Thai Elephant Conservation Center
ศูนย์อนุรักษ์ช้างไทย
A national elephant conservation centre supported by the Thai royal family, where you can watch elephants bathing, see demonstrations, and visit an elephant hospital and a paper workshop that makes paper from elephant dung.
The centre is run by the Thai National Elephant Institute and cares for about 50 Asian elephants. It has an elephant hospital and a breeding centre. Every morning you can watch mahouts take elephants into a lake for a bath and see elephant skill demonstrations (around 10:00 and 11:00, with an extra show at 13:30 on weekends). You can also visit the elephant hospital and the elephant dung paper workshop, and sign up for a mahout training course. Admission is about 200 baht. The centre is beside National Highway 11, on the road from Lampang to Chiang Mai, about 35 km from the city. You can take a bus heading toward Chiang Mai and get off at the entrance.
Opening hours
08:00–16:00 (shows at approx. 10:00 and 11:00)
Nearby sights
- Thung Kwian Forest Market
- Doi Khun Tan National Park
- Wat Lai Hin Luang
- Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
- Nakhon Lampang Railway Station
- Wat Si Rong Mueang
- Lampang Horse Carriage Ride
- Wat Pongsanuk