Nature Hotels

Domes are all the rage in eco-tourism these days. Where old-style hotels needed deep foundations, roads, pipes, and cables to be laid down – eco domes are made from special vinyl that is warm, durable, and light. They are built using the “leave no trace” philosophy and the hotel’s designers …

Implements of control and dominance never last long and here is an example. Originally a radar tower built by the US in order to exert strategic control of the Panama Canal and fight the bloody War on Drugs, the tower is now a place for families to watch birds and …

Set in the small fishing town of ‘Kaikoura’ (which means ‘to eat crayfish’ in Maori) the Hapuku Lodge is the place to stay if you love eco tourism, beautiful scenery, and sea air. The area has been home to the Maori for over 1000 years and is an excellent example …

Legend has it that when God was done creating the world, he had a handful of features left - deserts, mountains, and forests. He put them all in his pocket. But his pocket had a hole in it and as he walked across heaven bits of land leftover from making …

Stay in a cottage in a 113-acre holiday resort where serenity and natural environments pervade. It is right next to 4000 acres of forest which you can explore during your generous allocations of leisure time. Each cottage is themed. Choose to stay in the fairy-tale “Treehouse” or the “Music Cottage” …

Eco cottages on the mysterious Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, are a fine way to visit this small island also known as the “bellybutton of the world”. The special cottages are assembled off-site and placed carefully in the landscape so as not to disturb the fragile ecosystem. Special …

The Baumhaus Hotel has seven separate treehouses for you to choose from. They are all made from untreated local wood, stand 5-7 meters high, and each one has a dreamy balcony. The houses are insulated and heated so you can be toasty warm while winter rages outside. Showers are near …

The 100 acres “Africa Experience” safari park in Kent, England, is a place where many African species are free to roam as if they were at home… except they don’t have to worry about fighting for meager water holes here. When you arrive, you will get a glass of champagne …

Well known to discerning free spirits, the Yurt is the traditional accommodation of the native peoples of Afghanistan and Mongolia. They are canvass constructions with wooden floors and colored lattice wooden supports. Inside it is a cozy and intimate experience. Opening the painted wooden door directly into the stunning scenery …

This town was founded in 1885 when Marty McFly arrived from the future looking for The Doc… hang on. Wrong review. Yes, this town was founded on the banks of the Dolores River in 1885, about half a mile from a mine where the townsfolk worked. It was always a …

There are two things you need for a kicking tea factory in Sri-Lanka: one, elevation, over 2,000 feet is good, and two, lots of floors so the sorting, weighing and drying process can be done quickly so the tea retains its distinctive flavor. And then, when the time comes to …

The Old Dungeon Ghyll is in England’s Lake District, a beautiful area that inspired some of the greatest poetry ever written. Indeed the air still resounds with Coleridge’s blessing: ‘Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit …

Set on the mighty Mekong River in the hills of Thailand, you can see Myanmar and Laos from your balcony laying on your day bed. The incredible Golden Triangle location is steeped in history and natural beauty. There are landscaped gardens and your room features oversized terrazzo bathtubs, Thai textiles, …

Where the crystal crags of the Andes meet the Atacama Desert, there is a magical land where the skies are clear 300 days of the year. The annual melting of snow from the mountains feeds a valley more green against the pure blue skies. It is the home to many …

The Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve is located right beside the entrance of the Chilean Patagonia and in the center of the Temperate Humid Forest in the south of Chile. This private project is located along the shores of Pirihueico Lake, near Panguipulli, and is around 60,000 hectares (144,000 acres) of land. …

The Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is 232 square miles of Chilean Rainforest. It was originally part of the Chilean state forestry commission, administered by the Pinochet regime. In the 1980s progressive economical thinkers known as the ‘Chicago Boys’ encouraged the state to sell off these assets, the Huilo Huilo reserve …

The Algarve is one of the most crowded tourist destinations in Europe, but this isn’t the Algarve. This is the Nespeira Estate, a secluded hideaway without commercial tourism in sight. It is still close enough to the gorgeous Alentejo coast, so you can enjoy the beautiful beaches that make this …

Forbes Magazine has called this one of the top 20 coolest hotels in the world. The hotel also has the most photographed swimming pool, like, ever. The rooms are thatched huts on the outside and luxurious on the inside and the hotel lies secluded away in a secret location by …

This spa hotel is popular with locals and tourists alike. How about a stay in a Canyon Room? It has huge windows and balconies that overlook forests that explode and roll over the canyons and hills spraying birdsong in the clear morning. The ethos of Travassa is wellness and vibrant …

You won’t wake to the sound of your neighbor’s obnoxious music blasting from their in-room iPod dock here. Nor will you hear anyone talking to their friends on their mobile phones. Because it’s all banned. All the annoyances of the modern world are left behind you so you can yourself …