14 Most Sustainable Eco Lodges in Indonesia
Azure waters crashing against the shore, a stunning landscape that knows no limit, and an impeccable culture filled with hospitality and grace, Indonesia truly offers unparalleled beauty. Boasting volcanic landscapes, pink sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, eye-catching beaches, and rich wildlife, Indonesia is an underrated gem that invites tourists worldwide.
The country knows how diverse and intricate its environment is, so it is constantly working to protect Mother Nature. Tourists will find most attractions working toward a sustainable future in tourism, while several lodges and hotels are taking green initiatives. If you’re headed to Indonesia and want to explore its beauty without harming the environment, you’ll love some of these gorgeous eco lodges.
What are eco-lodges?
Eco-lodges are accommodations in undisturbed, remote natural areas where both construction and operation have the lowest impact possible on the environment. They are not only part of the local community, but they are active participants in protecting nature and culturally sensitive areas.
Lembeh Resort
Nestled on the secluded peninsula on Lembeh Island, Lembeh Resort invites guests to indulge in a family-friendly adventure with exciting moments and breathtaking views. Lembeh Resort began as a family home and has since opened its doors to tourists who flock worldwide to get a glimpse of Indonesian hospitality.
Lembeh Resort offers four main types of accommodations; the cliffside villa is nestled on cliff tops and offers sweeping views of rolling hills, while the premium luxury cottages provide a semi-open-air adventure. Similarly, Hillside luxury cottages overlook the Lembeh strait while garden view rooms become entirely one with mother nature. All accommodations include private bathrooms, indoor and outdoor seating, and a combination of luxurious amenities, including a private butler service if you stay in the cliffside villa.
The resort has its own dive center, so guests are always welcome to take a dip and learn about the unique marine life. The resort is also sustainable, employing initiatives like solar energy, plastic reduction, and the Lembeh Foundation, which actively works with local communities.
Pulau Macan
Located in the northern section of the Thousand Islands Kepulauan Seribu), Pulau Macan is just a 90-minute speedboat ride from central Jakarta. Pulau Macan offers unique oceanfront and oceanview villas, each constructed to match its environment, allowing guests to blend in with nature.
Pulau Macan may look like a simpleton, but guests will be pleasantly thrilled to see luxurious amenities and facilities, including daily housekeeping and room service. Guests are welcome to enjoy buffet meals but can go to local eateries for a bite. Pulau Macan also offers many tourist activities, including diving, swimming, snorkeling, beach sports, and guided excursions.
Of course, guests can take advantage of its stunning landscape and tour all day. To ensure sustainability, Pulau Macan utilizes a handful of green initiatives, including energy-efficient techniques, solar energy, water conservation, and environmental protection. It is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint and embrace a 100% eco-friendly future.
Bambu Indah
A stunning 4-star eco-resort nestled in the heart of Balinese jungles, Bambu Indah, invites guests to an unimaginable luxury and comfort stay. Completely camouflaged against its surroundings, Bambu Indah utilizes sustainable designs to keep it lowkey, making it an ideal destination for people who want to escape life and explore spirituality.
The resort features a variety of rustic bamboo houses built over the trees, allowing guests to stay in one of the world’s most unique lodgings. Featuring netted protection barriers and luxurious amenities, each house overlooks the forest and will enable guests to sleep right at Mother Nature’s doors. Bambu Indah isn’t just a sanctuary embracing nature; it’s a thrilling ride for people who want to explore Bali’s wildlife.
Apart from its rugged terrain, Bambu Indah is known for sustainability, made even more evident by an eco-friendly design that reduces the need for electrical consumption. It also features a natural pool and pond, so guests can take a soak when exhausted.
READ ON – The 14 Most Sustainable Eco Lodges in Bali Indonesia
Kelimutu Crater Lakes Ecolodge
Located on the enchanting island of Flores, Indonesia, Kelimutu Crater Lakes Ecolodge provides a unique base for exploring the mesmerizing volcanic landscape surrounding the famous Kelimutu volcano with its three vibrant colored crater lakes.
Constructed with a commitment to ecological responsibility, Kelimutu Crater Lakes Ecolodge utilizes local materials and sustainable practices, including water conservation and solar energy, to minimize its environmental impact. The accommodations are designed to offer comfort and a rustic charm, with features like hot water and private terraces overlooking lush gardens or the scenic backdrop of the volcanic mountains.
Mbeliling Mountain Ecolodge
Perched near the foot of Mbeliling Mountain on the island of Flores, Indonesia, Mbeliling Ecolodge is strategically positioned to provide stunning views of the surrounding forest and rice fields.
The lodge is built with sustainability in mind, using local materials and traditional techniques that complement the natural environment. Each room at Mbeliling Ecolodge is thoughtfully designed to blend comfort with eco-consciousness, featuring essential amenities like hot showers and comfortable bedding. The lodge’s commitment to the environment extends to its use of solar power and organic food production, ensuring that every stay supports ecological preservation.
Guests at Mbeliling Ecolodge can enjoy a range of activities, from bird watching and trekking on Mbeliling Mountain to exploring nearby traditional villages.
Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort
Situated smack dab in the middle of Raja Ampat, the Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort speaks for itself. Located in such a pristine and intricate environment, it has been blessed with a wondrous ecosystem and a profound responsibility to protect it. Still, the nature resort’s efforts make everything seem like a piece of cake. The Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort offers a variety of cottages sprawled across the beach, allowing guests to sleep to the sound of crashing waves. The houses are all adorned in style, pay homage to their Indonesian roots, and display luxury elements.
Guests staying at the Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort spend more time on their feet than on bed because there’s so much to do. Apart from basic activities like fishing, bird watching, kayaking, and snorkeling, guests are invited to discover traditional customs and take gastronomic tours.
The resort isn’t a stranger to sustainability either; it has been taking green initiatives for a decade and consistently works toward a better future.
Cempedak Private Island
Approx. 50 miles from Singapore and just 5.5 miles from east Bintan, Cempedak is a private destination blessed with white beaches and pristine waves. Travelers heading to Cempedak are pretty much already blessed because they’re getting an exclusive trip, but the luxurious stay that awaits them makes it even more special.
Cempedak offers handcrafted bamboo villas, each generously distanced to ensure privacy. While these handcrafted villas may sound simple, they hold some of the most impressive and luxurious furniture. The villas are just a stone’s throw from the beach, allowing guests unlimited access to beachfront areas.
Cempedak offers unique amenities, including private plunge pools. Guests are invited to guided excursions detailing the historical and cultural importance of the area and can make full use of its tourist packages. Of course, Cempedak is sustainable; it uses principles of food sustainability and energy conservation to stay connected with nature.
Janji Laut Resort
Tourists choosing to stay at Janji Laut Resort will have to make a tough decision: spending the night in canopy cottages that overlook mangrove trees or sea-front cottages that embrace the crashing waves.
Once you’ve picked your heaven, Janji Laut Resort invites you to an impeccable stay that will tempt you to cancel your flights back home. Janji Laut resort boasts an intimate and environmentally-conscious design, so guests can enjoy mother nature without harming her. Janji Laut offers a variety of tourist-friendly activities, including guided treks and excursions.
It also offers biking, kayaking, and boat trips. Janji Laut resort isn’t only a destination tucked away in a remote destination; it offers guests the rare chance to take a literal dive in Bunaken Marine Park, where beautiful wildlife only adds to the charm. When it’s not wowing its guests, Janji Laut Resort actively works toward a sustainable future by practicing wastewater treatment, waste management, and solar energy.
Nihi Sumba
If you’re looking for a destination that embraces mother nature but doesn’t let go of modernity, NIHI Sumba is perfect. Situated in the rugged terrain of Sumba Island, NIHI offers 27 eco-friendly villas, each blessed with gorgeous decor and luxury that will leave you craving more.
NIHI’s villas aren’t your ordinary suites; some offer bird’s eye view of the island from tree houses, while others openly smile across the ocean. NIHI is perfect for travelers who want to explore nature without giving up basic necessities. It is also ideal for introverts who crave isolation and would instead be left to their devices.
NIHI treats guests to many water and land-related activities; guests can go to the beach to explore its sandy troves or take a hike instead. But one of the most popular activities includes riding in the ocean with horses, giving travelers a taste of uniqueness. Of course, NIHI is entirely eco-friendly and employs green designs, solar power, and other sustainable initiatives.
Bawah Reserve
Imagine waking up to the endless sea outside your window. This stunning sight becomes a reality at the Bawah Reserve, where tourists can unwind and forget about the mundane routine of life. Bawah Reserve is tucked in the Anambas archipelago, much closer to Malaysia. The resort is so secluded it can only be reached by seaplane, offering travelers an exclusive glimpse into luxury.
Bawah Reserve provides a combination of opulent bungalows, lodges, suites, and tented suites, allowing guests to enjoy Mother Nature to their liking. Each exemplary lodging comes equipped with the finest amenities and a promise of comfort you’ll find nowhere else. Bawah Reserve isn’t just for show; its glorious resort utilizes earth-conscious designs to ensure sustainability. Even the showers run through water collection and sustainable heating methods.
Despite its isolated location, Bawah Reserve is surprisingly up-to-date with modern trends, so guests won’t have to compromise luxury. It’s also one of the few resorts actively working toward marine conservation.
Misool Resort
Head to the remote Raja Ampat archipelago and find a hidden private island resort. Misool is tucked away just a little distance from the beach, making it an ideal destination for tourists seeking an exclusive and intimate trip.
Misool offers eight water cottages erected on stilts so guests can literally step into the ocean. The resort’s stunning design hardly interrupts the environment because it is designed to suit its surroundings perfectly. It combines modernity and tradition by inculcating elements of Balinese culture in its cottages. Guests can learn more about rich Indonesian culture during their stay here.
Aside from its water-based cottages, Misool also offers four lagoon villas and seven beachfront villas, each adorned in style and comfort. Misool also owns an onsite restaurant and dive center so guests can enjoy their trip to the brim. The resort is actively taking steps toward a sustainable future; it is built entirely from recycled materials and runs on solar power.
Bilou Beach Villas
Bilou Beach Villas in Mentawai gives you a refreshing respite from cramped trips and exhausting routines of life. It is a boutique resort offering stunning beachside villas. Each villa is equipped with luxurious amenities and facilities like inside and outside showers, a fully functional kitchen, and private cabanas.
Each villa comes paired with a private boat, surf guide, and driver. You can travel anywhere, anytime, without having to go through the hassle of picking itineraries. The resort also offers guided snorkeling and diving trips and has a sunset beach bar, so tourists of all kinds can make their way without worrying about being left out.
The eco resort’s efforts for sustainability demand respect; it reduces its carbon footprint by actively giving back to the environment and engaging with the local community. It also utilizes sustainable practices like recycling, waste management, organic produce, and solar panels to ensure it conserves energy.
Satwa Sumatra Elephant Ecolodge
Who wouldn’t want to live close to a herd of majestic elephants? Nature lovers will love the Satwa Sumatra Elephant Eco Lodge, a nature resort that actively works with elephants and allows guests to spend time with these gentle giants. Satwa Sumatra Elephant Lodge is just 500 meters from Way Kambas National Park, where Sumatran elephants, tigers, rhinos, Malayan tapirs, and many more animals make their home.
Though nestled in dense jungles, Satwa Sumatra Elephant Ecolodge offers luxurious cottages, each lined with comfortable furniture designed to blend in with the environment. Guests staying at Satwa Sumatra Elephant Ecolodge are even treated to hot and cold showers, an onsite bar, and computer facilities with complimentary WiFi.
Of course, the resort also offers guided trips to explore natural wildlife, which is a dream come true for naturalists and animal lovers. Satwa Sumatra Elephant Ecolodge practices multiple green initiatives, including solar power, reverse osmosis, organic food production, and other steps to ensure its carbon footprint remains low.
Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge
Nestled on the edge of the Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge offers an unforgettable experience for wildlife enthusiasts eager to encounter orangutans in their natural habitat. Just a boat ride away from the park, this unique lodge is a gateway to a world where Bornean orangutans, gibbons, and a diverse array of bird species thrive amid dense rainforest.
Guests can relax in rooms that boast traditional architecture, offering the comforts of hot showers and ample space, all while staying connected with complimentary WiFi access. The lodge’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its use of solar energy and local materials, ensuring a minimal environmental footprint.
BROWSE THROUGH our directory for the most sustainable eco-lodges around the world if you want to experience something unique, authentic, and exciting.
Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.