This article analyzes the domestic and foreign experience in design of ecological tourist complexes, their architectural organization, three architectural models of ecological tourist complexes, and identifies the main design techniques. The relevance is determined by the growing interest of society in ecology; an increase in the tourist potential of the territories of southern Russia due to changing conditions; the emergence of a new type of tourist architecture, as well as an insufficient amount of design experience.Purpose: To identify the architecture of ecological tourist complexes and develop design proposals for such complexes in the south of Russia.Methodology/approach: The analysis of formative factors: urban planning, architectural planning, functional, environmental, affecting the architecture of ecological tourist complexes, their classification by organizational structure, functional content, accessibility, social efficiency and environmental factors. The concept of an ecological tourist complex in Krasnodar is proposed.Research findings: The organization of ecological tourism in the natural environment, environmental education of the population in the process of recreation are considered. Architectural models of ecological tourist complexes are proposed: adventure, scientific and recreational elements of environmental education, their comparative analysis, and selection of the effective model for Krasnodar.