Sustainable Travel in Southeast Asia – 11 Simple Tips

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Sustainable travel in Southeast Asia? What may at first sound like a big challenge is definitely possible. Especially in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia, there are many ways to live consciously and in an eco-friendly way while traveling. And the possibilities are growing, as more and more locals are becoming aware of it.

Less Waste, More Experience – How to Travel Sustainably Through Southeast Asia

It doesn’t take much to travel sustainably. Sometimes it’s very simple things we don’t even think about. For example, you can already do a lot of good by avoiding plastic (which is still very common in most Southeast Asian countries). Or how about taking a night train instead of a flight?

In this blog post, we’ll show you practical tips on how to discover Southeast Asia sustainably – without much effort.

1. Choose Sustainable Means of Transportation

Domestic flights can often easily be avoided in many Southeast Asian countries. An example would be traveling in Thailand from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or to the many islands. Almost always there are sustainable options, and you could take the night train or the long-distance bus. To the islands, you then choose a combination of bus and ferry. This way you not only travel more eco-friendly but also experience more of the country.

Even within cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore, there are better alternatives than relying on taxis or similar all the time. All three mentioned cities have excellent rail systems that get you from A to B while saving not only the environment but also your wallet. Meanwhile, many cities also offer rental e-scooters and bicycles. Especially for shorter distances, they are a practical and green alternative to motorbikes.

Keep in mind: Think about CO₂ compensation already on your long-haul flight.

2. Choose Affordable but Fair Accommodations

You don’t have to check into an expensive eco-resort to travel sustainably. There are now many accommodations that care about this. In Thailand, for example, you can recognize them by the “Green Leaf Thailand” label. Not only large resorts, but also many simple accommodations like hostels or guesthouses run by local families are already operating eco-friendly nowadays.

In general, it pays off to choose accommodations that focus on sustainability. This can also mean simple things like saving water, using solar energy, or offering waste separation. Especially in tropical regions like Southeast Asia, air conditioning often runs around the clock. It’s better to use it only when you are really in the room. During certain seasons, like the rainy season when it’s cooler, you might even skip it altogether.

Our Tip: Simply use towels and bed linens several times. After one night, they shouldn’t be too dirty yet. This way, less laundry is done, saving water and energy. Most hotels nowadays already have signs asking you to hang up your towels if you want to use them again. That’s also a small step.

3. Use Solid Care Products Instead of Liquid Soaps and Shampoos

Solid 2-in-1 alternatives to shampoo and shower gel are a great way to avoid plastic on your sustainable trip. They come without packaging waste, last a long time, and are perfect for travel since they save space and won’t leak in your luggage.

Another tip: In many hotels, small shampoo or shower gel bottles or even disposable toothbrushes are provided. As tempting as it may sometimes be, you should definitely avoid using them and just ignore these products. They are single-use only and create a lot of plastic waste. Besides, they are mostly poor-quality products with the cheapest (and possibly even harmful) ingredients.

4. Use Plastic-Free Alternatives for Drinks

In Southeast Asia, you can get them almost everywhere: fresh coconuts. Chilled, refreshing, and without any packaging waste. Definitely the best alternative to plastic bottles for us. The shell is completely biodegradable, and the coconut is simply wonderful – open it, drink it, and enjoy.

You could also bring your own bamboo or stainless-steel straw, and of course, use it for other drinks as well. This way, you do the environment twice the favor. Especially in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia, unfortunately, way too much plastic still ends up in the ocean.

Otherwise, you can make a big difference with just a few small things in your luggage: a reusable cup for smoothies on the go or a small cutlery set for street food.

5. Dive and Snorkel Sustainably

Diving and snorkeling are simply part of Southeast Asia. Everywhere you’ll find beautiful diving and snorkeling spots with a stunning underwater world. Whether in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, or Malaysia. But the underwater world is also extremely fragile. That’s why it’s even more important to go into the water with a dive school that focuses on sustainability.

When choosing, make sure that no fish feeding is allowed and, for example, corals are not touched. Many certified schools, such as those with the label “Green Fins” or “PADI Eco Center,” place great importance on the environment and are therefore recommended.

Note: What most travelers forget is that even sunscreen can cause damage. Conventional products often contain substances that harm coral reefs. The better choice is reef-safe sunscreen, meaning reef-friendly alternatives without harmful chemicals. Many dive shops offer such products, or you can get them online beforehand.

6. Buy Souvenirs Consciously

Souvenirs are part of traveling for most people and are often bought as reminders for home. But not everything that looks nice is harmless. Unfortunately, in Southeast Asia, there are still some products offered that are made from wild animals, such as jewelry from coral, ivory, or tortoiseshell. It may sound exotic, but it’s a real no-go for the environment and wildlife conservation!

Instead, we recommend choosing handmade products from the region. Whether it’s woven hats, hand-printed fabrics, natural cosmetics, or small artworks made from recycled materials, there are many options. With such souvenirs, you support local family businesses or small manufacturers. At the same time, you bring something authentic back home. Feel free to ask in the shops where the souvenirs come from – especially small stores usually like to tell you and are rightfully proud of their handmade products.

7. Bring Your Own Shopping Bag

Whether at the night market, supermarket, or buying street food, in many Southeast Asian countries, you automatically get a plastic bag with every small purchase. Even though it’s slowly becoming less common, at least in chains like 7-Eleven. Just pack a small cloth bag or an ultralight tote. They weigh almost nothing, take up hardly any space, and are super practical. This way, you won’t need plastic bags anymore and will be perfectly prepared for every purchase.

Especially on islands or in many regions where waste disposal is still an issue, it’s important to consume as little single-use plastic as possible. What you don’t use won’t end up in the trash or nature. You could almost say: small bag, big impact.

Note: It’s also worth carrying a foldable fruit or vegetable net bag. This is especially practical when you’re buying fresh fruit at markets (and you very likely will). Sustainable travel can sometimes be that simple.

8. Prefer Local and Seasonal Food

Eat what the region offers: local and seasonal food is not only fresher and tastier but also more sustainable. This applies both at home in Germany and in the Far East. In Southeast Asia, you’ll find a huge variety of fruits, vegetables, and street food at markets – directly from the region, without long transport routes. This way you enjoy authentically and consciously.

9. No Elephant Rides – Support Ethical Animal Projects

Experiencing elephants up close is at the top of the list for many Southeast Asia travelers. The animals are simply very impressive. But unfortunately, there are still many questionable camps, especially in Thailand, where elephants are used for shows, rides, or selfies. What may seem harmless at first often means years of suffering for the animals.

If you want to see elephants, then please do so in real sanctuaries that focus on animal welfare and proper living conditions. In Thailand, the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai is a pioneer in animal protection, but you’ll also find good elephant sanctuaries in many other places like Phuket, Koh Samui, or Koh Phangan. Here, rescued elephants live in a protected environment, and you can observe them up close – but on their terms.

You can also find sustainable projects in other Southeast Asian countries, such as the Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia or MandaLao Elephant Conservation in Laos. All pursue the same goal: to give the animals a better life. But always research carefully before visiting, as unfortunately there are still many black sheep among the providers.

10. Save Water on Islands

Especially in tropical countries like Thailand, Indonesia, or the Philippines, clean water is often scarce. Particularly on smaller islands, e.g., also on Koh Samui, which has even been reported in Thai news in recent years. A little mindfulness in daily life can already help conserve the resource water.

So better keep showers a bit shorter instead of taking half-hour showers. This is not only more sustainable but also completely sufficient given the temperatures. Also, when brushing your teeth, feel free to turn off the tap in between or use the toilet flush sparingly.

Tip: With solid care products like Duschbrocken (see point 3), you often need less water to rinse off. That’s practical, space-saving in your luggage, and plastic-free. A win-win situation for everyone!

11. Join Beach Cleaning Events

Especially on islands and in coastal areas, you can really make a difference here! Many hostels, eco-resorts, homestays, or local NGOs in Southeast Asia (e.g., in Thailand, Indonesia, or the Philippines) organize regular Beach Cleaning Days, such as Trash Hero. In a group, a beach or specific beach areas are cleaned by collecting washed-up trash. Why not include a Beach Cleaning Day on your trip? Beach cleaning is not only good for the environment but also a strong signal to other travelers and locals.

If there are no beach cleaning events during your stay, you can still be active. Take a small bag and gloves on your beach walk and collect any trash you find (for example, cigarette butts). Following the motto: small actions, big impact! When disposing of trash, also pay attention to waste separation – in more and more places in Southeast Asia, value is placed on this.

Do you have more tips for sustainable travel in Southeast Asia? Write us a comment below.

Photos: Photo 2 (Train): Pratan Saetang/shutterstock.com, Photo 5 (Vegetables): Nungning20/shutterstock.com