central America’s Pacific coast.

www.morgansrock.com

Siargao Islands, Philippines, Asia

With the Long Run initiative's Four Cs at their heart — community, culture, commerce, conservation — this is Siargao island's only five-star resort that provides beach clean-ups, healthcare for locals, tours of the organic farm and carbon-sucking mangrove planting.

Bouteco loves: Their protected waters are home to three endangered species of turtle, with the Cloud 9 barrel luring eco-sensitive surfers (just don't forget your non-toxic board wax).

www.naypaladhideaway.com

Ndzehi Concession, Congo, Africa

Jungle glade on the edge of a national park is lure enough — before you even discover what this fantastically atmospheric camp is best known for: gorillas. With several habituated troops of western lowland gorillas nearby, a stay here is all about tracking these endangered great apes and then observing them in the forest. The camp's six rooms are on raised platforms and look right out into the canopy. Built with sustainable materials and designs these abodes evoke the homes of indigenous Ba’Aka people. Engage with nature at its most magnificent, take forest hikes, night walks and star-gaze by the fire pit — truly immersive and authentic experiences await here in the West African rainforest.

Bouteco loves: By supporting this low-impact tourism venture in a pristine forest environment, your stay helps to protect this swathe of tropical marantaceae forest from other, far more damaging commercial enterprises.

Sumba, Indonesia, Asia

This nature-loving luxury island resort all started with an amazing wave discovered by passionate surfers. A 50-minute flight and 250 miles south-east of Bali, the Indonesian island is twice its size, yet like travelling back in time. What’s special about this 580-acre land is that only a tiny fraction of it has been developed — true to its origins.

Bouteco loves: Nihi helps protect and preserve Sumba’s culture and empower its island communities through the Sumba Foundation. The Sumba Foundation is a non-profit which supplies clean water, inoculates against malaria and aims to improve nutrition on this remote island in this South-East Asia archipelago.

www.nihi.com

Pulau Nikoi, Indonesia, Asia

Just three hours overland from buzzing Singapore this 15 hectare private island is graced with pristine white sand beaches, coral reefs and its own thriving rainforest. Traditional Indonesian architecture and materials help keep beach houses cool, as does 'nature's aircon' — a steady sea breeze.

Bouteco loves: Responsible tourism commitments go well beyond the environment with most team members being from the local community, alongside all supplies brought to the island and in 2010 Nikoi's founders set up The Island Foundation, which has so far educated more than 3000 local people.

www.nikoi.com

North Island, Seychelles, Africa

North Island has long been a sanctuary for endangered fauna and flora too. Their Noah’s Ark rehabilitation project is into its second decade of nurturing rare species such as the Seychelles white-eye birds, Aldabra giant tortoise and Hawksbill sea turtle.

Bouteco loves: The hotel banned plastic straws way back in 2016 and has since rooted out all things PET from front and back of house. Polyethylene terephthalate is that dreaded ubiquitous polymer that exists in a lot of packaging, notorious for its estrogenic compounds that leech from plastic into water. Their eliminating it across the board is no mean feat.

www.north-island.com

Tulum, Mexico, North America & The Caribbean

Olas Tulum is a relaxed B&B of eight suites and it wins our hearts for sitting right next to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which is a sprawling World Heritage Site on the east of Mexico.

Bouteco loves: This LEED-certified building has a platinum rating, which is well deserved. Energy comes from solar panels, rainwater is collected, and it’s built in a way that you’re cooled by the sea breeze not an aircon unit.

www.olastulum.com

New York, USA, North America & The Caribbean

The 25-foot biophilic wall in the lobby is just the beginning: this Brooklyn property’s wind-powered generator, greywater irrigation system and reclaimed construction materials have earned it gold LEED certification.

Bouteco loves: Electric house cars, a Bamford spa, ‘Do-Gooder’ guest packages and a candlelit evening once a month that raises awareness of global brightening, the guest experience itself is nothing if not environmentally sound.

www.1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge

Eleuthera, Bahamas, North America & The Caribbean

What doesn’t sound sexy about a Bahamian camp right on the beach? Choose between tents and shacks here on the shores of Eleuthera Island, just across the water from Harbour Island. Putting the ‘glam’ into glamping are the hardwood floors, four-poster beds and outdoor bathtubs.

Bouteco loves: The whole camp runs on solar power, they grow lots of their own ingredients (which is key for an island resort to be truly green), the pool is saltwater.

www.ontheos.com

Fari Islands, Maldives, Asia

Zero-waste kitchen, biophilic design and recycled marine plastic are just the start of the story of this sleek new stay from the creators of the Capella hotel brand.

Bouteco Loves: Patina is driven by its commitment to perpetuity, ensuring there is a positive legacy from everything they do, from offering free diving lessons to children nurture next-generation respect for the environment, to aiming to be energy-positive from renewables within a few years.

www.patinahotels.com

Petit St Vincent, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, North America & The Caribbean

This 115-acre private island retreat invites us to 22 cottages that insist guests switch off —thanks to the absence of tech. Lots of hotels may boast having given plastic bottles the heave-ho — here they give guests flasks to fill using the Zen Water reverse-osmosis filtration.

Bouteco loves: Their low foodprint makes our hearts flutter since the organic garden and many chickens allow farm-to-fork dining. Their coral reef regeneration project in partnership with the Philip Stephenson Foundation and CLEAR Caribbean is also a winner.

www.petitstvincent.com

London, UK, Europe

The Pilgrm, London | This indie boutique hotel is a love letter to British craftsmanship and low-key cool in a sensitively restored Victorian-era building a hop from Paddington Station — we've been pausing for great-value brunches and cocktails in the lounge and getting a first-class caffeine hit in the downstairs coffee shop since they opened in 2017.

Bouteco Loves: Provenance is of paramount importance — 80% of their furniture is sourced from the UK and 80% of what you eat and drink here is from the UK or Europe at the biggest stretch. Swerving disposable amenities and laying on the likes of water-bottle refill station is part of their simple style which warms the heart through its aesthetics rather then sending more single-use to landfill…

www.thepilgrm.com

Juluchuca, Mexico, North America & The Caribbean

As well as being heaven-sent for Instagram, this rustic resort feels like an honourable tribute to its coastal environment. You sense that they’ve sourced all materials within arm’s reach from the tiled-roofed casitas and thatched suites and treehouses. Wellbeing is considered not just in terms of the planet as a whole, but for you as an individual thanks to nutritious organic veg-heavy dining and yoga and meditation classes.

Bouteco loves: On the western Pacific coast of Mexico, it’s set in 200 wildlife-rich spanning an Aztec archaeological site, a turtle sanctuary, a forest and mangrove ecosystem.

www.playaviva.com

Big Sur, USA, North America & Caribbean

Coastlines don’t deal in sweeping panoramas more dramatic than this Pacific-kissing swathe of North California. Utter seclusion ensures Post Ranch Inn’s recycled redwood cabins and cottages perched on the rocky ridges of the Big Sur are super romantic. To anyone hoping to improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being, the views here alone are worth prescribing.

Bouteco loves: The solar energy is part of the seduction (990 photovoltaic panels, no less) as is the fact it was designed with nature in mind (glass, wood, stone). Consider time in their award-winning spa especially purposeful, yet guilt free — wildflower facials, jade stone massages, shamanic journeys — but best of all, they don’t use chemicals anywhere.

www.postranchinn.com

Bali, Indonesia, Asia

This creative village — ‘desa’ meaning village in Bahasa Indonesia — is a melting pot of music, art, design and wellness with galleries, a disco, music studio as well as the buzzing bar and chic bedrooms. A campus of creative visionaries, it’s the brainchild of Ronal Akili whose first hotel Katamama broke the mould for Balinese boutique hotels. For this more ‘urban’ spirited hotel next door, right on the beach, he enlisted David Gianotten at OMA, the Dutch architectural studio founded by REM Koolhaas.

Bouteco loves: The spirit of inspiring all to live more sustainably extends to a fun eco-focussed kids club, an innovative zero waste restaurant and zero waste kits as amenties. This forward-thinking, imagination-stoking modern Indo escape is a lesson in iconoclastic upcycling, and using quality design to do things differently — we especially love the furniture fashioned by British designers Max Lamb and Faye Toogood.

www.seminyak.potatohead.co

Cerrado, Brazil, South America

Fazenda Trijunção’s 81,544-acre conservationist farm hosts seven luxury suites. The Cerrado is the largest savannah in South America, making up almost a quarter of Brazil’s landmass, so it hosts a staggering level of biodiversity. Head out after dark and see a charismatic cast of nocturnal characters here in the Cerrado. A nocturnal safari at Pousada Trijunção has explorers spotting giant anteaters, the dwarf caiman, maned wolves, field foxes and skunks. You can also set off for such animal-spotting excursions by kayak.

Bouteco loves:The forward-thinking agricultural visionaries at Pousada Trijunção are working with a government agency, Emrada, to innovate around cattle farming to model a low-carbon beef rearing way through their R&D into a new strain of carbon-capturing grass. This will allow 125% more grazing in the same area, and it’s more digestible meaning less methane emissions.

www.pousadatrijuncao.com

Príncipe Island, São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa

Authenticity is something of a holy grail when it comes to holidays — so what could be more genuine than a stay on a working plantation? Here in Africa's second-smallest nation in the Gulf of Guinea, two Portuguese-style plantation homes have been updated and restored to create a tasteful and beguiling, 15-room boutique hotel. Immerse yourself in island tours (Principe is a Biosphere Reserve), then wander down for a swim at their sister beach resort.

Bouteco loves: The entire restoration was undertaken by local builders using recycled materials, and more than 90% of the staff are still recruited from local communities who have also been given a year's worth of training from the Azores School of Tourism.

www.hbdprincipe.com/roca-sundy

Tasmania, Australia, Australia & Oceania

This manta-shaped 20-suite sanctuary in the southernmost Australian island steals your breath with its staggering views of Great Oyster Bay – which is fitting this since retreat celebrates its extraordinary natural habitat with the peaks of the three Hazards mountains appearing like bobbing seals across the water. Local architects Morris Nunn & Associates were inspired by the beautiful oceanic location, and were tasked with capturing flowing forms, organic patterns and sea creatures in their jaw-dropping design for this Freycinet Peninsular boutique hotel.

Bouteco loves: This is pure, raw Tasmania at its best, where the cliche of 'unspoilt' nature still holds sway and the wild charms of the Freycinet National Park beckon. Sister hotels are The Henry Jones Art Hotel and MACq 01 Hotel in Hobart.

www.saffire-freycinet.com.au

Belle Mare, Mauritius, Africa

SALT was the first experience-led, sustainability-focussed hotel from the Lux Collective (and actually a client of Bouteco; we worked with this hotel to help shape this escape for the culturally-curious traveller who was keen to make a positive impact). There are no TVs or single-use plastics, everything is locally sourced and guests are encouraged to explore and celebrate the pure, unvarnished reality of the surrounding culture and landscape.

Bouteco loves: What excited us most when we helped inspire the philosophy was that SALT of Palmar would be dedicated to providing positive social and economic opportunities to its surrounding communities and the Mauritian population. Locality is very much part of the guest experience, with an aim to help foster a greater understanding of the true Mauritian culture and encourage guests to spend money and experience life beyond the hotel.

www.saltresorts.com

Scotland, UK, Europe

A boutique hotel that has given meat the heave-ho sure sounds green to us. Everything from the liquor to the linen is vegan at Saorsa Hotel. Playful interiors (zero leather, wool or silk here) and an innovative plant-rich menu makes a strong case for an animal-cruelty-free lifestyle, whether you continue to lead one once you've checked out of your antique-filled bedroom or not.

Bouteco loves: Gothic grandeur is offset with feel-good design and a fresh approach to dining in the Highlands, and the hotel is powered using green energy from Ecotricity.

www.saorsahotel.com

Skodje, Norway, Europe

Storfjord Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Glomset overlooking the Storfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps.

Bouteco loves: 62º North invites you to Norway to experience stays that showcase authentic culture, postcard-perfect landscapes and immersive original experiences in this naturally, genuinely sustainable nation.

www.storfjordhotel.com

Cornwall, UK, Europe

Arguably the UK's best boutique eco hotel, The Scarlet's award-winning Ayurveda-inspired spa and art-filled restaurant are part of why this glam grown-up getaway is also fantastically green. Perched on cliffs overlooking Mawgan Porth beach, every room comes with its own balcony or outdoor ‘pod’ with soul-stirring sea views. Since its inception they've thought about the impact their every action and activity has on the environment and their local community and their ‘Cherish the World’ ethos is embraced by the whole team.

Bouteco loves: Clifftop hot tubs, a natural reed-bed swimming pool and a knockout of a location along Britain's south-west coast.

www.scarlethotel.co.uk

Portsmouth, Dominica, Caribbean

Hugged by rainforest, the private plunge pools, treetop spa and dedicated villa hosts underscore the fact this is a place of cut-above living where each villa at Secret Bay was built by hand using sustainably-sourced hardwoods.

Bouteco Loves: Not just a pretty place, this Green Globe-certified property is also actively working to promote healthier reefs through their Coral Restoration Project.

www.secretbay.dm

Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, Africa

Kenya's Laikipia Plateau certainly isn't short of luxurious places to stay, but this six-strong camp of super-deluxe villas in the shadow of Mount Kenya sets the bar. With a 50,000-acre savannah sanctuary to explore, this is the place to come for game drives far from the madding crowd. When not being mesmerised by elephants, giraffes and other big game, you can hit the spa, admire African art or spend a night sleeping out under the stars.

Bouteco loves: Segera's ethos is a coming together of culture, community, conservation and commerce. That's no surprise: it was created by Jochen Zeitz who is the founder of the 4Cs, which are the foundation principles of the Long Run. Your stay supports projects as important and varied as beading cooperatives, solar farms, schools and East Africa's first academy for female anti-poaching rangers.

www.segera.com

Himalayas, India, Asia

Soul-stirring panoramas over Nepalese snowcapped mountains and heart-warming hikes through the local villages are part of every enriching escape here. At 8,000 feet up, Shakti 360 Leti in Uttarakhand lets you experience life on top of the world while benefitting the little-visited local community and holding a hefty portfolio of eco-credentials to boot; renewable energy, recycled wastewater and home-grown organic produce to name just a few.

Bouteco loves: A rare remote experience here supports this little-visited local community significantly. Since its inception, founder Jamshyd has worked with, and through, the local people without compromising their way of life, and almost all their staff are from here in these hills, ensuring that the communities feels a great sense of pride in their involvement and welcoming all warmly.

www.shaktihimalaya.com

Cardamom National Park, Cambodia, Asia

A radical new fusion of world-class design, all-inclusive hospitality and conservation, where your stay makes a real difference in protecting unique and endangered species. Our adventurous team is constantly out in the environment exploring and developing new experiences at Wild. Join them and immerse yourself in the magic of discovery with our wildly enthusiastic Adventure Butlers, each of whom specializes in a particular study or sport to help you understand one of the most beautiful places on the face of the planet.

Bouteco loves: By partnering with Wildlife Alliance, the resort fees fund military-trained rangers to guard the resort, dismantle snares, catch poachers and check cameras for animal activity. Bill Bensley created the resort expressly in order to rescue the land from poachers, loggers and mining, which are all endangering increasing tracts of nature in this part of the world.

www.shintamani.com

Various locations, Bhutan, Asia

Six Senses has created its own daisy chain of sleek, eco-conscious retreats and each of the five lodges, Six Senses Thimphu, Six Senses Punakha, Six Senses Gangtey, Six Senses Bumthang and Six Senses Paro offer their own character and charm. Wellness is assured in the mystical valleys here in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. As heavenly as these hotels are, venture out to go trekking to ancient monasteries or explore the beauty of Paro, the rich culture centre that is Thimphu, the quieter more remote peace of Punakha and Gangtey, and the wilderness of Bumthang.

Bouteco loves… Waking up at Six Senses Gangtey with a widescreen view of that incredible valley is one of the most special travel experiences anyone could ever experience. Truthfully, hotel ownership is an arcane landscape, which has very much become about real-estate assets that perform as part of portfolios to make the wealthier, well, wealthier, across the world. Which is why, particularly from a climate perspective it’s always important to understand the trickle-down effect of a hospitality business in terms of how much that business leaves money in local pockets to support grass-roots resilience and safeguard nature… And these properties feel like a vital source of income and employment for the people of Bhutan. 

www.sixsenses.com

Ibiza, Spain, Europe

A world away from the White Isle's more hedonistic scenes in the south and west, this intelligent luxury eco-resort is the first of its kind in the Balearics. Perfectly poised on a cliff-top headland on Ibiza's more spiritual north coast, the 116 guest accommodations span townhouses, pool suites and beachfront caves. These coordinates put you within easy reach of sleepy coves and Sunday craft markets, and treat you to a different take on repetitive beats: the sound of the Mediterranean waves and sunset drummers on boho Benirrás beach.

Bouteco loves: We're delighted there's finally a properly sustainable luxury resort here on the larger of the Baleares isles, and we're thrilled that they have partnered with the Ibiza Preservation Foundation. That means as well as following the Six Senses group's principles, they support conservation projects on land and at sea, both here and next door on little sister, Formentera.

www.sixsenses.com

Laamu Atoll, Maldives, Asia

Many luxury Maldives could be accused of having crippling carbon footprints, so it's good to see one of this archipelago nation's finest resorts taking steps to reset expectations. In a region that is 99% water, this Six Senses-managed escape has considered a spectrum of strategies to protect the atoll's environment and benefit local communities and reduce on-island consumption and waste. Which means guests at this top-drawer, 97-villa retreat can immerse themselves in extreme barefoot luxury without upsetting their conscience.

Bouteco loves: Any hotel that's a member of the Long Run is alright by us. Get to grips with why this means they have a greener way of being on a Sustainability Tour and visit the hotel's Earth Lab, which uses experimentation and innovation to drive efforts in self-sufficiency, zero waste and emissions reduction. Watch and learn — quite literally.

www.sixsenses.com

Félicité Island, Seychelles, Africa

Seychelles has been working hard to up their sustainability and this outpost of one of the most respected sustainable-luxury hotel brands has laudable social and environmental projects. As they state: "For us, sustainability starts with growing our own food. In 2021, we produced over 7,000 kilos of organic herbs, fruits, and veggies to feed our guests and hosts." Their garden renovation increased their food self-sufficiency, while using organic practices and increasing our composting output."

Have you been? Did you love it? Share your favourite #BoutecoLoves tips on Instagram to help us steer each other to the heroes!

www.sixsenses.com

Musandam Peninsula, Oman, Middle East

We’ve been cheering this hotel group for many years for setting a greener bar – and here Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman throws in added adventure on the Musandam Peninsula. You can arrive by boat, or care of a 4x4 through rocky mountains or literally drop in from the sky strapped to the resort’s professional paraglider if you really want to show-off. You’d be hard pushed to find an arrival higher in wow-factor.

Bouteco loves: Each resort has a dedicated Earth Lab – where they showcase their sustainability efforts through crafts and reconnecting with the natural world. You can geek out by checking out their consumption data for water, energy, and waste which on display here, too.

www.sixsenses.com

Baa Atoll, Maldives, Asia

With spacious luxury villas hidden among dense foliage on a private island, this is the original desert island hideaway in the Maldives. But look beyond the – admittedly idillic – tropical setting and you’ll find that sustainability is at the heart of Soneva’s ethos. Just remember to leave time to explore the surrounding islands, picnic on a beach with a personal chef, and stare at the stars from the observatory or your own private camp on a remote sandbank.

Bouteco loves: Learn about permaculture in its organic garden – where you can also pick your own lunch, boost environmental and community initiatives whilst engaging with local artisans and help to reduce single use plastic in the region by supporting their bottling scheme.

www.soneva.com

Noonu Atoll, Maldives, Asia

Intelligent luxury in the Indian Ocean. Smell fragrances free of chemicals, taste organic flavours lovingly cultivated by hand not industrial machines, and touch furnishings crafted by artisans not hailing from a factory. Sonu Shivsasani’s three barefoot-luxury Soneva resorts win awards for their architecture and design, unrivalled guest experiences (overwater cinema, stargazing observatory, first-class spa, dedicated cheese and chocolate rooms) as well as all that they do to preserve their pristine Maldivian and Thailand environments.

Bouteco loves: Admire star-filled skies above from bed through retractable roofs, or from your over-the-water swing seat, then salute the waste and water-filtration initiatives behind the scenes that ensure this is pure guilt-free luxury.

www.soneva.com

Koh Kood, Thailand, Asia

Pardon us for the Robinson Crusoe cliché reference — but we’re pretty sure if he had been stranded with a crack team of designers and been given a chance to throw in a Six Senses spa, he would have had a hand-hewn castaway residence that looked a little like Soneva Kiri. The point is this ultra-luxe resort with a conscience is hidden away on a tropical isle — castaway chic par excellence‚ with 34 villas (spanning one to six bedrooms) scattered among a beach-facing rainforest. Each of these wooden structures blends into the trees and comes with its own private pool, while the resort itself offers an outdoor cinema and complimentary yoga and chocolate.

Bouteco loves:All of Soneva's hotels embody their change-making SLOW LIFE philosophy: Sonu and Eva Shivdasani's whole ethos has always been to champion sustainable, local, organic, wellness, learning, inspired, fun experiences. Here on the island of Koh Kood this is manifested in a spectrum of recycling and conservation strategies that also include sourcing own-grown ingredients and purchasing from local suppliers making them a stand-out stay for Thailand just as the brand leads in the Maldives.

www.soneva.com

Koh Rong Archipelago, Cambodia, Asia

When they first journeyed to the Koh Rong archipelago in 2005, Song Saa founders took inspiration from the beauty of the islands and the smiles and energy of the people.

Bouteco loves: When they starting building Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia’s first luxury coastal resort in the archipelago, they knew that a commitment to preserving the local environment and culture had to underpin everything they did.

www.songsaa-privateisland.com

Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, Namibia, Africa

AndBeyond’s Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in the NamibRand Nature Reserve has 10 spacious suites with the ultimate desert views. Each self-sustaining suite is panelled up enough to act as its own solar-power plant, to produce enough energy to power its electricity and air-con.

Bouteco loves: You might think it’s the butler hatches with secret, solar-powered freezer drawers stocked with ice cream and Namibian craft beer that get us excited: but it’s hearing about the recycling system and water-bottling plant that make us happy.

www.andbeyond.com

Ranthambhore, India, Asia

This camp of 12 luxurious tents at the edge of Ranthambhore National Park is inspired by the classic Golden Age safari stays of the 1920s, as friendly to the environment as it is cosseting of its guests.

Bouteco loves: This is the only hotel company in India charging a mandatory conservation contribution charge to all their guests, 1500 INR per person per night whereby every penny goes back into their impact projects. SUJÁN Sher Bagh is a donor to the Village Wildlife Volunteers. This conservation initiative forms a vital line of defence for anti-poaching around the greater Ranthambhore area. 59 Individual leopards identified by SUJÁN between 2013–2020 in the Jawai area.

www.thesujanlife.com/sher-bagh

Príncipe Island, São Tomé & Príncipe, Africa

One of HBD Príncipe's four properties, it’s not just 15 one-bedroom tented villas that make us what to spend time here — it’s their unwavering dedication to sustainability and community development. The entire island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, just off Gabon in West Africa and a grand-scale lesson in how philanthropy can be used to build a self-sustaining tourism model.

Bouteco loves: Created by Mark Shuttleworth he started this great empowerment project with Bom Bom which opened in 2013. The intention is to create an economic engine for all of the island. Roça Paciência is a former plantation and their organic horticulture centre which supplies as much as they can from their kitchen to the spa.

www.hbdprincipe.com/sundy

Nhamabue, Mozambique, Africa

It's all about mindful luxury at this incredible Indian Ocean retreat in peaceful Southern Mozambique. Built to honour Mozambique’s traditional rural architecture, each thatch-roofed, waterfront bungalow spans over 1,000 square feet of living space and stands surrounded by its own plot of pristine nature. By engaging the local community and supporting conservation and reforestation programmes, guests can enjoy a more meaningful stay with the added satisfaction of knowing they're giving something back to a corner of the world crying out for socio-economic investment.

Bouteco loves:Every element of aesthetically soothing Sussurro is a celebration of African talents through its partnership with designers, builders, artisans and growers.

sussurro.co

The Gobi, Mongolia, Asia

Luxury yurts promising the rare chance to taste for life as a nomadic herder, entirely off-grid staying in their camp which shares a well with the local community so several families visit with their livestock… This is what true travel is about celebrating the culture and traditions of true Gobi life and introducing all to the dramatic beauty of this unique landscape. They are also in cahoots with scientific research and wildlife monitoring programmes to give back to the Gobi with gusto.

Bouteco loves: Three Camel Lodge is totally off-grid. And since water is super precious as can be, they have special practices in place to make the most of what they have.

www.threecamellodge.com

Patagonia, Chile, South America

We dream of getting to Torres del Paine National Park to experience this luxury lodge in person and exploring the Chilean Patagonia…

Bouteco loves: Clearly designed with sustainability at its core, they've worked their wonders with locally sourced materials and applied energy-efficient systems with a staggering commitment to preserving the wilderness while respectfully considering local communities.

tierrapatagonia.com

Cartagena, Colombia, South America

Looking out over a green Old Town square, you’ll find eight bedrooms and three two-bedroom suites, each inspired by an indigenous bird and hand-painted by a local artist, accordingly. As you would expect from Blue Apple Beach’s little sister there’s a rooftop terrace, bar and pool to sit, sip and dip in accordingly.

Bouteco Loves: Setting new benchmarks when it comes to transparency around supply chains this B Corp-certified business eyeballs every aspect of their procurement.

www.townhousecartagena.com

Harads, Sweden, Europe

A hit on social media for its stunning (and sometimes madcap) designs, this remote hideaway in far north Sweden has seen phenomenal success. With futuristic designs ranging from a mirrored cube to a bird's nest, the seven stand-alone cabins are elevated among the trees, making these boltholes superb for experiencing the midnight sun or the magical Northern Lights.

Bouteco loves: For an at-one-with-nature vibe befitting of a forest stay, all seven tree rooms employ eco-friendly waste-incineration systems and other technologies to cut back on wastage of water and power.

treehotel.se

Selfoss, Iceland, Europe

We dream of getting to southern Iceland one day to take in their take of Nordic heritage care of these turf-topped, Viking-style lodges amid volcanoes, glaciers, and sprawling lava fields.

Bouteco loves: Powered by geothermal and hydroelectric energy is always a winner, and so is staying somewhere chic as can be — down to the Icelandic fishing boat reimagined as a statement piece sofa. example.

www.torfhus.is

Lake Koggala, Sri Lanka, Asia

Sri Lanka’s first sustainable design hotel, Tri is a luxury eco-conscious hotel on six green, leafy acres by Koggala Lake designed with Shanghai-based A00 and architect Raefer Wallis, a trailblazer in eco-minded design.

Bouteco loves: Sustainable materials and building practices are exemplary, the water is solar heated water and transfer is by old-fashioned fishing boat. Tri’s entire philosophy is based on going local – from the team members, to the ingredients in the kitchen and the art displayed. A carbon-consulting company in Colombo was enlisted to conduct a comprehensive biodiversity report.

www.trilanka.com

Nosy Komba Island, Madagascar, Africa

So intertwined is this luxury lodge with its natural environment that it's hard to see where the tropical gardens end and the forest begins. With no more than eight spacious chalets — each one overlooking the sea and designed to harmonise with the habitat — it doesn't take long to feel like a castaway here on this car-free isle known for some of the richest biodiversity in the world. Expect butterflies, birds and endemic black lemurs to be your nearest neighbours.

Bouteco loves: As well as relying almost entirely on local materials and manpower, Tsara Komba's commitment to sustainability even stretches to planting a tree on behalf of each guest in the baobab nursery. When they created the resort, contrary to typical developers, not only did they not fence off their private beach from locals, they allowed public access and provided a boat for local kids to go to school. In Africa, many citizens end up being categorised as squatters for living on coastal areas — these hosts mobilised the community and paid for local legal services to actually give them rights to stop them from being what is viewed as squatters on the land they consider to be home.

www.tsarakomba.com

Kalahari, South Africa, Africa

Amid dramatic dunescapes on South Africa's largest game reserve in the Kalahari, Tswalu's foundation supports conservation work reversing years of damage from farming, providing education and healthcare to the families that live on the reserve. Spot black-maned lions and aardvark by day, and stargaze on your deck by night, where your private guide hosts first-class comfort in one of the two lodges.

Bouteco loves: Challenging though it is in the Kalahari, rather than add to the carbon footprint by transporting food over long distances, Tswalu grows fresh produce and continues to investigate sustainable approaches to small scale horticulture. Combining traditional techniques with modern, minimal water irrigation techniques has enabled them to reduce their food supply radius while providing the kitchen with new inspiration. Nourishment extends to providing the ideal educational foundation for staff members’ children and Adult Basic Education and Training programmes assist team members with literacy and gaining formal recognition for their skills and knowledge.

www.tswalu.com

Placencia, Belize, Central America

Famously owned by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola so you can be sure it's high on drama — and even better, this eco-resort is the Godfather of environmental stewardship. The thatched-roof cottages and beachfront villas make our hearts swoon, especially since they’re renewable materials and energy-efficient design. They champion conservation by working with local NGOs, protecting endangered sea turtles and coral reefs. Organic gardens supply the resort's restaurants with fresh produce, supporting the community and reducing carbon footprint.

Bouteco loves: With eco-conscious practices like water recycling and wildlife protection, Turtle Inn sets a standard for responsible tourism, inviting guests to indulge in luxury while preserving Belize's natural treasures… Crucial for a coastal village which has pristine beaches, thriving marine life, and rainforests — and we need tourism to showing some serious love for biodiversity and community-led conservation efforts if we stand a chance of reconciling luxury travel with the climate crisis.

thefamilycoppolahideaways.com

Hong Kong, China, Asia

The sleek top-storey apartments that occupy 49 storeys in Admiralty are part of Swire Hotels' Pacific Palace complex, where Andre Fu has redesigned the city stay with space and serenity. Motion sensors reduce electricity waste, their cars are hybrids and bathroom products are by Soil Association-certified Bamford.

Bouteco loves: The ocean-friendly menu is WWF approved, and Swift supports waste-reducing social-impact initiatives such as Hong Kong Down Syndrome and Soap Cycling.

www.thesetcollection.com/the-upper-house

Trancoso, Brazil, South America

Authenticity is assured at Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa Brazil's picturesque and historic Bahia state can offer. And no place delivers the experience like Trancoso's Quadrado, its car-free, Unesco-protected town square.

Bouteco loves: Restored by designer Wilbert Das alongside local artisans and reclaimed materials, half of Uxua's casas date back 500 years. Full throttle with the fashion industry left him wanting a project where he felt he was investing in something permanent and meaningful and his vacation home evolved into UXUA. One by one, a few humble adobe cottages off the grassy car-free Quadrado were remodeled as part of the hotel’s barefoot-chic boutique lodgings. Amid crowing roosters and chattering ‘nativos’ – the badge-of-honour term for true locals – this rustic-deluxe retreat is a life-enriching part of the community.

www.uxua.com

Arosa, Switzerland, Europe

At the edge of the Arosa forest, 40-room nine-apartment Valsana runs using energy from a hydro-power plant and by capturing heat waste and storing energy in an ice battery. Thanks to a new cable car linking Arosa to Lenzerheide, Valsana, part of Tschuggen, is also a very appealing ski destination.

Bouteco loves: The first Swiss luxury hotel group declares itself carbon neutral thanks to its innovative stored-energy ice-battery. A Net Zero hotel is where the building and operations uses no more energy than it sources from renewable means – solar, wind, water.

tschuggencollection.ch

Tuscany, Italy, Europe

Here in wild, wild Tuscany — a world away from the genteel slopes of Chiantishire that many tourists know — is this biodynamic farm and artists retreat. Villa Lena Foundation hosts artists every summer season here amid 500 hilly hectares of olive groves, vineyards, vegetable gardens and woodland.

Bouteco loves: Carefully managed on biodynamic principles, the farm managed passionately by Pietro, survives on a closed-loop system — no seeds are purchased with no waste created. Rainwater is collected throughout the estate and irrigation channels help to hydrate the land during dry months.

www.villa-lena.it

Jezersko, Slovenia, Europe

Michelin-listed cuisine, world-class Slovenian wines, and four ‘energy points’ with healing powers. A little more than half an hour’s drive north of the capital, Ljubljana this seductive contemporary chalet in the little village of Jezersko, marks a sea change in accommodation options in a sustainability-minded destination that has been crying out for designer digs. Since public lighting in Jezersko is all switched off at 11pm, the hotel switches theirs off too every night to be a part of this, too so that everyone can enjoy the starry skies and peace.

Bouteco Loves: Nature and an authentic taste of Slovenian culture informs the look and feel throughout from the furnishings to the sophisticated flavours in the restaurant. We also loved plugging our electric hire car into the charging stations just outside the villa.

www.vilaplaninka.com

Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, Asia

Come enjoy the wonders of Myanmar’s Myeik Archipelago where the warm and welcoming, hard-working people of Myanmar, have never been more eager to welcome visitors back with open arms to this private island in the Andaman Sea. Created by Chris Kingsley and his wife Farina, who are behind a California-based family-run furniture business, they wanted to create a lodge that was as green as possible using mostly reclaimed materials and built by hand by local craftsman.

Bouteco loves: Stays at Wa Ale resort support the Lampi Foundation, which supports the conservation of the surrounding forest, local schools and villages, as well as marine conservation and the first turtle hatchery in the Lampi Marine National Park. 

www.waaleresort.com

Cotswolds, UK, Europe

A restored 19th-century manor house in 12 acres of gardens near Malmesbury, with Michelin-starred dining and a spa doesn’t sound like the stuff of green hospitality. While this Cotswold hideaway may be a tad trad in their interiors for our particular tastes, it’s fabulously forward-thinking when it comes to sustainability.

Bouteco loves: Award-winning for their determination to keep their carbon footprint low, their commitment to implementing environmental practices is exemplary when it comes to protecting natural resources, prioritising local suppliers, minimising waste, employing local.

www.whatleymanor.com

Monthey, Switzerland, Europe

Since the creation of this eco-luxury hotel & Alpine experience in southwestern Switzerland in 2004, Whitepod has been proving that five-star hospitality and conservation can coexist for the benefit of all. Under two hours from Geneva and Chamonix, the six geodesic pods have all the comforts of a hotel despite having virtually no impact on the environment. Whether a romantic snug or family suite, guests are embedded into the hillside, surrounded by nature and with nothing other than the magnitude of the Alps to ponder.

Bouteco loves: The domes are energy efficient as can be since their shape allows an airflow which needs less energy to maintain even temperatures (a third less than conventional buildings) and closed fireplaces minimises the amount of wood needed for burning; there are timers on water boilers and water-saving devices, and the use of biodegradable cleaning products.

www.whitepod.com

Vancouver Island, Canada, North America

This exclusive Relais & Chateaux retreat the edge of the Pacific Ocean shows its reverence for nature and indigenous heritage wherever possible. Set in Canada's surfing capital Tofino, The Wick as it’s nicknamed, honours its Unesco biosphere and the Pacific Rim National Park position.

Bouteco Loves: Eco-friendliness is a way of life here for this British Columbia community that has long had an activist spirit. Every suite has an ocean-view balcony and fishing-line-and-farm-to-plate restaurant.

www.wickinn.com

Yala, Sri Lanka, Asia

Where the jungle meets the beach, these 28 chic vaulted tents at the edge of Yala National Park let you join conservation experts for guided safari experiences. Teeming with biodiversity, in addition to its leopards, elephant, bears and birdlife, the Park is also home to archaeological sites that date back centuries.

Bouteco loves: Free-form saltwater pool. No single-use plastics in camp. Solar energy. Composting. Two female rangers — the first in Sri Lanka.

www.resplendentceylon.com/wildcoastlodge-yala

Namib Rand Nature Reserve, Namibia, Africa

This collection of individual camps, each set in its own little niche within the Namibrand Nature Reserve, minimises its environmental impact by using sustainable building techniques and innovative technology, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the desert scenery.

Bouteco loves: A proud member of the Long Run, Wolwedans was also the first-ever recipient of the Green Flowers Environmental award in 2018, provided by the Eco Awards of Namibia.

www.wolwedans.com

London, UK, Europe

This Clerkenwell crashpad opened in Clerkenwell in 2004 and acquired by asset managers in 2021, was London’s first boutique hotel to be designed and built using environmental principles. Built from sustainable timber, with rooftop rooms which open to cityscape views, the original founder Mark Sainsbury went on to found the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Next door to The Zetter Townhouse which opened in 2011, a quirky 13-bedroom Georgian Townhouse, styled with antiques and curios to emulate the private home of an eccentric Great Aunt with an exceptional cocktail lounge.

Bouteco loves: The 1,500-foot bore-hole below wins the 56-room warehouse-conversion our love for its self-sustaining creds. With an energy system loop in place, a stay here makes for a rewarding eco-minded experience.

thezetter.com/clerkenwell

Ljubljana, Slovenia, Europe

A lovingly-restored 400-year-old house in the cobbled heart of the capital, this independent locally-owned boutique delight will please exacting modern tastes. The restaurant follows an ethos that is the default across this sustainable nation, and that's working wonders with ingredients that are local and seasonal and in their case, almost all organic.

Bouteco Loves: No plastic in sight is always reassuring, we love the coffee machine in the bedrooms which uses a fresh grind rather than pods and the fact they lay on long long-lasting KAAITA felt slippers made from six repurposed plastic bottles instead of those all-to-ubiquitous single-use versions sheathed in cellophane.

zlataladjica.com