At 600 m high above sea level, the Kasbah du Toubkal Hotel looks out over surrounding villages and majestic mountains. It is located in the High Atlas Mountains, only 1.5 hours drive of Marrakech, Morocco. Originally built in the 1940’s it was totally rebuilt in the 1990’s. The hotel is combination of hostel and hotel which provides a comfortable mountain refuge in the stunning setting of the beautiful Toubkal National Park.

Definitely it is a place for those that love nature adventure and mountain hiking. The Kasbah du Toubkal isn’t accessible by car. You must park your car in the village of Ismlil and walk through the town past a long strip of stalls and onto a dirt trail that leads up the hillside to the Kasbah. Your luggage is carried up by donkeys.

The hotel is a product of a Berber and European partnership. The pleasant en-suite rooms – newly built in the gardens – are decorated with lots of rugs and Berber crafts, giving them a traditional ambiance. The food served is traditional, with many tagine and coucous dishes.

With exceptional views, The Kasbah du Toubkal is not a hotel in the traditional sense. The Berbers make it less of a hotel, and more an extension of the hospitality they would offer in their own private homes.

If there’s any similarity between Hollywood movie-making and hotel creation, it’s this: they take years to plan, scout and develop, and require so many logistical challenges along the way that simply to finish one, to say nothing of a whole trilogy, is possibly enough achievement for a lifetime. The trilogy here comes from Francis Ford Coppola whose movie-making accolades now include the new roles of vintner and hotelier.

And a very specific hotelier at that, creating exquisite eco resorts. Coppola is now on his third and last of trilogy of eco resorts in Central America, with La Lancha, on Lake Peten Itzá, near Tikal, in Guatemala.

It’s the third in a trilogy that already includes the charming Belize eco-resorts of Blancaneaux Lodge and the Turtle Inn. The La Lancha experience is very much of a piece with its sisters: a lush rainforest setting, an emphasis on low-impact living, and close proximity to some Mayan historic sites, in this case the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal within the Tikal National Park.

Where it differs is in the finish. This is a more rough and rustic experience, ten rooms with shared terraces, some with views of the lake. You’re not here for the luxury, but for the setting. The immediate rainforest surroundings would be enough, but La Lancha throws in the spectacular Lake Peten Itzá and the Tikal ruins for good measure — plus a restaurant that mixes authentic Guatemalan cuisine with Italian-style wood-fired pizzas and wines from the Coppola concern.

Mayan Temple of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Source: Enchanting Eden

The Portuguese group IMOCOM presented its latest project in Argentina, a Hilton branded hotel in Bariloche (Patagonia) that was introduced as “eco friendly”. According to the company’s CEO, Hugo Canessa, the broad term refers to the hotel layout, which will blend with the mountain it’s located in to reduce visual impact, and the fact that during the building process and later in its operational phase, the hotel will have efficient use of energy and water and “proper management of soil and drainage.”

Besides the green talk, neighbors are concerned about the impact the building will have in this beautiful area. The fact that the hotel is placed in a mountain, is going to get water from the pristine Nahuel Huapi lake, and is surely disposing water nearby, are causes for worry.

Green or greenwashing? Keep reading for more info and pictures.

Background: why a Hilton in Bariloche

Bariloche is a city in the province of Rio Negro and one of the most important destinations of the Argentinean Patagonia. If this project gets the final approval from municipal authorities, the Hilton will be the first international hotel chain to have a base in this city.

The project is thought to be vital for the development of tourism in the area, which is why municipal and national authorities have given it thumbs up. The hotel will demand a 120 million USD investment and is expected to be open in 2011, adding 350 rooms and 240 houses with hotel service, three restaurants, two pools, a spa and a convention center for 2,000 people to the city.

Towns and cities in the south of Argentina have higher environmental awareness than Buenos Aires, and that is why the project for the hotel had to consider green actions and was presented as “eco friendly.”

How green the third Argentinean Hilton will be?

The eye-shaped building was designed by well known Argentinean architect Mario Roberto Alvarez, also father of the Buenos Aires Hilton, and will cover 60,000 square meters of the 50 hectares the IMOCOM group owns in the Dos Hermanos hills (25 kilometers from the center of Bariloche).

The investors behind the hotel project say it will have the following green features:

• A green roof that will integrate it to the mountain colors thorough seasons,
• Efficient use of water and energy,
• The largest private plant of liquid waste water treatment in the area (according to Infobae),
• The hotel will occupy 60,000 square meters of the 51 hectares area, leaving the rest of the space with the natural wildlife,
• The building will be located in an area of semi-volcanic rock and no native species will be cut down, the trees that will have to be cleared are mostly pines (as said by Imocom CEO to ANBariloche).

But of course, the sole fact of a building getting into the landscape of a mountain has been subject to discussion and rejection from the city’s neighbors.

Locals oppose to project
According to Muy Patagonia, opposers are worried about the future impact of the building and some of the actions behind the project.

The neighbors claim the building will spoil their landscape and surroundings, and say the hotel will have an electricity line that will be financed by investors but that afterwards they won’t pay their consume until that investment is paid out, which makes the line paid by neighbors.

As said earlier, we would be more worried about the hotel getting water from the Nahuel Huapi lake and would watch for the waste water treatment and disposal. We know Argentina has seen too many water courses spoiled by negligence.

So far, the hotel was presented with an environmental impact study to the municipal Planning Secretariat and awaits final approval. If it does, we certainly hope the “eco friendly” presentation is not just green blah.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Here’s what that means:
The Greenest Ecoresort’s Eco-Checklist:

• Six and a half of the 29 acres will be dedicated to providing a protected habitat for endangered species and rehabilitating the coastline.
• It will aim for LEED platinum certification
• It’s been estimated that the resort will have 50 percent less of a carbon footprint than traditional structures, according to Security National Guaranty (SNG), the resort’s developers.

So how will they manage to do this?
Information from SNG Developers:

1. Design: Designed in harmony with the site, the plans consider topography, orientation and scale of existing and restored dune formations
2. Position: The property is set further back from the shoreline than required by local zoning to provide a buffer for habitat and natural coastal processes
3. Materials & Construction: Maximum use of recycled building materials, onsite prefab construction and intelligent building operations
4. Living Architecture: Five acres of living roofs which mitigate stormwater, and provide insulation and cooling, leave only 1.5 acres of non-native vegetative cover on the ecoresort
5. Renewable Energy: Thirty percent of energy needs are provided by onsite renewable sources to power the building’s functions – geothermal, wind and solar systems to be deployed
6. Water Conservation: Unparalleled water conservation measures – onsite graywater recycling, complete stormwater management and rainwater capture for non potable uses (laundry and irrigation)
7. Optimization of Natural Resources: Wind, light and moveable shades enable the ecoresort to utilize the natural advantages of the site

Also, there’ll be an onsite sustainability learning center that offers classes, electric and biofueled transportation for guests, and a portion of the resort’s profits will reportedly fund local environmental projects.

And, since it’s in California, US residents won’t have to fly to get there—perhaps the biggest setback for “eco” resorts on tropical islands and around the world.

The Greenest Ecoresort in the World?
So does this sound like the greenest resort in the world to you? The development company is of course responsible for the “greenest resort” branding, but this seems like a genuinely solid effort.

Another good sign: the developers aren’t holding much back. You can head over to the Moneterey Bay Shores project website and download pages of in-depth schematics and designs for the site.

The burning question is whether all of the proposed “eco” initiatives will actually end up in the final resort. If they do, then perhaps the Bay Shores will have a shot at claiming the title they’ve endowed themselves with.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Bali-based Creative Solutions Architects is underway in its design for an Island Resort just off the coast of East Kalimantan (Borneo) in Indonesia.

Source: Enchanting Eden

The master plan is for a discreet and environmentally intelligent architecture that blends harmoniously with the lush and extensive landscape. Green fingers of lush vegetation extend down towards the sea, with a series of contemporary buildings inserted amid tropical plantings to create an architecture that at once responds to the contours of the landscape and recedes into the green totality.

Forming a sculptural family, dramatic undulating timber-shingle roofs unify the built elements and reinvent island architecture. Combined, these elements provide an idyllic haven in a luxuriant tropical garden, a pervading sense of tranquility and luxurious relaxation.

Sustainable design principles are at the heart of the architectural approach, ensuring that the masterplan is not only energy efficient, but also helps regenerate the landscape. Built from natural, sustainable materials, the rich organic palette creates a seamless relationship between the buildings and the landscape.

Volcanic rock collected from the very site will be used, anchoring the resort to its surroundings, and other natural materials such as timber shingles, vegetation and water are dominant features in the master plan. The striking wave-like, curving roofs are designed for optimum natural ventilation, and to collect rainwater for treatment and reuse.

Solar power will be harnessed and electric vehicles will be available for transport around the site. Offering privacy and exclusivity, the scheme creates a new model of luxury resort living.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Interiors are lavish in their simplicity and celebrate earthy colors in sandy browns, soft beige and caramel hues. Wood and stone are effectively used to create an effortless space that marries the modern world to the ancient one inspired by nature. Rough-hewn timber, leather and stone meet thatch and wild views. The decor is juxtaposed between the textures of Africa and carefree lines of an occasional retro classic.

Quiet, simple and luxurious, guests love nothing better than to relax in the open-air lounge.

The Lodge has 9 double suites each with en-suite bathroom, outside shower, fireplace, air-conditioning and game-viewing deck with private plunge pool. Singita Boulders offers a relaxed opulence and one of the most beautiful locations in the Sabi Sand Reserve and it’s pure African Zen.

Guests at Singita will encounter something truly original: a cuisine inspired by African flavors yet guided by the Western culinary tradition.

Complementing the menu is Singita’s hidden treasure: the best bush cellar in Africa. Buried deep in the cool rock below Boulders, the cellar boasts a truly unique and comprehensive cross section of over 12,000 bottles of South African and International wines.

A very elegant safari destination, Singita Game Reserves in South Africa is about wildlife, community and conservation and every ounce of luxury you could want. You can drive between leopards and antelope, as well as lions and buffalo, and a multitude of other animals, including giraffe, baboons, elephants, owls, hippos, rhinos and eagles.

In addition, its lodges have snatched a good amount of awards.

Tortilis Campis one of the top luxury tented camps in East Africa, offering unmatched views over the game filled Amboseli plain at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Early European explorers met derision and disbelief when they reported a snow-capped mountain close to the equator – Mount Kilimanjaro. Views from the camp seem endless across these plains of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro is, after all, the highest peak in Africa at 5,892 metres (19,331 ft), an imposing presence over the magnificent surrounding plains.

Amboseli National Park is best known for unrivalled views of Kilimanjaro and its elephant population – over 1000 elephant in the Park eco-system, which are some of the biggest elephant in Africa.

The camp won the British Airways Regional Award for ecotourism and has earned an international reputation for its commitment to the environment with its rustic simplicity, unobtrusive design and attention to comfort without compromising the ecosystem. The camp is a point of departure for safaris and explorations of the surrounding natural environment in Land Rovers or on foot and visits are also organized to the local Masai villages, where guests can discover the culture of the African population.

Composed of 17-tents and a family room, Tortilis Camp has its own swimming-pool and also a centrally-positioned, thatched building containing a bar and dining room made entirely from natural materials. Standing on a wooden platform with wide verandas, the tents contain a luxuriously-decorated bedroom and a bathroom with shower.

This is a great place to start a safari, relax and acclimatise. Here, the few lucky guests enjoy varied game and spend time following the matriarchal elephant herds from the luxury of open sided safari Land Rovers; or walk with a trained Masai guide, sip sundowners on top of Kitirua Hill as the sun sets coloring the snows of Kilimanjaro pink, bush breakfasts out on the plains or a visit to one of the Masai “manyattas” (villages) to meet the Masai women, watch the “Morans” (young warriors) dance and experience their age-old existence.

Source: Wayfaring

While timber, glass and stone dominate the property’s somewhat masculine exterior, interiors show a softer side, thanks entirely to the sensitive touch of local designers Comber & Smith. Rooms are light-filled, with unfussy interiors flowing into private outdoor nooks, a terrace or patio attached to every room.

Remarkables Room. Spacious suites with expansive views toward Queenstown’s Remarkables mountain range

Remarkables Room. Spacious suites with expansive views toward Queenstown’s Remarkables mountain range

Remarkables Room. Spacious suites with expansive views toward Queenstown’s Remarkables mountain range

Remarkables Room. Spacious suites with expansive views toward Queenstown’s Remarkables mountain range

Tower Suite, the Penthouse suite with 270’ views, private two levels, two bedrooms and three bathrooms

Tower Suite, the Penthouse suite with 270’ views, private two levels, two bedrooms and three bathrooms

Tower Suite, the Penthouse suite with 270’ views, private two levels, two bedrooms and three bathrooms

Remarkables guest room.

Views here aren’t optional: you either get one of The Remarkables or one of the mountains directly behind the property. The Tower Suite, located in the property’s stone turret, boasts vistas of both, in case you just can’t decide. This one also features a full kitchen, in contrast with the kitchenettes elsewhere, and flat-screen TVs, underfloor heating and free wifi are standard throughout. For those wanting to drink in more than just scenery, complimentary canapes and wine are served in the lounge before dinner, with gourmet picnic hampers available to guests who want to take their fine dining into the great outdoors.

It’s just as much substance as style. The QPH exhibits a progressive attitude towards sustainable hospitality. With only 19 rooms, its impact on carbon levels is by default less guilt-inducing than that of the big hotels, but the QPH takes it further, going local for its produce, using cruelty-free toiletries, recycling waste materials, abstaining from chemical cleaning and using sensor lighting in common areas.

All this would probably be enough, yet the QPH has even more to court visitors, namely its warm New Zealand service and a top location just across the park from Queenstown proper. Wakatipu Lake is a five-minute walk away and the gondola that scales the mountain range less than two.

When considering a trip to Adrere Amellal, at the foot of the White Mountain in Egypt’s Siwa Oasis, travelers need to do some soul searching beforehand, for example, do you expect your hotel to be made out of bricks and mortar? Does living without 24-hour room service bring you out in a rash? Is air conditioning essential, or even, is electricity itself essential? If you answer yes to any of the above, you may wish to click your browser’s “back” button, as the Adrere Amellal will feel like a step into another world.

Of course, for the people who answered no to the above questions, a step into another world is exactly what they are looking for. Adrere Amellal is a serious eco-lodge. It was built using all local design, manpower and materials, and everything that is eaten, (carnivores beware as the menu is primarily vegetarian) is grown in the gardens.

The 34 rooms and suites are simply furnished, but quality is of a high standard, so the thought of a palm-frond door shouldn’t put you off. Despite the lack of electricity, hot water is available thanks to a gas heating system, and lighting at night is from lanterns and candles. Included in the price of a stay at the Adrere Amellal are a variety of excursions including a trip to Cleopatra’s Bath and visits to the picturesque village of Siwa.

Just to reiterate; there is no reception, air-conditioning or electricity. What there is is a pool, and less tangibly a feeling of total seclusion and peace. If you want some insight into what it feels like to be a Berber living in the Sahara, a stay at the Adrere Amellal is by far the easiest and most pleasant way to get a taste.

How to get there:
Adrere Amellal Resort is approximately an 8 hour drive from Cairo. The bus from Alexandria is also approximately 8 hours long.