Oct 28: What if the best way to experience a destination was to leave it a little better than you found it? From food grown close to home to ecosystems protected in their natural state, responsible travel is about looking beyond the obvious and discovering the people, traditions and natural wonders that make a place unique. Across landscapes shaped by nature and community, these experiences offer a more thoughtful way to explore, where curiosity and connection go hand in hand with caring for the places we visit.
Six Senses Fort Barwara: Restoring Heritage, Caring for the Community
At Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan, sustainability begins with preserving the past while caring for the landscape and communities around it. The 705-year-old palace and temples have been restored using traditional Rajasthani building techniques, with features such as rainwater collection tanks and solar panels incorporated into the historic architecture. Beyond the fort, the resort works to protect the surrounding lake and landscape through clean-up drives, waste management initiatives and rewilding projects. Its approach also extends to the local community, with clean drinking water facilities at schools and hospitals, wellness and hygiene awareness programmes, and support for local artisans to showcase and sell their handcrafted products. In 2025, the resort avoided 348,563 plastic bottles by bottling its own drinking water and produced over 17,000 kilograms of compost. Together, these efforts reflect an approach to hospitality that values Rajasthan’s heritage, reduces environmental impact, and supports the people who call the region home.
Six Senses Bhutan: Getting Back to the Roots
In Bhutan, the world’s first carbon-negative country, at least 60% of its land is constitutionally required to remain under forest cover. Sustainability is deeply woven into everyday life and at Six Senses Bhutan’s Paro lodge, that can be seen in something as simple as a meal. Nearby, the Damchena eco-village grows organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers in collaboration with local farmers. Leftover wood from the lodge’s construction has found a second life as vegetable beds, fences and chicken coops, while citronella and lavender help protect crops naturally. Beyond growing food, the village opens up conversations around organic farming, nutrition and waste management, inviting local communities and visitors to discover how small choices can shape a more thoughtful way of living. Here, the farm-to-table journey is about more than what lands on the plate; it is about knowing where it comes from and the people who help it grow.
Six Senses Laamu: Protecting the Maldives’ Underwater Ecosystems
In Maldives, a lagoon may look like a postcard from above, but beneath its turquoise waters hold ecosystems vital to ocean health. Seagrass meadows shelter marine life, support coastal ecosystems and quietly store carbon, even if their natural appearance is not always what visitors expect from a tropical paradise. At Six Senses Laamu, the idea is to let these underwater meadows be. Through the Maldives Underwater Initiative, the resort works with marine conservation partners to study and protect the surrounding waters, including sea turtles, manta rays and coral reefs. In 2025, around 385,000 square metres of seagrass meadows were protected, while more than one million coral larvae were released onto its reefs. At the Sea Hub of Environmental Learning in Laamu, guests can get closer to the science behind this work and discover the life that exists beyond the familiar turquoise view. Sometimes, protecting paradise means resisting the urge to make it look picture-perfect.
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea: Making Every Drop & Ray Count
In the Saudi desert, making the most of what nature offers is not a passing trend; it is part of the landscape’s logic. At Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, that thinking extends from the vast skies overhead to the smallest details of daily operations. A dedicated solar farm with 11,228 panels supplies the resort with 100% renewable electricity, turning abundant sunshine into a practical resource. The resort’s everyday efforts are just as tangible: more than 11,000 single-use plastic bottles were replaced with reusable glass alternatives, while organic waste is turned into compost on site. The story also reaches beyond the resort itself. Biodiversity research in nearby Wadi Khuff has recorded a rich mix of plant, mammal and bird species, helping build a clearer picture of the desert’s natural life, while local female Sadu weavers are given opportunities to showcase and sell their traditional craft. It is a reminder that the desert is far from empty, and that caring for a place means recognising both the life it sustains and the culture it carries.
Six Senses Vana
Set within 21 acres of Sal forest in Dehradun, Six Senses Vana integrates sustainability into its design, operations and approach to wellness. The retreat’s design works with its natural surroundings, incorporating natural ventilation in enclosed areas and maximizing daylight to support energy conservation. It has held LEED Platinum certification since 2015 and also holds GSTC certification, reflecting its focus on responsible hospitality. Water conservation forms a key part of its operations, with rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment systems supporting the reuse of water for landscape irrigation. An on-site bottling plant reduces reliance on single-use plastic bottles, while the Earth Lab focuses on upcycling, waste management, and water conservation. The retreat’s approach to wellbeing draws on Ayurveda, Yoga, Tibetan Medicine and natural healing therapies, supported by guided nutrition and personalized wellness programs. Together, these practices reflect an approach in which the surrounding environment, resource conservation, and individual wellbeing remain closely connected.
