Shinta Mani Wild on the border of Southern Cardamom National Park in west Cambodia
Magashi Camp in Akagera National Park Rwanda
Bawah Reserve lodges
Valsana Hotel & Appartements in the alpine village of Arosa Switzerland
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Isla Palenque, a 400-acre private island resort in the Pacific’s Gulf of Chiriquí
Cannua resort in Colombia
forest near the Haida-owned Ocean House resort in British Columbia, Canada
Hotel Cerro in San Luis Obispo
The Babai River Camp in Bardia National Park, Nepal
Sundy Praia’s 15 tented villas sit on Príncipe Island, a UNESCO biosphere reserve
the 89-room Inhabit Hotel, London
car-free Rottnest Island, Western Australia
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Shinta Mani Wild, CambodiaDesigner Bill Bensley constructed Shinta Mani Wild on the border of Southern Cardamom National Park in west Cambodia to help protect the surrounding 860-acre forest. A National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World, the complex features 15 luxe tents, each sporting a theme—National Geographic is one—and an outdoor bathtub. Guests can arrive via zipline and fill their visits with picnicking, hiking, and helping rangers check wilderness cameras that deter poaching. The staff of 120 includes former poachers and loggers.
Photograph by Bensley Collection, Shinta Mani Wild

Here are 13 of the world’s best new green hotels

From tree planting to upcycling, sustainability improves the stay at these eco-savvy properties that span the globe.

ByElaine Glusac
November 26, 2019
2 min read

As the scope of sustainable travel has grown, remote ecolodges have inspired new ways to tread lightly and care for local communities and the environment. The paradigm now embraces geothermal energy, upcycled furniture, and sourcing food directly from farms, initiatives found in lodgings that range from safari camps to urban hot spots.

Dreaming of an island escape? Here are 21 of the world’s best.

Big players in the hospitality world—such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, with the new LEED Gold-designed Lodge at Gulf State Park—are catching up with pioneers such as the award-winning Cayuga Collection, often using their scale to sway guests and staff to focus on responsible travel. Whether you’re headed to the backcountry or the big city, these new accommodations offer overnights that put sustainability in style.

Chicago-based freelancer Elaine Glusac writes about travel and food. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
A version of this article appeared in the December 2019/January 2020 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

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