When travelling, we aim to reduce the impact of our actions at every possible opportunity by choosing companies that have the environment and sustainability at their core. Our recent trip to Thailand allowed us to connect with like minded organisations who each go above and beyond to achieve their goals. ‘Passion for the planet in Bangkok’ highlights these positive travel experiences and why we support these organisations.
Travel responsibly with Grasshopper Adventures
As the leading cycle tour company in Asia we were in safe hands with Grasshopper Adventures. What better way to explore than on two wheels, good for your health and great for the planet. We joined a day tour from central Bangkok to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam and it was truly remarkable. The palaces and temples within Ayutthaya Historical Park were breathtaking and cycling throughout the park was perfect.
Visiting street food stalls and independant restaurants en route with our excellent local guide allowed us to support local communities. Keeping hydrated during the ride by using our Refill not Landfill reusable water bottles lessened our impact on the environment. These are all key values to Grasshopper Adventures and that’s why we love them!
Drink responsibly with Refill not Landfill
Everyone is aware that single use plastic is a mammoth problem facing the planet but not everyone is actually doing something about it. Refill not Landfill was founded just 3 years ago and since inception they have made a huge impact on reducing the use of single use plastic bottles throughout the region. Encouraging tour companies, hotels and restaurants to replace their plastic bottles with reusable and refillable water bottles alongside implementing water refill stations has seen literally hundreds of millions less plastic bottles in circulation.
Recent expansion into Bangkok has seen them continue their working relationship with Grasshopper Adventures and also forge new and exciting partnerships. These include the luxury urban retreat, The Siam Hotel and award-winning luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent who have sponsored a number of water refill stations in Bangkok. Easia Travel who offer tours throughout the region have also committed to the initiative; as part of their sustainability programme all guests will receive a Refill not Landfill bottle which will have a lasting and positive impact.
Eat responsibly with Green Monday
Green Monday who promote green, healthy and sustainable living have recently launched in Bangkok; this global movement champions the benefits of a plant based diet by supporting hotels and restaurants to provide more plant based options on their menus. Working with brands such as Beyond Meat which has been taking the world by storm and innovative meat substitute, OmniMeat these new menu additions appeal to vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike. By reducing our reliance on animal agriculture we are having a positive impact on the planet and our health, this is achieved by eating more plant based food.
Luxury hotels including The Peninsula Bangkok, JW Marriott Bangkok and Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok have embraced the initiative with many more to follow. We enjoyed a plant based dining experience at You&Mee, the street style eatery at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. This allowed us to dine on a selection of traditional Thai dishes that were 100{fd1018b708dc11e6d771fa6d5ce8eacdee7a6add7c2315f27e48bc4e47591114} plant based, each of which were delicious. The powerful flavour profiles of Thai cuisine were ever present and the inclusion of the excellent OmniMeat in some dishes added an extra element to dishes including this larb, a spicy Thai salad that is usually prepared with pork.
There are of course many ways to make your travel more sustainable, both in Bangkok and around the world. These are just a small selection of organisations that we chose to support in Bangkok due to their passion for the planet. Next time you travel, take a moment to consider how you can lessen your impact without impacting on your experience.
Paul Eyers is Founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world.
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