With discerning travelers increasingly seeking experiences that are both indulgent and environmentally conscious, Luxury Gold is launching a new tour in partnership with VisitScotland that proves luxury and sustainability go hand in hand.  

This exclusive 10-Day journey through Scotland’s breathtaking landscapes and storied cities takes you deep into the heart of this remarkable country, with every step promoting responsible travel and sustainability. 

Take a first look at Spectacular Scotland.

Thoughtfully created, with sustainability in mind

“We’re thrilled to bring this new tour to the Luxury Gold portfolio, and it has been very exciting to work on,” says Karen Gower, Senior Travel Experiences Manager for Luxury Gold. “When crafting this 10-Day itinerary, I’ve combined all of the luxurious touches our guests expect from Luxury Gold, with the best that Scotland has to offer. This includes bucket list destinations and experiences, as well as hidden gems that we know our guests will love.  

“But what really makes Spectacular Scotland stand out in our collection is its focus on sustainability. Working in partnership with VisitScotland, this has been at the forefront when sourcing every experience, supplier and even the pace of the itinerary. Guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on guests, our Travel Concierges are chomping at the bit to run this tour as they can see how fantastic it is!” 

Luxury and sustainability at a glance

A special focus on activities that have a positive impact on the environment, including visits to Cairngorms National Park, Glencoe National Nature Reserve, Loch Fleet Nature Reserve and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust on the Isle of Mull. 

A new MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience developed specially for this tour – a Highland Tartan demonstration. While other itineraries usually only include one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, this one has four. 

Mostly 2-night stays, which means a smaller carbon footprint in travel terms, as well as allowing guests more time to support the local economy in one area, avoiding areas where there is a strain on the local community due to visitor numbers. 

Restaurant and hotel suppliers have been sourced with sustainability at the forefront of consideration, such as Michelin-starred Unalome by Graeme Cheevers in Glasgow, where you’ll dine on day 8.  

Developed in partnership with VisitScotland

Created in partnership with VisitScotland, Rona Wallace, Senior Manager, Business Development join us for a Q&A to explain more about the sustainability ethos behind our new Spectacular Scotland journey. 

Why is it important to offer responsible travel options?

“Scotland has welcomed visitors for over 200 years, and we want to ensure tourism provides sustainable economic growth for generations to come.  Responsible travel is entirely possible and by working with organizations like TTC and their Luxury Gold brand, we can demonstrate how it can be achieved in Scotland.   

“The principle of Responsible tourism means slowing down the consumer, allowing them to dwell longer and discover different places away. This in turn delivers more for local communities and allows clients on tours to relax and make those local connections which we know from consumer trends is what they are looking for. This in turn delivers a strong selling tour. Spending a longer time in a destination ultimately leads to less carbon production and benefits the hotels too.” 

Do you believe luxury and sustainability in travel can go and-in-hand?

“Definitely.  High quality immersive experiences benefit local businesses and communities, and many of our 5-star accommodation providers take responsible tourism very seriously – they are committed to climate action, social inclusion and giving back to their local communities, using an abundance of local food and drink in their offering while delivering on the expectations of luxury clients.”   

What do you hope our guests learn about Scotland that they may have not already known?

“That memorable experiences go way beyond the standard bucket list – by working closely with the Luxury Gold team and our knowledge of Scotland businesses we’re able to suggest experiences that are unique to Scotland and will live long in the memory.”   

Which experiences on the tour are you particularly excited about?

“It’s a hard choice, as all offer their own unique experience which clients will find memorable, and at times unexpected.  The VIP Visit with Lord Bruce of Broomhall House will be a highlight, but my ultimate favorite has to be the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Highland Tartan Demonstration.  I am sure the clients for Luxury Gold will have some serious fun here, whilst learning about one of Scotland’s ancient industries.”  

What does the future hold for responsible tourism in Scotland?

“There’s a lot of desire amongst tourism businesses to do the right thing for sustainable growth.  Public sector agencies are working in partnership with the private sector to co-ordinate our strategic plans and activity – as a country we’re the right size to deliver on this – small enough to have personal relationships across different sectors, but large enough to make meaningful change.  There’s still a long way to go, but we’re definitely on the right path.  We also want to share our learnings with other destinations and together we can make a difference.” 

You may also enjoy reading: 12 Most Beautiful Places In Scotland You Need To Visit This Year

Spectacular Scotland – a peak at the itinerary

Your luxurious journey through Scotland begins with two nights in its charming capital Edinburgh. Explore iconic landmarks such as St Giles’ Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle, savor seasonal Scottish produce and foraged herbs at the renowned Wedgwood Restaurant on the Royal Mile, and meet the owners on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. 

A VIP visit with Lord Bruce, a descendant of Robert the Bruce, at Broomhall House in St Andrews takes you into the heart of Scottish nobility, and the breathtaking Cairngorms National Park unveils Scotland in all its natural beauty. Take a private tour of Balmoral Castle and estate and visit the historic battleground of Culloden, take a golf lesson on the championship course, and spot sea otter nests and seals at the serene Loch Fleet Nature Reserve. 

Near Dornoch immerse yourself in Scottish heritage with Highland Tartan demonstration, before exploring the breathtaking Glencoe valley with a ranger, both MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences. The next day sample the finest whiskies at the Tobermory Distillery on the picturesque Isle of Mull or round off your day with a visit to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Your journey concludes in Glasgow with a Michelin-starred lunch at Unalome by Graeme Cheever and two nights in the acclaimed Cameron House Hotel. Personalize your final day with a scenic seaplane ride over Loch Lomond or a relaxing champagne cruise, ensuring a memorable finale to this remarkable experience. 

For the ultimate combination of luxury and sustainability, secure your place on Spectacular Scotland, for departures in 2026. 

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges to our planet (and our future), with world leaders and scientific thinkers constantly grappling with new ways to save the world. Energy-efficient travel is a top priority for those curious to see the world without harming it, but what about the landmarks we see when we get there? How could those be transformed into energy-efficient buildings?

Sustainable architecture goes beyond basic insulation and solar panels – in fact, energy-efficient buildings can be some of the most gorgeous constructions in the urban jungle. Without further ado, explore the finest green constructions our Earth has to offer.

Further reading: How We’re Setting the Gold Standard For Sustainable Luxury Travel

Elbphilharmonie

Hamburg, Germany

Recycling old buildings is common in Hamburg, with industrial buildings turned into public spaces in the Speicherstadt (warehouse district). One of the most energy-efficient buildings in the Speicherstadt is the Elbphilharmonie, a wave-shaped, 26-storey glass tower that houses orchestral concerts, lectures and even a hotel.

Sustainable thinking was ingrained into every part of its design, from reducing the CO2-producing concrete typically used for foundations to managing over-tourism by monitoring numbers of people in the plaza outside. Wind turbines outside Hamburg provide the venue with 100% of its energy – a truly sustainable way to light up the city’s classical music scene.

Read next: Geneva’s Hotel d’Angleterre is Committed to Positive Change

CopenHill

Copenhagen, Demark

Not only does CopenHill (now called Amager Bakke) transform waste into energy via a sulfur-reduced form of incineration, it also makes innovative use of the land it stands on: the slanted roof is turned into a ski slope in the winter – complete with an epic ápres bar – and an artificial hill hiking path in the summer.

This ingenious building is also home to the world’s tallest climbing wall, with 85 vertical meters of nooks, crannies and outcrops for keen climbers to explore. Home to one of the world’s most eco-friendly attractions, Copenhagen leads the world in green tourism.

Sustainable Scandinavia: Alternative Dining & CO2-Absorbing Aprons: Welcome to Fotografiska

Pixel Building

Melbourne, Australia

 

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Australia’s first carbon-neutral office building not only does good; it looks good, too. The colorful four-story office was built in 2010 and is one of the most energy-efficient buildings in Australia, fitting into Melbourne’s surroundings: one of the world’s most eco-friendly tourist destinations. 

The building generates its own electricity by utilising wind turbines and solar panels, and is cleverly water-balanced – the Pixel Building is able to supply its water requirements (besides drinking water) by recapturing the rainwater evaporating from its exterior. Even the pretty pixels themselves are constructed from low-carbon concrete and recycled aggregate!

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Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In preparation for the 2016 Olympics, Rio opened a forward-thinking, eco-friendly tourist destination: the Museum of Tomorrow, set in the Brazilian city’s old port. Beneath the uber-modern eaves of the Santiago Calatrava-designed building, the museum contains exhibits that discuss different aspects of life, from educational movies on evolution in an egg-shaped cinema to digital displays that show the dangers of overpopulation. 

The building itself is future-conscious, too – solar panels move with the sun to maximise energy capture, while the cooling system utilises the cold water from the depths of the bay next door. 

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ACROS

Fukuoka, Japan

 

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As energy-efficient buildings go, ACROS is pretty spectacular. From the front, the stepped facade looks like a Mayan pyramid overrun by the rainforest, flanked by the blue waters of the Naka River. 

However, this is actually a 14-story local government office built in the late 1990s, designed to alleviate the ‘heat island’ effect that Fukouka struggles with in the summer. The plant-covered, terraced roofs of ACROS naturally reduce pollutants, collect rainwater, absorb CO2 and means wild plants and birds can live in harmony with the hi-tech Japanese city.

Bullitt Centre

Seattle, USA

 

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Billed as the “greenest commercial building in the world”, Seattle’s Bullitt Center (opened on Earth Day 2013) is truly one of the world’s most energy-efficient buildings. A stone’s throw from Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium – already some seriously eco-friendly attractions – the Bullitt Center pioneers sustainable architecture by refusing to use materials containing highly dangerous chemicals in its construction, selling surplus green energy produced on its 575 solar panels back to the national grid and has successfully reduced its energy waste and carbon emissions by 86% compared to other office buildings. Meanwhile, its wood-paneled interior, shady roof and green surroundings give the Bullitt Center an air of the serene: proving that sustainable can certainly mean beautiful.

An African safari is a bucket-list experience for many travelers. Whether you’re trekking with gorillas in the mountains or driving across the savannah in search of lions, elephants, and more, the excitement is almost indescribable. 

There are countless ways to experience Africa’s wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities, but staying at an eco sustainability safari lodge can help you stay more eco conscious, and limit your carbon impact while supporting conservation efforts.

Experience it With Luxury Gold: We invite you to seek out the Big Five in Kruger National Park on Luxury Gold’s Spectacular South Africa Journey. You’ll spend two nights in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve near a waterhole where animals roam day and night. Go on game drives and bush walks where you may spot the Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, and cheetahs.

Top Safari Lodges For Eco Sustainability 

Discover the wonder of Africa’s wildlife while staying at these eco conscious safari lodges that prioritize sustainable practices. As with any stay around the world, do your diligence to determine how truly an eco sustainability property truly is. Taking the extra steps to research the property’s sustainability credentials, its conservation projects, and eco conscious actions such as supporting local communities can help ensure that your travels are limiting your carbon footprint while helping to regenerate our world.

Private Game Drives and Five-Star Stays: How Luxury Gold Does Safari Differently

Cheetah Plains | South Africa

 

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Within the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, Cheetah Plains is the first eco friendly business to offer a zero-emission game drive in the reserve. Their safari lodge runs entirely on solar power and a carbon negative property, which means you can offset part of the carbon footprint your travels create just by staying at Cheetah Plains. 1200 solar PV panels offset over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year by generating an average of 550WMh per year.

Campi Ya Kanzi | Kenya

 

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Accountability is critical in maintaining a true eco friendly business, which is why every night spent at Campi Ya Kanzi directly benefits the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. The trust benefits local Maasai communities through actions like reimbursing tribes when they lose livestock due to predator attacks; this encourages the tribe not to retaliate by hunting the predator, thus keeping the human and animal populations sustained. From an eco sustainability perspective, the lodges at Campi Ya Kanzi are 100% photovoltaic. Harnessing solar power to cut carbon emissions to zero, which leads to carbon neutrality via offsetting with the Chyulu REDD+ Carbon Project.

Usangu Expedition Camp | Tanzania

 

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Similar to the way the Cheetah Plains uses solar power to lead its safaris, the Usangu Expedition Camp in Tanzania is the safari lodge in Ruaha National Park to prioritise eco sustainability by creating safari vehicles that run on ethanol instead of diesel fuel. The ethanol is taken from the molasses production in the south of the country, giving the vehicle a candy-like scent as they drive. This eco conscious camp is near the Douglas Bell Eco Research Station and encourages travelers to help in the wildlife conservation efforts by placing camera traps, tracking lions, and identifying predators in the area. 

How to Safari in Style: The Ultimate Packing Guide

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp | Namibia

 

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Eco sustainability in all of Africa is important, including places like the Namib Desert where an astounding number of biodiverse species thrive. The Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a luxurious desert oasis and leverages its sun exposure to operate 100% on solar power. Guided walking safaris are an available alternative to game drives to further reduce your impact in one of the world’s oldest deserts. An on-site research center allows you to assist conversation efforts by helping staff track the endangered desert-adapted black rhinoceros. 

Rugged luxury: Why a Trip to New Zealand Might Surprise You

Mount Gahinga Lodge | Uganda

 

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Eco sustainability discussions tend to focus around our natural world, and while the protection of the mountain gorillas is a priority, Mount Gahinga Lodge is also working to sustain the native Batwa tribe that was displaced when the Virunga Mountains were annexed for conservation. The Lodge’s founder built a permanent Batwa settlement where 150 people live off of the land in their own, safe community. You can visit this settlement and support the Batwa people when you stay at Mount Gahinga Lodge, with opportunities to also track gorillas and golden monkeys. 

Read next: Walking With the King of the Big Cats in India’s Royal Hunting Grounds

Don’t limit your safari to one continent. Venture into Ranthambore National Park in search of Bengal tigers on the Luxury Gold Essence of India journey. 

Not only does this 8-day adventure check-off bucket-list visits to the Taj Mahal and the Pink City of Jaipur, it also offers the chance to see tigers in the wild. Your safari through the former private hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur takes you across lakes and palace ruins where the elusive tigers roam.