NAVUTU DREAMS RESORT & WELLNESS RETREAT
The terms of eco-friendly and plastic-free are used quite a lot in the tourism industry these days. It is great that the industry is finally realising its responsibility. It is encouraging to know that it is taking steps. to help reduce the environmental impact it has on the well-being of a country. However, few resorts are as committed to this cause as is the Navutu Dreams Resort & Wellness Retreat in Siam Reap, Cambodia.
“Cambodians, like many SE Asian nations love plastic. To them it represents modernity. It is very cheap and convenient too. While Western nations are getting into organic material, Cambodians find them old fashioned. We are educating them about the harm it causes to the environment.” Says Cedrick who works for the Navutu Dream Resort and wellness retreat.
A lot of places find it hard to be 100% plastic-free but where there is a will, there is a way. Navutu Dream Resort is completely plastic-free. They don’t have to sacrifice on any of the comforts that plastic offers though. They still offer bags that look not much different but are made of biodegradable material sourced from Casava, a SE Asian root vegetable. The take-away food packaging is also biodegradable and made of sugarcane grown locally.
Plastic bottles are off the sight too as expected. Beautiful glass bottles have replaced them. Guests can refill them free of cost any time. Plastic straws are history here as bamboo straws have replaced them. The only plastic item you will find, however, is the beautiful placemats. What once were the plastic bags lying around the roadside and eventually getting into landfills or water sources are collected, cleaned and made into these beautiful mats by a social enterprise located not far from the resort. It not only gives new life to the waste single-use plastic bags but also provides a safe place for disadvantaged women to learn a skill and make a living from.
It is not just reducing plastic waste that Navutu dream resort is passionate about. They take the social responsibility very seriously as well. The waste oil from the kitchen donate to another social enterprise. They up-cycle it into a clean alternative to diesel with 90% less carbon emission. The hand-made organic soaps and scrubs are not just a treat for the skin but use environmentally friendly ingredients that are sourced locally.
Navutu boutique supports local ethical brands and presents the best of Siam Reap. The kitchen uses locally grown ingredients. The food is not only fresh and delicious but it also supports local farmers. Local community get the priority when it comes to hiring the staff so that more families have decent living conditions.
Navutu Dream resort & Wellness Retreat also happens to be Siam Reap’s only wellness resort. Khmer locals get free Yoga classes once a week. The Navutu Spa offers various kind of massages using natural herbs and ingredients. But it does not stop there. There is a wide range of holistic treatments to choose from around the world. Try Chakra balancing, Reiki, Shiatsu, acupuncture, pranic healing, Kansa massage, pranayama, yoga Nidra and sound bowls. Developed over hundreds of years, they all help improve the feeling of well-being and are certainly worth a try.
While you are not busy following the foot-steps of Laura croft, explore the colourful city of Siam Reap. Don’t forget to have one of the holistic treatments at the resort. Lay down by the pool, relax or read a book. For those seeking a bit of privacy, sit outside your room in the private gardens. The locally produced mosquito repellent made by using essential oils will ensure safety from the mosquitoes. The spacious rooms have all the comforts you can ask for. Once you are ready to call it a night heading to your comfortable room. Wake up refreshed in the morning and be ready for another day of exploring.