Eco lodges

Eco lodges have inherited this name because they tick various environmental boxes and may even be totally off grid. And yet they can never really be pushed into one category, as they are created as unique builds, based on individual passions and visions. They also have their own cultural influences, because true eco lodges rarely function in a bubble, but are part of their local community. They are, therefore, about people just as much as they are about place, and this is what makes them the most extraordinary places to stay.

Our eco lodge holidays immerse you in some of the world’s most precious landscapes, such as the rainforests of Costa Rica or Ecuador, the wild and wonderful Peneda Geres region of Portugal, or the highlands of Ethiopia. They come in all shapes and sizes, from wooden cabins overlooking English meadows to tented chalets in Dominica. They all have fascinating stories to share about how they evolved, like our tiny eco lodge in Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park, that has grown slowly while rewilding its surroundings over decades. Our eco lodges can also tell you about the communities they support, and the wildlife they protect. For instance, with the help of a local ecologist our luxury eco lodge on the England-Wales border has helped to restore a nearby meadow and woodland to create a flourishing wildlife habitat for bats, birds and insects.

As the name suggests, eco lodges are built with the environment in mind, often using natural materials such as hemp or lime, mud or wood, and much of it from surrounding areas. Such as our tented chalets and mud hut-style lounge on the edge of Yala National Park in Sri Lanka, or our stylish timber lodges in Tobago that are designed to fade into the landscape.

Very often our eco lodges will strive to be off grid. Otherwise they will use renewable energy wherever possible. Our eco lodge in Gambia, for example, runs everything off solar power including your bedroom fans and gadget chargers, even offering workshops on the technology to the local community. Our eco lodge in the Devon countryside harnesses wind and solar energy, and actually produces more energy than it consumes, harnessing wind and solar energy for all of its uses. These places don’t do things by halves and are always looking for new technology or techniques to make things cleaner and greener.

And don’t make the mistake of thinking that eco equals basic. Imagine bathing in a traditional hammam in a kasbah in the Atlas Mountains; going from hammock to freshwater pool in Gambia; or seeking peace and quiet on a private veranda in Sri Lanka or the Caribbean. Yes, some of our eco lodges are more ‘au naturel’ than others, but hot water, quality linen, cool drinks, great food and top service are usually part of the package. Air con and hairdryers are not always on the cards, however; the look is more ceiling fan and ruffled-by-a-tropical-breeze.

Get out and explore. Nearly every eco lodge we feature sits on the sidelines of, or indeed in the heart of, a protected landscape, meaning that ecology and protecting natural heritage is at its heart. Be it a stunning property in regenerated jungle and protected Sri Lankan forest where you can take a safari in neighbouring Yala National Park to see elephants, sloth bears, buffalo and sambar deer. Or the lakeside bungalows at the Napo Wildlife Centre in Ecuador, where you are guided by local naturalists through rainforests that are home to tapirs, monkeys and myriad tropical birds.

Or just do nothing. Lie in a hammock, stretch out on the sand, or chill out on the terrace and seek solace in nature. Our eco lodges are also eco escapes, places where you can detox digitally and recharge naturally. Be it in the Ecuadorian rainforest, on Gambian beaches, in Canary Island hideaways or under the star-filled, dark skies of deepest Devon. Our eco lodge holidays are all about connecting you with people, through food, culture or a passion for flora and fauna. In the Atlas Mountains, your trekking guide will be from the local Berber community, while in Tobago our eco lodge doesn’t do breakfast, so you can start your day sipping coffee and immersing yourself in the Creole language in the village next-door.

All of our eco lodge holidays are screened to make sure that their responsible tourism credentials are legitimate, but if you want to do your own research, the following tips can help…

Ask the eco lodge management if they have a written policy regarding the environment and local people. If it’s not written down then it probably means they're not taking it seriously. Ask them to describe the single contribution to conservation or local people that they are most proud of. Ask the lodge owner how many local people they employ, what percentage this is of the total, and whether any are in management positions. On our Bolivia eco lodge holidays, for instance you stay at a property administered entirely by the local Quechua Tacana people, who make up the entirety of the staff. Ask them what percentage of produce and services are sourced from within 25km of the lodge. Ask them how they treat waste water (in the Caribbean, coral and other wildlife is being destroyed by hotels pumping effluent out to sea), and how they cool their building (the responsible design and positioning of buildings in warm climates can harness shade and breezes to ensure they are naturally cooler – without the need for air conditioning). Ask them what information and advice is provided to guests on local cultures and customs. In Gambia, tribal dancers, drummers and drama groups perform at our eco lodges to showcase their cultural traditions, and all guests are given information about local customs so as to avoid accidentally causing any offence. Ask them if they employ guides from the local community. Such guides not only provide unmatched insights into traditional culture, but are also aware of areas/behaviour that visitors should avoid. Ask them for ideas on how you might get involved with local people and conservation in a worthwhile and rewarding way for you and the destination.