The Best Eco-Friendly Hotels and Stays to Book in Kuala Lumpur

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly stay in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, book the Alila Bangsar. From energy-saving initiatives to their own water treatment system (with the water served in recycled glass bottles), the hotel is doing its utmost to avoid damaging the environment. Chic rooms and studios offer floor-to-ceiling windows and rainfall showers, and come with Giving Bags so you can donate any unwanted items to the local community. Don’t miss their Malaysian cooking workshop, which includes a local market tour, breakfast and lunch.

Holding the title as the tallest eco-friendly hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the Element is 275m (902ft) high and has a total of 252 spacious rooms. With a Green Building Index certification, the hotel offers luxury and comfort alongside its environmental efforts. These include harvesting rainwater, and using energy-efficient lighting and an indoor air-quality monitor. The interior has a modern design with marble bathrooms, while its facilities include an on-site restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre. It’s just a stone’s throw from the city centre, too.

The Dusun sits approximately an hour and 15 minutes from Kuala Lumpur and sits in the Titiwangsa Main Range foothills at an altitude of 244m (800ft). The family-owned resort covers a large area, and first opened as a retreat in 1984. With a reputation for being one of the most eco-friendly hotels in Malaysia, you can expect the ultimate environmentally conscious jungle experience here. Their vegetable patches are organic, eco-friendly products are sourced from Malaysian non-profit Truly Loving Company (TLC) and they provide plastic-free soap and shampoo. They also aim to hire staff as locally as they can.

For a private retreat within an hour of Kuala Lumpur, consider Sekeping Serendah. This eco-friendly hotel allows you to go back to basics with 10 minimalist, shed-like suites situated in 5 acres (2ha) of tropical rainforest. Activities range from jungle treks, fishing and swimming in waterfalls, to visiting Orang Asli or Malaysian aboriginal villages.

Tanah Aina Farrah Soraya offers eco-friendly accommodation near Kuala Lumpur. On arrival, you’ll travel along a jungle track for a few minutes before you reach the resort, adding to its secluded feel. Outdoor adventure activities are the focus here, from zip lining to jungle trekking. Leave no trace is part of the resort’s ethos. Organic, biodegradable soap, shampoo and hair conditioner are supplied in bulk dispensers and the food is sourced locally.

This small, family-run eco-friendly hotel near the River Lembing – Sungai Lembing in Malay – in Pahang overlooks a forest reserve and guarantees exclusivity and privacy. Accommodation ranges from the small, concrete air-conditioned capsules with shared bathrooms to a large cottage with either two singles or a queen bed.