From a marine conservation-centric Maldivian resort fostering a strong sense of island community to a Moroccan kasbah weaving the Berber way of life throughout its guest experience, here are five eco-luxury hotels from SLH’s Considerate Collection that aren’t just heavenly, but earth-friendly too.
1. Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences, Baa Atoll – Maldives
Set among swaying frangipanis and cashmere-soft sand, Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences is a celebration of Maldivian life, culture and its pristine natural environment.
Even without its impressive EarthCheck Silver certified status, this Maldivian-owned resort runs an array of eco-activities and initiatives – from an ongoing coral propagation project and Long Tail Tropic bird breeding programme, to complimentary bicycles, electric golf buggies, an outdoor zero power gym, and a 3km walking trail.
2. Aristide Hotel, Syros – Greece
The recently opened Aristide Hotel is a new eco art hotel on the lesser-known Cycladic island of Syros. The plastic-free property is housed within a beautifully restored neoclassical mansion in the historical centre of Hermoupolis, with a dedicated art gallery which hosts regular exhibitions of resident artists.
Great care was taken during the non-invasive refurbishment of the Cyclades’ former tax residency to preserve its period features and Art Deco elements, so that guests can stretch out in the building’s spacious original room layout surrounded by eclectic artworks and island-inspired interiors.
After exploring the city’s many cultural highlights on your doorstep, including the Ano Syros medieval settlement, unwind in your biodegradable slippers back at Aristide Hotel knowing that the carbon footprint from your travel to the island has been offset by the hotel’s regreening and tree planting project in collaboration with the Cyclades Preservation Fund.
3. Castello di Reschio, Umbria – Italy
Huddled amidst rolling green hills lined with cypress trees, Castello di Reschio is a one-thousand-year-old castle which has been meticulously restored and stylishly reimagined by architect Count Benedikt Bolza and his B.B. for Reschio team into several bespoke farmhouses dotted across a staggeringly beautiful 1,500-hectare landscape on the Umbrian-Tuscan border.
Adopting an ‘as nature intended’ approach, the Bolza family has protected the Umbrian wilderness for thirty years, introducing a successful re-wilding programme in the ancient forests which are now filled with roe deer, wild boar, and porcupines, alongside encouraging the growth of oak and chestnut trees which now represent 66% of the fully organic and biodynamic estate which runs off state-of-the-art hydraulic and electrical systems.
Guests can join the resident beekeeper to discover the rich millefiori honey made on-site, the gamekeeper for wildlife watching, and truffle hunters and foragers to learn about the medicinal and nutritional properties of Reschio’s vegetation. Natural beauty abounds here, which can be explored at a leisurely pace on foot, by bicycle, or riding one of the estate’s 40 pure bred Spanish horses.
4. Dar Ahlam, Ouarzazate – Morocco
Dar Ahlam is a traditional kasbah that has been thoughtfully constructed using local materials, set in a haven of manicured lawns and fragrant almond blossom. As an active member of its Berber village community, Dar Ahlam purchases seasonal, largely vegetarian ingredients from local souks, including pomegranate vinegar, date caramel, tall herb grass honey, and argan oil, as well as from women’s associations in nearby villages.
Days at Dar Ahlam are shaped around ultra-personalised experiences which immerse guests in Berber culture, from sleeping beneath the stars in a traditional tent, sunrise tea ceremonies in the Sahara, to locally-led treks into the Valley of Roses, and visits to hilltop villages which date back to the 12th century.
Dar Ahlam runs the Memory Road project in southern Morocco in partnership with the Global Heritage Fund to renovate entire, abandoned villages and bring them back to life for the community and preserve the Berber way of life for generations to come.
5. Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel, Anse La Raie – Mauritius
A tropical hideaway overlooking a natural lagoon on the northern coast of Mauritius, Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel is a tranquil as its name suggests. As an active contributor towards the Marine Discovery Centre in Anse-la-Raie, Paradise Cove is dedicated to the protection of the surrounding waters, including regular beach clean-ups and glass-bottom boat tours at the local Voluntary Marine Conservation Area.
From private pirogue (traditional canoe) island-hopping expeditions with a local sea operator, complimentary excursions to nearby Cap Malheureux, a traditional fishing village, and cycling tours through tropical gardens and sugar cane fields, to Mauritian cooking classes which make use of organic ingredients and include a local recipe to take home, the list of locally run activities is endless.
See more hotels from SLH’s Considerate Collection
The full version of this article first appeared on Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) and has been republished with permission on LUXE City Guides.
