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According to ATTA’s Adventure Travel Trends report, more and more travellers are less interested in ticking off well-known photo ops and more interested in unique experiences intentionally and carefully designed to be environmentally sustainable and mindful of the impact on the places and people they visit. If this sounds like you, we’ve got some goodies today.
Apart from sharing our unique experiences in the Amazon and Tuscany, we have asked some of our travel blogging colleagues for their recommendations of unique, eco-friendly getaways around the globe. Here is our shortlist of those unique places that allow you to get away from it all and take a sustainable approach.
Could one of these be your next getaway?
Americas: Otorongo Amazon Lodge in Peru
Have you ever stayed at an off-grid accommodation that has no roads leading to it and no internet? Where wild animals roam around your hut, and the skies are so clear you want to gaze at the Milky Way all night? We’ve been to such a place: Otorongo Expeditions’ Amazon Lodge, 2.5 hours downriver from Iquitos.
In addition to the Main Lodge, which has 12 spacious rooms, you can stay in the Family House (which can sleep up to 8) and the Private House (which is perfect for singles or couples).
No roads, no internet. It takes 2.5 hours by speed boat to get to the Otorongo Expeditions Amazon Lodge
The lodge, though, is only one part of the experience. The whole Otorongo Expeditions team go out of their way to ensure you have a fantastic time:
- It all starts with the owners: Ivonne Braga and Anthony Giardenelli. The Peruvian/American couple met in 2004, and their love (for each other and the Amazon) led to the creation of Otorongo Expeditions. Both are incredibly knowledgeable, and their passion and love for the wildlife and the people of the Amazon are infectious.
- Whether you come during the dry or rainy season, you can experience the Amazon at its best with the help of bilingual naturalist guides. From excursions to see river dolphins, sleuths, and monkeys or fish for Piranhas to night walks to observe caimans and visits to remote villages to learn about their way of life.
- But that’s not all: The lodge’s kitchen staff prepares three exceptional meals each day using fresh ingredients from the Amazon, including juice from a fruit many of us have never heard of.
Where else could you fish for piranha? The tastiest fish we have ever had on our travels.
The lodge manages its waste using a septic system, recycling, and composting, and its boats have low-emission engines. Otorongo Expeditions employs local guides, and receiving payments for welcoming guests means native communities don’t need to sell land to loggers or prospectors.
Europe: Bioagriturismo Podere Montisi in Tuscany, Italy
Located 15km northwest of Florence in the beautiful Parco di Travalle, Podere Montisi offers a tranquil rural escape while being close to the best of Tuscany. Thanks to its warm hospitality and commitment to sustainability, this farm stay is a standout among other accommodation options in Tuscany.
Lovingly managed by the Frosini family, Podere Montisi features two fully restored apartments, seamlessly marrying traditional Tuscan design with modern comforts and accommodating up to 6 guests between them.
Guest accommodation at Podere Montisi offers Tuscan country charme and modern amenities | Image courtesy of Podere Montisi
Guests can taste fresh, organic produce from the farm and are spoilt for choice with the hands-on experiences offered—from cooking, bread-making, and wreath-making classes to experiencing the olive harvest in October/November each year. Even small pets are welcome, ensuring no family member is left behind.
Podere Montisi offers a variety of workshops, including a sourdough breadmaking class
Podere Montisi is largely off-grid: The farm uses rainwater and well water for irrigation (only the drinking water is supplied by the municipality). An array of 52 solar panels generates enough electricity for the host family’s and guests’ needs. Deadwood from the farm’s woodland is used to heat water (and the farmhouse in winter).
Beyond its hosting duties, Podere Montisi is a keystone of the local community. It fosters biodiversity and participates in vital research projects to preserve regional traditions and enhance climate resilience—all funded by the income generated from your stay. So, what are you waiting for?
Interested in experiencing the Olive Harvest at Podere Montisi?
The harvest begins in mid-October and lasts about three weeks. During this time, the farm is a hive of activity—everyone contributes, and the family is supported by a small group of WWOOFers worldwide.
Guests can help with the harvest (or watch) and enjoy the delicious meals Barbara prepares. These are followed by cosy evenings spent sharing stories around the fireplace. During that time, visitors may also get the rare opportunity to witness the extra virgin olive oil pressing, extracted below 27 degrees and without oxygen, to ensure the highest quality.
You can read more about this unique experience and book your stay through socialbnb.
Europe: La Vimea Biotique Hotel in South Tyrol, Italy
LA VIMEA Biotique Hotel, Italy’s first utterly vegan hotel, is in the quiet town of Naturno, in sunny and picturesque South Tyrol in Northern Italy.
The rooms all have lovely views of the Val Venosta Valley, which offers plenty to be active. Hiking is the most popular option, and there are walks of all difficulty levels leading you past old chapels, farms and orchards with views of the valley below. Suppose the sun doesn’t shine during your visit. In that case, you can also stay inside and participate in one of the complimentary daily mindful activities, such as yoga and meditation.
Located in picturesque South Tyrol, LA VIMEA Biotique Hotel is Italy’s first completely vegan hotel
After a physical day, a holistic treatment or a soothing massage at the spa could be just what you need. You can soak your sore muscles in the heated saltwater pool inside or jump into the (unheated) pond pool outside. Get warm before dinner in the wellness area, where you can choose between several different saunas and cabins – including the cute barrel-shaped forest sauna.
After a day of physical activity, warm up your sore muscles in the barrel-shaped forest sauna
Every night, a five-course dinner is included, and the freshest ingredients highlight the area and the season. The dishes are elegantly served and as colourful as they are tasty. The breakfast buffet is also something to look forward to, with a wide variety of healthy and delicious choices to suit all tastes—vegan or not.
By the way, the food is not only plant-based, organic, and local produced. The furniture, duvets, toiletries, and the rest of the hotel are eco-friendly. LA VIMEA gets its wood from sources its wood sustainably and sources it sus little plastic as possible and relies on green energy, including solar power.
Spending a weekend (or longer) at LA VIMEA in Italy is soothing for both body and soul.
Contributed by Alex and Victoria of North Abroad
Africa: Porini Safari Camps in Kenya
As declining wildlife populations and mass tourism have become more problematic within Kenya’s famed Maasai Mara National Reserve, Maasai-owned conservancies bordering the National Reserve have become increasingly vital: around 60 to 70% of Kenya’s wildlife is found here.
Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps founder Jake Grieves-Cook (a Kenya native who once served as Chairman of the Ecotourism Society of Kenya and the Kenya Tourism Board) pioneered the country’s community conservancy concept in the 1990s.
An eco-tourism venture must benefit both the ecology and the economy of the destination in order to be truly sustainable. | Bret Love
The company signed its first agreement with the Maasai in 1997, establishing the Selenkay Conservancy on 14,000 acres and gaining the right to build low-impact camps that would provide exclusive guest experiences. In exchange for lease payments, bed night and entry fees, and employment opportunities, the locals agreed to help conserve the area’s wildlife. A true triple bottom line success as the nature/wildlife, local communities, Gamewatchers, and its guests benefit.
In 2018, the Maasai generated over USD1.5m from the conservancies | Photo by David Mark on Pixabay
All Porini Camps are low-impact in terms of their environmental footprint. There are a maximum of 12 tents per camp, and every tent pays to protect 700 acres of habitat. The number of safari vehicles is limited to about one per 1,400 acres, which leads to less crowding for the animals and better experiences for guests.
With a maximum of 12 tents per camp, Porini Camps have a low environmental footprint - great for guests and wildlife
About 95% of the Porini Camps and Conservancy staff (including some 245 game wardens, guides, trackers, hosts and camp managers) are from local communities. In 2018, the Maasai generated over USD 1.5 million from the conservancies, with more than 1,000 families receiving monthly payments.
According to Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust For Elephants, “the establishment of the conservancies in Kenya has been the single most successful conservation initiative since the creation of national parks in the 1940s.”
Contributed by Bret Love of Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide – Bret and Mary had the privilege to stay at four different Porini Camps during their three-week tour of Kenya in 2018
Asia: Minshuku Sanbiki Neko in Japan
In Japan, a minshuku is a traditional homestay accommodation. It’s similar to a ryokan in that guests sleep on futons spread out on tatami mats in traditional Japanese, but it’s generally much less expensive.
The Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko is a wonderful minshuku in Kyoto for eco-conscious travellers. It’s run by Helen and Craig, an Australian couple who fell in love with Japan and decided to move there a few years ago.
Get away from the touristy parts of Kyoto with a healthy and comfortable stay at Minshuku Sanbiki Neko
As you may have guessed from the name, the owners are vegans. They cook delicious vegan Japanese food for breakfast each morning. Since animal agriculture is a leading cause of deforestation, water pollution, and many other environmental problems, keeping all meals plant-based reduces the guesthouse’s ecological footprint.
At Sanbiki Neko, a number of measures have been taken to make the minshuku eco-friendly
Helen and Craig have taken several measures regarding building design, operational issues and waste management to make the minshuku eco-friendly:
- All rubbish is sorted to ensure that everything that can be recycled is recycled. Food waste is also kept to a minimum.
- They use tatami mats made from recycled car tyres in the common areas. These mats are more durable than the usual ones and don’t need to be replaced as often.
- Instead of central heating, each room has an individual heating and cooling unit not to waste energy heating and cooling unused areas.
- Linens and towels are in various colours since white ones must be bleached to keep them white.
- And no pesticides or aerosols are ever used on the grounds of the minshuku.
The location is in a quiet, residential neighbourhood, perfect for getting away from the overly touristy areas and experiencing real life in Kyoto. On request, gift vouchers can be easily arranged using PayPal.
Contributed by Wendy Werneth, creator of The Nomadic Vegan
Share your experience
Have you stayed at a unique, eco-friendly property you’d be more than happy to recommend to others?
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