The best way to discover what ecotourism is, is to learn from successful practical examples that have been selected by knowledgeable experts and have been visited on-site by specialists.
Here is a first selection with ecolodges to inspire you. Don´t believe us. Check them out on travel sites and visit them personally. We will be diversifying this list with other categories and examples.
Best Practices – Authentic Ecolodges
A. Africa Region:
Il Ngwesi Lodge, Kenya
The first ecolodge in the world to be owned and managed 100% by an indigenous tribe (Samburu Maasai), Il Ngwesi is a tour de-force! An exemplary case study of inside-outside relationships, there are no doors or windows in any guest facility!
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Damaraland Camp, Namibia
Developed by the renowned Wilderness Safari’s company and then handed over to the local Damara peoples, this camp is an exemplary model of community-private sector partnerships.
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B. Asia and Pacific Region:
Coconut Lagon, India
This ecolodge is one of the best examples in the world as regards recycle and reuse, an approach where existing traditional rural buildings that had been abandoned, were given new life as guest accommodations by the visionary owners of Coconut Lagoon.
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Amity EcoShacks, Australia
The Quandamooka Aboriginal peoples own and operate a camping site in the beautiful North Stradbroke Island, Queensland. Their most popular product are the Amity Ecoshacks which were designed and planned by an international award-winning team.
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C. Europe Region:
Basecamp Oulanka, Finland
This lodge is located adjacent to the Oulanka National Park in Northern Finland. It is a cozy and comfortable base to explore this amazing part of the world. White water rafting and walking with the Siberian Huskies are unique and memorable guided experiences offered to guests.
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Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch, Croatia
A 50-acre authentic guest ranch and restorative retreat, Linden Tree is nestled within the two million acres UNESCO -protected pristine wilderness- Velebit Mountain Biosphere Reserve, Velika Plana, Croatia. Linden Tree is not only a premier horse-riding destination and retreat, but one of the best places in Europe to see brown bears and European wolves.
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D. Latin and Caribbean Region:
Kapawi Ecolodge, Ecuador
South America’s first fully community-owned ecolodge is also an exemplary model of partnership where the indigenous Achuar community built a partnership with a private company CANODROS who constructed the lodge and handed it over to the Achuar after managing it for ten years. The whole lodge was built using traditional construction techniques, which means that no nails were used in the wooden buildings and decks!
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Chalalan Ecolodge, Bolivia
Located in the heart of Madidi National Park, Amazon, Chalalan is owned entirely by the Quechua indigenous community of San Jose de Uchupiamonas. The lodge buildings are designed to resemble the traditional Tacana-style cabins and using eco-friendly materials.
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E. Middle East and North Africa Region:
Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan
Located in the pristine 200km2 Dana Nature Reserve, this lodge was initially developed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature to help the indigenous Bedouins have an alternative source of income. Feynan Ecolodge provides one of the most authentic immersive experiences with Bedouins than any other lodge in the Middle East.
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Kasbah Du Toubkal, Morocco
This property is an extreme makeover – from a traditional baron’s palace ruin into a 49-guest lodge. The staff serve traditional Berber hospitality and the views towards the snow-covered Atlas Mountains are a sight to behold.
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F. North America Region:
Cree Village Ecolodge, Canada
Owned by the native Cree Community of Moose Factory, Northern Ontario, the lodge is located close to the southern tip of Hudson Bay. The visionary creation of Chief Randy Kapashesit, Cree Village Ecolodge has to be the first (in 2000) lodge in the world where all interior décor was genuinely eco-friendly.
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Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, USA
The Glacier Lodge and guest cabins reside within the native Alutiiq people-owned, 1,700 acre Pedersen Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary, which is surrounded by the 700,000 acre Kenai Fjords National Park. The sanctuary, owned by Port Graham Native Corporation, is leased to a private operator who has constructed a lodge that pairs modern comfort with the wilds of remote Alaska.
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