Guide to sustainable travel in Thailand

Sustainable Travel in Thailand

The capital and largest city is Bangkok
Geographically, Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country
With a population of 66 million people, it is the 20th most populous country in the world
Thailand is actually a Kingdom, with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, the world's longest-serving current head of state (since 1946)
Buddhism is the most prevalent and culturally important religion in Thailand, with over 90% of Thais self-identifying as Buddhist, while about 6% of Thais identify as Muslim
After experiencing rapid growth between 1985 and 1996, Thailand is now considered a newly industrialized country, ranking second in quality of life among the ASEAN countries
Thailand was under martial law from May 20th, 2014 to April 1st, 2015 after the Thai army took control of the country following the 2013-2014 political crisis - General Prayut Chan-o-cha is now the prime minister
Thailand is the most visited country in Southeast Asia

Refill water bottles using the many reverse osmosis water stations - they're cheap (one baht for a big bottle) and super green. You can also check out our Sustainable Travel Guide for other clean drinking water options
Take public transportation. Buses and trains run efficiently throughout the country and taxi "trucks" are plentiful in many of the cities. Places like Chiang Mai are easily walkable and with bicycles you can get around even faster
Bring a reusable, packable daypack or grocery bag to avoid plastic shopping bags
Eat Thai food! It's delicious and the ingredients are always local and fresh, which means no emissions from international shipping, very little packaging, and seasonal produce

Avoid animal "tourism" and like other places in Southeast Asia, don't ride elephants - all have been through a horrible "taming" process in order to be ridden by tourists
Similar to Cambodia, the "Wai" in Thailand is a greeting used to show respect where the palms of one's hands are placed together with fingers pointed upwards, followed by a slight bow
Know that Thai food is eaten with a fork and a tablespoon rather than with chopsticks as in many other Asian cultures
DO NOT participate in any kind of "sex tourism"
Always choose locally owned and operated hotels and restaurants
When possible, make a donation when visiting historical/cultural landmarks - the money usually goes toward protection and preservation of the landmark
Remove your shoes when entering a home, wat, and even some shops/restaurants
Stay away from the head - do not touch someone’s head in any Buddhist culture, including Thailand
The royal family is highly respected by many Thais - stand in respect when the Thai national anthem is played