Weird and wonderful eco-friendly accommodation!

While each of the accommodations featured on the ecobookers site is unique in its own way, some are a little more unique than others! So if you’re looking for a holiday to remember this year, maybe a stay in a weird and wonderful eco-friendly hotel or ecolodge would be just the ticket… read on to discover some of the more unique eco-friendly accommodations featured on the ecobookers site:

Bintang Bolong Lodge, Gambia
Located near the small and authentic African village of Bintang, Bintang Bolong Lodge is situated in approximately 3 hectares of land on the banks of the Bintang Bolong, the largest tributary of the River Gambia. On this part of the river the tide level changes by more than 1 meter, so that at high tide well over half of the camp is flooded. For this reason, the majority of the lodgings are built on stilts amongst the Mangroves where wooden jetties provide docking facilities!
One of the main attractions of this unique hotel is the River Restaurant with its large terrace from which you can experience incomparable sunsets.

Lova Lava Land Eco Resort, Hawaii
This unique eco-friendly resort on Big Island, Hawaii, is situated about 1,500 feet above sea level, on one of the largest mountains in the world, Mauna Loa. Located on an old lava field the resort is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in off-the-grid living. The grill, shower and compost toilet are all constructed from lava rock found on the grounds of the resort and dead tree limbs have been used to build furniture. Guests staying at this resort can choose to sleep in a Mongolian Yurt or in one of two converted campervans which would otherwise have been destined for the landfill!

Pollywogg Holler, USA
Named for the serenade of frogs that fills the evening air, Pollywogg Hollër is a Great Camp-style eco-resort which combines Adirondack-style craftsmanship, solar electricity, organic gardening, and gravity fed spring water. There are a variety of lofts, lodges and shacks to choose from, but for something truly different there’s the Phantasy Dome, an amazing futuristic, geometric structure, entered through a rustic Adirondack-style entrance. An eight foot diameter floating bed is the center piece of this thirty foot diameter dome!

Puri Lumbung, Indonesia
Puri Lumbung Cottages are located in Munduk, Bali, an area famous for beautiful scenery and a variety of fascinating walks and treks. The ‘lumbung’ or rice granary is part of Bali’s unique cultural heritage. Traditionally used to store rice under the protection of the goddess Dewi Sri, lumbungs are now seldom used because farming techniques have changed.
Puri Lumbung Cottages has been created from several disused lumbungs averaging 80 years old, which have been adapted into simple but charming accommodation!

Hoopoe Yurt Hotel, Spain
The Hoopoe Yurt Hotel’s location is idyllic - set in three hectares of olives groves and unspoilt cork oak forest, and with spectacular views of the Grazalema mountains of Andalucia, in the rugged wilds of southern Spain. To make the most of the stunning scenery, guests at this eco-friendly hotel are accommodated in Mongolian Yurts, each of which has as an acre of private meadow with hammocks and comfortable shaded seating areas. Each of the four yurts is individually decorated and features pieces of traditional Mongolian furniture and exotic textiles!

Eco-friendly on a budget

Yesterday I took a look at luxury Eco hotels and lodges, but as I have already mentioned, there is a huge variety of eco-accommodation out there, and there is plenty of choice even if you are on a tight budget.

You can book a room at one of the following fabulous eco-accommodations for less than £20 per person (usually based on 2 people sharing a room):-

Bintang Bolong Lodge, Gambia - Located near the small, authentic African Village of Bintang, this lodge features buildings on stilts, keeping them out of harm's way when the water rises and integrating them into surrounding mangrove forests! The main attraction of this eco hotel is the River Restaurant with its large terrace from which you can experience incomparable sunsets.

Gunjur Beach Lodge, Gambia - Set about 50 steps away from the sandy beach of the small Gambian village of Gunjur, this is the perfect place to relax! Make yourself comfortable on the thick mattresses of the beach beds, treat yourself to a massage or join in an African drumming or wood carving workshop, all withouth leaving the Lodge!

Shaam-e-Sarhad Rural Resort, India - This resort offers the traditional Bhunga (circular mud huts with sloping grass roofs) as accommodation. The rooms are designed to showcase local style and are decorated with a collection of crafts from the area, creating an authentic atmosphere. There are a myriad of tours available to really get to know the region.

Udayana Eco Lodge, Idonesia - This Green Globe Certified eco lodge is set high up in the Jimbaran hills in a conservation area for birds and butterflies with a beautiful view over Bali. The lodge is famous for its secluded swimming pool, its lovely gardens and its birds (over 50 species) and butterflies (over 80 species) and is convenient to all of southern Bali's attractions.

3 Rivers Eco Lodge, Dominica - Set on this lush, green, mountainous, rain-forested island, 3 Rivers is set in a valley, surrounded by nature and rivers. Guests can bathe in one of the natural river pools, wander amongst the organic gardens and picnic areas, or walk up into the rainforest.

Villas Ecotucan, Mexico - This Ecological Resort is surrounded by jungle and located on the shores of the beautiful Laguna Bacalar, one of Mexico’s largest freshwater lakes. Your accommodation will be in one of five comfortable and spacious stone cabins with thatch roofs, surrounded by tropical gardens and reminiscent of a Mayan settlement offering guests a tranquil base for relaxing with nature.

Hotel Oberland, Bolivia - Situated at the south end of La Paz in Rio Abajo, considered the warmest part of the city, Hotel Oberland has beautiful views of the mountains and valley. Located in the Moon Valley, just 12km from the city centre, Hotel Oberland has the reputation of being quiet and calm. Its environment and its sunny garden make it a real Oasis near La Paz.

As you can see, there's a great range of budget eco-accommodation to choose from in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and there's plenty more out there!