Get up close and personal with the animals. The Chiang Mai Zoo is a great experience for the kids!
The Chiang Mai Zoo isn’t your typical zoo. Here you are allowed to get up close and personal (if you want to) by feeding many of the exotic animals. You can even take your car inside and drive to each exhibit saving little legs from getting tired. There are playgrounds, animals shows, and even a Snow Dome where the family can experience extreme cold and snowy conditions. Within the zoo there is also an aquarium and so much more!
If you’re looking for something a bit different, be sure to visit the Chiang Mai Night Safari for some great family fun in Chiang Mai.
What kinds of animals will you see at the Chiang Mai Zoo?
The zoo has been around since 1957, but was recognized as the official zoo of Chiang Mai twenty years later in 1977. Since then, the grounds have expanded to around 200 acres. That’s plenty of room to house 400 species! Be sure to check out a map of the zoo before you go so you don’t miss out on any favourites.
The animals seem to be well taken care of and most people we’ve spoken to over the years are impressed. Visits for us over the years have been hit or miss, but generally the animals appear to be looked after and their enclosures have been updated over time. Many families with young children love it so much they get memberships. You can inquire about costs at the front ticket gate as the price options always seem to be changing.
Right from the first exhibits you’ll see how this zoo is different. You are welcomed to see animals up close and personal. Barriers exist to keep you and the animals safe, but it’s worth mentioning to keep an extra eye on children as some of the barriers are quite low. Starting off in ‘Africa’ be sure to feed the hippos, then move onto feed the giraffes and zebras too! Each basket of food costs between 10-20 baht.
Chimpanzees and orangutans will entertain, and there’s a gibbon island too. But as we know, kids can get bored so easily, which is why the Chiang Mai zoo has really expanded what it has compared to other zoos. Asides from animal shows, they offer pony riding, an adventure pirate play area, and a children’s zone!
Chiang Mai Zoo Children’s Zone
This area is an air conditioned haven and everything about it completely free. Located just after the koala exhibit you’ll find two buildings. One houses a very well presented educational Learning Centre for Children about the zoo and the history of the area, and the other is home to an oasis. After walking around in the hot sun, a nice place to sit and relax in some air conditioning is just what you need!
The play area tries to cater to children of all ages. There is a small indoor playground, a ball pit, toys to play with and ride on, a colouring zone, and a reading centre. There are books both fictional and educational for all age ranges. Just outside is an outdoor playground, although it is quite old and in dire need of repairs. It’s too bad because the area is completely shaded and is the perfect spot for a romp around.
Chiang Mai Zoo Water Park
It gets hot. Really hot. Just a few years ago the zoo built a small water park and thank goodness for that! The best thing is that they have swim suits for rent or for sale in case you forgot yours or came across the water park as a complete surprise. It’s great fun for kids probably up to age 8. A small entrance fee is required for entry, but adults do not have to pay if they are not swimming. There is a shaded seating area set up for parents to wait under and it provides a good view of the kids playing in the water park.
Entrance fee to water park (dual pricing): Adult tourists 100 baht, child tourist under 120 cm 30 baht, over 120 cm 70 baht. Thai adults 50 baht, Thai child 20 baht. At busy times, the park will instill a time limit of 1 hour. If it’s not busy, you can swim for as long as you like.
To find more water parks, read our guide to the best water parks in Chiang Mai!
Snow in Chiang Mai! Visit the Snow Dome
Thai people are obsessed with cold. They love it, and no wonder when it feels like 45 degrees (115 Fahrenheit) nearly all the time. Hence, the Snow Dome, a wonder-world of ice and ‘snow’ sure to captivate the imaginations of those who have never experienced snow before! On weekends and holidays you can expect this to be a popular destination. Entrance comes at an extra cost and includes a nice puffy winter jacket. There’s no dual pricing this time! Entrances are timed and limited to 40 minutes. Entrance times can be found on the Chiang Mai Zoo website.
Entrance fee for Snow Dome: All adults 150 baht, all children 100 baht
4D Movie Theatre
Right beside the Snow Dome is the YMAX Real 4D movie experience. The movies appear to be offered in various languages but it’s unclear if they are subtitled or not in English or even dubbed. This is a Chiang Mai Zoo attraction we have yet to try as the offerings aren’t exactly little kid friendly. We have heard the movies are only about 5 minutes long, but enjoyable for older kids!
YMAX Real 4D movie tickets: All adults 150 baht, all children 150 baht.
How to get around the Chiang Mai Zoo
This place is massive and you’d honestly be crazy to try to walk it all. If you live here or have rented a car, the easiest way is to drive through the zoo and park as you go. There is designated parking along the road and parking lots too that spread throughout the zoo. Parking is absolutely free, but you do need to pay a 50 baht fee to enter with your vehicle.
The next best option is to get a transportation ticket aka the trolley ticket. Tickets cost 50 baht per adult and 30 baht per child (under 135 cm). The trolley will pick you up and drop you off at designated stops throughout the zoo.
If you’re looking for more freedom and convenience, why not rent a golf cart! Ask for more information when you purchase your entrance tickets, but the current rental rate is 350 baht for the first hour, and 300 baht for each hour afterwards. A large golf cart can fit 2 grown adults and up to 3 children.
Chiang Mai Aquarium
The Chiang Mai Aquarium is home to around 25,000 different species of fish and is apparently home to the longest underwater tunnel in the world. There are plenty of extra activities to enjoy including feeding various types of fish and if you’d like to, even snorkel or scuba dive with the fish! Sharks too!
Your family can choose to visit the aquarium upon arrival and be shuttled bused straight from the ticket gate. Just be sure to inquire! This could save a lot of walking and you can always see the rest of the zoo on the way out.
The ticket price for the Chiang Mai aquarium includes the entrance to the zoo. Once again, dual pricing does occur with foreigners costing 390 baht per child and 520 per adult. Thai price is 150 baht per child and 220 per adult.
How to get to the Chiang Mai Zoo
It’s very straight forward to get to and every songtaew or red truck driver knows where it is. The best bet is to flag one down! Alternatively you could Grab it or take a taxi if you don’t have your own vehicle.
To drive the family there on your own, just head all the way up Huay Kaew Rd heading west to the base of Doi Suthep. The zoo and aquarium entrance is on your left. All you need to do is keep an eye out for lots of songtaews parked on the side of the road waiting to drive people either up Doi Suthep, or home from the zoo.
Hours: Daily 8 am – 5 pm
Zoo admission for foreigners:
Adults 150 baht
Child 70 baht (up to 135 cm)
Zoo admission for Thais:
Adults 100 baht
Child 20 baht (up to 135 cm)
Student 50 baht (with valid ID)
Aquarium admission for foreigners:
Adults 520 baht
Child 390 baht (up to 135 cm)
Aquarium admission for Thais:
Adults 220 baht
Child 150 baht (up to 135 cm)
Panda admission for foreigners:
Adults 100 baht
Child 50 baht (up to 135 cm)
Panda admission for Thais:
Adults 50 baht
Child 20 baht (up to 135 cm)
Snow Dome admission for foreigners:
Adults 150 baht
Child 100 baht (up to 135 cm)
Snow Dome admission for Thais:
Adults 150 baht
Child 100 baht (up to 135 cm)
Water park admission for foreigners:
Adults 50 baht
Child 20 baht (up to 135 cm)
Water park admission for Thais:
Adults 50 baht
Child 20 baht (up to 135 cm)
Zoo trolley transportation:
All adults 30 baht
All children 20 baht
Vehicle entrance fees:
Car 50 baht
Motorbike 10 baht
Bicycle 1 baht
Accessibility: Strollers. Partial wheelchair access.
Telephone: 053-221179
Website: http://www.chiangmai.zoothailand.org/
Location: Google Maps
*Admission, activities, and showtimes subject to change. Please see the Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium website for up to date information.
Things to consider
Surprisingly food and drinks are really affordable! There’s no need to stock up on snacks before you go in and snack shops are found throughout the zoo. Definitely bring hats and sunscreen as the paths are not always shaded. Most paths are stroller accessible, but taking a wheelchair everywhere isn’t always possible.
