1. Fivelements Retreat Bali
Mother Earth is at the heart of everything at Indonesia’s Fivelements Retreat Bali, a resort built on the Balinese philosophy of harmonious living among humans, spirits and nature.
Nestled on the banks of the Ayung River, the resort is situated only 8 kilometres from Ubud town.
Walking into Fivelements is like stumbling upon a tropical paradise of sorts, with swaying coconut and frangipani trees towering over hut-like villas with thatched roofs.
The 20 luxurious villas on the property have floors made out of recycled timber, high grass roofs, low-wattage lighting, as well as biomimicry fans that reduce energy consumption.
But it’s at the resort’s award-winning Sakti Dining Room that the focus on nature really takes centre stage.
Not only can you have your meals facing the meandering river, this restaurant’s menu boasts locally sourced, organic, raw vegan fine dining food.
If you’re a meat-loving sceptic, prepare to be proven wrong – Sakti’s immensely creative, palate-pleasing offerings can turn anyone into a believer in plant-based diets.
Feast on the likes of jackfruit carnitas, almond coriander toast, zucchini tomato lasagna and coconut lime cheesecake, all made with ingredients harvested on hotel grounds or sourced from local farmers.
2. Oasia Hotel Downtown
In the heart of Singapore’s CBD, one structure stands out among the towering skyscrapers.
The 27-storey Oasia Hotel Downtown isn’t just a sleek city abode, it’s a blossoming vertical garden.
The 193-meter tall hotel is enveloped by foliage and a spectrum of flowers, thanks to the 1,793 planter boxes that line its red mesh aluminium facade.
The creepers and plants aren’t just a pretty sight – they absorb heat and provide up to 60 percent shade, a welcome respite on scorching days.
If that’s not enough, you can cool off in the rooftop pools up on the open, airy sky terraces.
Oasia Hotel Downtown’s 314 stylish rooms are all decked in earthy tones, wood and touches of copper, complimenting the hotel’s nature-driven design.
Over 50 species of plants were used to create this eco-friendly hotel, including 33 species of trees and 21 species of creepers that attract seasonal birds and insects.
Talk about a green oasis in the heart of the city!
3. Bungaraya Island Resort & Spa
Cradled by a lush tropical forest and nestled along the shores of Polish Bay on Gaya Island, Sabah’s Bungaraya Island Resort & Spa is one of Malaysia’s best sustainable stays.
Sprawled over 8 hectares, the resort was built around existing trees, boulders and mangrove forests, keeping the island’s ecosystem intact.
Each of its exquisite 48 villas – with jaw-dropping vistas of the South China Sea – is crafted out of local ironwood.
The resort’s restaurants – The Longhouse and Pantai Grill – also follow the same ethos, composting food waste into rich, natural soil fertilisers.
Even the seafood served here is sourced from organic farms, effectively reducing the impact of overfishing in local waters.
But what truly makes this hotel stand out is its award-winning Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC).
Guests can spend a day at the centre learning about Sabah’s marine conservation efforts, adopt and plant corals, and even experience life as a marine biologist for a day.
4. Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island
With pristine beaches, scenic mountains and lush jungles, it’s no wonder that the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc is a favourite among eco-travellers.
One of the hotels that continues to honour the island’s natural beauty is Salinda Resort.
Mor
e than 70 percent of the luxury property is cocooned by plants and greenery, adding shade and attracting native birds and butterflies to the property.
Adding to the calm, cool atmosphere are the Hoa Vang rocks that clad the hotel’s exterior. Found in the highlands of Central Vietnam, these rocks are known to be excellent heat absorbers.
Salinda Resort’s 121 tropical chic cribs are built with Accoya wood, a strong and durable timber sustainably sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council.
Its rooms are also equipped with energy-efficient air conditioners and water-conserving showerheads.
By day, this posh hotel welcomes an abundance of natural light through its many large Schueco windows, which are designed to reduce energy consumption and cost.
By night, LED lights made out of recyclable materials illuminate the resort’s grounds.
Salinda Resort is also WWF-Vietnam’s official partner in their Plastic Reducing Management initiatives on Phu Quoc Island.
5. Malagos Garden Resort
If you are a true-blue nature lover, Malagos Garden Resort has to be on your bucket list.
Home to 29 rustic chic villas, this 12-hectare property in Davao City is also the epicentre of some of the city’s best agritourism initiatives.
For a delicious start, there’s the Malagos Chocolate Museum, the first of its kind in the Philippines.
Here, guests can join an interactive tour of how cocoa is harvested and processed before indulging in all things chocolate at the museum’s Chocolate Bar.
The resort also hosts other educational tours at its various attractions, including a butterfly sanctuary, a bird-feeding dome and even a petting zoo.
Bird conservation is a huge part of the resort’s ecological efforts, and its three-storey bird-watching deck serves as the spot to observe and learn about myriad winged creatures.
Keep a lookout for birds such as the Black-naped Monarch, the Philippine duck and the Southern Silvery-Kingfisher in their natural habitat.
And if farm life is your thing, you’ll love the thrill of feeding ducks, collecting chicken eggs and harvesting vegetables at the resort’s organic farm.
According to airasia.com
