While Thailand benefits from being one of the top 10 most touristed nations on earth, welcoming 25 million annual visitors presents considerable challenges for the sustainability of its natural environment and rich cultural traditions. Fortunately, minimising your footprint in Thailand has never been easier, with countless opportunities to enjoy a greener visit, from homestays with hill tribes and helping with the harvest, to supporting endangered wildlife.

Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Image by Theerawat Sangprakarn / CC BY 2.0

There is perhaps no better way to appreciate Thailand than its raw, natural state, and with more than 100 national parks dotted around the country, there are plenty of options to do so. The kingdom's first protected swathe of jungle, Kho Yai National Park, is also its most popular. With around 50 kilometres of hiking trails, you can choose from easy rambles to more challenging multi-day treks led by a park ranger. The park is home to a vast expanse of increasingly rare monsoon rainforest and some of Thailand's last remaining wild tigers, gibbons and elephants. And with almost 400 species of bird, it’s a twitcher’s paradise.