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Wellness Retreats: The Best Places in the World to Meditate in 2023

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And if you can’t travel…

We also called on Dominique Antiglio, Sophrologist and founder of BeSophro to get some expert advice on choosing meditation locations…

‘Sophrology is a type of dynamic meditation that I love to practice because it can be easily incorporated into daily life. I have had amazing Sophrology experiences at the Ghats in Varanasi, India which faces the Ganges River, as well as being wrapped up among the mountains of Courmayeur facing Mont Blanc, and also in Ibiza when facing the sea. I also love practising early morning on Primrose Hill as it offers such a beautiful view over London, and no two days are ever the same so I have a unique view each time.’

But you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home. ‘For best practice at home, I advise people to create a private space at home or in the office with a comfy chair. If you have a small, shared space only, don’t let it stop you, as you can put your headphones on and listen via a guided practice.

‘You may wish to personalise your space with a photo of a loved one or have an item of sentimental value nearby to enhance the connection of the space to your inner world. You could also light a scented candle to create a sense of calm and tranquillity in your space.

‘Personally, I have a comfy chair in my light, airy and minimalist office where I love to sit and start my Sophrology meditation practice mid-morning. I usually have a cup of herbal tea nearby to drink when I finish too. I also practice in between meetings, and even on the Tube and in taxis – if I feel tense, just five minutes of simple breathing and relaxation techniques is enough to relax me.’

So if you do make it to one of our ultimate meditation locations, you’ll have to pack the memories up to take home with you, back to your hardwood floor with the number 32 bus outside, to conjure up the images of your retreat as you find your inner calm on demand…

Featured Image: Palm Rock.

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The Best Destinations For Vegan Travel

Palmaia – The House of AïA, Mexico

Mexico

With its plethora of cheese and sour cream, fish and meat, you might doubt Mexico’s vegan travel potential. In reality, Mexico’s balmy climate puts large, colourful fruits and vegetables at the centre of the cuisine. Just walk through one of the many vibrant markets, and you’ll be in veggie heaven. Likewise, staple Mexican ingredients include tortillas, beans, rice and avocado – all vegan friendly by default.

STAY: After exploring cities like Oaxaca and Mexico City, head to the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast to experience Palmaïa – The House of AïA, a predominantly plant-based resort with seven bars and restaurants. Resident executive chef Carlos Garcia (aka Chef Charly) is adept at layering flavours and textures, using vegan ingredients from local farmers to create incredible dishes.

BOOK: Rooms from £1,039 per night based on two sharing an Ocean Front Queen or King Suite on an all-inclusive basis, including unrestricted access to daily wellness classes, all à la carte meals and beverages, pool and beachside service, bike-sharing service, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and more. thehouseofaia.com

Soneva Fushi, Maldives (c) Julia Neeson

Maldives

The Maldives is at the forefront of sustainable travel, with plastic-free resorts on the archipelago long before paper straws hit the mainstream. And, while fish is a staple Maldivian food, meat consumption is discouraged as it has to be imported, creating large carbon footprints for animal product dishes.

STAY: Soneva Fushi’s new Shades of Green restaurant is located in the resort’s organic garden, featuring a menu curated by renowned Danish chef Carsten Kyster, drawing inspiration from his work and travels across Southeast Asia. Furthermore, every meal at Shades of Green begins with a guided tour around the gardens, with guests invited to engage with the food they’re about to eat, touching it, smelling it, and tasting it. 

BOOK: Seven nights half-board from £7,979, including seaplane transfers and international flights, until 17 Dec 22. turquoiseholidays.co.uk

Salt of Palmar

Mauritius

With a long history of vegetarian cuisine, this little Indian Ocean island is a haven for vegan travel, from hotels to fine-dining to street food. Home-grown vegetables are ubiquitous in Mauritius, with many farms available to visit and weekly farmers markets, too. 

STAY: SALT of Palmar is an adults-only, design-led hotel, crafted for food lovers and culture vultures. Their latest plant-based offering, the Keen on Green menu, brings local producers (or ‘SALT Shakers’) into contact with guests, to immerse them in Mauritian culture and experience local farms. Peanut butter lovers will also be glad to know that you can make your own peanut butter for breakfast at SALT.

BOOK: Scott Dunn offers seven nights at SALT of Palmar at £1,400 per person, based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis, including private road transfers and international return economy flights. scottdunn.com

Sri Lanka (c) gemmmm via Unsplash

Sri Lanka

Teardrop-shaped Sri Lanka is an ideal vegan travel destination – albeit unintentionally. With ingredients like coconut milk and rice at the heart of a cuisine fuelled by seasonal produce, Sri Lankan food is vibrant, fresh and flavourful (and also often quite spicy – so spice haters, beware). Just make sure your meal is not cooked with ghee, which is sometimes used instead of coconut oil.

STAY: Thotalagala is a restored tea plantation and boutique hotel, well-located between Sri Lanka’s lush mountains and the descent towards the south coast and the jungles of Yala and Udawalawe. The intimate dining room serves traditional plantation fare, with a team of chefs well-equipped to serve authentic cuisine to a variety of dietary requirements. 

BOOK: From £354.86 per night based on two sharing a double room. mrandmrssmith.com

Amandari, Bali, Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia

Since it featured in Eat, Pray, Love (2010), Bali has soared in popularity as a wellness destination, especially Ubud city, which coincidentally has the world’s second highest rate of vegan restaurants per capita.

STAY: Situated just outside Ubud above the swooping Ayung River Gorge, Amandari is the ultimate wellness destination, with farm-to-table dining that honours local traditions and regional, while being ethically conscious and sustainable. With fresh produce sourced from its own organic garden and local farms, menus are wholesome and can be tailored to suit any dietary requests.

BOOK: Rooms from £795 per night, based on double occupancy, including taxes, daily breakfast and airport transfers. aman.com

Featured Image (c) Getty.

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The Best Resorts In The Maldives

Why Does Everyone Go The Maldives?

The Maldives is a popular destination for unparalleled island vibes, crystal clear waters, and the ultimate in luxurious relaxation. This archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean sets the bar very high when it comes to island getaways. Overwater stays (often with slides from your bedroom to the sea) come as standard, and the secluded desert island vibe is guaranteed. World class hotels are in the majority, with many occupying their own private islands and hosting world-class spas, sustainability labs, underwater restaurants and more. There are also lush jungles to explore, as well as reefs to observe (and protect). Treehouse bars nestle along coastlines, lagoon spas offer the perfect place to relax, and conservation programmes set the standard high.

Which Island Is The Best In The Maldives?

Picking your Maldives holiday by island is almost impossible, since there are more than a thousand, most of which are tiny. It’s much better to consider your destination by hotel, which is why we’re here to help. Another consideration is the journey time and method, since some are reachable by boat, whereas others require a (more expensive) sea plane to reach.

When Is The Best Time To Visit The Maldives?

The Maldives is a famous winter sun destination, offering a slice of white sand, blue sky and turquoise ocean amid the northern hemisphere’s wintery gloom. That said, the Maldives is a dreamy location to visit year-round, so don’t let the winter sun popularity deter you from pursuing your Maldivian dreams at another time of the year. Check out our full guide on when to visit the Maldives here.

Is It Sustainable To Go To The Maldives?

Ecotourism and the Maldives is a tricky topic to navigate. Overtourism remains a huge risk for many of the world’s most beautiful destinations, but ecotourism also represents a lifeline to many at-risk countries. Costa Rica provides a model of how tourism can transform a country at risk of environmental destruction. The Maldives relies on tourism for its economic survival, and increasingly sustainability initiatives provide a lifeline for the ecological survival of this archipelagic nation. Speak to your hotel about their sustainability initiatives and consider how you could leave a positive impact during your stay, whether this is a financial or physical contribution to the community and/or the conservation of this beautiful destination. Check out our dedicated guide to sustainable resorts in the Maldives here.

Ready to find your perfect Maldives resort?

The Best Hotels In The Maldives

There are over 100 resorts in the Maldives, scattered across the archipelago’s 1,200 islands. But where to start, and how to choose the best? Here’s our guide to the best hotels the Maldives has to offer.

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Check out our other guides to the Maldives:

• Family Friendly Resorts in the Maldives
• Sustainable Maldives Resorts
• Best Resorts For Wildlife Spotting

Featured photo by Rayyu Maldives on Unsplash

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When Is The Best Time Of The Year To Visit The Maldives?

Generally, the Maldives is regarded as an all-year-round holiday destination, and famously there is a local saying, ‘it’s always summer in the Maldives.’ It’s consistently hot and often humid due to its tropical climate; there are, however, two very distinct seasons, and this will impact your holiday timings.

For those who want to go in full, picture-perfect season, the best time of the year to visit the Maldives is during the Northeast Monsoon, also known as the dry season which extends from December to April. At this time, average rainfall amounts are at their lowest, and the hours of sunshine is up – visitors are greeted by the infamous sun, sand and sea, along with a range of unique experiences.

Southwest Monsoon, also known as the wet season, runs from mid-May to November and this comes about due to the change in wind direction, which brings the rain and is felt more in the north. As a result, there may be slightly more hotel availability, at slightly cheaper prices. In reality, though, there are very few days of rain, and even if it does pour, it often clears quickly – but this is still a little risky.

What is the Maldives like in each season?

Spring

If you’re looking to visit the Maldives in spring, expect the hottest temperatures from March to May, with the most amount of sunshine during this period, especially in March. This is set against rain showers, which tend to ramp up in April through to mid-May. Then, stormy weather may hit.

Summer

From June to August is the Maldives’ wet season, but there’s still high temperatures and humidity and, as such, the weather is temperamental, with sun and intermittent rainfall that varies from light to complete downpours with strong winds. The rain at this time can last between hours to a continuous drizzle throughout the day.

Autumn

Though autumn is regarded as the wettest season in the Maldives, there are still sunny periods with hot temperatures, too. From October to November, the winds change again, and it starts to become drier and sunnier.

Winter

The weather is a little changeable, still with a few showers (due to the North East winds changing), but from December, the Maldives is predominantly hot and dry. As such, it kicks off peak season – so book ahead so you don’t miss the best time of the year to visit the Maldives.

Featured Image via Unsplash.

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Wellness Festivals Around The World To Book In 2023

• February: Envision Festival
• May: Annual Yoga Summit, PACE by Peligoni
• September: SOUL Festival
• December: Wonderfruit

Envision Festival

WHEN? 27 February–6 March 2023

WHERE? Costa Rica

WHAT? Every February, hundreds of artists, yogis and wellness enthusiasts descend on the Costa Rican rainforest for Envision Festival, nestled where the Pacific Ocean meets the wild jungle. With a focus on ‘awakening our human potential’, the four-day celebration is designed to inspire through art, music, yoga, performance and nature.

HOW? envisionfestival.com

Image courtesy of Schloss Elmau

Annual Yoga Summit

WHEN? 21–26 May 2023

WHERE? Schloss Elmau, Germany

WHAT? Yogi’s know it well: the Annual Yoga Summit brings passionate and advanced practitioners from across the globe together to deepend their knowledge, alongside beginners looking to try out new styles and find their perfect fit. The rich programme is filled with daily classes, workshops, meditations, lectures, music, Schloss’ spectacular spas and delicious vegan, vegetarian and asian food. Just don’t forget your mat!

HOW? schloss-elmau.de

PACE by Peligoni

WHEN? 22–26 May 2023

WHERE? Zakynthos, Greece

WHAT? Kicking off the summer season in style, Greece’s Peligoni Club will be back with their week-long wellness festival in 2023, in collaboration with Rob da Bank. The programme focusses on wellness at your own pace, offering guests an opportunity to dip into fitness, cold water exposure, breathwork, yoga, gong baths and meditation alongside plenty of delicious food and Rosé. Last year, contributors included Sir Chris Hoy, Rosemary Ferguson, the IO Project, Emma Lucy Knowles, Richie Norton and Aodhnait Lombard (certified Wim Hof) – so 2023 is bound to be a good one.

HOW? Tickets from £400, including a week’s membership to the club, a full water sports upgrade which includes paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, and all the fitness and yoga classes, meditation and wellness workshops. peligoni.com

Soneva Fushi, Maldives (c) Julia Neeson

SOUL Festival

WHEN? 29 September–8 October 2023

WHERE? Soneva Fushi, Maldives

WHAT? Time for wellness in paradise: pioneering, sustainability-first Soneva is partnering with wellness enterprise ORGANIC INDIA on the inaugural immersive wellness festival, SOUL, at their Soneva Fushi resort in autumn 2023. Over 10 days, guests from across the globe will explore wellness in all of its forms, led by a line-up of visionaries, thought leaders, and wellness pioneers, and celebrating both ancient healing traditions and modern innovations through workshops, programmes and one-to-one consultations. All proceeds from tickets sold will go to the Soneva Foundation and ORGANIC INDIA Foundation to support the development of positive impact environmental, social and economic projects.

HOW? Tickets from USD 6,900 for two guests, for a minimum three-night stay. This includes two festival tickets and full access to the entire programme, with luxurious private villa accommodation, daily full board at selected dining destinations, and complimentary round-trip wheeled plane domestic transfers. soneva.com

Wonderfruit

WHEN? TBC (in 2022, the festival took place from 15–18 December)

WHERE? Thailand

WHAT? Asia’s answer to Coachella, Wonderfruit takes place in Thailand’s Pattaya, around two hours’ drive south of Bangkok. Wellness offerings here are diverse and some out-of-the ordinary – expect everything from TED-style talks to crystal bowl meditation to capoeira to ‘orgasmic yoga.’ Sustainability is a big part of their ethos, with pretty much every structure on-site made from recycled or reusable materials – in 2017, this included a stage made out of parcels of rice that were given away and eaten after the festival.

HOW? Tickets typically from THB 4,000 (approx. £94). wonderfruit.co

Featured image: PACE by Peligoni Crystal Gong Meditation (c) Holly Farrier Photography.

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Winter Sun: The Best Destinations For 2022/23

These are the best destinations to visit in the winter (around December to April):

• Maldives – average temperature 28°C
• Morocco – average temperature 21°C
• Caribbean – average temperature 28°C
  • Barbados – average temperature 30°C
• Thailand – average temperature 29°C
• Indonesia – average temperature 27°C
• Canary Islands – average temperature 21°C
• Seychelles – average temperature 29°C
• California & Florida, USA – average temperatures around 20°C
• Panama – average temperature around 30°C
• Mauritius – average temperature around 24°C
• Chile – average temperature around 28°C
• Safari holidays: Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya

Best Winter Sun Holidays To Book Now

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Featured Image: The Setai, Miami, USA.

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Hotel Review: JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

Arrival Pavilion (courtesy of Marriott International Hotel)

STAY

JW Marriott is situated on the secluded Vagaru Island, and features 60 sleek beach and overwater villas with thatched roofs shaped like the prow of a dhoni (a local fishing boat) along with sea and sand inspired interiors: lampstands with twining wooden bases, bold shell-shaped lampshades and ocean-inspired art. The floor-to-ceiling windows give stunning views and from the super comfy king size bed; from here, watch for passing dhoni floating across the ocean.

Besides the well-stocked mini-bar, there is complimentary tea and coffee, a bathroom the size of a double bedroom, and toiletries from Aromatherapy Associates. The large terrace has sunbeds and a vast plunge pool where we enjoyed an outrageously indulgent floating champagne breakfast while soaking up (literally) horizon-wide vistas. From the overwater villas you can step down the short metal ladder into the bath-like lagoon – the standout feature. From here, it is an easy snorkel to the breakwater where an aquatic wonderland awaits. Within moments, we spotted fluorescent blue Parrot fish,  black and white striped Oriental Sweetlips (rather like giant mint humbugs), and darting Nemo-lookalikes, the Clown fish – the perfect introduction to our stay.

Beach Pool Villa Sunset Bedroom (courtesy of Marriott International Hotel; cropped)

The beach villas (which families tend to prefer) have private terraces with direct access to dazzling white sand and the calm lagoon. The homes are tucked along pleasant sandy lanes shaded by tamed jungle. You will also find the well-equipped Little Griffins kids club (with a climbing pirate ship Captain Hook would envy), a boutique and the lush garden. The herbs, fruit and vegetables are used in welcome drinks, scents and, of course, in the restaurant kitchens.

DO

For a small tropical island, in true Maldives style, there is plenty to keep you occupied. The dive centre offers scuba diving, jet skiing, dolphin-watching and snorkelling trips to the nearby reef, where you can spot turtles and swim so close to eagle-rays you could almost touch their sail-like wings – an unforgettable experience. 

Non-motorised water sports, such as rowing in the transparent kayak, are complimentary, as are the yoga classes. There are two swimming pools: one family-friendly pool, and one for adults only. Besides six treatment rooms, the spa is home to a deluxe double room for couples; zone out with a massage, then flop into your own plunge pool, all while enjoying the watery vista (it is very popular, so book well in advance!).

SPA by JW Deluxe Treatment Suite (Image courtesy of Marriott International Hotel; cropped)

Each guest has a helpful Thakuru (a butler), who will answer any queries and golf-buggy you around. In-between ferrying us to dinner, our wonderful Thakuru, Gasim, was always pointing out rare sightings such as a tuna or ray in the lagoon or the magical bioluminescent plankton washing up along the twinkling nighttime shore, or telling us about life on the island. The resort started a coral restoration project last year, so the coral is regularly checked, too.

If you want to get a little under the skin, try a cookery class with local chef Aminath Abdul Rasheed. Aminath crushed spices, mixed up coconut rice, seared tuna and showed us how to make a mouth-watering Maldivian fish curry. Two of the restaurant kitchens are, unusually for the Maldives, led by female chefs.

Horizon Pool (courtesy of Marriott International Hotel; cropped)

EAT

JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa’s three bars and five restaurants are all excellent and atmospheric. Breakfast at the all-day Aailaa (meaning ‘family’) restaurant is overwater and, from the shaded terrace, you can watch fish darting around as you tuck into your croissant or curry, cereal or sushi, or whatever else takes your fancy from the delicious global smorgasbord on offer.

Lunch can be at the Italian Fiamma restaurant, by the family pool or at the treetop Thai restaurant, Kaashi (meaning ‘coconut’). After crossing the Indiana Jones-style rope bridge to the latter, sit at a table in the trees, overlooking the ocean, and tuck into delicious satay and Thai salad. In the distance, you might spy shiny black fins breaking the waves as a pod of dolphins swim past.

Kaashi & Rum Baan (courtesy of Marriott International Hotel)

Our evening meals were a toss-up between Hashi’s teppanyaki grill or the overwater Shio  with its prime cut meats and crustaceans, which included everything from Wagyu beef to lobster. If money is no object, reserve a table in the cool wine room – with its 1,620 bottles – and have your favourite meal paired with vintage wines.

After, collapse in one of the funky swinging rope seats at the Horizon bar and, as there is no light pollution here, enjoy a rum cocktail while spotting constellations in the starry sky.  

THE FINAL WORD

With its friendly and attentive staff, elegant villas and excellent facilities, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa more than delivers – and for all ages, too. Best of all, however, is the serene, unspoilt beauty of the island, which the resort highlights gloriously.

BOOK IT

Overwater sunrise villas start from USD $650 per night bed and breakfast, or $950 per night all inclusive. marriott.com

Featured image courtesy of Marriott International Hotel (cropped). 

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The C&TH Guide to Sustainable Hotels in the Maldives

Long haul sustainable travel is a contradiction that’s tricky to overlook. Over in the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago that defines dreamy island getaways, sustainability is critical: rising sea levels as result of global warming mean that this low-lying country could disappear in a matter of years.

The easy option is to simply stop travelling to the islands – perhaps to stop travelling altogether. But to abandon nations that are so reliant on tourism – in the Maldives, tourism accounts for 28 of GDP and 90 per cent of government tax revenue – is just as ill-informed. Though overtourism is an urgent problem, the Maldives relies on this industry for its economic survival. Thus, increasing sustainability initiatives and ecotourism are a lifelines for the ecological survival of the archipelago.

What To Look Out For When Picking a Resort

• Check for sustainability credentials, and try to find the resort’s sustainability plan – if there isn’t one, that’s clue enough
• Research how the resort was constructed: have they been sustainable from the start, or are they greenwashing now that they have opened?
• Check the resort’s attitude to plastic. On some islands, single-use plastic is completely banned
• Research the resort’s contributions to the local economy, local businesses, and any local charities
• Are there any environmental initiatives at the resort that guests can get involved with during their stay?

What You Can Do To Help

• Use environmentally friendly products, like reef-safe sunscreen
• Leave plastic packaging at home, or take it home with you when you leave
• Eat meat – including some seafood like oysters and fish like Atlantic salmon – in moderation (or avoid it completely), as it has to be flown in or shipped to the Maldives

Sustainable Hotels In The Maldives

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Featured Image: Ritz-Carlton Maldives

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Preview: The Hottest New Hotels Opening Their Doors in 2023

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Looking Even Further Ahead…

One&Only Moonlight Basin – Montana, United States

Opening: 2024

Nestled between Lone Peak and the Spanish Peaks, One&Only will be launching its first resort and residential community in the States in 2024, in Big Sky, Montana. Boasting beautiful views overlooking Montana’s mountains and wildlife, this will also be the brand’s first alpine resort, with 73 guest rooms and suites in the main lodge, 19 secluded villas, a separate ski lodge and a Chenot Spa. Designed by Olson Kundig, the interiors promise sleek and contemporary aesthetics, complete with glass walls showcasing the mountain ranges of Big Sky. oneandonlyresorts.com

ÀNI Private Resorts – Anguilla, Caribbean 

Opening: 2024

With outposts across the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, ÀNI Private Resorts’ latest development – a 15 suite estate complete with tennis court, gym, spa and beach front pavilion – will arrive on Shoal Bay in Anguilla in 2024. With a 1:1 ratio of guest to staff, expect to kick back and relax, with signature services and amenities at your fingertips. aniprivateresorts.com

Bulgari Resort Ranfushi – Maldives

Opening: 2025

Bulgari Hotels & Resorts recently announced that it will be opening a new resort in the Maldives in 2025, Bulgari Resort Ranfushi, the thirteenth hotel in the Bulgari Hotels and Resorts collection. If the Italian brand’s long history of masterful fragrances and accessories – as well as its other hotels – are anything to go by, it promises to be a stunning, luxurious escape. bulgarihotels.com

Six Senses Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

Opening: 2025

A riverside game reserve and wellness resort within Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls UNESCO Protected Area, these new lodges – on the approach to the world’s largest waterfall – will be partially concealed, tree-level, ecological, tactile, and understated to provide a bird’s eye platform to connect with the surrounding verdant nature and wildlife. sixsenses.com

TOKYO TORCH, Dorchester Collection – Tokyo, Japan

Opening: 2028

The Dorchester Collection has been selected as the management for the hotel in Torch Tower by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Century Corporation, currently under construction but set to be Japan’s tallest building. Although, you’ll have to sit tight if you want to experience it – it won’t be open until 2028. 

Featured Image: Ikos Odisia.

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Hotels With Community And Conservation Initiatives

• Zimbabwe: Matetsi Victoria Falls
• Maldives: Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, JOALI Maldives
• Bali: Bulgari Resort, Potato Head
• UK: Town Hall Hotel, The Newt in Somerset
• India: SUJÁN
• Tanzania: Thanda Island
• Across the world: Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Resorts

Matetsi Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe

For a safari experience and idyllic accommodation retreat that’s packed full of purpose, look to Matetsi Victoria Falls. Positively impacting Zimbabwe’s community welfare and environment, this hotel is partnered with Pack for a Purpose – a non-profit organisation helping travellers to positively impact the destinations they plan to visit with community welfare and conservation projects, and by allowing space in their luggage for much needed supplies. In Zimbabwe, this stretches from solar lantern lights to toothpaste and vitamins to first aid kits. As such, the scheme benefits various groups of people, from Greenline Africa Trust (which provides ‘Gogo Packs’ to support grandmothers looking after orphaned children in rural communities) to Mummy’s Angels Zimbabwe (which helps mothers and babies in need) to Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit.

BOOK: mahlatini.com

Visit the C&TH conservation hub

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

Maldives

The Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi runs a series of environmental and community upliftment projects. A hub of eco-education and the first of its kind in the archipelago, its Sustainability Lab turns plastic waste into bespoke souvenirs as well as products for surrounding islands, such as stationary for hospitals and schools. The resort has also partnered with seven schools in the Shaviyani Atoll for the Fairmont Award Scheme, whereby the sustainability team visit the schools to teach classes and host workshops on recycling, marine biodiversity, and ocean conservation. Local children are also invited to visit the resort to witness the Sustainability Lab in action and learn about the conservation projects.

BOOK: fairmont-maldives.com

JOALI Maldives

Maldives

Known for its community and environmental initiatives, JOALI Maldives promotes its ‘Joy of Caring’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, which focuses on four key aspects:

• Preserving: promoting environmental initiatives on the island
• Supporting: fostering community engagement within Raa Atoll
• Empowering: supporting gender equality and women empowerment
• Conserving: driving operational sustainability

‘At JOALI Maldives, we are all deeply committed to active involvement in supporting the communities in Raa Atoll,’ says general manager Enver Arslan. ‘We continue to closely collaborate to provide valuable assistance in different areas of need, focusing particularly on remote islands here in Raa Atoll.’

BOOK: joali.com

Bulgari Resort

Bali

The Bulgari Resort Bali has several community initiatives that are woven into the guest experience. For those who want to be purified, the Melukat Purifying Ceremony is an ancient Balinese tradition and is designed to cleanse body and mind, and to rid bad omens that may lead to illness and bad luck. The ritual begins on the hotel’s private beach, where guests are dressed in traditional attire and met by a local Balinese priest who leads them through the experience. There’s also th Banjar Walk to take in the local culture and meet people within the local community, as well as the Pura Luhur Uluwatu and Kecak Dance experience which sees guests explore the nearby coastal water temple at sunset to watch local performers showcase a traditional Kecak dance.

BOOK: bulgarihotels.com

Katamama Suite. © Potato Head

Potato Head 

Bali

A hotel that has sustainability and social responsibility at its core, Potato Head has a range of initiatives that support the local people and place. Like the Sweet Potato Farm, for example: an employee-led initiative whereby staff grow their own food on the hotel’s land to support their families and the local community. The hotel then delivers this produce to people, organisations, orphanages and hospitals that are in need. On site, there’s also the ‘5,000 Lost Soles’ installation by art-activist Liina Klauss which highlights the reality of marine pollution with flip-flops collected along the shores of Bali by Klauss and her small team in six beach clean-ups.

The hotel also supports the Green School’s Changemaker program, which sponsors young Balinese students to attend the innovative Green School for the entire period of their primary and secondary education. The resort is an ardent advocate of zero waste, as seen at almost every touchpoint, from refillable amenities (made locally), merchandise deriving from eucalyptus trees (the fibre is fully biodegradable and uses 80 percent less water than cotton), conscious cocktails using bi-products, and food produce from the Bali Fresh Farm Cooperative with line-caught fish from Bali Sustainable Seafood and rice from the UNESCO-protected Jatiluwih terraces.

BOOK: seminyak.potatohead.co

Town Hall Hotel

London

The Town Hall Hotel in east London champions local creatives, as seen in its designers-meet-makers project with Jan Hendzel Studio, which has transformed two of the property’s suites to create a gallery-cum-living space that’s all about showcasing creativity. Marking the start of many initiatives that’ll involve likeminded, local sustainable designers, the goal is to curate a community of London creatives within the hotel, offering an eclectic range of suites, each telling their own unique story.

BOOK: townhallhotel.com

The Newt in Somerset

Somerset

Paula Carnell, Head Beekeeper at The Newt in Somerset, advocates the importance of bees and, along with her team, offers Bee Safaris – daily walking tours of the woodland hives to provide more insight into The Newt’s beekeeping practices. The Newt is passionate about raising local, chemical-free bees, fed on their own honey supply. A cooperative approach to beekeeping, from encouraging wild bees to gentle honey harvesting, they tend to wild and native colonies (of which there are now 16–20 set across hives in the Somerset woodland and orchards) with their honey used across the Estate and Spa. Check out the Beezantium too, which promises a multi-sensory visitor experience to learn all about bees.

BOOK: thenewtinsomerset.com

SUJÁN 

India

Family-run wildlife conservation tourism hotel brand SUJÁN offers destination experiences that focus on authentic, eco-conscious hospitality. Co-Founded by Jaisal and Anjali Singh, they’re leading authorities on wildlife conservation in India: Jaisal is a member of the Rajasthan Government’s Standing Committee for Wildlife, is on the State Wildlife Board & Tiger Expert Committee for Rajasthan, and is Patron of the Conscious Travel Confederation. Extensive areas of wilderness and farmland have been protected and restored and, as well as running their own projects through their philanthropic foundation, Jaisal and Anjali also work with and fund other local NGOs and the Forest Department to help combat illegal poaching and man-animal conflict, ensuring safe corridors for tigers (which has seen the number of tigers nearly double to almost 70 in the last decade).

BOOK: thesujanlife.com

Thanda Island

Tanzania

Just off the coast of Tanzania within the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve is Thanda Island, the world’s only private island surrounded by a protected marine reserve. Meaning ‘love’ in the Zulu language, Thanda encourages slow living and connections between humans and nature. Here, there are educational programmes on sustainable fishing and marine conservation in partnership with local organisations to the people of Mafia Island.

BOOK: thandaisland.com

Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts

Across the world

Committed to inspiring change and a sustainable future, Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts has a Dollar-A-Day initiative, which is dedicated to enhancing the welfare of those in need within communities local to the resorts. The programme encourages guests to make a positive impact on the destinations they visit by donating one dollar per day of stay – plus, the resorts match the donations. For those who visit La Maison Arabe in Marrakech, donations can be made to The Dar Bouidar Children’s village, which provides a safe home and education for abandoned children. At The Residence Zanzibar, guests can donate to the Assalam Community Foundation, funding their mission to provide education and income for African children and women; funds raised support vocational training, social entrepreneurship, and humanitarian aid.

BOOK: cenizaro.com

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

Six Senses

Across the world

Giving back to local communities through education, outreach and infrastructure, Six Senses’ resorts aim to blend into the local fabric and communities. Key to this is access to education in remote areas. Cue the Six Senses Zighy Bay project, which has given 583 girls improved access to education by engaging with local schools. Across Asia, outreach initiatives have been introduced to help raise awareness of sustainability and empower younger generations through community engagement such as Taoism awareness at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain and community service at Six Senses Bhutan, investing in the future of Bhutanese farming. In addition, there are sanitation and healthcare programs – such as the Water for All program run by Six Senses Con Dao, and the community drinking water initiative run by Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – along with funds and resources for disaster relief and renovations to public institutions.

BOOK: sixsenses.com

Featured image courtesy of SUJÁN.

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