Tread lightly at these sustainable stays

From a Thai resort among lush jungle to a sanctuary in the Cyprus mountains, these eight properties – all members of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s Considerate Collection – are setting the benchmark in sustainability.  

Since its launch just one year ago, the Considerate Collection has grown to 43 hotels and resorts. Founded on the three key pillars – cultural custodians, community-minded and environmentally conscious – hotels have everything from guided tours by local custodians to state-of-the-art water treatment plants.

SLH has also planted almost 40,000 trees with TreeSisters (every room booked includes a donation to plant two trees), joined forces with sustainability platform Weeva to monitor its environmental outputs, and partnered with Vanity Group, which provides plastic-free amenities.

Whether you seek an urban escape in a bustling city or a lush beach retreat, the Considerate Collection ensures you can tread lightly. Here are eight dreamy destinations making all the difference.

Zeavola Resort, Krabi Thailand

A jungle retreat in Koh Phi Phi with the appearance of a rustic Thai village, Zeavola Resort is a boutique hotel surrounded by white sands and endless views of the Andaman Sea.

Nestled in tropical gardens, the resort’s traditional Thai-inspired villas are designed using rich teak and hillside villas have private pools. Spend days on guided walks in the jungle to learn about the native plants and wildlife. Or discover the world beneath the waves on excursions to nearby coral reefs with the hotel’s PADI dive centre.

Lounge in a beach beanbag, cocktail in hand, before indulging in an afternoon spa treatment or massage. By night, dine on delectable dishes at Baxil, showcasing creative takes on traditional Thai dishes. While at Tacada, dine with your feet in the sand on gourmet seafood.

Eco-initiatives include plastic-free, organic, coconut-based, cruelty-free bathroom amenities, a water bottling plant, and refill water stations. You can also swim in chemical-free, freshwater pools thanks to the same technology used by NASA for onboard drinking water.

Aleenta Resort & Spa Phuket

Located on Thailand’s west coast, is the small luxury hotel Aleenta Resort & Spa Phuket. Spend the day visiting the nearby turtle sanctuary or charter a boat to go island hopping or deep-sea fishing. For something more active try yoga, Tai Chi, or Thai boxing. Get your Masterchef on with a Thai cooking class, or find your zen during a meditation session. Make the most of the complimentary bicycles and explore the island on two wheels.

For water lovers, sea-kayak around Phang Nga Bay alongside local fishermen or join a local wildlife expert on a bamboo river raft in Khao Sok National Park. The nearby ethical elephant park or Gibbon Project – where primates are rehabilitated in their natural habitats – is also a must.

Gourmands will delight in the international and Thai dishes at The Edge Restaurant. With a focus on healthy, fresh produce, the organic vegetables are mostly grown in the resort’s nursery, while the menu frequently changes to offer the best ingredients from the land and sea. The solar-powered resort suites feature retractable glass walls, stunning sea views, and private pools.

Villa Petriolo, Italy

A 15th-century estate in the Tuscan hills, Villa Petriolo is a romantically luxe and sustainable property. Think terracotta flooring, exposed beams, four-poster beds and grand pillowy beds.

Indulge in a sundrenched breakfast on the terrace. Lounge by the eco-conscious infinity pool with sweeping vineyard views. Reconnect at a yoga class, before embarking on a horse ride through the olive groves or truffle-foraging in the nearby woodlands.

The estate sits on 68 hectares of pesticide-free pastures, woodlands, and vineyards. It has a GSTC (​​Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certified farming estate that provides ingredients for the three onsite restaurants.

Experience authentic Italian cuisine at the Michelin-star PS Ristorante led by ​​Chef Stefano Pinciaroli. From the Villa Petrolio’s own beehives to organically reared meat, the farm-to-fork process ensures the finest ingredients are served.

Barracuda Hotel & Villas

Nestled in a secluded cove in Bahia Brazil is the all-suite retreat, Barracuda Hotel & Villas. A blend of Bahian roots and Swedish heritage, the luxurious suites are designed utilising certified wood and natural materials, blending into the surrounds and offering guests a flood of natural light and a gorgeous cooling sea breeze.

Secluded but close to local towns, guests can dive into the local culture and participate in authentic experiences from jeep rides in the forest, surfing lessons, and mangrove journeys. Or, lounge by the infinity pool with ocean views before indulging in a traditional massage.

From vegan bathroom amenities and Brazilian bamboo straws and reusable bottles to the water purification system, Barracuda Hotel & Villas is an eco-retreat where guests will tread lightly on nature.

Casale Panayiotis, Cyprus

Casale Panayiotis sits in the foothills of the Troodos mountains in Cyprus. A restoration project with a luxury twist, rooms have fireplaces, spiral staircases, balconies and breathtaking views.

Grab a basket and go fruit picking. Lace up your hiking boots or grab an e-bike and explore the 10 trail routes around Troodos mountains. Explore UNESCO-listed Byzantine monasteries and well-preserved Venetian bridges. Or, join a basket-making workshop with a skilled weaver, halloumi classes, or learn the art of beekeeping.

Dine at Byzatino Restaurant where 90 per cent of ingredients are sourced locally, from the trout farm to local vineyards. Here it’s all about homemade, traditional Cypriot dishes like ​​vine leaves stuffed with aromatic pork mince, rice and herbs.

The Pantheon is a sweet lunch retreat for casual dining, while in a mid-20th-century setting, Loutraki pays homage to the copper-mining history of the area and serves hearty, delectable dishes like the vegetable cannelloni, stuffed with mushrooms, spinach and anari.

Desa Hay, Bali

Six Jabu villas and a Joglo-style restaurant make up Desa Hay in Bali, Indonesia.

The adults-only eco-sanctuary was built in harmony with nature, with 40 per cent of the resort’s land left as green space and it exclusively hires Indonesian staff.

Experience Balinese culture from local cooking classes, sunrise hikes on Mount Batur and walks in the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, to spiritual experiences at Besakih Temple.

The property is solar-powered, with bamboo combs and toothbrushes and biodegradable slippers made from coconut husks. The resort also works closely with organisations like Sungai Watch to eliminate single-use plastics and prevent ocean pollution.

Amilla, Maldives

Enveloped by secret beaches, dense jungle and turquoise waters is Amilla Maldives.

Here, in the large-scale hydroponics garden, you’ll find everything from probiotic soda and eight flavours of kombucha to the resort’s own plant-based milk, yoghurt, ice cream, jams and pickles.

Make the most of complimentary bikes and electric golf buggies to explore the island. The property also partners with Lemongrass House, to create 100 per cent organic, biodegradable bathroom products. And fees from your bucket list experience snorkelling with Manta Ray’s goes directly into the community of Baa Atoll Biosphere rangers, who protect the marine life and surrounding waters.

The George, New Zealand

In the South Island city of Christchurch, overlooking the picturesque Hagley Park and Avon River, The George is a boutique hotel working hard to put sustainability over profit.

The hotel’s kitchen, 50 Bistro, sources locally to dish up ‘neo-bistro’ New Zealand cuisine. Led by Executive Chef Chanake Jayabahu, expect healthy options with a creative twist, like gin-cured salmon or Canter Valley confit duck.

From sustainable paper and vegetable ink to educational initiatives about how to treat New Zealand, the hotel operates with a conscious footprint in mind. And it even extends to its employees who get paid two days off a year to volunteer for a charity, community cause or environmental programme.