How to save the planet

Sweden

Be an environmentalist

Far away, in the depths of Northern Sweden is the tiny village of Harads. It’s here that two locals have fully embraced their natural surroundings – the wondrous Nordic woodland. Owners Kent Lindvall and Britta Jonsson-Lindvall have imaginatively set up guesthouses that fully embrace and reflect (sometimes quite literally) the local environment. Wanting to stay close to their roots and create a livelihood in their home village, they partnered with Scandinavia’s leading architects to create some of the most unique buildings in the world.

Treehotel operates eight properties alongside its main guesthouse. Each one is inspired by different elements of nature and thus sustainability is at the core of every design and the operation of the hotel.

Every building has been erected in the forest with minimal impact to the peaceful backdrop of trees and animals. No trees were chopped down during the process – in fact, the rooms are actually built onto live trees without destroying them. The wooden floors of the rooms are free of chemical substances, electricity is supplied locally from green hydroelectric power, and lighting consists of low-energy LED-systems. Even the bathrooms make no impact: there’s no sewage system, instead environmentally-friendly combustion toilets have been installed.

While accommodation may be simpler than many hotels, guests lie in their beds safe with the knowledge that their carbon footprint is minimal. Not only do guests have the chance to sleep underneath the Northern Lights, but they can experience the magic of nature by day, too. Enjoy a family fishing trip and pick wild berries along the way, or hike across the earth to take in the smells, colours and textures. A stay at the Treehotel is purposeful in many ways – not only will you have minimal impact on the environment, trees and animals, but you can relax, unwind and escape those stresses of everyday life in a truly unique, one-of-kind property. Choose from a glass mirror cube, a camouflaged cabin or even a UFO.

Santorini

Be an historian

History is at the heart of Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort in Santorini. The stunning property originates from a 400-year-old wine cellar and a 100-year-old mansion situated within the medieval village of Megalochori.

It’s no surprise then, that the hotel encourages guests to embark on a tour of the village in order to showcase its magnificent architecture and fascinating secrets. Each tour is conducted by the hotel’s Guest Relations team and reveals the unique Cycladic design that characterises the area, as well as the World War I monument.

But that’s not all. At the end, guests are invited to join an exchange with the local community to find out more.

Keliki-style paintings are mostly done on paper with Chinese ink and generally depict a romantic interpretation of daily life in the island’s rural villages, the beauty of the island’s flora and fauna, as well as Hindu myths and local folklore.

The style is famous for its rich gradations and extreme detail, both of which demand hours of prolonged concentration from the painter. Students as young as seven begin their journey as a painter under the tutelage of Wayan Gama and while staying at Capella Ubud, guests can join in too.

Not only does it give you a chance to explore your artistic talent, but it helps support these talented artisans.