Five Sustainable Destinations to Visit in 2021

Discover some amazing options around the world where you can travel and yet still have a positive impact on the local area that you are visiting.  

We will show you just a few of the ever-expanding,  eco-friendly possibilities from all corners of the globe and for all budgets and tastes.  Hopefully, you will feel inspired to make travel choices, going forwards, that help to protect our planet for the future, while still having incredible experiences and creating amazing memories for you on your adventures today.

What is a Sustainable Destination?

The World Tourism Organisation describes Sustainable Tourism as “taking full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.  Basically, the criteria is wide-ranging and covers many areas, however, it is important to differentiate between hotels, for example, that call themselves “green” because they use  “please hang up your towels if you would like to reuse them” signs.  

A sustainable destination will not only have many eco-friendly strategies, such as recycling,  waste reduction and water and energy conservation programs but will also be working to innovate and improve not only their meaningful guest experiences but also to ensure positive impacts and benefits to their local environment and communities. 

Let's get started with the first of our five,  fabulous, must-visit,  sustainable destination recommendations…

“Change through Experience”  

This incredible reserve is located in a privileged position between mountains, forest and sea, close to the Southernmost tip of Africa. 

Grootbos has been combining luxury accommodation with groundbreaking educational, conservation and research projects for many, many years.  Here they are not content with simply preserving the pristine wilderness which is their back yard,  they are constantly finding innovative ways of doing things to protect and ensure the continued survival of the hundreds of plant and mammal species and the 1000-year-old Milkwood forests that flourish throughout the reserve. 

Through an extensive and diverse program of activities, they encourage guests to “discover the regions natural wonders”  for themselves and directly contribute to its conservation and the enrichment and protection of local communities.   Just some of the transformative experiences on offer here are Botanical or  Bird Watching Tours, Marine Safaris, Scenic Flights, Shark Cage Diving, Whale Watching, and “Hive to Home” where you can visit active beehives and learn about the important role that bees play in our environment.  You will of course get to taste delicious honey inspired teas and treats and get your own jar of honey to take home. Children are also very well catered for here so it can definitely be considered for an incredible family holiday.

They very handily have a selection of different packages with recommended excursions to help you choose the perfect itinerary and make the most of your time there whatever type of holiday you are looking for.  Amongst other things they can cater for  Honeymoons, Romantic Weekends and Family or Adventure holidays and they even have a Wine Tasting  Package and a Secret Season Package.

You will, of course,  stay in harmony with nature in supreme comfort and luxury in a Garden or Forest Lodge or a Private Villa.  Many having spectacular panoramic ocean views and all of them making the most of the stunning location through clever use of architecture, design and the use of local materials.  

 
The food is, as you would expect, outstanding and benefits from the hotels own organic farm which not only provides much of the produce and also employs locals through their “Growing the Futures” project.  They even serve their own mountain spring water from the reserve!

I cannot speak highly enough of this truly sustainable destination and would just say if you ever get the chance to spend any time there - drop everything and go!

“The Original Desert Island Hideaway”

Sustainability has been at the heart of this barefoot luxury hideaway, located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve within the Baa Atoll since it opened in 1995.  Construction materials were locally sourced and no trees were cut down during the build.  The owner, Sonu Shivdasani was a trailblazer in the war against single-use plastics from day one, for example, toiletries were provided to guests in re-usable earthenware containers and they banned plastic bottles entirely in 2008.

As part of their SLOWLIFE policy, the resort is carbon-neutral, desalinates its own water, recycles 90% of its waste on-site and is committed to preserving and protecting the local ecosystem. 

From the moment you arrive, you will be encouraged to relax and really experience nature by going barefoot to experience the feeling of the sand between your toes. You will even be given a bag for your shoes that you really don’t need to open again until you leave.  Blissful!

You may wish you were staying for longer when you discover the myriad of activities that are on offer.  You can learn a new skill such as how to fish sustainably or how to blow glass where you can create your own masterpiece to take home.    Or you could learn more about the universe as they have a state of the art observatory which will allow you to experience 3d Astronomy.  Or what about eco-friendly surfing, paddle boarding, windsurfing,  diving, snorkelling or maybe just relax in the six senses spa after a game of tennis?  

Visit the neighbouring island of Maalhos to learn more about the sustainability initiatives, Eco Centre and water bottling plant or stay overnight on your own deserted sandbank in a luxurious Bedouin-inspired tent for an incredible, intimate experience under the stars.   There are also complimentary bicycles and an open-air Cinema.

Whether you choose a villa on the Sunrise or Sunset side of the island, there will be an option to suit everybody and you will get your own stretch of pristine beach.  Choose from a 1 bedroom villa with private pool and outdoor bathroom to a nine-bedroom villa with a spa area, sauna, gym, children’s room, water slide, sunken dining area inside the swimming pool and everything in between! We particularly love the fabulous pillow and duvet menu and the multiple options you have to relax and nap!  It feels that you are never more than 2 steps away from a sofa bed, hammock, daybed, sun bed or the bed itself!

Meals here are of course fabulous and homegrown produce is a particular highlight, there is the possibility to enjoy a gourmet, plant-based dinner in the resort’s organic garden.

You might just re-think some of your life choices during this luxury, feel good, getaway. 

“We aim to prove that hospitality and environmental conservation can coexist to create a unique and positive experience”.  

This exclusive Alpine eco “camp” consists of individually decorated geodesic, a sphere composed only of triangles in case you were wondering, dome pods.  As you gaze through your floor to ceiling window at the unbelievably breathtaking view, you will be kept cozy in Winter and cool in Summer thanks to the high-quality insulation and the wood-burning stoves.  These hi-tech futuristic pods are designed on the outside to blend into the landscape as they are left sparkling white or covered in green depending on the season and individually themed on the inside. Themes included Forest, Family, Zen and even 007, presumably where you can live out your secret agent dreams. 

Waste is recycled, consumption of energy and water is carefully controlled and everything is as local as possible including the food you eat and the staff who work there, meaning they live locally and walk to work. 

There is a central “Pod House” serving meals from locally sourced ingredients.  They also offer a fabulously indulgent afternoon tea with homemade crêpes, tarts and cakes and the possibility of ordering a delightful picnic to take along with you on any of your daytime adventures. 

Natures abundant bounty can be fully experienced through a huge array of activities including, during the milder months,  a forest escape game, described as a real treasure hunt in the middle of nature, e-mountain bike rental and a walking with dogs experience.    By this I mean really walking WITH dogs, as in you will be harnessed with a large belt and pulled along by husky, non-slippery shoes are advised!  It is also possible to do a hiking, cooking trail where you gather plants with your mountain guide who upon the completion of your hike, (which is adapted to your fitness level) will put a chefs hat on and teach you how to prepare and cook your treasure. 

In the less mild months you can go ski touring, snowshoe hiking, sledding, take a wine tour or go paragliding.  At any time of year you can experience forest bathing to combat stress and anxiety and also unwind with wellness treatments using local floral oils. Which actually all sounds quite heavenly doesn’t it!  As you can imagine, this is a very successful popular “resort”, which gets booked up quite far in advance, especially during School holidays. 

Advance booking is highly recommended to avoid having to stay in a less memorable spot!

“Nature is home in Brooklyn” 

In this wonderfully positioned hotel in the centre of Manhattan, they do all the usual things, that you might have come to expect as a conscientious traveller, such as using smart heating and cooling systems, low energy LED lightbulbs, plastic reduction programs and the operation of a rainwater reclamation system.  

However, some of the other things that we love about this hotel are the quirky, sustainable alternatives to items you may never have thought warranted them, such as recycled wire hangars, guest keys made of reclaimed wood and individual upcycled chalkboards for scribbling notes in your room instead of paper.  We also love that it was designed by local artists and that health and wellness is at the core of their Ethos.  They have partnered with top personal trainers and coaches to offer private and group classes and you can, of course, nurture your mind, body and spirit in the heavenly spa which only uses products made of natural and organic ingredients.  

The hotel encourages education and engagement by regularly arranging volunteer activities and offering paid volunteer days to their staff. In addition, they are certainly not content to sit on their already considerable achievements in the field of sustainability and customer satisfaction and are continually trying out new initiatives to evolve and improve.

If you find yourself in New York you would definitely feel at home here as you soak up the splendid city views from the rooftop garden and pool or mingle with locals at the frequent events which are open to the public.  All in all, a must stay for the planet aware traveller when visiting the Big Apple. 

“Caring for the local environment and looking after our local schools, hospitals and infrastructure is what we do”

Located in a dramatic setting, on a stunning beach with turquoise water and a spectacular mountain backdrop.  Just a 2-hour drive, but a world apart, from Dubai, this resort offers everything you would expect from the Six Senses brand which is famed for it’s ultra-luxurious and sustainable properties in amazing and often remote locations.  The resort is based on a traditional Omani village with gorgeous, spacious stone-walled villas and the extravagant use of natural, locally sourced materials and fabrics.  The magnificent, 1.6km beach is a huge highlight here and never feels crowded even when the hotel is at full capacity.  

It goes without saying that there are no single-use plastics to be found, the resort has a zero-waste philosophy and also it’s own reverse osmosis plant for purifying water.   Like most of the other destinations featured, it has its own organic garden but they go one step further by using a Permaculture philosophy which impacts even less on the environment and aims to imitate nature.  This garden serves the various diverse and stunning selection of restaurants and you can also opt for an in-villa dining experience if you fancy a change.

In addition to the “regular” sustainable practices that are almost taken for granted here, diving hosts at Six Senses are trained to remove old nets left by fishermen which are a danger to sea creatures who get caught in them and organise regular beach clean-ups.   They also offer financial aid for local women’s associations and medical aid for local villagers. Products containing palm oil and Soy,  which contribute to the problem of deforestation around the globe, will not be found in the kitchens or in the amenities offered. 

You can expect an incredible guest experience here and would be wise to plan your itinerary ahead of time just to make sure you have enough days for your desired activities!    Amongst other options, you can, Reconnect with Nature, Reconnect with Others, take a Microlight flight, go Paragliding,  Hiking,  Fishing or Kayaking.   Take an Arabic cooking class or visit the Earth Lab, help with Underwater Clean up or take one of the many boat tours whether that be a speed boat, yacht or traditional Omani Dhow Boat.  Phew!…. You can of course also snorkel from the beach or go Scuba Diving to spot turtles. 

I almost forgot to mention that you can choose to arrive by speedboat, 4 x 4 or make your entrance as special as the location by just gently paragliding in to get a unique, lingering,  perspective of this out of this world holiday paradise.  You will be happy to hear that your suitcase can travel by car. 

If you are interested in any of these destinations or in Sustainable Travel in General, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by clicking the Enquire Now button or giving us a call.  We would love to chat to you.