The Green Isle

With sustainability front of mind for hoteliers as much as holidaymakers these days, Tracey Scott heads to one of the world’s most celebrated archipelagos to find out if luxury travel and eco-tourism can work in unison.

It seems to make sense that an area so famous for its greenery and wildlife should be a leader in sustainable tourism.

So it’s little surprise that with its white beaches, blue lagoon, sprawling reefs and tropical trappings, the Maldives archipelago is doing just that – aiming to protect its natural wonder while keeping it open to visitors searching for an exotic paradise.

With 100 of the Maldives’ 1,200 islands having been developed as tourist resorts, it might be difficult to find the right fit for your particular eco-sensibilities, but my stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island provided a strong example how a no-nonsense sustainability strategy is being translated into a five star tourism experience.

The resort is the archipelago’s first twin island retreat, located a short 30-minute seaplane ride from capital city Malé.

Here sustainability is subtle rather than showy. The owners, resort designers and staff have cleverly infused green elements across the property so as not to interfere with the Maldivian experience that wanderlusters have come to know and love: one of luxury, privacy and grandeur.

Upon arriving at the resort, it is the local scenery that takes centre stage. Standing in the middle of the 500-metre footbridge that connects the two islands – the adult-only Rangali Island on the left and the family-friendly Rangalifinolhu Island to the right – the clear waters, powder-white sands and famed over-water villas are as striking as the Instagram posts make out.

It is these environments that provide the backdrop for my four-day jaunt, which kicks-off as soon as I dump my bags in my over-water villa on the adult-only island. Spacious, open-plan and with its own plunge pool, the thatched-roof villa is as tranquil as the view outside.