Traveling these days is a lot more than just packing the bags and seeing the world by switching over from land to sea modes. Today, it is all about perfect planning that gives you a beautiful and peaceful vacation which you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives. Since most of the travelers are planet lovers who are green at heart, eco-tourism has gained great significance in the past decade or so. People are now signing up for trips that offer carbon offset facilities and are opting for packages at the most eco-friendly hotels around.

Everyone realizes that going green is no longer an option, but a necessity in order to safeguard the beauty and majesty that we are enjoying today. Green hotels and resorts play a big part in this whole thing as they make your trip not just grand and memorable, but give you a high by ensuring that you don’t hurt the planet with your trip. Here are 10 of the very best from all across the globe offering you a world class facility with a soft spot for nature…

Soneva Fushi Resort & Six Senses Spa

Located in the simply stunning island of Maldives, this South-East Asian destination has been tailor-made for nature lovers, adventurers and (most of all) romantic couples looking for the perfect honeymoon. Soneva Fushi, in the North Baa Atoll region is the ultimate island experience with the entire place encapsulated with a cover of green, studded with white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters and one of the finest hotel services you will ever see. Great wine, wonderful food, nature trips and soothing spas, nothing matches the Maldives.

Lodge at Sun Ranch, Montana

Latest on the global green hotel map, the Lodge at Sun Ranch in Montana is the ultimate American Dream with two magical hand-hewn homesteader cabins sitting right on the foothills of the Rocky mountains. The organic interiors, green setting, the imperious backdrop, trips into the mountains and canoeing make it an awesome weekend trip. With ecology at heart rather than economy, this will teach you how to co-exist with nature.

Shergarh Tented Camp, Kanha Tiger Reserve

Located in the heart of India and nestled right on the edge of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, the trip to the Shergarh Tented Camp is an exhilarating ride into a land of mist, mythical aura and of course the haunting image of a tiger stalking from the bushes! Cycling trips through the forest, driving into the tiger heartland, a cozy stay in the lap of nature and a cuisine full of spices, everything welcomes you here. The stay as well as the walks through the area are protected and the ecology is disturbed in the least possible fashion.

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada

Another magnificent setting that is nestled away on an island (Grenada is called The Spice Isle) that was once renowned for its spices, the flavor still persists though with beaches, blue waters and a resort that takes care of your trip to the best possible extent. With plenty to offer for the stay of your life, the Spice Island Beach Resort sure tries to bring nature into your own room. And they manage …

Siwa Oasis in Adrere Amellal

With unmatched sandy white beaches and great snow-filled mountains in the background, the Siwa Oasis Resort allows you for a stay in one of the most breathtaking deserts on the planet— the Adrere Amellal. The oasis of Siwa was inhabited as early as 10,000 BC by an indigenous community of Berbers known as Amazigh and today houses a special stay for the lucky few as they get in touch with a side of nature that is both different and awe-inspiring. One of a kind on the planet, this is a green stay you should not miss.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort

Located on the island of Vanua Levu on a 17 acre coconut plantation and overlooking the peaceful waters of Savusavu Bay, Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort is definitely a place for romance, weddings (honeymoons) and scuba diving fanatics. With a resident full-time marine biologist to help visitors appreciate the underwater world of Fiji, the resort has won the prestigious Australasia’s Leading Green Hotel – World Travel Awards, 2008.

Daintree Rainforest Eco Lodge & Spa

We have seen the green accommodations in the mountains, beaches, Tiger Reserves and even in a desert oasis. But the Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa in Queensland, Australia, takes you to a tropical rainforest and ensures that this fragile ecosystem is not disturbed as you enjoy a great stay under this dense canopy. With a pampering Spa, stunning lodges high on tree tops (completely made out of natural materials), great food and even an option for rainforest weddings, this is the best place for nature lovers in Australia. Do not believe us? Then how does a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, not too far away from here, sound for an added bonus?

Whitepod

Located near Aigle in the majesty of the Swiss Alps, Whitepod is an exclusive unique and ecological resort nestled in the most magical snow-covered peaks of the planet. Using solar power, the modern green sheds have a very unique design consisting of loads of green features that is only permitted using skis or a battery-powered ski-mobile. Arguably the most eco-conscious green lodge on the planet. Set deep in the most charming part of Switzerland, you’d better book well in advance to get a shot of experiencing the Alps at their pristine best.

Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Not many know about Chumbe Island Coral Park… And those who do know about its under-water beauty, loads of adventure options available and its great facilities will never miss a chance to get there. Being a Marine Protected Area (MPA) the focal aim of the Chumbe Island Coral Park Project is to preserve the island’s exceptional environment. Eco-Bungalows styled specially to collect rainwater from drinking, solar powered lighting, open-air accommodation that offers both privacy and oneness with nature, and activities (scuba diving, reef observation, hiking, green trails and trips into forest reserve) make this island an absolute paradise. Not big on reputation, but huge when it comes to delivering the perfect holiday.

Heritance Kandalama

Flanked by two UNESCO world heritage sites – the 1st Century BC Dambulla rock temple and the 5th Century AD Sigiriya rock fortress, Heritance Kandalama is a special Sri Lankan resort surrounded by a lush green tropical rainforest. Add to the setting the attractive Kandalama Lake, trips into the forest with archaeological and ecological significance, responsible management that takes great care of the environment and an Ayurveda Spa that uses nature’s remedies to ease your tensions and pains away, and you get a holiday that is laced with green goodness.

For the responsible tourist, picking a hotel or a lodge that does minimal damage to the planet, offers him the best possible facilities and leaves him with a lifetime’s memories is what is most important. After all, your trip for relaxation and recuperation should not make the planet sick!

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