If you’ve always wanted to get up close and personal with a tiger, it’s also worth reading up on the disturbing animal welfare issues involved. Tourists help to bathe an elephant at Elephants World, Kanchanaburi. For a roundup of Thailand’s more sustainable operators, see Lonely Planet’s guide to interacting ethically with elephants in Thailand.

While nothing beats the thrill of spotting an elephant in the wild, fortunately there are a growing number of elephant sanctuaries in Thailand that offer more ethical interactions such as walking with and bathing the gentle giants. However, there is now growing evidence to prove that the practice is harmful for the pachyderms, with elephant charities comparing it with poaching and the ivory trade in terms of impact. Wildlife spotting and interactionsįor many years, riding an elephant in Thailand was synonymous with the visitor experience. When visiting national parks in Thailand or elsewhere, be sure to take out everything you bring in, and resist the temptation to pocket a souvenir (including seashells) or feed wild animals, which can make them aggressive (especially monkeys). For more information on Thailand’s parks see Department of National Parks (dnp.go.th/parkreserve). Once a hangout for pirates, its pristine beaches and coral reefs are now protected and a shelter for dolphins and sea otters, as well as birds, including swiftlets, whose homes are the main ingredient in bird’s nest soup. The inspiration behind cult backpacker film The Beach, Ang Thong National Marine Park is an archipelago of 42 jewel-like islands and limestone karsts, around 30 kilometres west of Ko Samui.

Many of these animals are notoriously elusive, but there is plenty more to see – set on the eastern slopes of the Tenasserin Mountain Range, the park’s heavy rainfall creates spectacular waterfalls.Īng Thong Marine National Park, Thailand. One of the oldest evergreen rainforests in the world, it also provides a haven for a host of wildlife, including Asian black bears, leopards and several species of monkey. Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand is another top pick. And with almost 400 species of bird, it’s a twitcher’s paradise. 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. 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 kingdom’s first protected swathe of jungle, Kho Yai National Park, is also its most popular. 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. Image by Theerawat Sangprakarn / CC BY 2.0 Green spaces 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. 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.

Koh yao noi lonely planet