With six feet above sea level at their highest point, the collection of 1200 islands that make up Maldives is the lowest-lying country in the world. Incidentally, these islands are also some of the most beautiful places on Earth, with calm turquoise waters and bright beaches that make the country a remarkable sight. Its beauty and charm are two of the biggest reasons that a large number of vacationers looking to experience this amazing sight visit Maldives every year. However, while this tourism is a great source of income for the country, it has the unfortunate side effect of environmental harm. That is why recently there has been a boom in eco-friendly resorts, with the country taking a firm stance on preserving their vital resources.
Today, many luxury hotels in Maldives are taking part in conservation activities. They include rehabilitation of local flora and fauna, coral reef replantation, converting to solar energy, installing water treatment plants, and much more. So, if you are planning a visit to the country, listed below are some of the best Maldives eco-friendly resorts for visitors who want to do their part in preserving this island paradise.
The chain of Four Seasons resorts around the world are known for its ultra-luxury experiences, and the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru is one of the best among them. It is situated on its own island, located in Baa Atoll. Baa Atoll is the country’s first UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and is a sight to behold with white beaches lapped by aquamarine waves, and fringed by a lush green tropical jungle.
This Maldives eco-friendly resort offers luxurious overwater villas, each with its own private infinity pool, a communal Olympic-sized infinity pool, a full-service spa retreat, and four different options offering Asian, Italian, and North African cuisine.
Residents can spend the day cruising the islands in the area, or they can explore the underwater delights that Maldives has to offer, spending time playing with the local manta rays. As for the sustainability efforts taken by the resort, Four Seasons installed the country’s largest resort-based solar power system in 2019, called the RoofSolar inverter.
The installation uses 3100+ solar panels, which produce around one million kWh of electricity each year. Moreover, in their efforts to be carbon-neutral, the resort has banned plastic usage, removed plastic straws and bottles, and recycled leftover plastic into different clothing items. They also employ a team of 10 biologists, who work with the resort to conserve the local flora and fauna, as well as many rehabilitation and conservation programs.
LUX* is one of the best luxury hotels you can enjoy in Maldives, situated on the amazing Dhidhoofinolhu Island. Visitors will get their first glance at the resort from the window of their seaplane, giving them a birds-eye view of this slice of heaven.
Once they arrive on the island, their stay at LUX* South Ari Atoll will be one they will remember for a lifetime. The resort boasts beautiful overwater villas with private infinity pools, dining options from more than ten different restaurants and bars, an amazing underwater diving center, a full-service spa, and much more.
And to top it all off, LUX* is also one of Maldives’ eco-friendly resorts, which aims to protect and conserve the local environment. The resort has internal research teams come up with conservation programs and techniques aimed at protecting and rehabilitating the local creatures, such as endangered whale sharks. Moreover, they also aim to reduce their carbon footprint by implementing different water reclamation and renewable energy production projects.
Dusit Thani Maldives is another one of Maldives’ most luxurious resorts, as well as a study in effective eco-tourism. Situated in Baa Atoll, the resort aims to provide first-class service with a taste of the natural charm, with natural materials making up their overwater villas. The island resort offers a variety of water sports, including snorkeling and diving among the area’s manta rays, making it a great place to enjoy an off-the-grid vacation sustainably.
What makes Dusit Thani one of the top Maldives eco-friendly resorts, is its drive and efforts towards being self-sufficient and carbon-neutral in the past few years. They produce their own electricity via a solar plant, process their own sewage, produce their potable water locally, compost their organic waste, and use efficient LED lighting throughout the resort.
Some of the resort’s eco-friendly policies also include the removal of single-use plastics, as well avoiding the use of chlorine for their pools, as well growing their own fresh produce including a plan to produce their own coconut oil.
Balancing environmentalism and tourism is a tough job for countries and resorts. But maintaining and conserving their island paradises is fast becoming necessary, especially with the rising effects of global warming. So, if you want to maintain these vistas and sites for the future, then opt for one of Maldives’ eco-friendly resorts for your island vacation.
