Picture yourself waking up under the thatched roof of a quaint white cottage overlooking the cliffs of northwest Ireland. You're in County Donegal, a pristine little corner of the Emerald Isle. Here you can walk out of your front door and be enveloped by the ocean breeze.

The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland is full of beautiful roadside scenery.

Take a deep breath and listen to the wind whipping through the long tail grass that stretches from you to the coast. Sip on your morning tea in front of a fire, kindled with peat moss, before you take a stroll down the street to the village for an authentic Irish breakfast. You'll need the energy because later in the day you're set to hike Slieve League, Europe’s tallest seaside cliffs. Or maybe you'll hike Errigal mountains instead, or go for a drive along Ireland’s wild rugged cliffside as you meander The Wild Atlantic Way.

Do you prefer a more secluded sustainable holiday?

Now imagine waking up to the faint sound of birds outside of your chalet window in Diever, Netherlands. The morning sun drapes warm over your face as you head out to the garden. Your children file out of their rooms, stirred by the smell of breakfast and your coffee brewing. Hopefully, they'll use every moment of the day's sunlight to explore the area around the chalet and soak up the goodness of the undisturbed natural landscape. This small house, nestled in the Dutch forest, is powered by green energy, and nearly every aspect of your stay is designed around sustainability. Your Nature.house rental provides you with a holiday truly different from the fast pace of everyday life.

In Drenthe, Netherlands, book a sustainable travel destination.

Do either of these places seem perfect? I invite you to keep reading then.

Escape to nature

This can be a reality, not just a daydream. Imagine a new kind of travel, where you can feed your love for adventure but ensure your wanderlust to have minimal impact on the world around you. Tim and Luke van Oerle founded Nature.house to create travel experiences for people who seek soul-nurturing adventure, eco-friendly accommodations, and an off-the-beaten-path European holiday. This is the type of travel that will make you appreciate the natural world all over again, and make you wonder why you ever lost touch with it. You get all of this, but with the modern conveniences of WiFi, if you’d like it. You'll have guaranteed communication with your host, so you have nothing to worry about and you can immerse yourself in your surroundings.

Book a perfect off the beaten path vacation in this tent in Namur, Belgium.

Search for the perfect eco-friendly accommodation

Choose sustainable tourism at this Eco-lodge in Bayern, Germany.

Imagine being able to search a platform for vacation rentals by filtering through options like “in the woods,” “in the middle of nowhere”, “in an orchard”, “on an island,” “in the mountains”, “fishing nearby”, “eating from your own garden”, or “sustainable options.” Solar panels, energy conservation, home gardens, public transportation, are only a few of the descriptions of the holiday homes for rent at Nature.house.

Discover the sustainable mission of Nature.house

Not only does this company prioritize finding you a truly green holiday home, but for every night of every rental booked, new review, newsletter subscription, or account created, Nature.house plants a tree. Your booking will contribute to the efforts of one of its many partners, including Eden Projects in Madagascar, Birdlife International, or Trees.org in Tanzania. Next, the founders plan to plant more trees in their own backyard, with new project sites planned in Spain and Portugal. In the future, Nature.house plans to expand beyond European eco-stays and into other countries that find value in sustainable tourism.

Find an ethical travel destination

In 2020, we have more travel opportunities in front of us than ever before. With so many options out there, it’s easy to book an irresponsible holiday. Unchecked home-sharing in popular tourist destinations can create a burden on local communities. Certain websites are more frequently becoming platforms for conglomerates to showcase their many properties around the globe. These large investors strategically purchase housing in tourist hotbeds, which negatively affect the regional economy by raising prices of local housing and taking income away from locals. This has a detrimental effect on the local economies in places like Venice, Italy or Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Eco friendly accommodation in Tirol, Italy with a view of the Dolomites.

Become an eco-conscious traveler

Nature house tucked away in Apulia, Italy.

The good news? It’s easier than ever to book an eco-friendly and ethical holiday. With Nature.house, you can change the narrative, be more mindful of local communities, and reduce your impact. The very best part? You’ll be spending your holiday away from the crowds, reconnecting with nature.

Imagine one last scenario

Maybe you’re the type who prefers complete solitude? You search Nature.house for “in the middle of nowhere” and “fishing nearby.” This search leads you to book a wood cabin that sits on a lake with 200 meters of private coastline. From the front porch, you can spot bears, wolves, moose, deer, foxes, and lynx. But from your backyard, you’ll take the provided boat out onto the secluded lake and use the free fishing equipment to catch a hearty trout for dinner. Later, you’ll watch the green and blue-hued Northern Lights dance across the western Finnish sky.

How’s that for the perfect European eco-friendly holiday?

Stay in this unique tree house rental in Sweden.

Find a green vacation rental in Hungary.

Search for an eco lodge in Bretagne, France.

Are you interested in learning more about ethical tourism or sustainable vacations? Add your name to our growing mailing list featuring special offers regarding mindful travel.

In the nature of full disclosure, this blog post is sponsored by Nature.house.

Looking for an Eco-friendly Holiday? A Review of European Eco-stays with Nature.house