Chilling with a mission

Eco-lodges with pure luxury

Hardly any five-star hotel today can do without its own eco-program. It is well known that there is a lot of greenwashing going on. After all, sustainable operations are very costly and rarely guarantee profits. In the "neuerluxus" special, CC introduces you to exemplary managed eco-lodges that are successful solely due to the passionate commitment of private owners. The beneficiaries of these initiatives are not only the guests, but also the local population - and of course nature.


Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland/Canada
Normally, sustainably operating hotels set up a foundation to finance nature conservation programs and social projects in the surrounding area. In the case of the Fogo Island Inn, it worked the other way around. Back in 2004, the eighth-generation siblings Zita and Alan Cobb, who grew up on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, established the non-profit foundation "Shorefast" to raise money for the preservation of local nature and culture. In 2013, they built the spectacular Fogo Island Inn with 21 rooms and suites, which is probably unique in the world due to its location, architecture and holistic-sustainable design. The Newfoundland architect Todd Saunders created a house that is strongly inspired by the local architecture and, partly built on stilts, juts out spectacularly into the coastal landscape. Lucky are those who can check into one of the Sunrise or Sunset corner suites, which offer floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. There is no more direct way to immerse yourself in the wild beauty of the island while sitting in front of a blazing wood-burning stove, protected from the wind and weather.

This spectacular scenario can also be admired from the restaurant, where everything the island has to offer is prepared seasonally: hand-fished cod, seafood, vegetables, berries, ... Only 20 percent of all ingredients, which simply cannot grow locally, are bought in.
But of course it is also worth leaving the dreamlike Inn and going on extensive hikes across the almost untouched island, which is geologically one of the oldest places on earth.
In summer, whales pass by here, which can be observed on organized boat trips. With seven officially declared seasons, each of which offers typical island activities such as fishing, snowmobiling, flora and fauna tours and workshops with local artists, each season has its own special fascination. And the good thing is that all the profits from the Fogo Island Inn flow back into the foundation, which ensures that one of the last "wild spots" on the global map remains as it is.
www.fogoislandinn.ca

Esiweni Luxury Safari Lodge, Drakensberg/South Africa
The search took a little over two years: only then did Sophie and Ludovic Vaillant finally find the perfect spot on a savannah plateau near the majestic Drakensberg in South Africa. Here, between Durban and Johannesburg, the former banker couple from Paris dreamed of creating a lodge that would complement the beauty of South Africa with a French lifestyle and exquisite cuisine. In 2015, the couple opened their lodge with five individual bungalows and 360° panoramic views. The wow factor is not only the unbeatable view of the natural and mountain landscape from all the private terraces directly above the Sunday River, but also the diverse wildlife in the Nambiti Game Reserve. In addition to the "Big 5", the white and black rhino, cheetahs and 280 different bird species have found their permanent home here. The other spectacular experiences that the maximum of ten guests can enjoy are not necessarily typical of Africa.



These include excursions in their own hot air balloon, mountain biking, fly fishing and horse riding. As the lodge is located in the middle of the Zulu region, it is also possible to meet the people of this fascinating culture. Naturally, the Vaillant couple have taken care to operate as sustainably as possible - there is solar power and fresh water from a natural spring. Many of the 120 families living here find work with the Vaillants, and the couple have created their own school for 400 pupils for their children. A perfect piece of Africa with a distinctly French touch: the best chefs in South Africa were trained here by Guide Michelin chefs. And this was particularly worthwhile for visitors, because as a member of the Relais & Châteaux Collection, Esiweni Lodge naturally also stands for the highest gourmet quality. The Vaillants' impressive luxury hospitality project in the middle of South Africa's "Nowhere" will probably never make a profit, but it fulfills a long-cherished dream of Sophie and Ludovic - and guests, locals and nature all benefit from it in equal measure www.esiwenilodge.com

LJs Ratxó Mallorca/spain
It was a stroke of luck that Lisa Jane Cross and Lorenzo Fluxá discovered this fantastic but run-down estate near the village of Puigpunyent in the middle of Mallorca's Tramuntana mountains in 2018. A jewel with forests, olive trees and sensational views, its history dates back to the 14th century. Because it seemed perfect for an "away from it all" retreat, the couple decided to turn the old estate into one of the most sustainable hospitality projects in the Mediterranean. So, in addition to the actual property, surrounding land from the nature reserve was purchased to create space for growing vegetables and fruit and for sustainable timber production. An employed team of six carpenters produces furniture, design elements, lamps, accessories and even the door plates for the entire house from recycled wood on site. Owner Lisa took on the interior design together with her interior designer friend Blanca Rosselló. The result is the boutique hotel LJs Ratxó with 25 rooms and suites - all with balconies, terraces or gardens and some with private plunge pools.



Many lovingly crafted accessories, some of which are carved from wood, give the hotel an unmistakable boho chic. Another unusual detail is also irresistible: The Ratxó serves a healthy à la carte breakfast all day long, which is even included in the room rate. The two restaurants, Roots and Arratxa, serve Mediterranean dishes for lunch and dinner using produce from their own garden or from nearby suppliers. In addition to fruit and vegetables, the family also produces its own wine, honey, olive oil, gin and organic beer.
Disposable plastic is of course a no-go here, coffee cups are made from recycled coffee grounds and the hotel has an osmotic water filtration system to produce drinking water. The NATUR-ALL Spa with indoor pool also uses only organic products and organic oils.

The purpose of this sustainable wellness wonder is to bring guests closer to Mallorca's breathtaking nature and, in particular, its UNESCO-listed surroundings. Outdoor yoga classes, multi-day retreats and hikes through the Tramuntana mountains are offered all year round. A great idea for a winter excursion to a highly authentic and unknown part of Mallorca.
www.ratxo.com

The Retreat by Heaven, Kigali/Rwanda
Kigali is certainly not one of the must-stopovers for luxury travelers in Rwanda. Most visitors head straight to the extraordinary One&Only or andBeyond lodges in the Virunga region, where the country's main attraction, the gorillas, live. This is exactly what Alissa Ruxin, who lost her heart to the small capital 15 years ago, wants to change. While working with orphans, she learned that there was a great need for education and work after the civil war. So the Californian - a natural foodie by nature - decided to open a restaurant. Her "Heaven" was a great success right from the start and provided many locals with training and jobs. When regulars asked for rooms after dinner, Alissa simply added them. Even more training and job opportunities for the local population helped her mission in Kigali. The four-star Heaven Hotel with 28 rooms was born. But that wasn't enough for Alissa and her husband Josh. Josh wrote a heart-warming book about the history of Heaven and their beginnings in Kigali. Alissa made plans for another hotel to attract international travelers to Rwanda's capital: in 2018, they opened the five-star "The Retreat by Heaven", a project that Alissa launched with Italian designers and lots of sustainably sourced tropical wood. Her credo is clear: Kigali is one of the most progressive cities in southern Africa and deserves special recognition from international tourism. The Retreat by Heaven is now the most luxurious and sustainable hotel that Kigali has to offer - and there is also a new restaurant, Fusion. Private pool villas were also added this year.



What many people don't know: In addition to the hotels and restaurants, the couple also founded the destination management company "Heaven Tours". It aims to combine the advantages of Kigali with tours of the city's artists' and artisans' quarters and visits to the gorillas. "Rwanda is a small country and Kigali is a capital with a future, from where you can reach all the attractions in less than 2.5 hours by car," says Alissa.
This is precisely why her initiatives are focused on this very special place that has long been forgotten by the world.
www.heavenrwanda.com

Torfhus Retreat, Iceland
Liechtenstein native Alex Hoop originally came to the island in the North Atlantic because of her love of Icelandic horses. She then met the Icelander Siggi Johnsson, and soon they were breeding the Nordic horses together near the village of Solfus. Alex and Siggi wanted to share their fascination for the country and its natural treasures with others. They spent over three years planning and decided to build houses in the style of the legendary seafarers, inspired by some of the Viking ruins that can be visited nearby. This meant low-pitched pointed roofs covered with living grass, local stone on the exterior façades and lots of recycled oak for the interior. Today there are 25 residential units. Ten of them are traditional two-bedroom torfhus houses, 15 are one-bedroom torfbaer suites. The cozy cottages can be occupied by two to four guests and are heated exclusively by geothermal sources. Just like the basalt stone pool that has been built in front of each building for the benefit of the guests. The retreat is conveniently located in the island's legendary Golden Circle and offers countless opportunities for excursions to the nearby highlights of Iceland, such as the bubbling geysers or the Gullfoss waterfalls. In addition to rides on the hotel's own horses, there are also jeep tours, glacier hikes, fishing, rafting, observations of the Aurora Borealis in winter and night golfing on ever-bright summer nights. For the hosts, the name "Retreat" says it all, because they want their guests to relax here as much as possible: on long walks, with an after-dinner dip in the private outdoor pool or with a grandiose dinner in the traditional Viking longhouse.



In local chef Toti, the couple have been able to recruit an exceptional expert. His maxim of "fresh, fresh, fresh" is meticulous: the fish must have been caught no more than the day before, lamb and beef graze on the nearby pastures, vegetables, salads, fruit and herbs should not have traveled more than 10 kilometers or come from the surrounding greenhouses, which are also geothermally heated. The fact that a grandiose "Nobu meets Noma" gourmet cuisine can be offered here "in the middle of nowhere" is just as extraordinary as the entire rustic-chic Viking setting. And hard to believe: the owners have recently even "adopted" the carbon footprint of their guests in order to finance reforestation programs on the island. What a treat for the eyes, mind and conscience!
www.torfhus.is

Tour d'Éole, Dakhla/Morocco
Jérôme Schanker, who was born into a family of hospitality professionals, has chosen an extraordinary location for his first hotel: Dakhla, a lagoon in the south of Morocco, is an insider tip, especially for passionate kitesurfers, because the wind and weather here offer ideal conditions all year round. Until now, the area has hardly been known among luxury travelers, but this could soon change, as Jérôme's new eco-hotel Tour d'Éole now offers exquisite standards in 21 bungalows located in the middle of the sand dunes of southern Morocco. Sustainable construction using Douglas fir wood with solar cell power and waste water recycling was particularly important to the former financial expert from London. He also attaches great importance to quality when it comes to the food in the restaurant. After all, it was his great-grandmother who once initiated the founding of the Relais & Châteaux restaurant and hotel association! The menu features fish, seafood, fresh vegetables and herbs from local organic farmers. For trendsetters, there is also a gourmet vegan menu created especially for the resort by a London-based nutritionist.



The heart of the resort for passionate kitesurfers, however, is the "Ocean Academy": here, beginners and advanced kitesurfers are prepared for the next big wave - and the next great Instagram shot - by highly trained guides and instructors equipped with walkie-talkies. If you come here and don't necessarily want to go kitesurfing, you can simply be inspired by the beauty of the "desert meets the sea" landscape and the turquoise blue of the lagoon, enjoy a Berber massage with argan oil in the spa or chill out by the heated outdoor pool surrounded by nothing but heavenly tranquillity.
The rooms have a minimalist, modern design and are furnished with individually designed furniture by local craftsmen. Respect for the surrounding nature and its preservation is important to Jérôme. You can see and feel this in this very special eco-resort between the desert and the waves.
www.latourdeole.com

NirjhaRa Bali, Bali/Indonesia
Not far from the most popular attractions in southwest Bali, yet in the middle of a three-hectare forest area surrounded by rice terraces, lies the extraordinary eco-lodge Nirjhara. The heart project of a French family, who wish to remain anonymous, offers just 25 amazingly modern designed detached villas in six categories, all built from recycled wood and featuring local stone and bamboo elements. Central to all rooms and villas is the indoor/outdoor concept, which makes the natural surroundings an immediate experience. Seven stylish tree houses, the "Canopy Suites", built on stilts in the jungle with roof terraces and free-standing bathtubs, form the pinnacle of this natural idyll. From here, you can look out over the entire resort as far as the rice terraces.



Nirjhara means "waterfall" in Sanskrit. There are no fewer than four of them on the cascading resort grounds with a 25-meter saltwater pool. There is even a yoga sala in front of one of the spectacular wet backdrops. A picturesque little river also meanders through the nature resort. The picturesque River Pavilions are enthroned above it - some with their own pool. The activities on offer are just as exciting as the jungle resort itself: Kedungu Beach, just 700 meters away, which can be easily reached by the free mountain bikes on offer, is considered one of the best surfing spots for beginners. Cooking and pottery courses, the Balinese "The Retreat" spa and the dedicated staff, 45 percent of whom come from the surrounding villages, familiarize interested guests with the local culture. Starting next year, water sports fans will be able to charter the six-cabin sailing yacht Vela with an 18-person crew to reach highlights such as the Komodo National Park or Raja Ampat.

And if you do fancy a bit of hustle and bustle, you can visit the tourist town of Canggu, 15 minutes away, or Bali's most famous Hindu landmark, the nearby Tanah Lot temple, for a sundowner before disappearing into the jungle again, inspired and without a trace.
www.nirjhara.com