Best Yoga Retreats and Eco Travel

Are there yoga retreats that are truly committed to environmental conservation?

Are there yoga retreats (or eco travel destinations) that offer undiluted no-hype teachings of yoga and spirituality, and sustainable living?

How many yoga vacations can boast to have all of the following?
a. being environmentally-conscious,
b. stunning in their natural beauty, and
c. exceptional in the quality of yoga teachings.

Do YOU know of a place that would immediately evoke a sense of adventure and higher purpose? A place where one could feel a part of an important mission that improves the lives of many beings. Do Tell!!

Eco: Minimal impact on the environment;
Beauty: Situated in and saturated with the beauty of Yosemite National Park;
Yoga: Backpacking, and full immersion into nature and yoga with a number of experienced yoga teachers and guides.

Eco: "We aim our endeavors towards the eco-tourist, with conservation in mind. To this end, our construction has been using local materials not from the rain forest, with local crafts persons and gentle construction techniques that have had a low impact on the environment";
Beauty: A peaceful retreat on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with gardens of over 4000 specimens of tropical plants and flowers;
Yoga: Fully-equipped yoga studio, and a beach platform, open for yoga retreats year-round.

Eco: "Yachana Lodge's contributions to conservation and education are at once extraordinary and subtle. They range from preparing the next generation of environmental stewards to protecting enormous swaths of rainforest. From serving our own organic meals to sustainable solar electricity. The environment is not something we 'consider', but rather living in harmony with nature pervades every aspect of our life.";
Beauty: It's the Amazon Rainforest!;
Yoga: Make it your own yoga retreat. No formal classes or programs.

Eco: Most services are performed by volunteers, causing minimal impact on the environment;
Beauty: Stunning; in the words of the staff: "You may love Kalani so much that you may want to live here; at least for part of the year."
Yoga: Year-round yoga retreats, vacations, workshops, and residence programs.

Eco: Through and through; hemp-insulated cabins, heated with pellet stoves, finished with natural paints, powered by wind turbine (Airtricity), built with minimal concrete and no petro checmicals;
Beauty: Beautiful all-natural Irish country-side;
Yoga: Weekly yoga classes, and weekend yoga retreats.

Eco: D Acres' Main Focus is Ecological Sustainability and Education; year-round programs on every aspect; almost off-the-grid in the four-season climate using solar energy, sustainable water and septic systems;
Beauty: All-natural New England mountain setting;
Yoga: Weekly yoga classes, and weekend yoga retreats.

Eco: You may volunteer to help with the animals, or just stay at one of the B&B cottages;
Beauty: This 175-acre New York farm is set amidst rolling green hills and forests in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York, located next door to Sugar Hill State Forest, just west of Watkins Glen;
Yoga: Your own meditation, selfless service, and yoga retreat.

Eco: A fusion of colors and textures of earth materials with Feng-Shui principles, solar heating, large water tanks and septic tanks, and organic gardens;
Beauty: Located in "The Sacred Valley of the Inca" in the Andes of Peru, "one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Lying at the foot of spectacular snow covered mountains, between Cusco and Machu Picchu."
Yoga: Two fully-equipped yoga studios, open for yoga retreats and vacations; “... combination of a daily Yoga practice, meditation in the gardens, and hiking in the Andes...”.

Eco: Volunteer programs, organic food, sustainable living;
Beauty: Located in the heart of Portugal's Algarve, with its long hot summers and mild, gentle winters, 10 minutes from the Ria Formosa Natural Park and the soft sandy beaches of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo;
Yoga: The European Centre for Integral Yoga® Teacher Training, from the Yogaville Centre of Swami Satchidananda. There are many classes of Yoga for all levels in Portuguese and English, morning, lunchtime, and evening. Ideal setting for a yoga retreat.

Eco: Findhorn community is an experiment in conscious living helping to unfold a new human consciousness and create a positive and sustainable future.;
Beauty: Beautiful all-natural Scottish country-side;
Yoga: Workshops on Meditation, Spirituality, and Enlightenment.

Eco: You may volunteer to help with the animals; you may even have an animal (dog/cat/pot-bellied pig) stay with you at one of the on-site cottages and cabins; "for thousands of abused and abandoned animals, what happens here every day is a miracle of love";
Beauty: Situated in Angel Canyon, a miracle of nature, millions of years in the making, surrounded by other natural wonders: Grand Canyon and Zion Park;
Yoga: Your own meditation, selfless service, and yoga retreat.

Moab Yoga on the Rocks
Backpacking outdoor yoga retreats in the desert

Eco: Minimal impact on the environment;
Beauty: Situated in and saturated with the beauty of Canyonlands National park;
Yoga: Backpacking, and full immersion into nature and yoga.

Eco: Volunteer programs, organic farm, community projects;
Beauty: Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachians;
Yoga: Full schedule of daily classes, workshops, yoga teacher trainings, and yoga retreats.

YOUR Best Yoga Retreat
or Eco Travel Destination?

Do you have a PERSONAL FAVORITE eco travel or yoga retreat? If it's not a SECRET, please share it!