The Conscious Travel List

From purpose-driven itineraries to eco-friendly properties and destinations that are pioneers in sustainability, here is our handpicked list of 50 experiences across India and around the world that will help you become a more conscious traveller.

- Rashima Nagpal, Bayar Jain, Srushti Kulkarni, Shibani Bawa, Adila Matra & Sumeet Keswani

Refugio Amazonas is one of three ecolodges run by Rainforest Expeditions in the Peruvian Amazon.

1 Celebrate Trees at Lchang Nang Retreat

Ladakh

Literally meaning 'the house of trees', Lchang Nang Retreat lives up to its name. The 25-acre retreat sits in the famed Nubra Valley of Ladakh, draping the otherwise barren lands in abundant greens. Picture bright yellow marigolds, dainty pink apricot flowers, soaring Siberian elm trees, and many more.

However, it's not just the landscaping that pays ode to nature. A canopied path lined with solar lamps leads you to an outdoor tea station, a herb garden, and 17 cottages-each of which is built in the local architectural style. This means concrete is given a miss; instead, river rocks, mud, and poplar wood make up the structures. While the rooms come with private sit-outs-some of which have hammocks tied to centuriesold elm trees-solar-powered grids provide electricity and LED lights illumination. Up to 95 per cent of the energy generated is through solar panels and battery banks.

The retreat's crowning glory is its hydration facilities. Here, potable water sourced directly from glaciers is available on tap. The same snowmelt is also used to irrigate the retreat's expansive lands. Use of plastic has been kept to a minimum, as is the resort's overall carbon footprint. All the garbage is segregated, and almost all the waste generated is recycled. Moreover, the vegetables and herbs used in the kitchens are grown organically at the in-house farms.