Deep relaxation in Piedmont

Nature all around you! With the eco-village Sagna Rotonda, the owners Teresina & Giovanni have created a place where the cell phone quickly ceases to play a role. As soon as you reach the lovingly and sustainably restored vacation village in the Piedmont Maira Valley, you are in midst of nature with rugged rock faces, waterfalls and wide meadows. Arrive, let go, relax. In the 13 self-catering vacation homes at an altitude of 1,644 m you enjoy absolute peace. What could be more beautiful than to look down into the valley and the surrounding mountains in the morning while having your first coffee and to plan your day without rushing. There is a lot to explore in the Maira Valley: Hiking tours and mountain bike tours or beginners and advanced, you sure will find what is best for you. Or maybe you just want to relax? Book the small wellness area in the stone vault of the former stable building for a private sauna session and relax in the rest area with stone pine scent, relaxing music and colored light.

Holistic Life in Balderschwang

Digital Detox in Germany – that’s what you’ll find at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in the Bavarian enclave of Balderschwang. In the past, there wasn’t even a pass road or a path to the valley; the place could only be reached via Austria. Today a direct connection exists, but the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu is still a perfect retreat for those seeking rest and relaxation. Immerse into the world of traditional Chinese medicine in the multi-award-winning spa and wellness area and find your inner balance with an Ayurvedic massage or refuel your batteries with a yoga or QiGong session. The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu makes you “want to live” – without your cell phone

Oases of peace in Paris

Not everyone needs nature to unwind. Why not escape to Paris and spend time in one of the many extraordinary exhibitions, stroll along the Seine or indulge in the French way of life in a restaurant? Paris not offers only a bustling life, but also enchanting places to relax. A special oasis of calm in the middle of the vibrant city is the Hôtel le Pavillon. As soon as you enter the green courtyard, the hustle and bustle and noise of the city are forgotten. With its historic charm and holistic sustainable design concept, the hotel located in a former monastery offers you a very special atmosphere for an inspiring visit to the French capital. Le Pavillon is the first hotel in France to offer rooms without annoying electromagnetic radiations.

Treat yourself to the luxury of total deceleration. The Villagio Sagna Rotonda, the HUBERTUS Alpin Lodge & Spa and the Hôtel le Pavillon await you for the perfect digital detox. This way you can relax and get back to everyday life.

Read more: SPA OASES IN NATURE – SUSTAINABLE WELLNESS HOTELS SURROUNDED BY GREENERY

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Watching birds – and protecting them

In Peru, more than 1,800 bird species are registered; that is approximately 20 % of all bird species worldwide. Here, the Inkaterra Asociación is dedicated to the study and conservation of the local Flora and Fauna. On the huge property of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, 214 different bird species live in their natural habitat, the property of Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica even counts 540 species. On different tours, each accompanied by a specialist in bird and nature observation, you can watch local birds, such as the blazing red Cock-of-the-Rock, and various kinds of migratory birds. And as Inkaterra Asociación is financed by tourism-activities, you also contribute to the conservation of this colorful variety.

A natural retreat

Other hotels, too, are committed to the protection of local nature. For example, during the construction of the Morena Eco Resort on Curaçao, 80 % of the natural vegetation on the ample property has been preserved. Numerous tropical birds and other native animal species visit Morena Eco Resort from the adjoining nature reserve. The situation is similar at Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui: the resort is surrounded by 28,5 acres of natural landscape, which is home to more than 60 different species of bird. Here, they can feel at ease, as Tongsai Bay attaches great importance to the protection of their natural habitat and provides medical treatment if sick or injured animals are found.

Where birds are welcome

The bird-friendly resort Coconut Lagoon has installed nest-boxes on branches of trees around its property to provide nesting facilities for local birds such as Magpie Robin or Common Myna. There are countless birds in the garden of Coconut Lagoon that do not only fascinate by their appearance but also by their extraordinary names: among others the Red-vented Bulbul, Purple-rumped sunbird, Crow-Pheasant and Black-headed Oriole have their homes here. Wetland birds are very active in the canals and the paddy-fields of the Coconut Lagoon. Naturalists will accompany you on your walks and provide you with details on the flora and fauna of the region.

Spectacular terrace view

From the restaurant terrace of Amaya Hunas Falls in Sri Lanka, with a bit of luck you can watch majestic birds such as the White Bellied Sea Eagle. The hotel is also a perfect starting point for trips to two amazing bird-watching destinations: Horton Plains National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Peradeniya Royal Botancial Gardens, Sri Lanka’s largest botanical garden.

Chance meetings and planned ones

You can usually look forward to encounters with some feathered friends when you stay at a hotel close to nature. And if you want to benefit from expert knowledge, it’s always worth taking a look at the hotel’s events calendar. For example, the Swiss hotel Schloss Wartegg offers a tour accompanied by the bird-watching expert Gieri Battaglia on April 28^th, 2018. And if you book a room facing the forest next to Schloss Wartegg, you can be sure of an early morning bird concert.

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Travel calendar February: carnival under the Carribean sun

Yes, that’s right: carnival is not only celebrated in Köln and Rio de Janeiro, but also in the Carribean! The biggest and longest carnival event takes place on Curacao: the sequence of colorful parades lasts almost a whole month. Its absolute highlight is the final parade that takes place in the evening and creates an almost magical atmosphere with its illuminated waggons. If you are looking for a quiet place as an offset, Morena Eco Resort is the perfect place. Here, you can enjoy the soft sand and the deep blue sea due to its location right at Jan Thiel beach. Alternatively you can explore the surrounding nature on foot or by mountain bike – passing tropical plants and animals.

Travel calendar March: a hiking trip through the Atlas Mountains

It takes only 25 minutes from Marrakesh to the impressive Atlas Mountains. Spring is the best season for hiking or biking tours in this area, when the temperature is pleasantly warm, but not too hot yet. At the foot of the Toubkal, the highest peak of the Atlas Mountains with 4.167 meters, there is a former Berber fortress, which today houses the Kasbah du Toubkal. In close proximity to a small village, you will live among locals and discover their culture. The guided hiking tours offered by the Kasbah du Toubkal are highly recommendable as well: on the first day you walk past bright green fields and spectacular canyons to a remote lodge, where you stay overnight. On the next day you set out for the journey back.

Travel calendar April: water everywhere – Songkran in Thailand

Songkran is the Thai New Year festival, taking place from 13th to 15th April. During these days, the whole country is out and about and enjoys high-spirited water fights. As soon as you go out onto the streets, you will certainly get “a bit” wet, too – luckily, this won’t be a problem due to the warm temperature. By the way, this tradition originates from Buddhism: in the past, the water used to clean Buddha statues in temples was collected and sprinkled over family members. This was regarded as a symbol for luck and spiritual purity. After all the excitement, Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui is the perfect place for a relaxed start into the New Year: sipping a delicious cocktail from a drinking straw made of lemon grass, you can enjoy the sea view from the bay in a relaxed atmosphere.

Travel calendar May: a treat for body and soul

In spring, people do not only get their houses in shipshape-condition – it is also the ideal time to pamper body and soul. At Wellnesshotel Seeschlößchen at Lake Senftenberg, you can thoroughly relax: the holistic concept with a focus on Ayurveda provides the perfect basis for the wide range of wellness treatments – be it the Russian Banya, the Oriental Rasul or the Hamam. The herbal sauna infusion is prepared from herbs from the own garden and the hotel uses regional ingredients for its Ayurveda food. Having spent a few days at Seeschlößchen, you will definitely feel completely relaxed!
Here are part 2 and part 3 of our green travel calendar.

Read more: SUN, SAND AND THE ENVIRONMENT – OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES WORLDWIDE

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Der Beitrag Green travel calendar for 2018 – part 1 erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.