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ThailandDescription and is it worth visiting
Pattaya Elephant Village is not just a tourist attraction, but a former elephant rehabilitation center founded in 1973. They brought animals here that, due to injury or age, could no longer work in the jungle and needed a safe refuge. Today, it's a full-fledged sanctuary where about 30 elephants live and roughly 100 staff work.
What can you see and do here? The program includes a half-hour show where elephants show off their talents: they play football, basketball, paint, "drive" a car, and even play musical instruments. The show also features performers, parrots, and other animals. The main difference from other similar places in Pattaya is the opportunity for a 45-50 minute elephant ride through scenic farmland and jungle (two people per elephant). After the ride, guests are treated to free seasonal fruit and taken back to the village by off-road vehicle. You can also feed the elephants bananas (100 baht per bunch) and even join in bathing them.
Besides elephants, there are other activities: ATVs, water buffalo cart rides, rafting, and a small mini-zoo. But all these activities require advance booking by phone or buying a ready-made tour.
The grounds and the zoo themselves are quite small, and after the show or ride, be prepared to be asked for extra tips at every turn (mahouts, photographers, performers).
Is it worth making a special trip? If you just want to see the show, especially if you've already seen elephant performances elsewhere (like at Nong Nooch), it's not worth going out of your way. But if your goal is to ride an elephant, feed them by hand, or join in bathing them, Pattaya Elephant Village fully meets expectations. This place is especially good for families with kids, as little ones will enjoy not just the show but also interacting with the gentle giants.
🌐 Official website: http://www.elephant-village-pattaya.com/
🕐 Opening hours
The Elephant Village is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Elephant rides (45-50 minutes) start several times a day: roughly at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 4:00 PM. It's strongly recommended to book your ride in advance.
💵 Admission fee / ticket prices
Prices at the elephant village depend on the program you choose. All activities should be booked in advance, especially riding and elephant care. Children get discounts (check on site or when booking). Most ticket prices include a free drink.
- Entry ticket + show: from 300 baht (≈ 9.13 USD)
- Entry ticket + elephant ride (45-50 min): from 600 baht (≈ 18.26 USD) per person. If two people ride one elephant, the cost may be lower.
- Combo (show + ride + feeding): from 800 baht (≈ 24.35 USD)
- Elephant care and bathing (hands-on program): from 2000 baht (≈ 60.88 USD)
- Basket of bananas for feeding elephants: 100 baht (3.04 USD) — bought separately.
- Photo in a cardboard frame: 150 baht (4.57 USD) — taken by local photographers.
Keep in mind that almost all staff (mahouts, photographers, performers after the show) expect tips — it's customary to give between 20 and 100 baht.
Buy tickets online cheaper:
- Trip.com — discounted tickets to the elephant village.
- GetYourGuide — ready-made tours from Pattaya and Bangkok with transfers.
🚶 How to get there
The Elephant Village is located on Phattanakarn road, past Sukhumvit road, about 7 kilometers from central Pattaya (elephant village on the Pattaya map).
Important note: this place is primarily geared toward group visits as part of a tour, not independent travelers. So we first recommend considering ready-made guided tours. In practice, it's often cheaper to buy a tour with transfer than to get there on your own and buy a ticket on site.
If you still decide to go on your own, here are your options:
- Taxi (Grab, Bolt, Maxim): about 200–300 baht (≈ 7.61 USD) one way from central Pattaya. Important: booking a taxi back can be tricky — drivers often refuse requests in this area. So if possible, hire a car with waiting time (arrange with the driver to wait 1-2 hours). You can do this through your hotel reception or arrange it on the street.
- Motorbike taxi: almost 3 times cheaper (about 70–100 baht one way), but only suitable for one or two people without luggage.
- Rental car or scooter: there's free parking on site. This is a convenient option if you're confident driving on Thailand's roads.
- Tour with transfer: the most reliable way. Tickets are sold at any street travel agency in Pattaya, as well as online (links above). These tours often include lunch and visits to other attractions as well.
- As part of other tours: for example, a Pattaya city tour or a River Kwai tour often includes a visit to the elephant village.
- For package tourists: some tour operators (like Pegas, Anex) sometimes include a free city tour with a visit to the elephant village as a welcome tour.
For more on transport and how to use it, read our separate guide: Pattaya transport and how to get around the resort.