Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant capital, is known for its bustling streets, ornate temples, and delicious street food. However, the city is also becoming increasingly mindful of sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
For travelers interested in green travel, Bangkok offers a variety of eco-conscious hotels, sustainable dining options, and environmentally friendly tours. This comprehensive guide will provide insights into where to stay, what to eat, and how to explore Bangkok sustainably, ensuring a rewarding experience for eco-conscious travelers.
Understanding Green Travel in Bangkok
Green travel, or sustainable tourism, emphasizes minimizing the environmental impact of travel while promoting the preservation of local culture and ecology. As tourism continues to grow in Bangkok, the city is embracing sustainable practices, making it easier for visitors to travel responsibly.
Green Travel Can Help the local
The term green travel is used for an environmentally friendly visit. Bangkok is one of the attention-grabbing cities of Thailand. Each year, the country earns a great income through tourism.
Unfortunately, the living style of common people is depressing. In order to make a tour friendly, it is better to show great concern for the land as well as the people. Here are some ways which can help the local people in getting a reasonable income:
Booking Apartments or Family Homes:
Usually, people use online service and find out the most luxurious hotel for booking. It is a good job as you know where to stay before visiting Thailand; however this trend gives favor to a specific community.
Definitely, the five star hotels are being owned by the wealthiest people. It is awe-inspiring if the tourists get the apartment or a portion of house on rent. In this way, the local people will get stable.
Recommended Eco-Friendly Accommodations in Bangkok
Choosing the right place to stay is crucial for an eco-conscious trip. Here are some eco-friendly hotels in Bangkok that offer comfort and sustainability.
1. The Sukosol Hotel
- Location: Situated near Phaya Thai BTS Station, The Sukosol Hotel is conveniently located for exploring the city’s attractions.
- Sustainability Practices: The hotel incorporates energy-efficient systems, water conservation practices, and waste reduction initiatives. They also support local communities by sourcing organic products from local farms.
- Family-Friendly Features: Spacious rooms, a pool, and a children’s play area make it suitable for families.
2. Riva Surya Bangkok
- Location: Located along the Chao Phraya River, Riva Surya provides stunning views and easy access to cultural landmarks.
- Sustainability Practices: The hotel focuses on eco-friendly operations, including recycling and partnering with local environmental organizations.
- Amenities: Family-friendly services include babysitting, a pool, and organized river tours.
3. Ad Lib Bangkok
- Location: In the Sukhumvit area, Ad Lib Bangkok is close to shopping and dining options.
- Sustainability Practices: The hotel promotes sustainable practices through waste minimization and the use of eco-friendly products.
- Features: Families can enjoy spacious rooms, a pool, and easy access to public transport.
4. Old Town Bangkok
- Location: In the historic Old Town area, it’s within walking distance of major attractions like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Khao San Road, making it ideal for exploring Bangkok’s cultural landmarks.
- Sustainability Practices: The hotel provides free vintage bicycles for guests to explore the city, reducing the need for motorized transport and encouraging eco-friendly travel.
- Features: The hotel provides eco-friendly toiletries and encourages the use of reusable products to minimize waste. It also emphasizes locally produced goods to support sustainability.
These eco-conscious accommodations in Bangkok make it possible to enjoy your stay while minimizing environmental impact.
Go for Local Food Stalls
There are many food malls where the delicious items are mouth-watering. The only difference in these stalls and five star hotels is in the way of presentation and environment. Food stalls are usually family-run operations that rely on the local community and tourists for income.
By choosing street food, you directly contribute to the livelihoods of local vendors. Local food stalls often purchase ingredients from nearby markets, creating a sustainable cycle of economic support within local communities.
Popular Eco-Friendly Food Stall Areas in Bangkok
Chinatown (Yaowarat): Famous for its street food, Chinatown offers a variety of local dishes, often prepared with fresh ingredients and minimal waste.
Ratchawat Market: Known for its authentic Thai dishes, this market is a great place to enjoy local food while supporting small vendors.
Soi Rambuttri: Located near Khao San Road, this area is filled with food stalls serving traditional Thai meals in an eco-friendly setting.
Talad Rot Fai (Train Market): Along with shopping, this market offers an array of local food stalls that focus on traditional, freshly made dishes.
These stalls offer eco-friendly benefits like supporting local economies, using fresh ingredients, and reducing waste. By making mindful choices, such as avoiding plastic and supporting stalls with sustainable practices, you can enjoy a delicious and culturally immersive dining experience that aligns with your green travel goals.
Check the eating tour at local floating market
Shopping Centres
If you planned for a green travel, do not forget to have shopping on night stalls. These are not only inexpensive but help you to purchase a lot of gifts for friends. These local shopping hubs offer an eco-friendly way to shop while supporting small businesses.
Not only are the items inexpensive, but night markets also provide a chance to purchase a variety of unique gifts for friends and family, often handmade or crafted from local, sustainable materials. By shopping at night stalls, you help reduce the carbon footprint associated with large-scale production and packaging, making it an environmentally conscious option while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Bangkok’s bustling markets.
here are some of the best places to explore:
Chatuchak Friday Night Market : Famous for its enormous weekend market, Chatuchak opens on Friday nights for a more relaxed shopping experience. You’ll find handmade crafts, locally sourced products, and eco-friendly gifts. Perfect for green travelers seeking unique items while avoiding the crowds.
JJ Green Night Market: Next to Chatuchak Park , this vintage-themed night market offers a variety of handmade, organic, and secondhand items, reducing the need for mass production. The laid-back atmosphere and focus on sustainable shopping make it an excellent spot for green travelers.
Asiatique The Riverfront: Combining a riverside atmosphere with a bustling night market, Asiatique offers a blend of handicrafts, eco-friendly products, and local souvenirs. Arrive by boat for a more sustainable way to explore the market.
Ratchada Train Market: Known for its vintage and recycled goods, this night market is ideal for green travelers. You can find eco-friendly fashion, artisanal crafts, and secondhand treasures, all while supporting small businesses.
By visiting these night markets, you can enjoy a sustainable shopping experience while supporting Bangkok’s local economy and reducing your carbon footprint.
Sustainable Tours
Exploring Bangkok through eco-friendly tours can enhance your experience while supporting sustainable practices. Here are some recommended tours for individual and families.
Community-Based Tourism Experiences
Engage in community-based tourism experiences that allow families to interact with local communities and learn about their way of life. Participate in workshops, such as traditional crafts or cooking classes, and enjoy meals prepared by local families.
Enjoy Boating
Hire the local boatman and have a few hours boating with your family. Experience Bangkok from the water by taking a cultural boat tour along the Chao Phraya River and its canals (klongs). Families can visit floating markets, traditional wooden houses, and local temples while enjoying the scenic views of the river.
Local tour Guide
Local people know the places, so it is good to hire them as a guide.
Exploring Bangkok through a local guide tour that focuses on green travel can give you a deeper understanding of the city while reducing your environmental impact.
These tours emphasize sustainability by using eco-friendly transportation, supporting local communities, and promoting environmental conservation.
Use Local Transport
Bangkok offers a range of public transportation options that are convenient, efficient, and eco-friendly. The Skytrain connects most of the city’s major areas, including shopping centers, tourist attractions, and business districts. Popular routes include traveling between Siam and Sukhumvit, making it perfect for exploring central Bangkok.
MRT lines cover popular spots such as Chinatown, Chatuchak Market, and Sukhumvit, making it a quick and green way to reach tourist destinations. The express boat connects tourists and locals to key locations along the river, such as Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Asiatique.
Eat Durians and local fruits
The Durian is the famous food item in Bangkok. In spite of restaurants in shopping malls, have fun on a small stall. Bangkok’s tropical climate allows for a variety of seasonal fruits that are fresh, delicious, and grown sustainably. Eating in-season fruits ensures minimal waste and helps maintain a balanced agricultural ecosystem.
By consuming locally grown fruits like durians, mangosteen, rambutan, and longan, you directly support local farmers, helping to sustain agricultural communities and reducing the environmental impact of imported produce.
Visit the Festivals:
There are many festivals in Thailand which are celebrated by common people. The vegetarian festival is a fun-making activity.
Take Part in Songkran Festival:
It is a water festival. In spite of swimming in a hotel’s pool, come out and enjoy with the countryside people. Songkran or the Thai New Year festival, is one of the country’s most famous and lively celebrations, traditionally held in April.
Participating in Songkran can also be a great way to embrace green travel in Thailand. The festival is centered around the themes of water, community, and respect for nature, making it a perfect fit for eco-conscious travelers.
Loy Krathong (Festival of Lights)
Loy Krathong involves floating krathongs (small floating vessels) on rivers to pay respects to the water spirits. Instead of plastic or Styrofoam, choose krathongs made from banana leaves, bread, or other biodegradable materials.
Avoid the use of non-recyclable materials like plastic bags or decorations that can harm aquatic life. After the festival, participate in river or lake clean-up activities organized by local communities. Purchase handmade, eco-friendly krathongs from local vendors to help support small businesses and artisans who use sustainable materials.
Vegetarian Festival (Tesagan Gin Je)
The Vegetarian Festival is an ideal time to embrace a plant-based diet, which reduces your carbon footprint. Enjoy a variety of delicious, meat-free Thai dishes that emphasize fresh, local ingredients. It takes place in Phuket and other major cities every year in October.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival
Participate in Yi Peng by releasing paper lanterns into the sky, but ensure that the lanterns are made from biodegradable materials like rice paper and bamboo. Avoid plastic lanterns that can harm wildlife. It takes place in Chiang Mai , November (held concurrently with Loy Krathong).
Rural Tourism
It is the part of green travel to choose the rural areas for sightseeing, so that the local people earn income. Traveling to rural areas helps stimulate local economies, providing income for communities through homestays, tours, and handicrafts.
Rural Tourism: Popular Destination in Thailand
1.Chiang Mai and Surrounding Villages
Chiang Mai is known for its lush green landscapes, mountains, and traditional Lanna culture. The surrounding villages, such as Mae Kampong and Ban Mae Klang Luang, offer unique experiences in community-based tourism.
You can stay in homestays where villagers use sustainable farming methods. Participate in traditional practices like rice planting or tea picking. Explore the Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand’s highest mountain, for nature treks and bird-watching.
2. Nan Province
A lesser-known but beautiful province in northern Thailand, Nan offers serene landscapes and a strong connection to traditional Thai ways of life. Take part in organic farming tours, learn about rice cultivation, and stay with local families in Pua or Bo Kluea villages.
Visit Doi Phu Kha National Park, home to diverse flora and fauna, where you can engage in low-impact trekking. Nan is an excellent example of how rural tourism can focus on agricultural sustainability and environmental conservation, with its promotion of organic farming and eco-tourism.
3. Kanchanaburi
Located west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is home to natural parks, waterfalls, and historical sites, offering a perfect blend of nature and culture. Explore Erawan National Park and its famous seven-tier waterfall, practicing leave-no-trace principles.
Visit rural communities that focus on conservation, such as Baan Phu Toei, where villagers protect the local environment through sustainable tourism initiatives. Kanchanaburi’s eco-friendly tourism efforts focus on protecting its natural resources while offering travelers an immersive cultural experience.
4. Isan Region (Northeast Thailand)
The Isan region is rich in culture, agricultural landscapes, and traditional customs. This rural area offers a slower-paced, authentic Thai experience. Stay in a traditional Thai homestay in villages like Ban Chiang or Ban Nong Ya Rang to learn about sustainable farming, local handicrafts, and Isan cuisine.
Trek through the Phu Phan National Park, where you can witness impressive natural formations and wildlife. The Isan region is known for its deep-rooted connection to the land and sustainable living, making it a perfect destination for eco-conscious travelers.
5. Surat Thani and Koh Phangan
Surat Thani is the gateway to the southern islands, but the province’s rural inland areas are often overlooked by tourists. On Koh Phangan, beyond the beaches and full-moon parties, the island is becoming a hub for eco-tourism. Explore organic farms and join in permaculture workshops in Surat Thani.
In Koh Phangan, visit eco-villages that practice sustainable living, explore jungle trekking routes, and stay at eco-friendly resorts. These regions are embracing sustainability through eco-friendly tourism practices that support both the local economy and environment.
6.Phetchaburi
Located southwest of Bangkok, Phetchaburi is known for its forests, mountains, and rural communities that practice sustainable agriculture and conservation. Participate in activities such as bird-watching, cycling, and hiking in Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Visit Baan Bang Kao Village, where the local community is focused on eco-friendly farming and seafood production. Phetchaburi is a prime example of how sustainable tourism can enhance the local economy while preserving its natural environment and biodiversity.
Rural Tourism: Live in homestay
Rural tourism for green travel in Thailand offers a chance to experience the country’s natural beauty and rich culture while minimizing your environmental impact.
Whether you’re trekking through lush forests, staying in traditional homestays, or participating in organic farming, rural tourism provides a sustainable and immersive way to explore Thailand. By choosing green travel in these rural areas, you contribute to local communities and promote the preservation of Thailand’s stunning natural landscapes and cultural heritage.
Take Road Trip
Taking a road trip allows you to explore the country’s scenic landscapes and hidden gems while being mindful of your environmental impact. Road trips can be more sustainable when approached with eco-friendly choices, such as using public transportation, reducing waste, and supporting local, environmentally conscious businesses.
By planning your journey with sustainability in mind, you can enjoy Thailand’s natural beauty while contributing to the preservation of its environment.
Take Road Trip : Scenic Drives and Routes in Thailand
Thailand offers some of the most scenic drives and routes in Southeast Asia, perfect for road trippers seeking to explore the country’s diverse landscapes. From lush mountains and national parks to coastal highways and rural villages, these scenic routes showcase Thailand’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and biodiversity.
1. Mae Hong Son Loop (Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son)
One of Thailand’s most famous scenic drives, the Mae Hong Son Loop is a breathtaking journey through Northern Thailand’s mountainous terrain. Starting in Chiang Mai, the loop covers over 600 km and winds through dense forests, charming villages, and serene valleys. The road curves through misty mountains and scenic valleys, offering panoramic views of Northern Thailand’s natural beauty.
2. The Samoeng Loop (Chiang Mai)
The Samoeng Loop is a shorter, more accessible drive for those based in Chiang Mai, offering a mix of mountain views, rural villages, and natural attractions. The 100 km loop begins in Chiang Mai and passes through local villages, lush forests, and viewpoints along winding roads. The loop offers a beautiful mix of nature and culture, with winding mountain roads and peaceful rural landscapes.
3. Chiang Rai to the Golden Triangle
The drive from Chiang Rai to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, offers spectacular views of the Mekong River, rolling hills, and rural villages. This route allows you to explore ancient temples, lush landscapes, and a historical region rich in culture. The route takes you through northern Thailand’s serene countryside, with mountain views, river landscapes, and hill tribe communities.
4. Route 1148 (Nan to Phayao)
Located in Northern Thailand, Route 1148 is considered one of the most beautiful driving roads in the country, offering sweeping views of mountains, valleys, and rivers. This 120 km stretch between Nan and Phayao is a favorite among motorcyclists and road trippers alike. The road’s winding nature and panoramic views of Northern Thailand’s rural landscapes make it a must for scenic road trip enthusiasts.
5. Phang Nga Coastal Route (Phuket to Krabi)
This coastal drive from Phuket to Krabi takes you along the Andaman Sea, offering stunning views of limestone karsts, turquoise waters, and white sandy beaches. The route stretches for about 150 km and passes through the scenic Phang Nga Bay area. This route offers dramatic coastal views, crystal-clear waters, and iconic limestone formations rising from the sea.
6. Phetchabun Loop (Route 12)
The Phetchabun Loop is a lesser-known scenic route that takes travelers through Central Thailand’s rolling hills and national parks. It’s particularly known for its cooler temperatures and misty landscapes, making it a perfect escape from the heat. The drive takes you through mountain ridges, lush valleys, and picturesque villages, with cool weather and misty mornings adding to the charm.
7. The Royal Coast (Bangkok to Hua Hin)
The drive from Bangkok to Hua Hin along the Royal Coast is a popular scenic route that takes you past charming seaside towns, national parks, and royal palaces. The 200 km drive is relatively flat and easy, making it perfect for a relaxing road trip. The route combines coastal views with historical landmarks and natural attractions, offering a diverse and relaxing journey.
8. Rural Routes of Isan (Nakhon Ratchasima to Ubon Ratchathani)
For those wanting to explore Thailand’s rural heartland, the drive through Isan (Northeastern Thailand) offers vast rice fields, traditional villages, and ancient Khmer temples. This region is less touristy and provides a more authentic Thai experience. This route offers wide-open landscapes, historical sites, and a chance to experience rural life in Thailand.
9. The Eastern Seaboard (Pattaya to Rayong)
A scenic drive along the Eastern Seaboard from Pattaya to Rayong offers a relaxing coastal journey with views of sandy beaches, small islands, and fishing villages. The 100 km drive is perfect for a leisurely day trip from Bangkok or Pattaya. The route is lined with beautiful coastal scenery, quaint fishing villages, and peaceful beaches, offering a relaxing drive along the Gulf of Thailand.
Around tour to the north, northeast, central or southern of Thailand is fun. It is also a good way to help the local. You may eat at small restaurant, buy some grocery at mom and pop shop, stay at family run hotel, buy souvenir and fill the gasoline at small shops. All simple activities make a difference in the life of local people. Therefore, it may be a time to consider small town to visit.
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