At Green PearlsⓇ, we have over a decade of experience supporting sustainable accommodation providers with their communications, so we encounter this topic repeatedly. We are critical of the idea of offsetting CO₂ emissions simply by planting trees. After all, ‘planting trees’ can easily amount to greenwashing and is often used for this very purpose. “For every product purchased, we plant a tree” – who hasn’t heard this advertising slogan? At the same time, however, there are also meaningful forest and reforestation projects that make a real contribution to climate protection without serving as a compensation measure. As a traveller, you can support these projects with complete confidence.

But why plant trees to offset emissions in the first place?

Climate protection is now an issue in all areas of our lives — and almost every activity results in CO₂ emissions. Flying, in particular, generates several tons of greenhouse gases per person on a single long-haul flight, and these emissions are even more harmful to the climate when released at high altitudes. From winter 2025/26 onwards, passengers will be able to see these emissions for the first time thanks to the new Flight Emissions Label (FEL) from the European Commission. The aim is to make the climate impact of flights more transparent, even though participation by airlines is currently voluntary (which unfortunately demonstrates the power of the lobby in this area once again).

But what can you do if your trip causes a large amount of CO₂ emissions? Tree planting campaigns offer one solution: by absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen, trees are meant to offset the negative effects of travel. This sounds logical, but it only works on paper. In reality, this nice calculation only works to a limited extent.

The problems with planting trees to offset emissions:

#1 The calculations

The explanation often given for why tree-planting projects are useful for offsetting emissions is as follows: “A tree absorbs X kilograms of CO₂.” However, such calculations only apply to mature trees (for example, a 35-metre-high spruce stores around 2.6 tonnes of CO₂ during its 100-year life cycle). However, compensation projects usually involve planting seedlings that take decades to reach a stage where they can store significant amounts of CO₂.

#2 Lack of care

Time and again, it has been shown that compensation planting campaigns result in a seedling being placed in the ground and then left to fend for itself. Without proper care, the saplings dry up, get eaten by animals, or die. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a seedling will grow into a tree.

#3 Individual trees instead of ecosystems

Another study shows that, in theory, such maintenance would be unnecessary. However, this works only if we protect functioning ecosystems instead of creating monoculture plantations. The study shows that protecting existing forests is significantly more beneficial for the climate and nature, and it is also more cost-effective.

#4 Are they really absorbing additional CO2?

However, when it comes to protecting existing forest projects, climate partners describe the difficulty of guaranteeing that the protection will bind ADDITIONAL emissions caused by travel. In other words, the forest already exists, but those who want to offset emissions demand a NEW positive effect on the climate.

#5 Forest fires

Climate change worsens the risk: wildfires increasingly threaten forests. When fires break out, they release CO₂ that took years to store. As a result, reforestation efforts to protect the climate can be quickly undone.

#5 Wrong tree species, wrong areas

In 2024, The Guardian revealed that reforestation projects had targeted African savannas, even though forests do not naturally grow there. Scientists warn that this will destroy valuable ecosystems and endanger biodiversity. Similarly, ecologists criticize eucalyptus farms in Brazil because eucalyptus is not a native species there.

#6 Displacement of people

Displacement for supposedly sustainable projects is particularly problematic. In Uganda, for instance, a whole region lost its land to a forestry company that advertised “climate protection through reforestation.” Around 10,000 people were forcibly displaced.

“In my experience, tree planting often borders on greenwashing. I think social projects that directly help people are better.” —Stefany Seipp, Managing Director of Green PearlsⓇ Unique Places

Is planting trees for climate purposes a bad thing?

No, you can’t say that across the board. Trees are essential for our planet, and therefore, for our survival. However, many tree-planting campaigns serve marketing purposes rather than the climate, and, in the worst case, they can even cause more harm than good. A commentary on The Conversation sums it up as follows: “Corporate tree planting primarily creates a positive image, but it can actually harm the planet and local communities if it is done without considering existing conditions.”

How can we identify greenwashing in the context of “planting trees for the climate”?

As a consumer, you have more power than you might realize. CO₂ compensation offers exist because there is demand for them. This makes it all the more important to take a close look:

• Ask questions: Where are the trees being planted? What types of trees? Who is responsible for their care?
• Demand transparency: Reputable projects openly answer these questions, often without you having to ask, e.g., on their website. Greenwashing campaigns usually fall silent quickly.
• Think holistically: Don’t just consider “one tree per night,” but also everything else involved. Does your chosen accommodation promote sustainability in other ways? Is the tree-planting campaign part of a comprehensive strategy, or is it the only measure? We prefer projects that focus on climate, people, and biodiversity simultaneously. A well-thought-out tree planting measure can certainly fit the bill!

Travel blogger Julia Lassner (Globusliebe) sums it up perfectly:

“I always ask where the trees will be planted and if they will be cared for properly. Most of the time, I don’t receive an answer, and suddenly, there’s no more interest in working together. This quickly shows me which companies are being honest and which are just greenwashing.” —Julia from Globusliebe

How sustainable hotels approach the topic of “planting trees”

CO₂ offsetting is a major issue for our Green Pearls® accommodations. There is one point on which all agree: prevention is better than compensation.

Avoiding CO₂ instead of sugarcoating it

Alessa Konrad, from the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, is often contacted by companies looking to sell CO₂ offset projects. Her response is always the same:

„As an environmentally certified nature hotel, we are committed to sustainability and resource conservation, but our approach goes beyond planting trees. We implement measures directly in the hotel and share them with our guests. These measures include free pick-up from the train station for guests arriving by public transportation, regional shopping, eliminating disposable products such as bath slippers, using energy-efficient technologies in the wellness area, and maximizing our PV system.“

The approach is clear: first and foremost, emissions should be avoided where they arise. This applies not only to hotels but also to travelers themselves. For example, it is better to travel by train than by plane, to rent a suitcase than to buy a new one, and to stay in a sustainable hotel than in a hotel from an international chain.

Marion Muller from the North German hotel association SANDcollection says that they are always mindful of the companies they support at their sustainable Lifestylehotels, SANDnature, and SANDglow. These include MyBoo bamboo bicycles for rent, Samova tea for breakfast, and climate-neutral, recycled toilet paper from Green Hygiene. Incidentally, the latter’s “climate neutrality” is achieved through solar energy, both its own and that promoted by Climate Partner, rather than through trees.

Successful forest projects—when they are properly planned and executed

However, criticism of “planting trees for the climate” does not mean a complete rejection of the idea. In fact, some Green PearlsⓇ hotels have launched impressive projects that promote biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems.

Primordial cloud forest in the Peruvian Andes

One of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel’s signature projects is its cloud forest initiative. When the hotel’s founder, José Koechlin, acquired the property in the 1980s, the former cloud forest had already been cleared and converted into agricultural land. Rather than accepting this, Koechlin began gradually restoring the original forest around the hotel.

Today, around 30 years later, guests can witness the results of this pioneering work firsthand: orchids, butterflies, and rare bird species such as the Andean cock-of-the-rock. Additional initiatives, such as comprehensive waste management and river cleanups, contributed to Machu Picchu’s designation as the world’s first climate-neutral wonder in 2017.

What makes it special: The focus has always been on a genuine, long-term commitment to nature and biodiversity, not quick CO2 compensation.

Planting a forests right outside one’s doorstep

Many European hotels are also focusing on reforestation and forest protection—directly at their own accommodations. However, this is not necessarily a compensation measure; rather, it is hands-on nature conservation: 

• Gut Sonnenhausen, Bavaria
  

  Several years ago, the hotel planted around 400 trees and over 10,000 shrubs along its mountain trail. Today, guests, employees, and wildlife alike enjoy the increased diversity of flora.

• Naturresort Gerbehof, Lake Constance
  

  The organic hotel near Friedrichshafen is surrounded by its own forest. The hotel uses the wood for its own furniture, among other things, while dead wood and wood infested with beetles are used to generate energy. There is also a forest rest area for wild animals. Hostess Ursula Wagner criticizes the practice of using trees purely for CO₂ compensation: “There’s a lot of greenwashing in this area.”

• OLM Nature Escape, South Tirol
  

  Rather than planting trees elsewhere, OLM has created its own wild garden with biotope plants, including old regional fruit tree species. “For us, real climate protection is about quality, not quantity. We take responsibility locally instead of relying on distant projects,” says Astrid Hellweger, the host.

• My Arbor, South Tirol
  

  As a “tree hotel,” My Arbor is a sustainable wellness hotel closely connected to the forest. New trees, such as spruce, Swiss stone pine, fir, and larch, are regularly planted around the hotel. This process binds CO₂ and strengthens biodiversity, preserving the forest. Spruce trees are also part of the ecosystem. Host Alexandra Huber explains, “The problem is that spruce trees are susceptible to bark beetles, which sometimes destroy entire slopes. That’s exactly why we’re trying to replant them.”

• Hotel Klosterbräu, Tirol
  

  In addition to its own forest, which provides wood for the nature rooms, for example, the hotel launched a new project in 2025. Together with guests, 300 apple trees were planted on the parish hill. Once the fruit is ready, it will be used in the hotel for everything from apple strudel to animal feed for the hotel’s petting zoo.

A forest in the middle of the city

The Hotel Luise in Erlangen proves that forest projects can be established in urban areas as well. A microforest with over 200 trees was created there, designed according to ecological principles with varying plant heights that function together like a real forest.

Laura Heufelder from the hotel explains:

“Our microforest improves the microclimate and has become a paradise for birds, insects, and small animals. However, our primary goal is to produce zero CO2. We only offset unavoidable CO2 as a last resort. This approach benefits the environment and the economy, as it creates jobs.”

Protect and enjoy your own forest

Not all sustainable hotels plant new trees—some protect the surrounding forest and allow guests to experience it in a unique way.

Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel , South Tyrol

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is located at an altitude of over 2,000 meters in the heart of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park, which is protected by UNESCO, on the Seiser Alm. In this sensitive environment, nature conservation is paramount. To minimize traffic pollution, guests are only allowed to drive their cars on arrival and departure days. During their stay, cars must remain in the parking lot.

The hotel provides a special transit permit for this purpose, which park rangers check. This ensures that the alpine nature is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Bavaria

The adjacent forest is also a focal point at the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain. Guests can experience it through mindful forest bathing, which promotes relaxation and a new awareness of nature. The experience is enhanced by a herb garden and a “green wall” at the buffet where guests can harvest fresh herbs.

The goal is not to offset CO₂, but to bring nature to life, appreciate its resources, and bring a piece of nature into guests’ everyday lives.

Climate-neutral overnight stays with CO₂ compensation

A special case in our network is the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb. Stephan Bode’s establishment is considered a pioneer in sustainable hospitality. Its gold organic certification, zero-waste breakfast buffet, and hotel rooms made from 100% recyclable materials (“circular living”) set new standards.

However, not all emissions can be avoided here either. To offer “climate-neutral overnight stays” and “climate-neutral conferences,” the hotel works with ClimatePartner. The principle remains clear: reduce before compensating. However, unavoidable emissions are transparently offset – among other things, through two forest projects that are part of a larger portfolio of 20 recognized climate protection initiatives.

SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA has reduced, removed, or avoided 5,710 tons of CO₂ and collected 6,010 kilograms of plastic. Additionally, 112 trees were planted in 2023 and 2025, both in Germany and internationally, as part of a comprehensive climate protection initiative.

FAQs and Tips: Offsetting emissions caused by travel through tree planting

Is planting trees an effective way to offset CO2 emissions?

Yes and no. It only makes sense if it is well thought out, appropriate for the location, and designed for the long term. Many projects fail due to a lack of maintenance or because they serve marketing purposes more than climate protection purposes. To really make a difference, you should primarily avoid emissions and offset unavoidable emissions through recognized climate protection projects (not necessarily tree planting).

How can I spot greenwashing?

Be skeptical of promises such as “one tree for every tube of toothpaste sold.” Ask questions: Where are the trees planted? Who takes care of them? Reputable companies answer these questions transparently, while greenwashers tend not to.

How can I get involved?

• Ask questions: Feel free to email companies that advertise tree-planting campaigns.
• Plant locally: Plant trees in your own neighborhood so that you can take care of them yourself or at least see the results.
• Consume mindfully: As Ursula Wagner from Naturresort Gerbehof emphasizes, “Everyone should pay attention to the environment and nature in their daily lives. Does the light always have to be on? Do I need products like avocados, which require huge amounts of water?” Being mindful in everyday life often saves more CO₂ than symbolic planting campaigns.
• Think creatively: Fabienne Anhamatten from the Hotel Bella Vista in Zermatt provides a good example. She didn’t dispose of her Christmas tree, but rather planted it in the spring, allowing it to remain part of the cycle.

In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that genuine climate protection while traveling begins with making many small, mindful decisions along the way, not with planting a tree.

Der Beitrag Planting trees for the climate: pure greenwashing or a real opportunity for sustainable travel? erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Why are we all so stressed out, anyway?

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that stress is one of the greatest health risks of our century. “Everyone experiences stress sometimes,” they write. However, they also note that “too much stress can lead to physical and mental health problems.”

When I think about my circle of acquaintances, it seems like everyone is “stressed.” The hoteliers in our network are always talking about being stressed or extremely busy. Thomas Steiner from the OLM Nature Escape aparthotel in South Tyrol even wrote me to say that he was “under a lot of pressure” (fortunately, due to positive events only, as he later reassured me).

In fact, for many people, stress has become a permanent state. There’s always a lot to do, the calendar is full of appointments, and the smartwatch diligently beeps, reminding us to get up from our desk for five minutes or take three deep breaths!

The magic word in this rat race could be “calmcation,” an enticing combination of “calm” and “vacation.”

But do I really need to take a vacation to experience a “Calmcation”?

Do I really need to travel and spend money if I’m not going to do anything? Couldn’t I just stay home and do nothing? You could. But then, why don’t you “just” do it every now and then?

How many “buts” popped into your head just now? The laundry, tidying up, that one email, dinner, washing up, the family, your smartphone… Somehow, “just doing” nothing doesn’t work out. And when it does, you quickly start feeling guilty because the laundry and clutter haven’t been taken care of.

In a (sustainable!) hotel, on the other hand, you don’t have to cook, clean, do laundry, or check your emails—you’re on vacation, after all! You can’t quickly stop by the office or take care of one last thing, it’s perfectly acceptable that you’re not there—and not doing anything!

• Incidentally, sleep tourism is another similar trend that we have already reported on in our blog..

Sustainable hotels for your calmcation in Germany

Doing nothing between the fields and forests of Lower Saxony

For a calmcation, it’s best to go somewhere quiet and away from crowds. For example, Warpe in Lower Saxony. Never heard of it? Then it’s time you did! Because that’s where the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s is located. When it comes to “doing nothing,” hosts Kristin and Maren Okelmann have a clear opinion:

“We are the perfect place to enjoy some leisurely relaxation. Whether you’re enjoying the sauna or hot tub, receiving a massage, or simply relaxing on a daybed in the quiet room. There are also numerous sun loungers in the garden where you can read, daydream, or meditate in peace.” – Kristin Okelmann

Still not convinced that Warpe is the right place for you? You might change your mind after reading our blog post about this charming village and learning why Warpe is worth a visit.

Sustainable Calmcation in the Rhön region

Are you familiar with Mellrichstadt? The town, with a population of around 5,000, is located in the Rhön region of Bavaria. Located there is the STURM, a wonderfully relaxed hotel and one of our long-standing Green PearlsⓇ partners, offering organic cuisine, a natural swimming pond, and large gardens. Julius Schulze Dieckhoff, the son of hosts Christa and Matthias, has been involved in the hotel business for some time as well. I asked him if Mellrichstadt isn’t sometimes boring for people his age. His answer:

“It’s true; the Rhön is not a hotspot for mass tourism. Sometimes I wish there was more going on here, but that’s precisely the advantage if you’re looking for peace and quiet, or a “calmcation.” Although there are no huts to stop at while hiking, that’s precisely why the nature here remains so unspoiled and the silence so unique.” – Julius Schulze Dieckhoff, STURM

We particularly recommend the new, award-winning Garden View Rooms—there isn’t even a TV to distract you from relaxing here—instead, you can enjoy a panoramic view of nature 🙂

Peace and quiet amidst the fresh air of the Black Forest

Bad Herrenalb is much better known, at least in Germany. The climatic health resort with its thermal baths attracts many tourists seeking relaxation. Ideal if you want peace and quiet without being alone (if you know what I mean). One wonderful place to unwind is the sustainable health hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. The Circular Living rooms have a particularly soothing indoor climate thanks to their natural materials and a design, that grounds you and creates a calm atmosphere. Nathalie Riegsinger from the hotel’s marketing department recommends the following for a “calmcation”:

“The view of the valley, the fresh Black Forest air, and the seclusion of nature beckon you to relax. Well-marked hiking trails through Bad Herrenalb’s healthy climate begin right outside the door.” 

Other Green PearlⓇ partners in Germany for your Calmcation

#1 Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Bayerisch Gmain, Berchtesgaden

The sustainable Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa is nestled in a secluded spot in Bayerisch Gmain, surrounded by the Berchtesgadener Land mountains. Here, you will find places to retreat almost everywhere: in the reading corner with mountain views, in the quiet sauna garden, or in the spacious rooms. A place where silence and nature naturally slow you down.

#2 Naturresort Gerbehof, Lake Constance

“More than wellness — soul wellness” is how Ursula Wagner, the host, describes the concept. The organic hotel on Lake Constance boasts a natural style. Whether you’re sitting in the stone circle in the forest, relaxing in the sauna, or listening to the birds chirp in the garden, you’ll find inner peace at the Naturresort Gerbehof, and the relaxation will last long after your stay. The alternative concept behind “wellness for the soul” is discussed in more detail in “Retreats for the Soul.”

#3 Gut Sonnenhausen, Glonn near Munich

Gut Sonnenhausen is a beautifully restored old manor house surrounded by a permaculture farm and nature reserve. Filled with contemporary art, it is perfect for spontaneous, meditative walks or reading a book in the library. Guests who enjoy company can relax in the courtyard, and those who prefer solitude can find quiet benches along the high trail overlooking the clearing.

#4 Hotel Luise, Erlangen

A calmcation in the middle of the city? It’s possible. On the green roof terrace, by the waterfall in the inner courtyard, or in the private spa at the Hotel Luise in Erlangen—an urban retreat where you can unwind amid the hustle and bustle of the city. Even better? Thanks to the hotel’s many eco-friendly initiatives, you can do good by simply doing nothing. 

#5 Hotel Das Rübezahl, Füssen, Allgäu

With its boutique spa, fireplace lobby, and small themed libraries, Hotel Das Rübezahl invites you to experience the tranquility of a digital detox, while enjoying a magnificent view of Neuschwanstein Castle at the same time. Click here to learn more about the digital detox concept.

Sustainable Calmcation in Austria

Austria has many enchanting places that are perfect for doing nothing. I particularly recommend the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld. Seefeld is a well-known vacation region in Tyrol, but this traditional monastery hotel has a unique and tranquil charm all its own. Centuries-old walls combine with the comforts of a five-star hotel, making it ideal for truly letting go and feeling completely relaxed.

As host family Seyrling puts it:

 „Doing nothing. No appointments, no plans—just you, a deck chair, and the tranquil beauty of the mountains. This is exactly what you’ll find in the Garden of Eden (the hotel’s lawn and natural grounds). Surrounded by old monastery walls, lush greenery, and the soft rustling of leaves, you’ll find a comfortable deck chair or hammock—perfect for simply switching off.”

In East Tyrol, you will find the Naturhotel Outside, which is located in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Many people come to the hotel to hike, but it’s also a great place to relax. The cozy lobby with a fireplace and the newly designed Nature Spa with healing saltwater baths are perfect for relaxation.

Relax and unwind in South Tyrol

South Tyrol combines impressive Alpine panoramas with an Italian lifestyle — the ideal combination for an escape from everyday life. Two adults-only hotels center their concept around tranquility:

My Arbor, Brixen

 “My Time” is the motto, and it’s evident everywhere. Whether you’re relaxing in the infinity pool with a view of the Dolomites, lounging in a deck chair among the treetops, or enjoying a cup of tea by the fireplace, you’ll discover that doing nothing becomes an art form here. Many guests report that at My Arbor, they can finally breathe deeply again and consciously make time for themselves.

LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel, Naturns

LA VIMEA is a holistic, adults-only vegan retreat and a haven for anyone seeking peace and inner balance. The sunny terrace by the natural pond and the cozy winter garden with its soft armchairs are particularly popular spots for reading, daydreaming, and unwinding. A small library with books on vegan nutrition and healing methods completes the offerings.

OLM Nature Escape, Sand in Taufers

“Here, conscious idleness is not only permitted—it’s celebrated,” say the hosts at OLM Nature Escape. (I quoted Thomas earlier in this article.)

“Our spacious garden offers many secluded spots where you can completely unwind. The deck chairs are spaced far apart and provide ample space for privacy. On sunny autumn days, our garden is an ideal place to recharge in the mild sunshine. In our apartment suites, you can relax on your private terrace or practice yoga in the specially designed niche. Here, everyone can find their personal place of power.” – Astrid Hellweger, OLM Nature Escape

Three places to do nothing in Ritten

Those who prefer a family-friendly and nature-oriented atmosphere will find three wonderful places to stay in Ritten. The APIPURA hotel rinner offers a peaceful and warm atmosphere, as well as proximity to nature, with its own apiary and organic cuisine. The Hotel Weihrerhof’s philosophy is “Just Be There” — no schedules or appointments, just a jetty by the lake, a good book, and mountain views.

The ADLER Lodge RITTEN is a luxurious, couples-only retreat. The relaxation room, located in the middle of the forest, invites you to unwind while your private chalet offers a fireplace and a balcony with an unobstructed view of the Dolomites. The all-inclusive package featuring regional specialties ensures you can relax completely.

Find peace in Switzerland

The small, boutique Bella Vista Zermatt hotel offers several inspiring places for you to relax and unwind. For example, there is a relaxation room with a view of the Matterhorn and an Arvenstube with waterbeds surrounded by soothing Swiss stone pine wood.

“When the weather is nice, we recommend our terrace for a ‘calmcation,’” says hostess Fabienne Anthamatten. The terrace is in a quiet location, and like the relaxation and yoga rooms, it offers a breathtaking view of the Matterhorn. And be sure to enjoy a cup of tea made with herbs from their own garden!

Calmcation as part of a long-distance trip: Croatia, Tenerife, and Peru

Of course, you can also combine your Calmcation with a trip to a farther-away country — ideally as part of a longer stay. After all, when it comes to long-distance travel by plane, short trips are not sustainable. So, its best to plan long-distance trips over longer periods of time and take a break in between to process what you’ve experienced. A calmcation, even if only for a few days, is perfect for this.

Hotel Korinjak, Kroatien – Island Iž

Surrounded by pine forests and the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, doing nothing becomes the order of the day. Whether you’re relaxing in a hammock, enjoying the view from your terrace, or strolling along hidden paths, the Hotel Korinjak—the only hotel on the island—invites you to simply drift away. The only sounds you’ll hear are the lapping of the waves, the chirping of crickets, and the rustling of olive leaves—the perfect companions for finding your inner peace.

OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel, Tenerife

“At OCÉANO, guests will find many places to retreat to, relax, and unwind,” reports our Green Pearls® partner on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. They recommend a daybed in the green garden with a book, the rooftop terrace with sweeping sea views, or an early swim in the Piscina Natural, a seawater pool located directly in front of the hotel. The library, which has books in three languages, also invites you to linger. A fitting complement is “Ocean Balancing in the Thalasso Pool” (see picture).

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Peru – Sacred Valley of the Incas

Anyone who travels to Peru will be overwhelmed by the countless impressions, which is precisely why it is worth taking a calmcation break every now and then. The Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba in the Sacred Valley is perfect for that. From its spacious terraces and gardens, you can enjoy views of the Andes while listening to birds chirp and the gentle rustling of the mountain winds through the trees. At the Mayu Spa, treatments with traditional Andean ingredients offer deep relaxation, and the small pool reflects the mountain panorama. Here, pausing becomes a philosophy — a soothing reprieve that restores harmony to body and mind and prepares you for your next adventure in Peru.

It’s good for you to do nothing

Inaction can promote creativity. Various studies and experts have pointed this out. However, some participants in these studies had to sit alone in empty, white rooms or copy numbers from a phone book, which is more akin to a self-experiment. But that’s not what a calmcation is about! Calmcation means sitting on a bench and letting your gaze wander over the mountain landscape without any appointments. You decide spontaneously. Should I go out for dinner? Should I relax on the hotel bed? Shall I go for a short walk? All of this takes place in beautiful and inspiring surroundings. It’s just like the partner hotels presented here.

Oh, and by the way: Julius from STURM ended our conversation with the sentence:

“You can even leave out the part about “Sometimes I wish there was more going on here.””

And when it comes to a Calmcation, less is more—literally 🙂

Der Beitrag Calmcation—is it worth paying for the opportunity to do nothing? erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

A romantic vacation in Bavaria: Where a magical picnic in the forest appears

Imagine hiking through the Allgäu countryside, the mountains glistening in the distance, and Neuschwanstein Castle peeking through the treetops, and then suddenly you come upon an enchanted forest clearing with a picnic laid out lovingly in view of the fairytale castle. There’s freshly baked bread, regional organic specialties, and a sparkling drink. And no one else is in sight. As if it were prepared by magic.

The fairies and elves of the family-run Hotel Das Rübezahl were at work here. Secretly, quietly, and with a sense of the extraordinary. They arranged everything and waited patiently for your arrival. Now, they retreat and leave you alone with a view of the royal castles and the silence of the forest. You have the feeling that a new chapter in your love story is being written here.

This is what a romantic getaway feels like, one that only the boutique hotel Das Rübezahl can offer: magical, personal, and with genuine dedication.

Movie magic in real life!

Here, romance isn’t just in your head; it’s a reality, as you’ll experience during a candlelight dinner in the cozy Zirbenstube, which you can book as a special highlight. There, you’ll enjoy an exclusive five-course menu in a warm atmosphere fragrant with pine and full of togetherness.

When you return to your room later, you’ll find that something else has changed. A heart made of rose petals will be on the bed. The curtains will be slightly drawn, revealing a view of the castle. The romantic spirits of the house have been at work again.

Whether you stay in the Ludwig’s Dream suite, which features a king-size box spring bed and a bioethanol fireplace, or the Sissi’s Dream suite, which features a whirlpool and an effect fireplace. Oak wood, velvet fabrics, and castle views set the tone for a royal getaway. Every room at Das Rübezahl is a declaration of love—to you, to grand emotions, and to the region and its history.

Romance that comes from the soul—not a marketing book

Sure, many hotels claim to be ideal for romantic getaways. After all, couples are a classic target group — a candlelit dinner here, a rose-covered heart there. But once you’ve stayed at Hotel Das Rübezahl, you’ll immediately sense that it’s different. Everything here feels authentic. Because it is.

This is thanks to the Thurm family, who run the boutique hotel with passion. Giselle, affectionately known in the family as the “Ice Princess from Rio de Janeiro,” leads the way. The 1984/85 Brazilian figure skating champion came to the Allgäu region to train and worked as a waitress at Das Rübezahl to earn money. There, she was spotted by the young chef, Erhard Thurm, who won her over after “weeks of courtship.”

With sensitivity, style, and a passion for fairy-tale details, the couple transformed Das Rübezahl into a place that evokes longing for lovers. Today, their son, Alexander Thurm, is carrying the hotel into the next generation with just as much heart as his parents.

Sustainable romantic getaways — because love also means taking responsibility

Romance means thinking about others. But it goes even further: it also means thinking about tomorrow. Couples who make time for each other on vacation often realize what truly matters. And that includes treating the world we love with care.

At Hotel Das Rübezahl, sustainability is the natural companion of romance. The food ingredients come from the surrounding area, and many of them are organic. Ninety percent of the electricity is produced in-house by a combined heat and power plant and solar panels, and the rest is green electricity. If you opt out of having your room cleaned, a tree will be planted. When you book, you can offset your CO2 emissions, and you are asked to bring your own slippers for the wellness area.

Relax with wellness and nature

The wellness area features several saunas, a year-round heated outdoor pool, and a 2,500-square-meter wellness garden with a natural swimming pond. There is also a fire pit and a stunning view of the mountains and Neuschwanstein Castle. Guests can enjoy nature on hikes, either alone or with the hiking concierge and guide, Bergbaschdi. Additionally, the hotel rents bicycles and snowshoes in the winter.

Romantic packages at the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Bavaria.

The hotel offers five packages tailored for couples. Options range from the “Say Yes Package” and “Couples Pampering Package,” which include massages and spa treatments, to the “Culinary Pleasure” culinary package.

• You will find all the specials for a romantic vacation on the website. Optional extras are available, ranging from love locks to carriage rides.
  

A story of longing and connection

Incidentally, Giselle and Erhard didn’t grow up loving fairy tales; they developed a fondness for them over time. Erhard’s parents, Hildegard and Herbert Thurm, hailed from the Giant Mountains. After fleeing, they worked hard to build a new life for themselves in the Allgäu region. They named their hotel “Das Rübezahl” after a mythical figure from their homeland. Their story is full of longing, transformation, and fantasy.

At the Hotel Das Rübezahl, you are surrounded by this magic and the history of the hotel, its owners, and its setting among the fairy-tale castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. It is a place where togetherness feels special and memories are made that last a lifetime.

Save this article for your next romantic vacation.

Der Beitrag Like in a (Bavarian) fairy tale: A romantic vacation for two at Hotel Das Rübezahl erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

More than 25 sustainable ways to enjoy nature and the outdoors while on vacation

Although hiking is one of the healthiest forms of exercise, I understand why some people don’t enjoy it. Not everyone enjoys spending hours walking through the countryside with a heavy backpack. However, we all want to experience nature, and that’s healthy, too! Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do so without hiking.

A gentle exploration of the Croatian island of Iž

The island of Iž is only 17 square kilometers in size and has a population of just over 500. If you stay here at the Hotel Korinjak, you’ll naturally spend all your time outdoors. Swimming at the wild Adriatic beaches, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and going on a boat trip to watch dolphins are just some of the water activities available there. The holistically oriented hotel also offers guided yoga on the terrace or forest meditation under pine and olive trees.

“The island’s gentle landscape is perfect for a leisurely exploration and sensory experience” – Hotel Korinjak

A sustainable, active vacation by the water

Green Pearls® offers a selection of sustainable hotels with direct access to natural bodies of water. In Germany, for instance, you’ll find the luxurious Hotel Der Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort atop a hill in the heart of the Upper Palatinate Lake District. The region has over 800 hectares of water and is the most water-rich area in eastern Bavaria. Enjoy activities such as boating, wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing, rowing, and swimming — no hiking boots required!

The same is true of Lake Constance, the second largest Alpine lake in Europe spanning over 500 square kilometers. On its German shore, you’ll find the Naturresort Gerbehof , surrounded by apple trees and pastures. If hiking, swimming, or boating aren’t your thing, the Nature SPA and its garden area are ideal places to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

If you would prefer to have your own vacation home, we recommend the Summit Lodges Pfunds. These two Tyrolean log cabins have their own fireplace, sauna, and sleeping accommodations for up to six people. The region’s natural beauty and diverse landscapes make it a perfect destination for hiking enthusiasts, but even those less interested in hiking will find activities to enjoy:

“You can go rafting and canyoning in Pfunds. The company is located directly in the village, and the starting point is nearby, depending on the route.” – Summit Lodges Pfunds

Read our article on sustainable water sports to find out how you can make water sports more sustainable and learn whether activities such as water skiing are really recommended.

Take a vacation at a lake in northern italy

At the South Tyrolean Hotel Weihrerhof, you will find yourself in an idyllic setting, situated on the shore of Lake Wolfsgruben. At an elevation of over 1,200 meters, the lake is one of the cleanest swimming lakes in Italy and offers many activities, including swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and rowing. You can even enjoy breakfast on the natural “breakfast island” in the middle of the lake. Your children can experience nature here while you relax with a good book on the lawn.

Sports on the Baltic Sea

The Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand, located on the Baltic Sea, offers more than just a beach vacation. It also supports a wide range of sports on site. Every year, the “Triathlon Heroines” come to the hotel to train for their triathlons with running, swimming, and cycling. Furthermore there ist the German Beach Volleyball Championship and Beach Hockey, as well as the annual Baltic Sea Run, where the winners of the women’s and men’s races receive an overnight stay at the hotel.

A vegan active vacation in South Tyrol

Do you want to be active without hiking or getting wet? And enjoy plant-based cuisine at the same time? Here are some recommendations from our vegan partner hotels in South Tyrol.

“Our hotel is located in the Vinschgau region of South Tyrol. In addition to hiking trails, the surrounding area offers excellent opportunities for running, cycling, climbing, and Nordic walking.” – LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel

By the way, LA VIMEA is not only vegan but also exclusively for adults. For active vacationers, there is a three-day package called the “Active Vegan Getaway,” which includes e-bikes.

The famous Seiser Alm is home to yet another entirely vegan hotel. The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel reports the following:

“Our home is the Seiser Alm, Europe’s largest high alpine pasture located over 2,000 meters above sea level in a UNESCO-protected area. The Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park offers great opportunities for summer and winter sports: skiing and snowboarding in the winter and cycling, mountain biking, e-biking, running, climbing, Nordic walking, golfing, paragliding, and horseback riding in the summer. You can also spend quality time with your children at the barefoot park or meditate in front of picturesque panoramic landscapes. The unique charm and beauty of the Dolomites allow you to enjoy extraordinary energy no matter what you do.” – Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel

Enjoy forest bathing and tranquility at My Arbor

Of course, there are quieter ways to enjoy the outdoors. The Hotel My Arbor, located near Brixen in South Tyrol, recommends that those who are not very keen on hiking simply take the gondola up to the Plose. “Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the fantastic view from the mountain station, grab a bite to eat, and sample some local dishes.” Incidentally, “My Arbor” means “my tree,” and the entire hotel is built among the treetops, fostering a special relationship with the forest. You can experience this during guided forest bathing, forest yoga, or outdoor meditation sessions.

• Click here for their weekly program.

Chillin’ in nature

At the Aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol, you can live life at your own pace and enjoy nature, perhaps by sitting on a bench by the Ahr River with a good book. Or, you can visit the horses and cows in the green valley and say hello to the fish in the Thara fishing pond.

The STURM hotel in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve in Germany features a natural swimming pond and a large garden with snacks. Ideal for yoga sessions.

Hotel Das Rübezahl, located in the Allgäu region, has built a yoga platform at its Rohrkopfhütte hut specifically for outdoor yoga. If the climb up there (about an hour) is too strenuous for you (it is more like a hike. . .), the wellness garden with views of the mountains and Neuschwanstein Castle is also a great option.

Scavenger hunts, escape games, and city tours

If you’re interested in exploring the area in a fun way and learning more, you can book a city tour during your vacation. In Freiburg, the “Green City Tour” in the Vauban district will show you what ecologically progressive urban development looks like and demonstrate how nature and the big city can coexist. The Green City Hotel Vauban has been a showcase project for green urban development since its inception, so you can experience this concept firsthand during your stay.

The Hotel Luise in Erlangen offers recommendations for special city tours, such as a night watchman tour or a beer and cellar tour. You can also play the Outdoor Escape Game Erlangen, where you solve a “criminal case” in the city center and discover a treasure.

In Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest, you can also sign up for an outdoor escape game and start your journey to find a monastery’s hidden secret. During the two-hour tour, you will discover and experience various sights in this historic spa town. Then, you can enjoy a slice of cake from the organic kitchen at the Schwarzwald Panorama or relax in the hotel’s thermal baths and sauna.

Discover Peru’s plantations

Vacations often offer a wonderful opportunity to learn about local plants and products. At Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica in Peru, for example, you can visit several rainforest plantations. For instance, you can take a half-day excursion to a cocoa plantation where you can see cocoa plants and follow the entire process of producing chocolate, from roasting and grinding the cocoa beans to tasting the final product. You can also go with a guide to the Brazil nut trees on the hotel grounds. Here, you can learn more about the nuts and try different traditional methods of cracking their hard shells.

• Both excursions are also suitable for children. Visit the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción website for more information.

Bees and api wellness in South Tyrol

If you’re interested in bee colonies and honey, no one in our network can give you a better introduction than Paul Rinner from the APIPURA hotel rinner. Paul is a passionate migratory beekeeper who gives lectures, produces organic honey, and has set up a bee trail on the hotel grounds. He also offers his guests the unique Api Wellness experience, where they can breathe in the air of the beehive. The Api Wellness experience takes place in a cozy wooden hut with a view of nature. The boundary between inside and outside is blurred by natural materials, the buzzing of bees, and a large panoramic window.

Suspension bridge and lunch in East Tyrol

Even at the Naturhotel Outside, a designated hiking hotel in East Tyrol, hiking is by no means a must! If you’re looking for a little adventure, you can cross the suspension bridge over the Isel Gorge, or simply stop for a leisurely lunch at the Kräuterhexenkuchl Strumehof.

Barefoot trail at the Adler Lodge Ritten

How about going barefoot instead of wearing hiking boots? The ADLER Lodge RITTEN just built a barefoot trail in the forest this year. It fits perfectly with the resort’s mindful lifestyle, which includes a natural swimming pond, a farm-to-table concept, and sustainable wooden lodges with fireplaces.

Cycling 

Otherwise, exploring the vacation area by bike is always a great option. At the Klosterhof — Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, you can rent an e-bike right from the hotel and comfortably explore the Berchtesgadener Land with a little extra help. The same is true at the Relais del Maro in Liguria. The Albergo Diffuso is located in the picturesque village of Borgomaro, nestled in the mountains behind the coastal town of Imperia. E-bikes are an ideal, environmentally friendly means of transportation there.

At the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe, Lower Saxony, you can explore the rather flat area on classic bicycles. The Okelmann family’s head is a passionate cyclist himself and is happy to recommend the best cycling routes to his guests — which you can save directly to your phone.

Horseback riding

Recently, the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA promoted horseback riding as an eco-friendly outdoor activity. Read more about horseback riding in the Valley of the Temples. (Our colleague Mara, an avid horse rider, wrote this lovely article about sustainable horseback riding vacations.)

The ABCs of sustainable outdoor activities

In the end, we compiled a list in alphabetical order of all the suggestions and ideas from our network. Even the ideas that didn’t make it into the article are included here. Now, you can find inspiration no matter where you are.

 

Barefoot trails

Sightseeing

Bird watching

Archery

Bouldering

Camping

Dolphin watching

E-bike tours

Escape games (outdoor)

Golf

Gondola ride to a viewing platform

Suspension bridge

Outdoor journaling

Kayaking

Canoeing

Climbing

Knipping

Herbal workshops

Reading

Meditation

Mini golf

Visiting plantations

Cycling or MTB

Rafting

Horseback riding

Rowing

Scavenger hunt

Swimming

Sailing

City tours

SUP

Forest bathing

Forest meditation

Whitewater rafting

Outdoor yoga

 

 

Did we forget something?

Most likely! So, help us make the list even longer by adding your ideas in the comments!

Der Beitrag Sustainable outdoor activities for those who don’t feel like hiking erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

“Yoga is more than physical exercise”

Originally from Hungary, Istvan completed his yoga training in Bali and has lived in Mexico, Peru, India and Lanzarote. He has walked the Camino de Santiago twice and is an Ayurvedic therapist and teacher of yoga, qigong, meditation and sound journeys. Now settled in Germany, he offers various programs for guests at the Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region. He summarizes his attitude for us: “Yoga is so much more than physical exercise; it teaches you to be in the here and now. Don’t be anywhere or nowhere, just enjoy the moment!”

“My intention with yoga is to help people experience themselves as souls and creators. Breathing is important, as is releasing your own blockages as you exhale. Letting yourself go completely. That is healing. When was the last time you let yourself go completely” – Istvan

Combining yoga, sustainability and singing bowls

Yoga Trends for 2025 – Meditative or Athletic?

Whether you’re looking for more energy or more grounding, yoga styles in 2025 will offer the right practice for every focus. We’ll show you what’s in demand right now.

For your information: Some classes have traditional yoga names (such as Ashtanga Yoga), while others have marketing names so to speak, such as “Forest Yoga.” We have used the names as they are listed

Types of Yoga for soul and depth

#1 Gokul Yoga

Gokul Yoga is based on the classical Hatha Yoga tradition and combines precise alignment with spiritual principles from the Bhakti tradition. It is unique in that the teachings have been passed down through an unbroken chain of disciples.

Gokul Yoga is not just about physical exercises, but a holistic practice that harmonizes body, mind and heart. Meditation, breath control (pranayama) and ethical living are central components – always with the goal of coming closer to oneself.

At Hotel Korinjak on the car-free island of Iž in Croatia, you can experience Gokul Yoga right by the sea. The vegetarian-vegan hotel is a retreat for mindful breaks and specializes in yoga, meditation and healing treatments.

• Click here for the Gokul Yoga offers at Hotel Korinjak
  

#2 Sound Yoga

This yoga practice combines gentle, long-held yin yoga poses with the meditative sounds of singing bowls. As the body is held in deep stretches, the vibrations of the bowls help to release blockages, calm the nervous system, and bring you into a state of deep relaxation. The sound and silence work together to create an intense experience on a physical and energetic level.

At STURM in the Rhön, this form of yoga is offered every Wednesday under the title “Yoga with Sound Relaxation”, led by Susann Kind. There are also regular retreats. The hotel itself is synonymous with conscious time-out, offering rooms with garden views and no TV, sustainable architecture, and a natural swimming pond in the middle of the gentle Rhön landscape.

• Retreats at the STURM

You can also experience Yin Yoga with singing bowls at the family-run Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe. The owner, Maren Geisler-Okelmann, teaches herself – in groups, private lessons, or even with your four-legged friend. She particularly loves the combination of sound and movement to promote deep relaxation

• Yoga classes and retreats at Okelmann’s

#3 Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is also known as the Yoga of Awareness. It combines dynamic physical exercises, breathing techniques, meditation, and mantras to activate the kundalini energy – a dormant force at the base of the spine. The goal is to unlock your potential, gain clarity, and connect with your intuition. The practice can be energizing, challenging, and deeply transformative.

At the Relais del Maro, a charming albergo diffuso in the Ligurian village of Borgomaro, guests can take part in weekly Kundalini Yoga classes led by Aimee Denkmann in the Healing Arts Garden, just a five-minute walk away. In addition to group classes, Aimee also offers private lessons, which can be booked directly through the hotel reception.

#4 Ritual Yoga with Mantra & Cocoa Ceremony

This holistic practice combines physical movement with ritual and sound. Yoga is not practiced alone, but is embedded in ceremonies, such as the chanting of mantras or the conscious consumption of raw cacao in a South American cacao ceremony. The focus is on connection – with oneself, with others, and with the rhythms of nature. Meditation, intuition and opening the heart are central.

Gut Sonnenhausen, near Munich, Germany, offers regular overnight retreats. The retreats are based on the cycle of the seasons. Surrounded by organically farmed nature, you will experience intense days guided by experienced teachers such as Thais de la Paz.

#5 Forest Yoga

Forest Yoga is an invitation to consciously integrate the calming power of the forest into your yoga practice. Among the trees and chirping birds, it is easier to find peace and connect with nature. The fresh forest air is invigorating, while the green canopy creates a meditative atmosphere. Practicing outdoors not only strengthens the body, but also promotes feelings of grounding and mindfulness.

At My Arbor, an adults-only hotel in South Tyrol, forest yoga takes place in the middle of the forest during the summer months, complemented by classes and other offerings in the stylish yoga room. Experienced instructors tailor each session to the individual’s needs, whether beginner or advanced. The hotel is located above Brixen and focuses on relaxation, retreat and sustainable well-being.

• Yoga at the My Arbor Hotel
  

#7 Breathwork / Quantum Light Breath (QLB)

Conscious breathing is much more than just a side aspect of yoga practice – in 2025, breathwork will be the focus of many retreats. In particular, Quantum Light Breathing (QLB) is becoming increasingly popular: a powerful, meditative breathing technique accompanied by emotional music that can trigger profound inner processes. It aims to release old patterns and blockages through breathing, to find inner peace and to gain new clarity.

At the Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region of Germany, QLB is offered by Istvan, the yoga teacher we introduced at the beginning of this article. The combination of breathing exercises, meditation, and experiencing nature helps you find your inner self – in line with a mindful and healing lifestyle.

• Yoga and retreats with Istvan at Hotel Das Rübezahl
  

Sporty Yoga Variations

Looking for movement, dynamism and energy in your yoga practice? Then these athletic yoga trends may be right up your alley. In 2025, many styles will combine physical challenge with mindfulness – ideal for anyone looking to push themselves while still finding their center.

#1 Yogilates

Yogilates combines the flowing movements and stretching exercises of yoga with the muscle-strengthening training of Pilates. This allows you to strengthen your core, improve your posture, and train your balance – the perfect combination of strength, flexibility, and mindfulness.

At ADLER Lodge RITTEN you can experience Yogilates as part of a retreat – with views of the Dolomites and surrounded by the tranquility of South Tyrol. The sustainable hotel consists of a main building and an annex, as well as several private chalets grouped around a natural swimming pond and along the ridge line. On the culinary side, you can look forward to an all-inclusive farm-to-table concept with products from the region.

• Yogilates at the ADLER Lodge RITTEN

Yogilates is also offered at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in the Bavarian Alps. Surrounded by unspoiled nature and breathtaking mountain views, you can intensify your yoga practice and relax at the same time. Known for its holistic wellness and yoga offerings, this health hotel provides the perfect balance of physical exercise and inner peace.

• Tip: For expectant mothers, the hotel also offers prenatal yoga and a babymoon package.
• Yoga-offers at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa

#2 Back Yoga

As sitting has become the “new smoking” in our society, back problems have become widespread. So it’s no wonder that back yoga is becoming increasingly popular. This type of yoga uses various forms and postures. It focuses on stretching the back muscles and releasing tension, which reduces pain and increases mobility in the spine. In addition, back yoga strengthens your abdominal muscles, which improves posture and provides long-term pain relief.

LA VIMEA, Italy’s first vegan hotel, offers back yoga on a regular basis. At this adults-only retreat, daily yoga classes are included in the half-board rate and are led by certified yoga instructors. You also have the opportunity to participate in yoga retreats. The hotel has two well-equipped yoga rooms and a sunny terrace for outdoor yoga.

• Yoga at LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel

#3 Fascia Yoga

Fascia Yoga focuses on gentle flexibility exercises and deep stretches to release tension and revitalize the fascia, or connective tissue. Conscious breathing techniques provide optimal support for the body, resulting in improved flexibility and ease of movement. This form of yoga is particularly effective for mobilizing the back and relaxing the entire body.

The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort offers Fascia Yoga in collaboration with experienced instructor Viktoria Koller (Viki Sports). Enjoy yoga classes in luxurious surroundings, including a large spa area with several pools and saunas, and excellent food. The hotel has its own 2-star restaurant, Eisvogel, where hotel guests get priority seating. For all its luxury, the resort takes its responsibilities seriously, including a commitment to renewable energy.

• Fitness, Spa & Yoga at Birkenhof

#4 Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic yoga practice that harmonizes movement and breathing. The asanas (postures) are linked together in a flowing sequence that not only improves flexibility and endurance, but also calms the mind. This type of yoga strengthens the body and helps you reduce stress while building a deep connection with your breath and the moment.

At Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel you can experience Vinyasa Yoga with Marnie Spögler, a member of the host family. Marnie is originally from Canada and has been teaching yoga for over 18 years. A certified Yoga Alliance teacher, she brings a wealth of experience and passion to her dynamic and energizing classes. The daily Vinyasa classes are included in the half-board rate. In addition, the hotel is offering three special yoga retreats during the 2025 summer season to help you deepen your practice. The hotel’s holistic, vegan philosophy further emphasizes this depth.

• Yoga-Retreats at the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel

Vinyasa Yoga is also offered at the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld – here by hostess Laura Seyrling-Riess herself. The family-run hotel looks back on over 500 years of hospitality and was built on the foundations of a former monastery. It is in this special atmosphere that you can enjoy powerful flow sessions, a combination of movement and mindfulness.

• Yoga-Offers at the Hotel Klosterbräu

#5 Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic and challenging style in which breath and movement are synchronized in a fixed sequence. The practice follows a series of postures that are systematically structured to develop strength, endurance, flexibility, and concentration. A special feature is the meditative flow state that results from the connection between breath (ujjayi), focus (drishti), and movement.

This year, an Ashtanga Yoga Retreat will take place at the luxurious yet sustainable ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The stylish resort is located in Sicily, directly on the sea and nestled in a nature reserve, offering ideal conditions for intensive practice and relaxation.

• Ashtanga Yoga at ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA

AI-Powered Yoga – The future of yoga with technology?

Finally, we would like to introduce you to another trend that is likely to become increasingly important in the future: AI-powered yoga. It combines traditional yoga practice with cutting-edge technology and is aimed primarily at people who practice at home. With the help of AI, personalized yoga classes are offered that are tailored to your specific needs and progress. The technology analyzes your movements, provides feedback on how you are performing the asanas, and adjusts the exercises in real time to help you improve your practice.

How does this fit in with the original teachings of yoga? To be honest, we’re not really sure what to make of it. So our recommendation is clear: find a qualified teacher in your area or attend a retreat to expand your knowledge. There are also a number of YouTube videos where real people show you how it’s done. From our own (pandemic-related) experience, we can tell you that you will be instructed at exactly the right moments not to clench your teeth or tilt your head back…

Green PearlsⓇ hotels focus on personalized service

Our Green PearlsⓇ accommodations continue to focus on individual attention and customized yoga experiences – without any technology. Here, experienced yoga teachers are on hand to guide you through your practice and respond to your needs. At SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, for example, yoga is understood as a balance between rest and activity. You can book individual or private group classes for yourself and your friends to deepen your practice and develop sustainable routines.

Naturresort Gerbehof also focuses on a nature-based yoga experience. Here you can practice in a beautiful yoga room or directly in the garden or in the stone circle in the forest. There are no special classes, but there is plenty of space to enjoy your practice surrounded by nature.

Our hotels are designed with personalized service and individual well-being in mind – perfect if you are looking for a deeper connection to your practice and to yourself.

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Der Beitrag From spiritual depth to fitness: Master Istvan on Yoga Trends for 2025 erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

The special character of the Dolomites

The Dolomites are part of the Alps and are a unique mountain range in northern Italy. They stretch across South Tyrol, Trentino and the province of Belluno. Characteristic of the mountain range are the rugged rock formations, often shimmering in shades of light gray to pink. They consist of dolomite, a special form of limestone.

Some of the peaks reach over 3,000 meters. The highest peak is the Marmolada at 3,343 meters. There are several mountain ranges in the Dolomites, the most famous of which are the Geisler Group, the Sciliar, the Rosengarten, the Sella Group and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

In addition to its impressive scenery, the region showcases rich cultural diversity. Here, Ladin, German, and Italian traditions come together, offering not only spectacular views but also an alpine environment where nature and culture blend closely.

A responsible destination

Since 2009, the Dolomites have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a distinction that recognizes their geological and landscape uniqueness. A total of nine sub-areas have been included, covering an area of approximately 142,000 hectares.

UNESCO highlights the geological importance of the Dolomites and the exceptional beauty of the mountain landscape. The sharp contrasts between steep rock faces, green pastures and deep valleys make the region an outstanding example of alpine nature.

Inclusion on the World Heritage List brings with it not only recognition, but also responsibility: the aim is to protect the fragile landscape for the long term and to develop it sustainably – in harmony with nature, culture and tourism.

Nature in transition – Endangered diversity in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are a fragile ecosystem under increasing pressure. Climate change is leaving its mark: glaciers are melting rapidly, changing the landscape and threatening the habitats of specialized plants and animals. Species that depend on the cool conditions of high mountain regions are particularly affected. For example, alpine plants such as glacier buttercup and certain species of saxifrage are endangered because their habitats are shrinking as a result of warming.

Insect decline in South Tyrol

The animal world is also facing challenges. Invertebrates are the most affected. The Red List of South Tyrol documents the threats to locusts, dragonflies, butterflies, beetles and other small animals. According to a publication by the South Tyrol Museum of Nature, for example, “427 species are considered lost”.

Now, these animals don’t have as big a lobby as, say, the cute marmot, which was once on the verge of extinction, but has since bounced back thanks to conservation efforts. As we documented in our blog about the importance of insect decline, insects are at the bottom of the food pyramid. If they disappear, the whole pyramid collapses!

If you want to get involved in conservation during your vacation, join events like planting campaigns organized by the following conservation groups.

• Naturparks Bozen
• Alpenverein Südtirol
• WWF Bozen

Tourism caught between conflicting priorities – The economy and the environment

Tourism is an important economic factor for the Dolomites, but it also brings problems. Popular destinations such as the Val di Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo experience a veritable rush of visitors during the summer months, leading to overcrowded paths, traffic problems, increased litter and pressure on natural resources.

Reinhold Messner, the famous South Tyrolean mountaineer, is very critical of this development. In a guest article in the WELT, he did not mince his words: “The Alps as a fun park is a mistake”. He warns that commercialization and mass tourism could destroy the unique mountain landscape.

“On a mountain vacation, everyone wants what they demand in their urban environment: infrastructure, comfort, safety. (…) It is this consumerist attitude that does not fit in the mountains.” – Reinhold Messer

He has also called for the introduction of an entrance fee for the Dolomites and for various measures to reduce traffic congestion and make tourism more environmentally friendly (e.g. car-free).

A recent example of the threat to sensitive natural areas is the construction of a bobsleigh track in Cortina d’Ampezzo for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Although located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this project plans to clear valuable habitats, some of which shelter endangered species. It is a project that illustrates how economic interests and large events put pressure on conservation.

Eco-friendly mobility – the Dolomites without cars

Good news: South Tyrol sets an example for public transportation in Italy. If you want to reach this impressive mountain world without a car, you can take the train or a long-distance bus. Once there, you can also get around by public transport, bike or on foot.

Arrival by train and coach

There are international train connections to Bolzano, Bressanone, Chiusa, Fortezza and Trento. From there you can continue by public transport (see information on guest cards below). Hotels and sustainable accommodation usually offer a shuttle service.

Another cheap and sustainable option is the long-distance coach. FlixBus, for example, offers direct connections to South Tyrol, with stops in Bolzano, Bressanone, Chiusa, Vipiteno, Merano, Lana and Marlengo. Many accommodations are easily accessible from these stops, for example via the “Südtirol Transfer“, which offers a shuttle service to many vacation accommodations.

For more information on new train connections in Italy and how they contribute to sustainable travel, see my article: Italy by Rail – New trains from 2024 to promote sustainable travel.

Guest Cards: Local sustainable mobility

The good news: 90 percent of all accommodations in South Tyrol offer you the South Tyrol Guest Pass or a regional alternative free of charge. With the Guest Pass you can use all buses and trains for free. And that’s not all: many cable cars are also part of the public transport system! 🙂

In addition to the South Tyrol Guest Pass, there is the Val Gardena Guest Pass in Val Gardena, the DolomitiMobil Card in Villnöss, and the Dolomites Active Card for East Tyrol (Austria). These cards are usually included in the price of your room and encourage environmentally friendly transportation during your stay.

Tip: Ask your accommodation provider if you can have the guest card sent to you by the hotel before you arrive, or if they can provide you with login details for an e-version. This will allow you to use the card as soon as you arrive.

Sustainable accommodation in the Dolomites

The Dolomites offer a range of sustainably managed hotels and apartments. Two very special ones are part of the Green PearlsⓇ network.

Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel: Art Hotel on the Seiser Alm

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is not a hotel like any other, but an avant-garde art hotel with an artists’ circle, ongoing contemporary art exhibitions, and 100% vegan cuisine under the direction of Chef Aggeliki Charami (“the rock star of vegan cuisine”).

The hotel is located on the famous Seiser Alm, Europe’s largest high alpine pasture at over 2000 meters. It offers a combination of natural luxury, plant-based cuisine and a holistic sustainability concept. In addition to close proximity to nature and vegan gourmet cuisine, you can enjoy exclusive spa and yoga facilities. Plus, the ski slopes and hiking trails are right outside your door! The hotel is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint and promoting a conscious lifestyle in harmony with nature.

My Arbor – Tree hotel near Brixen on the Plose

Closer to city life is the adults-only hotel My Arbor. Located 15 minutes by car from Brixen, it is a tree hotel built on stilts that blends harmoniously into the forests of the Plose. Its architecture gives you the feeling of living in the treetops, allowing you to combine urban culture with relaxation in nature. The hotel offers modern suites with panoramic views, a spacious spa with indoor and outdoor areas, and a cuisine that uses regional and seasonal products. The proximity of the Plose cable car allows you to reach hiking and skiing areas without a car.

Sustainable enjoyment in the Dolomites – selected restaurants and refuges

The Dolomites offer not only breathtaking scenery, but also culinary experiences that focus on sustainability and local produce.

OMNIA – Vegetarian gourmet cuisine on the Alpe di Siusi

OMNIA, part of the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel, is open to external guests and is a pioneer of vegan cuisine in the Dolomites. The extraordinary restaurant seats only 10 people and offers a 9-course menu for everyone, personally presented by Chef Aggeliki Charami and her team.

Here, Alpine, Mediterranean and Asian flavors merge to create creative, plant-based dishes of the highest quality. Ingredients are primarily sourced from organic farms and the local region, minimizing the environmental footprint.

Profanter Naturbäckerei – Traditional craftsmanship in Brixen

At the Profanter Naturbäckerei, bread is baked with passion and respect for the environment. They only use heirloom grains that are ground in the bakery’s own stone mill without any additives. The bakery in Brixen supplies the Hotel My Arbor, among others, and relies on regional organic ingredients and renewable energy sources in its production.

Here on the blog I interviewed Benjamin Profanter about sustainable bread.

Other sustainable places to enjoy good food

• AlpINN: Located in Bruneck in the Puster Valley in the Dolomites, this is the restaurant of 3-star chef Norbert Niederkofler. Known for his “Cook the Mountain” concept, he creates dishes using local, seasonal ingredients. His longtime sous chef, Berni Aichner, is now head chef at our Green PearlsⓇ partner OLM Nature Escape. An energy self-sufficient aparthotel in Sand in Taufers. Also in South Tyrol, but not in the Dolomites. Berni Aichner regularly hosts cooking events there – most recently together with Reinhold Messner.
  
• Huber Schwaige: “The Huber Schweige hut on the Seiser Alm advertises itself as “home-style cooking straight from the farm”. This traditional alpine hut offers a magnificent view of the Dolomites while serving South Tyrolean specialties.​
• Rifugio Scotoni: This mountain hut has been run by the same family for over 50 years and is known for its authentic cuisine and the use of local ingredients. It is located in the Fanes Group and is an ideal place to stop during a hike..​
• Ütia de Börz: Another mountain hut known for its use of local ingredients. Located at the foot of the Peitlerkofel at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, this hut offers traditional Ladin dishes and is committed to the conscious use of resources.

Experience nature with respect – sustainable activities and highlights in the Dolomites

When you travel in the Dolomites, you quickly realize that the mountains aren’t just for rushing through, but for taking the time to stop and appreciate them. Whether you’re on a panoramic hike, watching the sun rise quietly from the summit, or on a guided wildlife tour, sustainable experiences and slow travel are the order of the day.

#1 Nature Parks

A highlight are the nature parks, such as the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park or the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. They offer well-marked trails, information centers, and guided tours with rangers who provide an in-depth look at alpine flora and fauna.

#2 Mountain Sports

If you prefer something more athletic, you can opt for gentle mountain sports such as rock climbing, biking (on the trails!!!) or ski touring – ideally with certified guides and without motorized assistance if possible.

#3 Wildlife and bird watching

Sunrise game viewing or bird watching are also wonderful ways to connect with nature and learn firsthand that this earth is also inhabited by other creatures that need its habitat! This is best done with local guides and rangers.

The typical wild animals in the Dolomites are:

• Chamois
• Ibex
• Marmot
• Red Deer
• Roe Deer
• Foxes
• Snow Hare

Special bird species:

• Golden Eagle
• Alpine Chough
  
• Black Grouse and Capercaillie (rare, but if you are lucky you may see them)
  
• Eagle Owl
  
• Tawny Owl
  
• Spotted Nutcracker
  
• Wallcreeper
  
• Ring Ouzell

#4 Herbal walks and themed trails

Herbal walks with local experts are a popular way to combine nature and culture. Many regions also offer themed trails, such as the Zans Nature Experience Trail in the Villnöss Valley, which teach knowledge in a playful way.

#5 Skiing

Skiing, at least downhill skiing, isn’t exactly what you’d call slow travel. But since the famous Dolomiti Superski ski area is located here, we wanted to mention it. Dolomiti Superski is one of the largest ski resorts in the Alps. It connects 12 individual ski resorts and about 1,200 kilometers of slopes. Thanks to its location in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a lot is being done here to promote sustainability. (That doesn’t mean there aren’t any snow cannons, though). That’s why we’ve put together 7 tips for a sustainable ski vacation, which you can also apply to a winter vacation in the Dolomites.

Small acts, big effects – your contribution to sustainable travel

We don’t need to tell you again that sustainable tourism depends not only on what is offered, but also on your own behavior. But we’ll tell you anyway 🙂

Besides the usual tips (bring your own water bottle, use public transport, etc.), it’s especially important in the Dolomites to stay on the marked trails to protect the fragile vegetation!

When observing wild animals, keep a safe distance. Do not frighten the animals, do not take pictures with flash or feed them! Tours with local guides are ideal. They know how to behave in nature and around wild animals. They can also tell you a lot of interesting facts. They also know the animals’ favorite places, so you’re more likely to see the rarer inhabitants of the Dolomites.

Tip: Perhaps you may take advantage of your vacation in the Dolomites to try a new way of life, such as a plant-based diet. The hosts of the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel report in an interview that many of their guests do not live a vegan lifestyle at home, but are curious and open to trying a plant-based diet while staying with them. Who knows – you might discover some new favorite dishes.

Conscious, relaxed, and inspiring

The Dolomites are a unique natural and cultural heritage that inspires awe and reflection. Between vegan gourmet cuisine, gentle adventures, and alpine mindfulness, modern tourism can and must work in harmony with nature.

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Sustainable cuisine is complex and in most cases cannot be described in general terms. Is organic always better than local? Should we avoid imports or is it better to support fair trade companies? Is it justifiable to eat meat or fish? And if so, how?

In this article, we will explore different concepts and introduce you to actors who are rethinking sustainable nutrition. At the end of the article, you will find concrete tips on how to make your own diet more sustainable.

Table of Contents

What is sustainable cuisine?

Digression: Is a sustainable diet a healthy diet?

The big questions: What is truly sustainable?

Local vs. organic – which concept makes sense where?

The benefits of local food

The benefits of organic food

Fair Trade vs. Import Bans – Global justice or local economic development?

No vanilla or coffee

APIPURA hotel rinner shows how to find the right balance

Animal Products vs. Plant Based Diets – Is veganism automatically more sustainable?

LA VIMEA created the vegan hotel industry in Italy

Seasonality, short supply chains and carbon footprint

Hotels and restaurants with their own agriculture

Trend concept: Farm-to-Table

Ancient grains and heirloom fruits

Nose-to-Tail and Root-to-Leaf

Waste prevention in gastronomy

1.9 million tons of food waste annually

Zero Waste Buffets

“Only 5 grams of food waste per guest”

Specialties and hot dishes to order

Sustainable Michelin-star cuisine – is it possible?

The Michelin Green Star

Sustainable culinary delights in Bavaria: 2-star restaurant Eisvogel

Vegan Fine Dining at OMNIA Plant-based Restaurant

Global Justice: Who pays the cost of our food?

Food justice and other fair concepts

Sustainable eating in everyday life – what can you do?

Conclusion: Small steps with a big impact

What is sustainable cuisine?

Sustainable cuisine means organizing food and beverage consumption in a way that minimizes environmental impact, conserves resources, reduces emissions and waste, preserves biodiversity, respects animal welfare, and ensures fair and social conditions for all people along the supply chain.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines its vision of sustainable food and agriculture as one in which food is nutritious and accessible to all, and natural resources are managed in ways that sustain ecosystem functions to meet present and future human needs.

This brief definition illustrates the complexity of sustainable cuisine. In addition, there are regional characteristics and – something we don’t want to forget here on our blog – it should also be healthy and taste good! Sustainability alone is not enough when it comes to food, whether at home or in a restaurant or hotel.

Digression: Is a sustainable diet a healthy diet?

Not necessarily. Living on nothing but vegan, fair trade chocolate and organic wine may be okay from a sustainability standpoint, but it won’t improve your health. However, there is a lot of overlap between sustainable and healthy eating.

 

The big questions: What is truly sustainable?

Local vs. organic – which concept makes sense where?

The question of local vs. organic is somewhat controversial. A survey of sustainable hotels and accommodations in the Green Pearls® network shows that most restaurateurs (88.3%) try to implement both, i.e. mostly using regional products that are certified organic. If this is not possible, 46% give priority to regional products, while 11.5% give priority to organic quality.

The benefits of local food:

• Virtually no CO2 emissions from transportation: Imagine that you can buy “FIJI water” in Germany, even though the Fiji Islands are 16,000 km away, or that a hotel in Hong Kong serves its guests VOSS water from Norway. Delicacies such as special figs (each individually wrapped in Styrofoam) travel around the world by air and refrigerated transport. The ecological footprint of such luxury goods is disastrous! Buying local food directly from the producer eliminates emissions, transportation costs and often storage.
• Freshness: Especially hotels with their own agriculture according to the “farm-to-table” concept can cut, process and serve lettuce immediately. This freshness guarantees not only an intense taste, but also the full preservation of nutrients.
• Trust: Many restaurateurs visit the farm and see for themselves how the chickens that lay the eggs live, how the vegetables are grown, and how the workers are treated. Most importantly, they know the personal attitudes and beliefs of the farmer. In many cases, this is more valuable than a label.
• Strengthen your local economy: A hotel, restaurant, or even you are part of a community. By supporting local businesses, you are maintaining good neighborly relations and helping the people in your area.

Disadvantages:

• Local food may come from conventional agriculture, where pesticides are used
• Local farms may be among those that use genetically modified seeds
• Local meat products may come from factory farming (animals are given antibiotics, live in unnatural conditions, unnatural environments, receive high-tech feed, and are tortured)

The benefits of organic food:

• Support for organic farming
• Organic farming works without pesticides: The absence of chemical pesticides is of enormous value, especially for:
  • Your health: No pesticide residues in your food. However, there is no scientific evidence that organic fruits and vegetables contain more vitamins and nutrients. We took a closer look at the research in the article on whether organic food is healthier.
  • The health of field workers by eliminating the need to work with chemicals and potentially harmful substances.
  • Biodiversity: Organic farming has been shown to increase biodiversity. Pesticides not only kill pests, but also beneficial insects.
  • Soil and groundwater protection: Pesticides and fertilizers leach from fields into the soil, entering the water cycle. In organic farming, both soil water and groundwater are measurably less polluted.
  • Soil fertility: is measurably higher than on comparable, conventionally farmed areas.

Disadvantages:

• If organic food is grown on the other side of the world, it has traveled a long way, causing more CO2 emissions.
• The organic label tells us nothing about the working conditions.

We would categorize it as follows:

Best: Regional organic products

Second best: Regional products that may not have an organic label, but where there is a personal relationship with the producer and the conditions under which the animals are raised and the food is produced are known.

Third best: organic food from the wider region (e.g. Europe)

By far the worst: industrial mass production of food (keyword: factory farming) and export products shipped from far away when local alternatives are available.

 

Fair Trade vs. Import Bans – Global justice or local economic development?

The question of whether local is always best brings us directly to the issue of fair trade and the distribution of wealth through trade. Just as there are people and companies in the restaurant industry who buy Fair Trade products to offer their guests variety or a certain level (e.g. in Michelin-starred cuisine), there are also some who refuse to import. Which is the right way? For most, it is a compromise and a constant re-evaluation of the arguments.

No vanilla or coffee

One such chef who completely avoids imports is Ricky Saward of Seven Swans in Frankfurt. He was the first vegan celebrity chef and takes a number of radical approaches, including avoiding almost all spices. Not just vanilla from Madagascar, but pepper, lemon and olive oil.

Would you be willing to limit your diet to local products so consistently? And does it even make sense in terms of the global community? We see a parallel here with travel. If we all just vacationed in our (already quite rich) home countries and nobody traveled further, there would be less emissions from air travel, but an important (and for some countries the most important) economic factor would be lost.

Many people find well-paid, secure jobs in fair trade cooperatives, enabling them to provide for themselves and their families. This income allows children to go to school instead of earning money. It strengthens women’s independence and often supports small or family-run businesses and producers.

APIPURA hotel rinner shows how to find the right balance

We believe the best approach, shared by many of our partners, is to find a middle ground that works for each individual. For example, the APIPURA hotel rinner in South Tyrol is a hotel that is very committed to local organic food. They were one of the first businesses in the region to establish the “Bio Fair Südtirol” label in the hospitality industry. Chef and host Manfred Rinner uses organic meat, vegetables and fruit from the South Tyrol region in his kitchen. The hotel also serves coffee and desserts with chocolate. In this case, care is taken to use fair trade or organic products.

Animal Products vs. Plant Based Diets – Is veganism automatically more sustainable?

The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Meat and dairy products cause by far the highest CO2 emissions. According to a study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu) in Heidelberg, Germany, which compared the environmental impact of around 200 food products in 2020, beef is second only to pineapples shipped by air. According to the study, vegans who eat half an air-transported pineapple for breakfast every day could be committing a greater ecological sin than people who eat a beef steak once a week. But there are far more of the latter than the former. To be honest, we doubt that vegans even exist… What we do know is that there are many, many people who eat butter, cheese, and sausage every day – and who may even eat beef more than once a week.

Incidentally, the study shows something even more important than that flying pineapples have a worse environmental impact than beef: plant-based foods have, on average, a significantly lower carbon footprint than animal products. It is therefore undeniable that sustainable cuisine should focus on plant-based cooking and limit the consumption of meat, fish, milk and eggs. It’s best to cook fresh food as often as possible! Vegan convenience foods (and especially non-vegan convenience foods) also have a fairly high environmental footprint.

LA VIMEA created the vegan hotel industry in Italy

Due to the growing popularity of veganism, more and more sustainable hotels are offering vegetarian and vegan dishes as standard on their menus. However, there are few that consistently and exclusively use vegan products.

The adults-only hotel LA VIMEA in Naturno, South Tyrol, can claim to be the first completely vegan hotel in Italy in 2016. Not only the food, but also all materials and products used in the hotel are vegan. The hostess, Valeria Caldarelli, comes from a long line of hoteliers and discovered the vegan lifestyle herself. Almost the entire family lives a vegan lifestyle – and gently teaches it to their guests. Daughter Franziska opened the first vegan accommodation in Tuscany and sons Maximilian and Alexander opened the first vegan hotel on the Seiser Alm.

Seasonality, short supply chains and carbon footprint

The products with the smallest ecological footprint are the plant-based products that are in season where you live. So, eating sustainably also means eating seasonally.

Hotels and restaurants with their own agriculture

There are a few hotels and restaurants that use their own products in their kitchens. The ADLER Lodge RITTEN and the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA are exemplary in this respect. During the planning and construction of the latter, agricultural fields and gardens were taken into account, from which the hotel kitchen can directly obtain products. A few years ago, a diversified cottage garden was created on the Ritten, tended by the young farmers of the area. They cultivate what is native to the area and grows well there. In Sicily, for example, they grow oranges and lemons, while in South Tyrol they cultivate tubers such as potatoes and beets.

The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm in Nepal has even managed to convert the surrounding fields into certified organic farms. Local farmers have received special training and the resort provides them with a direct market for their organic produce.

Trend concept: Farm-to-Table.

There are now a number of terms that describe the concept of hotels and restaurants with their own agriculture, as explained above:

• Farm-to-table – This term, probably the best known, describes the direct link between agricultural production and gastronomy. Ideally, the chef picks up the produce directly from the field.
• Farm-to-Fork – Similar to farm-to-table, this term emphasizes an extremely short supply chain from the field to the kitchen to the diner’s plate (or fork).
• Field-to-Fork – is another expression for this.
• Zero-Kilometer-Food– This term, used primarily in Italy and Spain, means that food is sourced locally, which not only ensures it is seasonal and fresh, but also minimizes transportation emissions.
• Garden-to-Table – This is a term used specifically for hotels and restaurants that have their own garden or small farm.
• Pasture-to-Plate – Specific to sustainably raised meat and dairy products.
• Hyperlocal Food – A modern term for food that is produced and consumed locally, often on the premises of a hotel or restaurant.

Ancient grains and heirloom fruits

In this context, we would like to mention another trend in sustainable cuisine. For many people, it is not just a matter of using locally grown produce that is organically grown, but also of preserving and using natural ingredients

Benjamin Profanter, a natural baker from Brixen, uses and recommends baking breads from ancient grains. Heirloom grains are grains that were grown before industrial agriculture. According to Benjamin, heirloom grains are ideal for organic farming because they do not require pesticides and herbicides, unlike highly bred grains. From a nutritional and psychological point of view, heirloom grains are also better because they contain more nutrients.

The Bread Sommelier supplies his all-natural bakery to two of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ partners in the region: My Arbor, a wellness hotel built on stilts in the treetops, and OLM Nature Escape, an energy-independent aparthotel in the middle of nature.

Nose-to-Tail and Root-to-Leaf.

Another interesting thing about sustainable cuisine is that, as far as possible, EVERYTHING is used from the slaughtered animal or food. Offal, for example, went out of fashion for a long time, but is now coming back with the idea of sustainability. One proponent of the nose-to-tail concept is chef Manuel Madei of Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich. In our culinary guide to Bavaria, he recommends classic Bavarian dishes like “Saures Lüngerl” and “Leberknödelsuppe”. 

Modern chefs (who still prepare meat) are beginning to boil down bones for broth and turn the fat back into lard. The landlord of Gut Sonnenhausen, Georg Schweisfurth, is a trained butcher himself and gets his meat from nearby organic partner farms of the Herrmannsdorfer Landwerkstätten.

Root to Leaf is a similar concept for plants, using the leaves, stems and skins to create chips, vegetable broths, unusual garnishes and more.

Waste prevention in gastronomy

From root to leaf or nose to tail, it is not difficult to make the connection to waste management. After all, holistic recycling is part of the Zero Waste Cooking concept, which declares war on food waste in the restaurant industry. But packaging waste is also a huge problem. Preventing both touches every aspect of a restaurant, hotel, café, or even your home:

• Planning
• Purchasing
• Storage
• Training staff (or training other family members in the household)
• Presenting the dishes
• Involving guests

1.9 million tons of food waste annually

In Germany alone, 1.9 million tons of food is thrown away every year, according to the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband. According to the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), food waste at buffets is a particularly big problem.

Zero Waste Buffets

Sustainable accommodations, such as those in the Green Pearls® network, have sophisticated concepts to avoid waste and wastefulness at the hotel breakfast buffet.

“Only 5 grams of food waste per guest”

The Hotel Luise in Erlangen, for example, has managed to ensure that each guest leaves an average of just five grams of food at the breakfast buffet. An “intelligent plate allocation with small plates” is particularly effective. At the end of breakfast, the trays are not automatically replenished, but the staff actively asks the guests what they would like. Another slice of cheese? Another slice of cheese. Whatever is left over from the buffet is distributed among the staff at the end.

Specialties and hot dishes to order

The combination of buffet and table service has proven to be a good solution for many restaurants and accommodations. The Lifestylehotel SAND at the Baltic Sea, for example, has a buffet and a front cooking station where egg dishes are freshly prepared on request. This also makes it economically viable to use high-quality organic eggs.

At the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, you can also experience an exemplary zero-waste buffet. For example, there is no disposable packaging. Instead of portions of butter, there is a butter machine, and instead of packaged jams, there are small jars. You won’t find any disposable plastic, only organic products. Food waste from the kitchen (even cooked food) goes to ReFood. The company uses the organic waste to produce electricity, heat, organic fertilizer, and biodiesel. Composting and recycling with subsequent reuse, for example, in vegetable growing, is also known as circular gastronomy.

Sustainable Michelin-star cuisine – is it possible?

Cuisine cannot be about sustainability alone. Taste and enjoyment are always part of it. However, to this day, there is a misconception in the fine dining industry that “exquisite ingredients” must come from far away.

South Tyrolean three-star chef Norbert Niederkofler, who has sustainably revolutionized Italian haute cuisine, proves that this is not true. With his “Cook the Mountain” concept, he pursues a philosophy based exclusively on seasonal and regional ingredients. He places great emphasis on respecting natural cycles and reducing waste to a minimum..

His consistent focus on sustainability has been recognized many times: in addition to the three Michelin stars, his former restaurant St. Hubertus also received a Green Star, which is awarded for special commitment to sustainability. Incidentally, Berni Aichner was Norbert Niederkofler’s sous chef for many years. He is now the executive chef at OLM Nature Escape.

The Michelin Green Star

The Green Michelin Star was introduced in 2020, recognizing restaurants that stand out for their environmentally friendly operations and respectful use of natural resources. Criteria for this award include using local and seasonal products, reducing food waste, and using energy-saving technologies. ​

​

“We wanted to give more visibility to restaurateurs who focus on sustainability and recognize them for their efforts” – Director of the Michelin Guide for Germany, Austria and Switzerland in conversation with Green Pearls®.

 

Sustainable culinary delights in Bavaria: 2-star restaurant Eisvogel

The Eisvogel restaurant, part of the 5-star Der Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort wellness hotel in Bavaria, also shows that sustainability and Michelin-star cuisine are not mutually exclusive.

Chef Sebastian Obendorfer – a member of the host family – runs the two-Michelin-starred restaurant with great devotion to the region and the seasons. His philosophy: modern German cuisine with deep roots in the Upper Palatinate and international influences.

The dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients from mostly small, regional producers, wild herbs that grow in the surrounding forests, or fish from nearby waters. Careful preparation and short transport routes are also consistently observed. Still, the hotel cannot do without imports. In some areas, guest expectations stand in the way. However, in combination with the resort’s overall sustainable concept – from renewable energy to regional architecture and plastic-free room furnishings – the Eisvogel is a prime example of what responsible gourmet cuisine can look like today.

Vegan Fine Dining at OMNIA Plant-based Restaurant

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Seiser Alm has been home to the OMNIA restaurant since December 2024, a project dear to the hearts of Chef Aggeliki Charami and the two hotel managers, Maximilian and Alexander. There are only six tables and a special dining experience with nine vegan courses, each personally explained by the chef. Vegan cuisine is still rarely awarded with stars, but it doesn’t necessarily need them for an exclusive fine dining experience. What do you think?

Global Justice: Who pays the cost of our food?

Sustainable cooking does not end with the product – it also takes a critical look at the global context of food. Often, it is others who pay the price for our (cheap) food: people working in precarious conditions in agriculture or food production, often without fair wages or adequate occupational safety.

At the same time, many people around the world are denied access to healthy, sustainable food due to economic, geographic or social barriers. The massive food waste mentioned above, which occurs primarily in wealthy countries, is also an ethical issue: while we throw away tons of food, millions of people around the world go hungry.

More and more culinary concepts are addressing these challenges. The Planetary Diet, for example, focuses on a diet with the lowest possible carbon footprint. In the self-test of the Planetary Diet app, we found that, in addition to meat, chocolate bars are also big emitters. Regenerative Cuisine supports farmers who use regenerative methods to conserve and even restore soil, water, and biodiversity.

Food justice and other fair concepts

Sustainable cuisine also focuses on social aspects – or at least it should. Food justice advocates for fair conditions in food production and fair distribution. Other approaches to promoting global justice in the food system include:

• Slow Food – A counter-movement to fast food with a focus on local food and traditional craftsmanship.
• Ethical Eating – Eating with ethical considerations, e.g., fair trade, animal-friendly products.
• Blue Economy – Sustainable use of marine resources in the culinary arts.

Technological and practical solutions, such as solar cooking, also show how conscious cooking can be made more energy sustainable.

Sustainable eating in everyday life – what can you do?

As you can see, the issue is complex and not nearly as private or personal as we sometimes imagine. Sustainable cuisine and sustainable nutrition always take place in the context of our society and our planet. This may sound big and confusing, and like it might ruin your appetite, but don’t worry! There are some simple choices you can make in your everyday life that will make your culinary enjoyment a little more sustainable.

#1 Use leftovers creatively

Get creative with what you already have around the house. Use vegetable scraps to make soup, toast old bread, or turn them into breadcrumbs or dumplings. Plan your grocery shopping to minimize leftovers, and freeze leftovers before they go bad.

#2 Buy local and seasonal produce or grow your own

Locally grown food travels farther and often has a smaller carbon footprint. Seasonal calendars can help you buy local fruits and vegetables at the right time of year. Or you can go to the market and be inspired by what’s available. It tastes fresher – and you’re supporting local businesses.

You can also grow your own herbs and vegetables. Here are some tips for planning a raised bed. But be careful: urban gardening is not always better than its regional counterpart at the market.

#3 Look for seals – and understand them

Not every green label represents true sustainability. Learn what the organic, fair trade, or MSC seals mean. Choose products with credible and comprehensive certifications such as Demeter, Naturland, or Bioland.

For example, Utopia’s seal guide gives you a good overview.

#4 Explore alternatives

Sustainable living is an ongoing process, and you will always learn something new. Be open to new products. Try the soda or cola from the local brewery instead of the sugary varieties from the soft drink giants. Instead of orange juice, try other (local) fruit juices. And how about mushrooms instead of chicken?

#5 Boycott crazy luxury trends

Example: Voss or FIJI water. Such products come from far away, have a devastating impact on the environment, and in the vast majority of cases are completely unnecessary. Tap water in Germany, for example, is strictly controlled and usually of excellent quality. It’s better to invest in a water filter (if you live in an area with very hard water) and a nice, reusable bottle for when you’re out and about.

Likewise, you don’t have to try every ice cream flavor from Korea that goes viral on social media. Sure, it tastes delicious, but really, come on?

#6 Radically reduce meat consumption – or go vegetarian or vegan

From an environmental point of view, going vegan right away is definitely the best decision. However, we understand that this is not an option or possible for everyone. If you don’t want to give up meat or animal products completely, choosing to eat only local organic meat can make a big difference. Such meat (and other animal products of higher organic quality) is considerably more expensive, and for that reason alone, you will buy it less often and enjoy it more consciously. Find a source in your area. Avoid all meat products in the supermarket, as well as any meat whose origin you do not know (e.g. the salami on a pizza).

Conclusion: Small steps with a big impact

Sustainable food is more than a private project – it is a community effort. Restaurateurs, hoteliers, and producers have as much responsibility as we do as consumers. Every conscious purchase, every saved food item, and every plate without factory-farmed meat is a contribution to a more just and ecological food system. Of course, we realize that we as individuals cannot necessarily save the world. But every climate- and society-friendly decision is an important step in the right direction.

Our Green Pearls® partners demonstrate that sustainability and enjoyment are not mutually exclusive. Every day, they prove that respectful use of resources, fair conditions, and culinary excellence can go hand in hand. And that is exactly the kind of change we need – at all levels.

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What is TCM, exactly?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of healing methods (from different eras) that originated in China. The most famous of these is acupuncture, which is now in widespread use throughout the world. Elements of Taoist philosophy and some perspectives that clearly contradict Western research have not been adopted in the “West”, but a reference to “Qi” as “life energy” has.

Sustainable wellness hotels with a TCM approach

At the following Green PearlsⓇ hotels, you can discover and try TCM and other healing methods. They all share a sustainable approach to human health and, more broadly, to the health of nature.

#1 Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten – TCM expertise on the Mosel

At the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten, everything revolves around your health and relaxation – according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The hotel is fully committed to this healing method and offers a variety of treatments, from acupuncture and cupping to personalized nutrition and exercise programs.

It is best to begin your stay with a personalized analysis. Ingrid Grubisik is the hotel’s experienced TCM therapist. With her extensive training and years of practice, she will help you address your individual needs.

Personalized and sustainable

During a personal interview and physical tests, you will be given a plan for your stay (as well as for the time after you return home). This includes a nutritional plan based on the Five Elements (5 Element cuisine is also part of the hotel concept) and recommendations for appropriate exercises and treatments.

The wellness hotel on the Moselle River has several pools, a large natural swimming pond and a sauna world. The water flows in a cycle developed with a Feng Shui master from Beijing. The hotel itself is designed according to Feng Shui principles and is a confirmed place of power.

#2 SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA: Medical Qigong for Inner Balance

If you are looking for more inner balance, you are also in good hands at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb. Your host, Stephan Bode, has integrated some of Buddha’s maxims into his life and hotel concept and founded a “Selfness Center“. Here you will find a large wellness area with a thermal swimming pool and a view of the Black Forest, in addition to yoga, Black Forest baths and fast diets.

Qigong with Master Khim

Qigong is an important part of TCM. It contains elements of martial arts – but with very slow and mindful movements.

Qigong stimulates the flow of qi, or life energy. External movement and internal stillness merge according to the principle of yin and yang.

At SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA you have the opportunity to book private lessons with Master Khim. He learned Qigong from Grand Master Prof. Li Shao Bo (Zhen-Qi Yun Xing Research Institute China) and is the only official representative of medical Qigong in Germany.

#3 Biohotel Grafenast: Qigong in the Tyrolean Mountains

There is another wonderful Green PearlsⓇ hotel in the Tyrolean mountains that combines Far Eastern healing methods with Western wellness treatments. Like the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten, Biohotel Grafenast was designed according to Feng Shui principles and is considered a place of power along with its surroundings.

Here you can book Qigong with Sabine as a private lesson. Her training focuses on strengthening and relaxing the spine. It stimulates the metabolism and digestion and can also help with insomnia.

• You can find out more by reading this PDF document about the range of treatments offered.

#4 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA: Acupuncture in Sicily

Dr. Letterio Taormina is a specialist in general medicine, but has also studied the “traditional healing methods of the East”. He is trained in Chinese acupuncture and his programs combine Western medicine with TCM. The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located on a WWF protected natural beach and is a wonderfully luxurious yet naturally designed hideaway on the island of Sicily.

On offer are: Detox, Mediterranean Health, Stress Management, Sleep Therapy and Longeviti Booster

• Click here to view the health and wellness programs at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA 

Green PearlsⓇ Hotels with other traditional healing methods

There are many more sustainable hotels among our partners that offer traditional or alternative healing methods. So if TCM is not for you, but you are still looking for alternatives or complements to conventional medicine, you may find what you are looking for.

#5 OCÉANO F. X. Mayr Center: Detoxification and Regeneration

The OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel on Tenerife combines F.X. Mayr’s therapeutic fasting with naturopathic methods such as acupuncture and oxygen therapy (as complementary treatments). Located on the north coast, the hotel offers a perfect environment for relaxation, tranquility and inner cleansing in a less touristy corner of the island. Facing the Atlantic Ocean and with a large seawater pool, the hotel has a close relationship with the sea, which is reflected in the thalassotherapy services offered at the HEALTH SPA. You will also be able to work out an exercise program with a therapist. The Health Hotel has a large fitness center and offers personal training, yoga classes and other exercise programs.

• Learn more about the F. X. Mayr program.

#6 LA VIMEA: Ayurveda and energy work in a vegan hotel

The vegan hotel LA VIMEA in South Tyrol focuses on Ayurveda, meditation and chakra work. This adults-only hotel has a swimming pond, indoor saltwater pool, and barrel sauna where you can relax. Daily yoga classes are offered (outdoors when the weather is nice), and you can also participate in singing bowl massages and forest bathing.

• Here you will find LA VIMEA’s yoga and meditation offers. You can also book various massages with Sylwia Patriok.
  

The hotel focuses on healthy and tasty plant-based cuisine. This can be an interesting experience even for non-vegans.

#7 STURM: Shiatsu and energetic massages

At STURM in Mellrichstadt, shiatsu treatments and holistic energetic massages help to balance the flow of energy. Shiatsu is a Japanese finger pressure massage technique and is performed at STURM by shiatsu practitioners Carmen and Sabine.

Nestled in the Rhön, the hotel is an ideal place to relax and recharge your batteries. The STURM has a large wellness area with a garden sauna, a house of silence and a swimming pond.

• Here you will find the wellness treatment program such as 1:1 breathing sessions or day retreats.

#8 Keemala, Phuket: Thai Rainforest Retreats

Keemala Resort offers customized retreats with holistic healing treatments, soothing massages and movement exercises. The tranquil setting in the middle of a tropical rainforest promotes sustainable healing. A leader in plastic-free and zero-waste practices, the resort also offers healthy, creative cuisine sourced from its own garden.

• Learn more about the retreats: Purify, Energize, Unwind and Rejuvenate

Why should you combine your vacation with TCM?

A vacation is the perfect opportunity to take care of yourself and balance your body and mind. In our busy lives, we often neglect to take the time to really listen to our needs, but this is the key to long-term wellness. According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, health is regained when inner harmony and balance are restored. This is what you can experience at a hotel specializing in TCM (or other healing modalities).

We hope that you have found the right place among the hotels presented here – for a break that will have an impact not only on your vacation, but also on your everyday life.

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1.5 degree climate goal – what was that again?

The 1.5-degree goal stems from the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. Where nearly all of the world’s nations signed an agreement to limit man-made climate change to an average global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The rapid rise in temperature since industrialization, along with scientific recognition that greenhouse gases like CO₂ from burning coal trap heat in the atmosphere, provides evidence that human activity drives the greenhouse effect. These gases accumulate because natural storage systems, such as swamps and forests, cannot absorb them fast enough.

Ten years ago (in 2015), this goal was considered achievable. The rough roadmap was this. Humanity as a whole must significantly reduce its CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This would allow humanity to live relatively safely on planet Earth as we know it until 2100. Now we are still at the (relative) beginning of the century – and global warming has NOT been stopped.

Has the climate goal been abandoned? And what does that mean?

The 1.5-degree Celsius goal is not out of the question. Even if 2024 is the hottest year in human history, there is still a chance that the temperature will drop again. That’s what Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo told Reuters. For that to happen, countries would have to cut their emissions quickly and drastically to prevent them from rising to catastrophic levels.

“The matter is not yet settled. It is in our hands to change the course of events from now on.” – Copernicus-Direktor Carlo Buontempo

1.5 degrees vs. 2 degrees

However, some are saying that the 1.5-degree goal has been abandoned and a 2-degree goal is more realistic. According to an IPCC special report cited by WWF, half a degree will have far more serious consequences for the planet, people, and living things. For example, at 1.5 degrees, 6 percent of insects are expected to become extinct – at 2 degrees, the figure is 18 percent!

At 1.5 degrees, the probability of flooding increases by 100 percent (doubling); at 2 degrees, it increases by 170 percent. The reason for this calculation: warmer air can absorb more water vapor, which is why there is more heavy rain.

If the average temperature on our planet rises by more than 2 degrees, it is quite possible that the consequences will be uncontrollable and impossible to manage.

How do you notice the effects of global warming when you travel?

As travelers, we care about the weather not just at home but also in other countries. A single extreme weather event. Say a flood, a drought, a forest fire… these things have always happened (by the way, this is one of the main arguments of climate change deniers). But new records for extreme weather (do the math to see how many hundred-year floods we’ve already had) in so many places around the world? From a scientific point of view, this has never happened before.

Climate indicators while traveling

As you travel, you can see climate change firsthand in some places. One important climate indicator is glaciers, such as those found in the European Alps.

#1 Glaciers

In our blog article on glaciers, we report on the extent of glacier melt using three examples in Switzerland and Austria. Here, for example, we introduce Fabienne Anthamatten from the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, who found an 8,000-year-old larch tree on a (now exposed) glacier field. In Zermatt, you have the Gorner Glacier right on your doorstep. So, you can see this important climate indicator with your own eyes.

According to Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss Glacier Measuring Service, if global warming stops at 1.5°C, only 300 of the current 1,400 glacier fields will remain by the end of the century. If we reach 3.2°C of global warming in the next 70 years (which is what the German Federal Environmental Agency says will happen if we continue at the current rate), there will be no glaciers left in the future.

And if you know people who shrug when you bring this up. Remind them that warmer winters (and disappearing glaciers!) have a direct impact on winter sports. Check out the Sustainable Skiing article to learn how resorts are already using artificial snow on a massive scale and what that means for the environment.

#2 Sea Level

A direct consequence of melting glaciers and melting icebergs at both poles is sea level rise.

Depending on the degree of global warming, sea levels will rise. According to an ICPP report, the sea level will rise by 29 cm to 84 cm by 2100, but could reach as high as 200 cm (i.e. 2 meters)!

Rising sea levels pose a direct threat to many island nations, such as the Maldives. They are the lowest lying country in the world and consist of over 1,000 coral islands. Its highest elevation (on the main island of Male) is only 2.4 meters.

Read more in our article on threatened islands. At the same time, you will learn about tourism projects such as the Green PearlsⓇ partner resort Gili Lankanfushi. Here, you can enjoy a vacation on stunning beaches while also participating in the resort’s marine biology center. Opportunities for involvement include seagrass planting, coral restoration, and reef cleaning.

#3 Biodiversity

A 2023 study reveals a major threat to biodiversity on our planet. Worldwide, approximately 2 million species of animals and plants face the threat of extinction, with invertebrates being particularly affected. These include small animals such as insects. In our article on the decline of insects, entomologist Dietmar Borbe warns of dire consequences:

“Insects are at the top of the food chain. If we destroy everything at the bottom of a food pyramid, everything will eventually collapse.” – Biologe Dietmar Borbe

Hotels are often accused of destroying and spoiling nature (think of the ugly hotel blocks that line the beach). But there are hotels that are doing a lot to protect species. The STURM in Mellrichstadt, Germany, for example, has created a 3,500-square-meter natural “nosh garden” with numerous fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs and flowering plants, as well as a natural swimming pond that serves as a wetland biotope. Care was also taken to avoid sealing the soil unnecessarily and to allow guests to consciously enjoy nature.

#4 Justice

While poor people in the Sahel region of central Africa or southern India are already suffering from global warming, the effects of climate change in the Western industrialized countries are still far away. The rich have many more options to avoid a catastrophe, to protect themselves or to make their lives more comfortable with various extras (e.g. air conditioning).

Climate change is driving people into poverty

A World Bank background report on the link between climate change and poverty to 2030 predicts that between 32 and 132 million people will fall into extreme poverty by 2030 as a result of climate change. According to the report, those who spend a large proportion of their income on food will be particularly hard hit.

At the same time, a summary of an IPCC report by the German Federal Environment Agency states that “people with high socioeconomic status contribute disproportionately to climate change.

To put it bluntly: The rich produce more emissions than the poor, while the poor suffer far more from the effects of climate change. This is a double injustice – and the gap is widening.

When it comes to climate change, this fact should not be ignored. The crux of the matter is that tourism is an important economic sector for many poor countries. Sometimes it is the only one. So if those who can afford to travel (i.e. the rich) stop traveling to the Global South in order to reduce emissions, this is ecologically understandable and correct, but it is not necessarily a socially sustainable solution. This topic is very complex and complicated, which is why we have dedicated a separate blog article to it, where you can learn more about the social dimension of travel sustainability and get to know projects that support it.

How does my travel affect climate change?

According to UNWTO, tourism is a fast-growing sector that accounts for a significant share of global emissions. Travel to and from the destination accounts for the largest share, followed by accommodation.

“The share of greenhouse gas emissions caused by global tourism is currently estimated at 8%, with three-quarters of these emissions caused by the use of transport” (WWF, citing UNWTO).

When it comes to the accomondation itself, there are several factors to consider. It starts with the construction, the choice and use of materials and furnishings, and it doesn’t end with the energy consumption during operation. The latter, however, takes up the most space when it comes to calculating environmental impact.

Other important sustainability factors include food sourcing (local organic vs. imported), waste management, fair treatment of employees, and ensuring that the accommodation contributes to the well-being of the local community.

Sustainable accommodation are committed to fighting global warming

If you want to travel in an era of global warming, you should consider the emissions that come with it. This includes: 

• Arrival and Departure
• Local transportation
• Accommodation

At Green PearlsⓇ, we introduce you to sustainable hotels and vacation rentals that are committed to reducing emissions from tourism. A good example is the Hotel Milano Scala in Milan. This city hotel in the Italian metropolis is accessible by train from all European cities and by direct flight from many international airports.

Zero Emissions Hotel

Hotel Milano Scala was the first zero-emissions hotel in the city. Opened in 2010 in the Brera art district (near La Scala), it was created by renovating an existing building. The hotel was also designed to be powered entirely by renewable energy (geothermal probes).

“We are committed to using only renewable energy, promoting sustainable transportation, and reducing waste in all areas of our operations.” – Elisa Trinchi vom Hotel Milano Scala

This modern city hotel, with its green facades and inviting roof terrace, has also invested in innovative solutions. A heat recovery air conditioning system has reduced energy consumption by 35-45% compared to conventional systems.

In South Tyrol, the energy-independent OLM Nature Escape Aparthotel opened at the end of 2023. Here, too, geothermal probes are used for sustainable energy generation. In addition, there are photovoltaic systems and a sophisticated water recycling system.

The round building of the OLM Nature Escape blends harmoniously into the alpine landscape of Sand in Taufers. You will stay in suites made of local larch wood, each with its own kitchen and some even with its own mini spa and sauna. It’s a great example of how, even in these times of global warming, you don’t have to sacrifice luxury for a sustainable vacation 🙂

Climate friendly hotels in Germany

In Germany, too, there are examples of green hotels that are leading the way in the age of climate change. The Hotel Luise in Erlangen is run by the third generation with a clear focus on the environment and climate protection. “Renewable hotel rooms, astronaut showers with minimal water consumption, and a microforest to improve the climate are just a few examples of how the hotel and its current manager, Ben Förtsch, are leading by example.

Not only is the hotel taking steps to offset the emissions it produces, but it is also taking steps that do more to help the climate than harm it. (We will discuss offsetting in more detail in the next section.)

In Freiburg im Breisgau, the Green City Hotel Vauban is an excellent starting point for a combined city and nature vacation. You have the Black Forest on your doorstep and are close to Strasbourg and Basel. Also, you can easily reach the hotel by train and tram. You will also receive a free ticket for local transportation.

According to the hotel, the energy consumption of the Green City Hotel Vauban is at least 60% below the permissible primary energy requirement of the German Energy Saving Ordinance. There is a photovoltaic system on the roof and electricity is supplied by a local woodchip heating plant.

“Climate Neutral” – A Greenwashed PR Lie?

Carbon neutral flying, carbon neutral accommodation, carbon neutral skin cream – you’ve probably heard it all before. The climate goals of the UN Climate Change Conference mentioned at the beginning of this article also call for individual countries to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The reason the terms “climate-neutral” or “climate-positive” have come under fire is that many people have taken the easy way out. In other words, company XY continues business as usual while leasing a piece of rainforest to offset its activities and emissions on paper. This oversimplifies a complex problem, as anyone can see..

Planting trees is not enough!

Forests and trees are very important for our climate, as trees store CO2 and also provide important habitat. However, climate protection cannot only be achieved through forest protection and reforestation. The offsetting company Atmosfair has therefore decided against forest projects.

“Even if you planted all the empty spaces on our planet with trees today, it would solve maybe 20% of the climate problem. But for that to happen, the trees would have to be there by the end of the century. And that’s the problem. – Dietrich Brockhagen, CEO of Atmosfair, told NDR

Forest fires and pest infestations can prevent trees from surviving their planned 50 to 100 years. When trees burn, they release the emissions they had stored back into the atmosphere.

Atmosfair therefore focuses on projects such as switching to modern cooking solutions for population groups that previously cooked with firewood. This reduces the need for wood (more trees remain standing) and improves the air quality in their homes.

However, avoiding emissions is more important than offsetting them. That means avoiding emissions in the first place. For example, by using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Or by buying energy-efficient appliances, buying local food, or eating legumes instead of meat. Unavoidable emissions can only be offset through meaningful climate projects in the second step.

Conclusion – Traveling in times of climate change

“We are all called upon to contribute to climate protection and should take responsibility for our own ecological footprint and thus for our CO₂ emissions. This also includes rethinking our own travel and consumer behavior according to the motto ‘avoid emissions if possible, but at least minimize them'” – Stefany Seipp, founder of Green PearlsⓇ

We travel because we love this world, we find it beautiful, and we want to see more of it. Traveling helps us discover other cultures, reconnect with nature, get out of our daily routines, and get to know ourselves better. Traveling has many positive effects. However, we should not forget that global tourism contributes to global warming. This makes it all the more important that we act consciously. If we do not, we could endanger the places we travel to.

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#1 Flying is the greatest climate sin, or: Those who fly cannot be sustainable

Aviation is not the primary source of emissions. According to an IEA 2023 report, the main source of carbon emissions is the energy sector, particularly the burning of coal. The report also shows that the use of renewable energy has already brought measurable improvements.

Even in a global comparison of transportation modes, air travel does not come out on top. As Statista calculated on the basis of the IEA report, air traffic is responsible for just under 3 percent of global CO2 emissions, while road traffic is responsible for around 16 percent. The reason is obvious: few people, about 10 or 11 percent of the world’s population, fly at all. According to one study, just 1 percent of this elite group of frequent flyers is responsible for more than 50 percent of aviation emissions.

But these facts do not change the fact that air travel is by far the most polluting mode of transportation. So flying may not be the biggest, but it is still a climate sin. Especially if you fly a lot or fly short distances.

Consideration of social sustainability

But it is wrong to say that air travel is inherently unsustainable. Imagine if people in the richest countries in the world only vacationed in their own backyards – the money would just stay in those countries. Tourism is a major contributor to the distribution of wealth. (In countries like the Maldives, tourism accounts for a significant portion of gross domestic product, according to GIZ figures).

Sustainability not only includes environmental protection, but also the social sustainability pillar. Of course, it is important to be mindful of where and what we spend money on when we are on vacation. After all, if we eat at international franchise restaurants, we can do the same at home. The effect is the same..

#2 The train is always late and useless as a means of transportation

We’ve all had the experience of the train being late – and because we were so upset, it may have overshadowed the times the train arrived on time.

In fact, in 2023, 64% of long-distance trains in Germany arrived “on time” (i.e. with a maximum delay of 6 minutes). Delays of more than 60 minutes or cancellations occurred in 2.4 percent of cases. Of course, there is room for improvement, but we cannot talk about “always”

Train punctuality in Europe – Germany ranks 12th

According to surveys conducted in 2022, Germany ranks 12th in Europe, while Switzerland is the European leader. 96.3% of its trains are on time. In Denmark the figure is 91 percent and in the Netherlands 90.5 percent.

The train is fast and comfortable

Many calculations show that you can travel faster by train than by plane – for example, from downtown Cologne to downtown Paris – the trip to and from the airport, including the entire check-in process, takes significantly more time. In terms of comfort, you can travel more comfortably in a modern train than in a row on an airplane (compare 2nd class and economy tickets).

Tip: Sustainable hotels often assist with train travel and, like the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, offer complimentary shuttle service, a first-class upgrade, or other amenities. Learn more in this article. Find the best night train routes here.

#3 Long-distance buses and carpools are only for young people

The Federal Environment Agency’s emissions comparison (2022) shows that long-distance coach travel is at least as environmentally friendly as train travel. As we have shown in our blog article on long-distance coach travel, coach travel is also very affordable and particularly suitable for city trips, such as to the zero-emissions Hotel Milano Scala in Milan (a great hotel with a roof terrace right in the city center) or to the Green Spirit Hotels in Paris (Hotel Malar, Hotel Le Pavillon, Hotel Amelié – all individual, sustainable boutique hotels in the central 7th arrondissement).

Carpooling also makes a significant contribution to reducing per capita emissions. And it is simply not true that if you are over 40, you can no longer travel by bus or carpool. In Germany, Flixbus has made long-distance bus travel attractive to the masses, and in other countries (I know this from Brazil, for example), long-distance bus travel is a perfectly normal way to travel for all age groups.

#4 Sustainable hotels are not stylish

This is not hard to prove. Just look at the Green Pearls® page! Many Green PearlsⓇ accommodations have won design awards. Recent examples include:

• The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt received the German Design Award 2023. The Swiss hotel on the Matterhorn combines a cosmopolitan, natural style with a recurring nomadic element.
• The OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers in South Tyrol is the winner of the IONIC Architecture Award 2024. The circular architecture of the eco-apartment hotel blends perfectly into the landscape and is also completely energy self-sufficient.
• The garden view rooms at STURM in Mellrichstadt have been awarded the Best Architects Award 24. They were designed by German architect Professor Matthias Loebermann, with whom the hotel has already collaborated on the design of the main building façade and some of the interiors. The hotel in Mellrichstadt features a natural swimming pond, a large snack garden, and you can enjoy a vacation close to nature near the Rhön Biosphere Reserve.

#5 Sustainable travel is expensive

Not true. Some aspects may be more expensive – organic meat, for example, costs significantly more than commercially produced meat. But the difference in quality is also clearly noticeable here, reports Manfred Rinner, junior chef and chef de cuisine at the APIPURA hotel rinner.

The APIPIRA hotel rinner on the Ritten is BIO FAIR South Tyrol certified, and although only organic food is used, an overnight stay in this sustainable hotel costs less than 100 Euros! This is made possible by the fact that the hotel works and calculates in a very optimized way and is run by the Rinner family as a personal heart project.

For more tips on how to travel sustainably on a budget, check out this article on low-budget travel.

#6 Sustainable hotels do not offer comfort and luxury

A spa area with a heated outdoor pool and sauna landscape naturally requires a lot of energy. But at a sustainable wellness hotel like Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, that energy is 100% green electricity and heat.

The family-run wellness hotel uses an ultra-modern wood-chip heating system on the old monastery walls (currently provided by the town of Seefeld, but the hotel is planning its own system using wood from its own forest). In addition, the 5-star hotel receives energy from several photovoltaic systems and from green electricity suppliers that do not use fossil fuels.

At Hotel Klosterbräu, you will find a 3,500-square-foot spa area with a heated outdoor pool, a panoramic rooftop pool, seven saunas, nine dining areas, and all the luxurious bells and whistles, while always ensuring that materials, ingredients, and energy are renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

And, of course, this is just one of many examples.

#7 Sustainable gastronomy doesn’t use exquisite ingredients

We relegate another such statement to the realm of myth. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “exquisite” comes from Latin and means “selected. When it comes to ingredients and dishes, the word indicates that something is “excellent” and “of exquisite quality. It does not mean that something has been imported from 14,000 kilometers away.

Sebastian Obendorfer of Restaurant Eisvogel at Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort has two Michelin stars. Known for his reinterpretation of German cuisine, he and his family run the Bavarian 5-star hotel and 2-star restaurant with a focus on sustainability.

Or how about trying vegan fine dining? The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Seiser Alm in the Dolomites in South Tyrol recently opened OMNIA, a modern restaurant serving high-quality vegetarian cuisine. It is run by renowned chef Aggeliki Charami.

#8 There is no air conditioning in eco-hotels.

It would be nice. After all, as Our World In Data reports, air conditioning consumes 7 percent of the world’s electricity and causes 2.7 percent of global CO2 emissions. That makes it just as bad as flying!

As we reported in our blog article on hotels that cool without air conditioning, sustainable hotels and resorts such as the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA primarily use modern construction and insulation techniques to ensure that the rooms have natural heat and cold regulation. Modern does not necessarily mean technical hybrid fibers. The ADLER Spa Resort Sicily, for example, has many rooms with clay walls, using a local building material to regulate temperature and humidity in a natural way. However, all rooms are equipped with air conditioning. The OCEANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife, on the other hand, does not use air conditioning at all and “cools” itself with the Atlantic Ocean right outside the door.

#9 Truly sustainable accommodations are hard to find

Well, we are happy to refer you once again to the Green PearlsⓇ website. Here you will find only sustainable accommodations and each hotel, cottage, chalet or aparthotel has a transparent list of green initiatives. Why not take a look? Transparent certifications are also very helpful.

#10 Sustainability is just a fad

The world’s population is exploding, global warming is scientifically proven, habitats are disappearing and animals and plants are dying out. Mountains of garbage are growing, resources are scarce… These are just some of the current problems facing our planet. The prognosis: the problems are increasing, not decreasing.

Therefore, it is impossible to stop thinking about our future and the future of our planet. We must take this into account in all areas of our lives, including travel.

The word “sustainability” may go out of fashion and be replaced by something else. But the issue will remain and become even more important.

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