Chiang Mai Zoo Tips: What to Know Before You Go

A weekday morning, right from the 8 am opening. The air is cool, the animals are active and feeding, and you beat the coach groups. The cool, dry season from November to February is the most comfortable overall. Whatever the month, try to cover the top of the hill before 3 pm, when staff begin moving some larger animals off-view.

The base foreigner entry is about 150 THB (Rs 430) for adults and around 70 THB (Rs 200) for children under 135 cm. There are no pandas any more, so nothing to pay there. The aquarium is a separate ticket at about 450 THB adult and 350 THB child, and Snow Town costs around 150 THB. Check the current numbers on the entry fees page before you go.

No. The zoo's two famous pandas, Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, arrived from China in 2003, but Chuang Chuang died in September 2019 and Lin Hui died in April 2023, and their cub Lin Bing was returned to China in 2013. There are no giant pandas at the zoo any more, so do not plan your visit around them. Older blogs and ticket sites that still advertise pandas are out of date.

Take the shuttle, at least uphill. The zoo is built on a steep hillside and walking the full loop is genuinely tiring, especially in the heat. The shuttle costs about 20 THB (Rs 60) for adults, a monorail-style tram runs on some routes for a little more, and a self-drive golf cart is worth it for families. A good plan is to ride to the top and walk back down.

It is about 4 to 5 km west, at the foot of Doi Suthep on Huay Kaew Road. A songthaew or a Grab from the moat takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Scooters and cars can park at the entrance for a small fee. Aim to arrive near the 8 am opening to beat the heat and the crowds.

Yes, but plan for the size. Give the main loop four to five hours, or a full day if you add the aquarium and Snow Town. Use the shuttle or a golf cart so small legs last, time your visit around the sea lion and bird shows, and keep the cool indoor attractions for the afternoon.