8 Philanthropic Honeymoon Destinations That Give Back

As the bride and groom, your wedding is all about getting. From pre-wedding gifts to parties thrown in your honor, you'll be reveling in your good fortune from the time you say "Yes" straight through to "I do." So once the reception is over, why not consider doing good for others? One of the easiest places to start is with your honeymoon. 

Thanks to these socially responsible, philanthropic properties, you can indulge in some much-needed post-wedding pampering and still give back. Whether you support a community through your room rate or offer hands-on help (think: planting trees or visiting local schoolchildren), your vacation can make a difference. Who wouldn't want to start off married life with some good karma? Best of all, doing good will feel good when you're staying at any of these stunning locales. Read on to see how your honeymoon can make a big difference.

Linkwasha Camp, Zimbabwe

Through the Wilderness Wildlife Trust, Wilderness Safaris' African lodges—including this nine-tent camp in game-rich Hwange National Park—support environmental conservation and community development. A portion of rates goes to the trust, which provides meals to children, aids in antipoaching efforts, and funds a study to ensure the area meets elephants' food and habitat needs. Thanks to these measures, guests wake up to views of ellies at watering holes before heading out on game drives.

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This 28-room solar- and wind-powered Caribbean property cares about its sea turtles so much that it was designed around their habitat and migration routes. It also launched the island's first turtle conservation program; in 2016, there were more than 100 nests, up from seven in 2003. Couples can help collect data during nesting season (March through October) and, when possible, watch eggs hatch and encourage newborns to move out to sea. Also available: Nature walks and morning yoga.

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An art-filled hotel and a tropical resort in downtown Siem Reap make up this property, which founded a free hospitality academy for Khmer youth, a sustainable-farming course, a dental-care facility, and a microfinance arm to foster budding entrepreneurs. Offerings spotlight the best of Cambodian culture, including cooking classes and a bike tour of the Angkor Wat temples.

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You'll feel as if you're on the edge of the Earth when waking up in Rarotonga, in the South Pacific. Luxury tents, built from sustainable materials, leave a light footprint, and some profits (and guest donations) go to initiatives like protecting native birds and promoting environmental education. Spend your days hiking with a village elder, snorkeling in a nearby lagoon, or taking an ura dance lesson.

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This Relais & Châteaux property is set in the shadow of the Andes in the Sacred Valley. Its 43 casitas have plush details like marble-tiled bathrooms and private gardens, and activities range from kayaking on Huaypo Lake to horseback tours of the countryside. Sleep well knowing that all profits support the hotel's school for students who hail from throughout the rural region.

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This sleek hotel-on-stilts has helped reinvigorate the small island—located off Newfoundland's northeast coast—and its community of 2,395 full-time residents. The 29-suite inn was designed to show off traditional arts and crafts, from the wallpaper to the handmade quilts, and every activity—berry picking, guided hikes, punt (traditional boat) rowing—promotes regional culture.

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Not only is this Osa Peninsula resort sustainable—it's made from recycled thatch, the water is solar-heated, and biodiesel generates electricity—it also protects a thousand tropical acres and supports a local school. Guests can plant a tree in the reserve and tour the campus, not to mention arrange a romantic hike that ends next to a waterfall. Bed down in one of 17 bungalows, which have outdoor showers.

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With villas overlooking the Indian Ocean and butlers at your beck and call, this Sumba Island spot has all the makings of an überluxury retreat. Its true mission, however, is to preserve Sumbanese heritage. In between lounging by a private plunge pool and horseback riding along the beach, you can refurbish remote schools, learn about clean-water projects, and serve lunch to children. A portion of rates also supports these good works.

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