4 Must-see Luxury Eco Resorts in Asia-Pacific

Environmentally conscious and socially responsible travellers with a love of luxury are now in luck with a rising number of 5-star eco-resorts popping up worldwide.

In 2019, Booking.com's Sustainability Travel Report found that nearly three quarters (72%) of travellers believe that people need to act now and make sustainable travel choices to save the planet for future generations. The report also highlighted a shift in values and how travellers select their accommodation – with "73 % of global travellers intending to stay at least once in an eco-friendly or green accommodation" in 2019.

But what is an eco-resort exactly? According to the Oxford Dictionary, an eco-resort is defined as "a tourist resort whose facilities are intended to have a minimal impact on the local environment."

Travellers may think they need to compromise on luxurious creature comforts when booking a sustainable, eco-friendly holiday, but this is not the case. To help you prepare for the moment when borders open and when we can once again venture abroad, we have rounded up 4 of the best luxury eco-resort escapes in the Asia Pacific area, so you can start planning now.

The Best Luxury Resorts in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Brando - French Polynesia

The Brando is an idyllic resort located on the private island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. The island, favoured by Tahitian royalty for centuries, is rich in history, culture, and its unique biodiversity. Surrounded by clear crystal waters, the luxury resort features 35 villas on pristine white beaches, a deluxe spa, and an array of outdoor activities from snorkelling and deep-sea fishing to biking and paddle-boarding.

The resort offers a range of unique dining experiences, including a beachside café, a 5-star restaurant with a world-class wine cellar, a teppanyaki restaurant, and an elegant open-air bar and casual beach bar.

The Brando is ripe with luxurious touches but is nevertheless committed to "preserving and protecting the natural splendour and precious biodiversity of Tetiaroa; respecting and supporting Polynesian culture, hospitality and traditions; and achieving a negligible carbon footprint."

The resort closed temporarily due to COVID but is set to reopen in April 2021.

Gaya Island Resort – Borneo

Gaya Island Resort is located along the beautiful coastline of Malohom Bay in Borneo. Set amidst ancient rainforests, lush mangroves, and sheltered coral reefs, the resort features hillside suites and deluxe villas with stunning South China Sea views. Also on offer are a range of dining options, including Japanese, seafood and continental restaurants and a private beach restaurant just a 5-minute boat ride from the resort. For relaxation, there is a luxe spa village. For adventure, the resort offers PADI diving programmes, fishing excursions, guided nature walks and more.

The exclusive eco-resort is "committed to ecologically-sustainable practices" and runs several eco-friendly initiatives ranging from turtle rescue and coral reef restoration to education and outreach programmes with the local primary school.

Cempedak Private Island – Indonesia

Cempedak Private Island is a 17-hectare private island located off the dreamy east coast of Bintan, Indonesia. The resort is composed of unique beach and sea-view villas, handcrafted with bamboo and grass roofs to blend into the natural landscape. Each villa has a master bedroom with ensuite, a large deck, sun loungers and a private plunge pool.

The villas have either direct access to the beach or glorious sea views and are generously spaced out to ensure maximum privacy.

The secluded island hosts many activities including rock climbing, mountain biking, snorkelling, and kayaking. If you just want to chill, opt instead for blissed-out relaxation at the tranquil Rock Spa.

Cempedak follows strict sustainability principles and was built (and continues to operate by) using local materials, labour and services. The resort is passionate about working with communities by using local supplies and teaching new trades and techniques to local contractors and staff. The island is also home to a 7-hectare farm that follows organic and free-range principles, growing chillies, Asian greens, herbs, corn, beans, tomatoes, papaya, jackfruit and housing over 700 free-range chickens.

Jean Michel Cousteau Resort - Fiji

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji was one of the globe's first eco-luxury hotels. The resort is centred around the philosophy that the 'operations and management practices are guided first and foremost by consideration for the environment, creating "an incredible opportunity for travellers to visit, experience and support the region's efforts to preserve its beauty for generations to come."

The resort is made up of 25 luxurious bures complete with deluxe king beds, private decks and breathtaking views of the South Pacific.

As far as food goes, there is a range of delectable dining options, from fresh Fijian cuisine to Asian-inspired delicacies. To pass your free time, there is a beachfront spa bure with indulgent treatments and a range of exciting activities such as rain forest walks, mangrove adventures, or glass-bottom boat excursions.

With these options, you are all set for a guilt-free luxury getaway that is sustainable and which supports the local environments and communities of these utopian travel destinations.

Deciding where to visit once tourism starts again? Consider some of the best luxury resorts in Bali.

Featured