How to get from Bangkok to Khao Kheow. Khao Kheow Zoo in Pattaya is the best in Thailand. How is the excursion to Khao Kheo Zoo going?

· 03/18/2018

Article text updated: 07/29/2018

A crowd of children and their parents gathered at the orangutan enclosure, where a mother orangutan sat with her apparently very recently born offspring in the shade of a huge fallen tree. And her “husband” and eldest son entertained the audience by swinging on a rope. At the same time, their faces looked as if they wanted to say: “This is how we can do it!” But you, smooth-skinned bipeds, will never succeed. You are stupid! In the midst of the “performance,” out of the corner of my eye I saw some red-haired shadow behind me. Slowly swaying from foot to foot, another orangutan walked past, parted the crowd of surprised children with its paws and climbed up a tree standing near the fence of the enclosure. Amid enthusiastic comments from visitors, the monkey gulped down a bottle of Coca-Cola and threw it to a zookeeper standing nearby. I thought a little, went down and swayed arm in arm with him towards the door of the enclosure.

This is the event I remember when I visited the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in the vicinity of Pattaya. For tourists vacationing at this resort with a child, there are a huge number of places where you can go for impressions. But it seems to me that a trip to the zoo is one of the win-win excursions that will be interesting to both children and adults, young and old. Communication with animals always brings a whole bunch of positive emotions.

Photo 1. Khao Kheow Open Zoo is a huge petting zoo where you can feed almost all the animals. An excursion where you can go with your child while relaxing in Pattaya. Shot on Nikon D610 + Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G. Settings: shutter speed 1/500, exposure compensation +0.33, f/2.8, ISO 250, FR=200 mm.

The Khao Kheo Zoo is called open because the animals here are kept not in cages, but on spacious lawns, fenced with moats with water and an electric fence. I encountered similar conditions in zoos in Frankfurt am Main and in the Opel Zoo (located in the vicinity of this metropolis), but only in Pattaya did I not have to suffer with the choice of angles due to the interfering bars of the cages - there are none. The animals are open to the audience.

The territory of the Khao Kheo Zoo is divided into zones: African savannah, feline complex, lyre deer, bird enclosure, great ape nursery, penguins, etc. You can walk around the territory on foot, drive your own car, take an electric mini-bus, or rent a small electric car (the kind that golfers drive around the course). You ride around, look at the animals, admire the plants, and relax. A great place where the whole day will pass unnoticed!

1. Description of how to get to the zoo by tuk-tuk and taxi.
2. Review of the excursion.
3. History of the creation of the zoological park.
4. A story about visiting enclosures with great apes.
5. Schedule of animal shows in Khao Kheo.
6. What interesting places are there nearby?
7. Safari World Safari Park in Bangkok.

1. How to get to the Khao Kheo Open Zoo from Pattaya on your own

“The distance from Pattaya to Khao Kheo is 55 km (more precisely, from our hotel Mermaid's Beach Resort Jomtien 3.5 * to Soi 7 on Jomtien Beach), and to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok - 125 km, and We paid 800 baht for a taxi ride there. This means that the cost of a taxi ride to Khao Kheow Open Zoo should be approximately 350 baht. But last time we paid 300 baht for a trip to the Nong Nooch Botanical Garden, which is closer (only 20 km). Therefore, a fair price for a trip to the safari park is about 450 baht one way,” we thought as we went outside after breakfast and got ready to bargain with the taxi driver.

“Good morning, sir,” the dark-skinned driver calls out to me first, whose appearance makes it clear that he often deals with our brother from Russia, “Where should I take you?”

— We need to get to the Khao Kheo Zoo.

- Great, I’ll get there with the breeze. Please sit down,” he helpfully opens the door.

- How much does a ride cost?

- Only 1000 baht.

- Thousand? Perhaps this is a mistake?

- No, sir, a fair price. Comfortable, air conditioned, fast, you won't get anywhere cheaper.

- You are a very nice person. We would like to go with you. But the price is a little high. We offer you 250 baht,” I bluff a little.

- What are you saying, sir, this is unreal! You're talking about a ridiculous price.

“We could get there in a white songthaew,” Katya joins in: “But with such a nice driver it’s more convenient in his wonderful car.” But the conditions would be more acceptable...

The taxi driver does not agree, we step aside, pretending that we will wait for a tuk-tuk. A couple of minutes later he returns:

- Okay, sir, let's give 350 baht for one way fare to the zoo. But you will give me cash and I will buy tickets to Khao Kheo for you.

- 300 baht and we're off!

Back in the report on the excursion to the Nong Nooch tropical garden, I wrote that, apparently, in Thailand, taxi drivers receive a percentage of the cash register if they themselves lead tourists to attractions. And this is an additional factor for trading with them.

From Jomtien we take the Sukhumvit Road leading to Bangkok, and in about 40 minutes we reach the town of Sriracha (Sriracha), from which it is another 7 km to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo complex. One and a half kilometers before the zoo we get stuck in a traffic jam: there are a lot of visitors there today in their cars. The driver offers to wait for us until 16:00 for another 500 baht (travel back to Pattaya is included). I propose to expand the conditions: if we return to the car before this time, we pay 500 baht, if by 18:00 (since I did not want to limit myself on time for excursions) - another 200 baht on top. Agree...

3. Map of the route of the trip to the Khao Kheo Zoo from Pattaya. How to get here on your own with children. Orange dotted line - tuk-tuks from Jomtien to the center; blue - blue tuk-tuk routes from Sukhumvit Road to the center; raspberry - ring line of tuk-tuks.

In February 2015, we rented a car and drove around Thailand. If you also travel to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo by car, here are the GPS coordinates: 13.214879, 101.053242.

To get there by bus, you need to get to North Pattaya Station. The drive to Si Racha town is approximately 50 minutes. The ticket costs about 40 baht per person. The stop is located near the Robinson’s shopping mall. From here you will have to take a taxi (or a motorcycle taxi to make it cheaper). Considering that the drive is 7 km, the price should not exceed 50-100 baht, I think. The third option is to get to the city of Sriracha on a white songthaew (actually “songthaew” is the correct name for tuk-tuks) that runs along the Sukhumvit Road and costs 20 baht. By the way, the full route of white tuk-tuks: “Sattahip - Sriracha” - they can take you from Pattaya to Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden.

Let's calculate the cost of travel from Jomtien to Khao Kheo Zoo:

1. Tuk-tuk to S Pattaya Road, where the blue tuk-tuk route from Jomtien Beach intersects with the roundabout - 10 baht. Or you can get to the “Dolphins” (the fountain by which all tourists are guided; see the chapter describing the resort’s public transport routes).
2. Tuk-tuk to Sukhumvit Road - 10 baht.
3. White Songthaew to Si Racha city – 20 baht.
4. Travel from the stop at the Robinson shopping center to the zoo - 100 baht.

Total cost of the trip: 90 baht per person one way, 180 baht round trip, 360 baht for two.

Perhaps, on the way back from the zoo, you can ask to tail the Thai tourists and get to the Robinson’s shopping mall stop for free. Then it will cost 260 baht, three times cheaper than a taxi, but an hour and a half longer.

Here comes a conclusion. If you are going on an excursion alone or together, it is cheaper to travel by public transport. If you are planning a visit to the zoo with children, and their age is such that you will have to pay for their passage in a tuk-tuk, then a less expensive way is to get there by taxi. Advice on this matter: if you are a sociable person, agree with other vacationers to charter a car together - you will save money.

The last option is to buy an excursion to the Khao Kheo Zoo (I think there is no need to say that it is cheaper to do this not from a guide from a tour operator, but on the street). Usually, without any reservations, I am against such an excursion, since I will have to wander around in the heat through useless souvenir shops and stores of fake leather goods. In the case of Khao Kheo, there may be an exception if you do not have a license with you: see the report below for a description of ways to move around the vast territory of the park by golf cart or private car.

2. Review of a self-guided excursion to “Khao Kheow Open Zoo”

Okay, let’s assume I coped with the difficult task of explaining “how to get to the zoo.” Let me finally show you the pictures and describe my impressions so that you can decide for yourself whether this excursion is worth going on.

The driver dropped us off at the ticket office. We stood in line for a while, he bought tickets to rent an electric car, I showed my driver’s license (my IDP had expired, I showed my regular Russian license, pink, received in 2017).

When you read reviews from other tourists about a trip to Khao Kheo, you are filled with nothing but delight: beauty, free access to animals, nature! At first our impression was somewhat blurred - all because of the cars. While describing the road to the zoo, I noted that there was a traffic jam at the entrance. And now all these cars are crowded together in one stream on narrow paths so that you are literally standing in heavy traffic and sniffing exhaust fumes. And there’s even nowhere to park your golf cart!

Photo 5. The most convenient way to move around the territory of the Khao Kheo Open Zoo is to rent an electric car. 1/500, +0.67, 6.3, 1600, 50.

I don't like such excursions! I have one explanation: at the end of October 2017, the anniversary of the death of King Rama IX was celebrated in Thailand, the country had a week off, almost all entertainment venues were closed. So the Thais went to Khao Kheo. I think at other times there is not such a crowd here - the zoo is very large, there is room for visitors to spread out.

Probably, if there were fewer cars, we would have made several circles. And so we had to resort to another tactic: we park the golf cart, take a walk at the nearest enclosures, then drive on.

Near the swamp with the hippopotamus, if you raise your head up, you can see such a wonderful miracle.

Photo 6. Sleeping binturong at the Khao Kheo Zoo near Pattaya. Reviews from tourists about independent visits. 1/500, +0.33, 3.5, 720, 62.

I confess: I see such an animal for the first time in my life. This is a binturong, which tourists call the “bearcat”. This is because his face is like that of a kitten, and his body and gait are waddling, like that of a bear.

Binturongs are common in Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines. They have a very gentle disposition and these animals are often tamed and kept at home. I don’t really like it, but in every second report about tourists visiting the Khao Kheo open zoo, there are selfies with these cute guys. I’m not sure that the animal is happy with such close attention from thousands of people a day. Here is a video selfie: “me and my binturong” (see at 4:12 minutes).

The central lawn at the zoo is given over to giraffes. But they are not alone there: wildebeest, horned ungulates, zebras, and even crowned cranes.

On the official website of the zoo there is an “Encyclopedia” section, where you can find the name and description of all the inhabitants of “Khao Kheo”. I can’t recognize this monkey - perhaps it just galloped up from the jungle.

It seems to me that in “Khao Kheo” I not only saw the “bear cat” binturong for the first time in my life, but I also had never seen prancing giraffes before.

I must admit that the animals look absolutely normal, they do not sit in cramped cages, they are not boiled alive in the heat. They have space and freedom here. There is no danger, as in the African savannah for these wildebeests.

Okay, what can we say about the review of the excursion. At first it was crowded with cars, we even missed the area where a variety of small primates are kept (gibbons, langurs, monkeys, hamadryas and siamangs). I regret this: monkeys live on islands, tourists throw food at them, many interesting shots could have been taken. But, the further from the entrance, the fewer people there were, and I liked it more. And at the end we stopped by the great ape department, where it was very cool to watch chimpanzees and orangutans. Therefore, of course, I recommend a trip to Khao Kheo. This is another one of those must-see attractions in Pattaya.

Let me show you photographs, accompanied by information about how this zoological park was created.

3. The history of the foundation of the Khao Kheo Zoo

This year the institution turns 40 years old, and the administration is very proud that they managed to create not only places where animals are kept, but also a research and educational center where they preserve animals and promote respect for nature and our brothers smaller.

The relationship between humans and animals continues for an eternity. There is evidence that animals were kept in captivity 4 thousand years ago. Man realized the benefits that could be derived from domestic animals, he even used them in wars. Animals began to serve as symbols of faith in Asian countries such as India and China. In Thailand, animals also helped people in work, in armed conflicts and entertainment.

Over time, life has changed, and so has the attitude towards representatives of the fauna. Zoos have changed from small menageries with cramped cages, from traveling circuses, into complex complexes with a large territory and a modern approach to management. The first Thai zoo was "Dusit Zoo" (or in other words "Khao Din Wana"), and many Thais remember it.

During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), His Majesty allowed the construction of a botanical garden in the Dusit Garden in Bangkok. He also gave it the name "Khao Din Wana" because the garden was located on a small artificial island. In 1908, the king visited Indonesia, where on the island of Java he acquired several axis (small sika deer), which were placed in an enclosure in the Vimanmek Palace. After some time, the offspring of these first settlers were transferred to the Dusit Zoo. In 1932, the government in Thailand changed. Plaek Phibunsongkhram became the Prime Minister, who proposed to Rama VIII to transform the zoo into a place for recreation for citizens.

The regent of Rama VIII, Princess Artid Tip arpa, on March 18, 1938, signed a decree transferring the zoo to the management of local authorities, who gather all the Axis in the country on one site. The zoo area is being reconstructed to provide more places for relaxation.

In 1969, the management of this country's first zoo, Dusit Zoo, was transferred to the Zoo Organization Committee, which was created in 1954. The committee's scientific staff proved that the areas for keeping and breeding the existing number of animals are too small. In 1973, permission was received from the Royal Forest Department to build a new zoo on the territory of the Khao Kheow and Khao Chum Puh nature reserves in Chonburi province.

In 1974, the Zoo Organization Committee chose a place at the foot of the Khao Kheo mountain (translated, by the way, into Russian as “green hill”), cleared the territory, and built enclosures. The zoo received the name we already know: “Khao Kheow Open Zoo”. Slowly they began to transfer deer from Dusit Zoo, for which there was more space here (0.8 km 2).

The first inhabitants of “Khao Kheo” were different types of deer: mountag, axis and pig deer. The opening of the new zoo to the public took place on June 1, 1978, and in 1984 the zoological organization received approval to expand the territory to 4 km 2, and the area of ​​the zoo became 4.86 km 2.

Photo 14. Malayan bear. I also met such a miracle in Pattaya for the first time in my life and did not know about its existence before. The benefit of visiting the Khao Kheow Open Zoo is environmental education. 1/500, -0.67, 2.8, 220, 56.

In 1992, the Thai Cabinet decided to further reorganize the zoo into a project of greater public benefit and again expanded the area to 8 km2, making Khao Kheo the largest zoo in the world.

The zoo is located at the foot of the hills among the remains of the jungle, which in the province of Chonburi has been preserved only in this place. The surrounding forests are of two types: dry and rain forest, very beautiful and preserved in an intact form. Most animals live in spacious enclosures, and visitors have the opportunity to observe them without interference from bars or glass.

If you search the Internet for information, you can find many scientific articles and dissertations written by scientists from different countries, based on research conducted at Khao Kheo. Here they are proud of breeding the spotted leopard, analyzing the possibilities of breeding white rhinoceroses in captivity, etc. The institution hosts master classes for students of biological specialties. In short, today “Khao Kheow Open Zoo” is not only a place for relaxation, but also a serious research center.

Photo 15. Himalayan bear at the Khao Kheo Zoo. During the excursion here, your child will take an express course in biology. 1/500, -0.67, 2.8, 450, 70.

At the Khao Kheo Zoo you can see another animal previously unknown to me: the white lion. Previously, there were only legends about their existence. Only at the end of the 20th century did evidence of the existence of such unusual animals appear.

White color is a sign of a genetic mutation, but this lioness is not an albino: her eyes are not red... Look, a formidable beast. And just wait - almost an ordinary domestic cat.

If you read the reviews, Khao Kheow Zoo is famous for its largest aviary. Here is how it is written about it on the official website of the zoo: “Opened on July 29, 1983 at the behest of Princess T. Area 8,000 m2. A walk through the enclosure will give you the feeling of walking through a real jungle. You will see waterfalls, streams, ponds, and various plants. We keep 80 species of birds (including teals, storks, pheasants, herons and stonechats). In addition, reptiles and small mammals can be seen here. For example, the yellow-headed Indian turtle, or the Asian deer.” And in the “Encyclopedia” section there are a variety of cranes and parrots, orioles, cassowaries, marabou, irenes, hornbills, vultures and many others.

Hm I do not know. Maybe we went to the wrong place: a huge cage. Inside, it’s really a jungle, humid, tall trees, in the crowns of which there are plank platforms. The voice acting is like in the film: the voices of birds in different ways. But there are almost no birds: pigeons of all kinds, and a couple of bulbuls...

In general, I liked the bird aviary in the Nong Nooch Botanical Garden better. Reading the description in the guide to Khao Kheow, I imagined the same variety as in Singapore's Jurong Bird Park.

Photo 22. Goats. These unpretentious animals can be found in any zoo in the world. And Khao Kheow Open Zoo is no exception. Where to go from Pattaya on an excursion. 1/500, +0.33, 7.1, 160, 70.

Yes, about elephants. You've probably come across a photo of an elephant swimming next to a diver in the ocean. This is Rajan, he lived on the Andaman Islands in India (see review of holidays in Goa and alternative resorts in India in a separate report). So, in Khao Kheo you can also take a similar photo if you visit the underwater elephant show (Elephant Swimming). At least, this conclusion can be drawn by watching the video (watch, starting at 2:37 minutes).

4. Chimpanzees and orangutans at the Khao Kheo Open Zoo

When you read tips for tourists going on an excursion to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the guidebooks always write that the territory of the complex is huge, that you need to rent an electric car, it’s so difficult to walk in the heat and far: the length of the entire route is 8 km.

I agree, but I will also refute. Look at the map of the zoo. We have two large zones.

Do you see the enclosures on the left with flamingos, hippos, rhinoceroses, giraffes, bears, an aviary and the Elephant Learning Center? All this is a spacious area, but it is not so difficult to get around on foot. And the right part (with a lake, tapirs, great apes, a complex of felines and the Khao Kheow Water Falls) is actually 3 times larger than drawn. And to walk around it on foot, you will have to tramp for probably 40 minutes in the heat and hills. Therefore, a golf cart is needed only if you want to visit the right part.

According to tourists, free electric buses run quite rarely and almost always all seats are occupied. We were a little tired and stopped only near the enclosure with chimpanzees and orangutans, skipping the feline area. And they didn’t regret it!

Chimpanzees don't pay attention to people. Although the photographer is noticed and does everything not to look into the frame.

A sign next to the enclosure urges people not to tease its inhabitants and eloquently demonstrates how such behavior can end. Made me laugh!

If you are patient enough, you will not be left without portraits of our closest relatives.

Next, we proceeded to the enclosure with orangutans. It has long been my dream to fly to Tanjungputing National Park on the island of Borneo and photograph them in their natural habitat. But for now we will limit ourselves to an excursion to the safari park in Pattaya.

The video of the baby orangutan was filmed at another zoo, but I couldn’t resist posting it. Hilarious!

While the mother was resting in the shade, the eldest son begged tourists for tasty treats.

The funniest one is the father of the family with swollen cheeks. You should have seen the way he looked at the visitors! What a disdainful smile he has. And what an expression on his face when he started to ride on the rope! The exact same thing happens when a child does something, and the whole family looks at him approvingly: “That’s how I can do it!”

Seeing the delight of the kids watching their dad’s tricks, his son joined him...

But then the event happened with which I began the story: while we were enthusiastically looking at the monkeys, fenced with a moat with water and a concrete wall, the fifth inhabitant of the enclosure pushed us aside in an attempt to squeeze into the front rows. This turned out to be the most fun event today.

5. Schedule of animal shows at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo

In the zoological park you can not only admire the animals in enclosures. There are performances here every day. Here's their schedule.

1. Swimming Elephants - Monday to Friday at 10:15 and 14:15; on weekends and holidays - also at 12:15.
2. Penguin Parade - 11:00 and 14:30 (on weekends and 16:00).
3. Animal talent shows - at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00 (on weekends also at 16:00).
4. Journey into the Jungle - at 11:00, 13:10 and 15:10.
5. Parade of Indian beaked whales - at 10:00 and 14:00.
6. Seal feeding is at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.
7. Night Safari (After Dark Night Safari) - from 17:30 to 20:30. Ticket must be purchased separately. You must register before 18:00.

I see now photos from the show are on the official website of the zoo, and I want to go there again. That's great! Here is the Russian version of the site: khaokheow.zoothailand.org/ru/index.php.

Zoo opening hours: from 8:00 to 18:00 seven days a week.

Ticket prices: 300 baht.

Cost of renting a golf cart (license required): 500 Thai baht for a 4-seater (plus 200 baht for each additional hour), 700 baht for a 6-seater (plus 300 baht for each additional hour).

Note: Drinking alcohol and smoking is prohibited on the premises. Fine - 2000 baht. You are also not allowed to bring pets.

6. What else can you see when going to Khao Kheow Open Zoo

Near the zoo you can take part in another attraction: ziplining over the jungle. This event is called “Flight of the Gibbon”. You are flying 40 meters above the ground. Thrills are guaranteed - see Information about independent excursions is contradictory: they write that the price on the spot is more expensive than when buying a tour to “Flight of the Gibbon” from agencies.

But I will note once again that the Khao Kheo Zoo is one of three excursions in Pattaya that, in my opinion, are a must-see. The other two: a trip to the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden and a crocodile farm in The Million Years Stone Park & ​​Pattaya Crocodile Farm.

If the budget is tight, then when choosing between Khao Kheo or the botanical garden, I would choose the second one (there is a zoo, an aviary, and very, very beautiful vegetation). At the crocodile farm you have the chance to catch reptiles with a fishing rod while listening to the loud sounds of hungry jaws... It cannot be ruled out.

Descriptions of excursions to Nong Nooch and the crocodile farm are given in separate links. All of them can be reached by a white songthaew with a transfer “at the branch”, as described above regarding the zoo.

7. Safari Park in Bangkok

Do not confuse the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located in the city of Si Racha, 56 km from Pattaya, with the Safari World safari park in the Bangkok suburb of Min Buri. It consists of two zones: a safari park and a marine park. Judging by the reports of tourists, it is also an interesting place to visit with children, but it is more geared towards a show. That is, if “Khao Kheo” is a park with animals, then “Safari World” is, in some way, an open-air circus.

At the Safari World safari park you can see shows of orangutans, fur seals, elephants, cowboys, dolphins and birds. Here's a video.

I think the child will be delighted with such an excursion too.

Well, friends, today we learned how to get there and what to see in another famous attraction located near Pattaya. I note that 16 km to the south is the Sriracha Tiger Zoo. Something, judging by the reviews of other visitors, is not as rosy there as in “Khao Kheo”: cramped cages, dirty, tortured animals. If among the readers of the site there is someone who has been there, please share your opinion in the comments. I will be grateful.

1. 1. Inhabitants
2. 2. Excursion
3. 3. Show programs
4. 4. Where to eat at Khao Kheo Zoo
5. 5. How to get there
6. 6. Cost of visit and opening hours
7. 7. Prices for purchasing excursions
8. 8. Tips for tourists when visiting the zoo

Khao Kheo Open Zoo is located 45 km from Pattaya, one of the largest in the world. Animals living on the territory move freely in a limited space without posing a danger to surrounding people. Enclosures with herbivores are built so that people can have direct contact with the animals.

Khao Kheo Zoo delights visitors with a huge territory and the opportunity to interact closely with many species of animals. For an additional fee, visitors can go on a night safari, feed the animals or ride elephants.

The park's territory is divided thematically into several zones: Asia, Africa, Australia, Monkey Island, Bird Park. Travel between zones is possible by rented transport, since the area of ​​the park is colossal.

Khao Kheo Zoo Map

Inhabitants

Khao Kheo Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world. Three types of animals live on 800 hectares of territory: mammals, birds, reptiles. The total number of individuals exceeds 8000. Birds are represented by toucans, ostriches, pelicans, parrots and penguins.

Reptiles - snakes, crocodiles and turtles. Compared to other animal species, the vast majority of mammals live in the zoo. This class is presented:

Predators, including:

• White and ordinary Tigers,
• Lions and rare white lions.
• The Bears,
• Lynxes and leopards,
• Mongooses,
• Hyenas

Herbivores:

• Hippos, rhinoceroses and buffalos.
• Deer and antelope.
• Elephants,
• Monkey,
• Kangaroo,
• Koalas,
• Zebras,
• Giraffes.

The zoo contains rare animals such as binturongs and tapirs. The animals at Khao Kheo Zoo live in a natural environment, separated from visitors by barriers. The fences are constructed in such a way that direct human contact with non-hazardous herbivores is possible.

Pet food is sold not far from the entrance. The zoo is a contact zoo, which allows you to communicate closely with the animals, feed them by hand and pet them.

When buying food, you should carry it secretly: wild monkeys coming to the zoo from the surrounding forest pounce on the food. Animals take not only food, but also bright trinkets, bags, etc. Monkeys are quite dangerous because they sometimes attack aggressively, scratch and steal things. You can see the monkeys living in the zoo on Monkey Island.

We should also mention the night safaris. Travel takes place after hours, from 6 to 8 p.m. During the night walk, visitors will be able to look at the animals in the evening, at the last meal of the day and going to bed.

The lives of animals living in the zoo are not in danger. Employees carefully monitor order, and in case of any problems, the animal is immediately taken to the veterinary clinic located in the park. Veterinarians themselves go to large animals in trouble, such as rhinos or hippos.

Excursion

Khao Kheo Zoo conducts tours of the territory with groups of tourists. Various commercial organizations located throughout Thailand do similar things. The cost of a ticket for an excursion is about 500 baht. The price includes a transfer to the park, a visit with a guide, and a show for visitors.

Some agencies offer exclusive tours of the zoo with a personal guide. The cost of such a trip will be 1,500 baht.

On excursions, guides place the group in several cars or a tram. Transport travels between enclosures at a quiet pace, and the guide tells interesting facts about the animals.

The park is large, so there is a hotel inside. Those interested can rent a room and stay inside after closing. Cafes located near the entrance remain open until late in the evening.

Show programs

At the Khao Kheo Zoo in Pattaya, several shows are held, the participants are trained animals. Performances show the life of wild animals in natural conditions.

Most of the program is devoted to performances of predators hunting prey. During the show, spectators are protected by a strong metal grill, which prevents animals from harming people. Tigers, having completed the hunt, eat the prey. Fed animals give way to hyenas who come for carrion.

Of the less violent ones, the most popular performances are the penguin parade and elephant bathing. An elephant bathing is a very exciting sight. Zoo visitors are invited into the room and take seats in front of a large glass screen, behind which all the action takes place. The show only lasts 5 minutes and is worth watching...

In addition to him, viewers will certainly appreciate the performances of fur seals and elephants. You can ride the latter for an additional fee. Details about each performance are listed on the official website, as well as on flyers distributed by staff on site.

The territory of the Khao Kheo Zoo is about 800 hectares. Such an area is difficult to explore on foot. The organization offers visitors free travel around the park on a tram or electric cars that run along the paths. It is also possible to rent bicycles for traveling alone or as a couple. Groups of 4 and 6 people are offered to rent a golf cart. The cost is 500 or 700 baht respectively. Rental duration is 2 hours.

UPDATE 01/11/2019: We visited the zoo in January 2019, latest information: you can move around the zoo in your own car; for this case, the zoo has plenty of parking.

Price for travel by car - 80 baht. Traveling by car is much more convenient than other types of transport, there is no need to wait for the next tram, inspection can be done in any order and stops can be made at your own discretion.

Where to eat at Khao Kheo Zoo

The food at the zoo is not so good. There is a food court, the choice of dishes is not very large. From what we saw, these were fried bananas, rice, and vegetables of an unknown type.

The only decent place we managed to find was a small cafe next to Lemur Land. The menu includes pizza, spaghetti carbonara and bolognese, rice with seafood or chicken, beef, pork and chicken steaks, potatoes
fries. Prices are reasonable.

Drinks in the zoo are sold at every corner: smoothies, juices, fresh juices, soda, Sprite, cola, coconut. There are also many ice cream stands. (UPDATE 01/11/2019)

How to get there

Khao Kheo Zoo is located in Chonburi province. You can get to the territory by ordering a taxi, or through a transfer provided by the tour desk.

A taxi or personal transport can help you get to Khao Kheo Zoo in Pattaya on your own. The cost of a taxi one way is about 1000 baht. The journey by private transport will take about 30-40 minutes. From Pattaya you need to move north to the city of Si Racha, then follow the signs.

Songthaews maneuvering along Sukhumvit Road help you get to the zoo in Pattaya on your own. The cost of the trip is 20 baht. By public transport, the tourist gets to the city of Sriracha, then takes a taxi.

The transfer is carried out by the tour desk where the ticket was purchased. The transfer is also available to visitors who have purchased a ticket on the official website.

Cost of visit and opening hours

During the day, the zoo is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The animals are fed three times a day, this opportunity is available to visitors. Also during the day there are various shows with the participation of predators, penguins, elephants and some other animals.

The Pattaya Zoo has low ticket prices compared to other entertainment venues. On the official website of the Khao Kheow Zoo, Pattaya - http://www.khaokheow.zoothailand.org/ru/index.php the following prices are presented:

• Adult ticket - 250 baht.
• Children's ticket - 150 baht. Children under 2 years old have free admission.
• A visit to the zoo by a group of 5 or more persons is negotiated separately with the operators.

The price for renting an electric car for two hours is - 500 baht for a quadruple and 700 baht for a six-seater. A local driver's license is required. The cost of a night safari depends on the tour desk where you purchase your ticket. The zoo is open daily, on weekends and holidays.

Prices when purchasing an excursion

The cost of the excursion is 500-650 baht, but includes the cost of transfer to a location located 45 km from Pattaya.

Have you ever held a binturong? Or maybe they touched a hippopotamus? Have you fed a flock of flamingos? If not, you should definitely go to Khao Kheo! This is probably the most interesting attraction in the vicinity of Pattaya, one of the oldest and largest zoos in Thailand.

The Khao Kheo Zoo began with the expansion of the royal zoo in Bangkok, when some of the animals were moved to the place where Khao Kheo is now located. About 8 thousand individuals and more than 300 species of animals live here. Of course, the scale of the zoo is amazing. Then you won’t want to look at other simpler ones at all. But the main thing I like about Asian zoos is that there are practically no traditional cages.

Many animals can be hand-fed and touched, which is why the zoo is called a petting zoo. And this is one of the main features of Khao Kheo. All animals live in conditions as close to natural as possible. Those that are not dangerous to humans, such as deer, walk freely on lawns and can be petted. Other, dangerous and predatory animals live, as it were, on islands, surrounded by a concrete ditch with water so that they cannot jump over it.

Large animals, like rhinoceroses and giraffes, walk behind a low fence, come close to it and can be fed and touched. This is simply amazing! And unusual. In general, there are so many species of animals here, and the territory of the zoo is so vast that even in a day and by car you are unlikely to be able to see absolutely everything. You can come to this zoo every year and every time everyone will be delighted, both children and adults.

At the entrance to the zoo you can see a number of traders selling “food packages” for feeding the animals. They are inexpensive, come in different sizes and include grass, green beans, bananas, corn and carrots. In principle, you can take your own food to feed the animals, no one will pay attention to it. Food bags come in smaller, larger and even larger sizes.

Price per package is 20, 50 and 100 baht. Since feeding the animals is the main attraction of Khao Kheo, it is worth taking food for them. In addition to the baskets at the entrance, there is also the opportunity to buy food directly from the enclosures with animals on the territory, it costs from 10 to 50 baht per serving.

"Medvecat" binturong

You need to allocate at least 3-4 hours to visit the zoo. It depends on your speed and desire to see everything, the place is so interesting that you can spend the whole day there. The part of the park closest to the entrance is busier and has many visitors. The further part is quieter and has larger spaces. Perhaps not everyone gets there, and it’s a long walk to get there. But there is little there; some of the enclosures stand abandoned.

It is thought out in such a way that you can drive a car/bike throughout the entire zoo, since the territory is huge and it is quite difficult to overcome it on foot. One main road winds through the entire zoo, ending in the same place where it began. For those who do not have transport or do not want to drive their own car, there is an option to take a golf cart. A handy thing, small and nimble. Golf carts can accommodate two or four people. They cost about 350 baht per hour, but starting from the third hour the price is lower.

You can take a golf car on bail and only if you have a driver’s license; a Russian license is also suitable. If you are traveling with an organized tour, you will be driven around the zoo in a long, multi-seat electric car.

I drove it in a regular car, no problem either. There are parking lots everywhere. And in the car you relax for a while from the heat under the air conditioning (in golf carts there is only wind). You can also buy a seat on a tour bus; it travels through the entire zoo, stopping at each point for a while. But it seems to me that it’s still better to use individual transport, it’s more convenient not to adapt and to be where you want and as long as you want.

I arrived in the middle of the day, it was the hottest. Perhaps that is why some of the animals were hiding somewhere in the shadows, some cages seemed empty. It may be better to visit the zoo in the afternoon when the heat subsides.

In addition to the animals kept in the zoo, wild monkeys from the forest come to the territory to feed. It is better not to feed them, because they move in a pack and can attack to take away food. In general, they are quite aggressive and all guides, as well as zoo workers, warn visitors to stay away from wild monkeys. There are even signs on the territory prohibiting feeding wild monkeys.

The entire vast territory of the zoo, more than 800 hectares, is divided into thematic zones: savanna, deer, birds, butterfly garden, all types of cats, monkeys, penguins, sea animals, etc. In the Savannah area you can see African animals: zebras, impalas, giraffes, rhinoceroses... Almost everyone can be fed. It is especially interesting to feed and touch giraffes. Still, this is a large animal and it is rare to see it so close. In the Wild Cat Zone, you can see more than 40 species of felines that live in different environments, from desert to mountainous areas.

Various animal shows are held on the premises several times a day. These include feeding seals, Indian beaked whales (that is, birds), bathing elephants (you can look through transparent glass at the underwater part of the pool where the elephant is swimming), a penguin parade, trained animals with a “talent show” and a show that is usually attended by organized groups - Journey into the jungle. It is staged in such a way that the animals perform on their own, without trainers, performing their roles as if by notes and acting like a well-coordinated clockwork mechanism. This show features tigers, including white tigers, lions, other predators, binturongs, birds, otters.

In addition to the fact that you can look at the animals in Khao Kheo, feed them, pet them, you can also take a photo with some of them, holding them in your hands. Several places offer photo opportunities with a huge, furry binturong. This is not a dangerous animal, it looks something like a bear cat: very fluffy and with a cute face.

At the exit of the Journey into the Jungle show, you are offered to take photos with a large chimpanzee monkey, a parrot and others. Naturally, all this is for a fee. You can also ride an elephant around the area if you wish.

Since the area is very large and tourists spend a lot of time here, almost the whole day, there is everything necessary in terms of infrastructure: toilets, cafes, small stalls with drinks and food.

Khao Kheo is not only an attraction for tourists, there are also animal studies here, and there is a hotel on site where you can stay to gain a deeper insight into the life of wildlife.

Ticket price

Ticket price: 300 baht per adult and child, 50 baht per car. Children under 90 cm are free. Discount for a group of 5 people or more.

Lifehack! Although the cost for such a good zoo is small, you can buy tickets even cheaper: 200 baht per adult and 140 baht per child (height 90-135 cm). For a child, it's generally half the price.

Alternatively, you can take a tour if you don’t have your own rented bike or car. The cost of an organized tour is from 600-900 baht per adult. Some agencies on the way back will bring spices or something similar to the garden for shopping to recoup the cost.

Working hours

Zoo opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Night Safari: from 18 to 20 hours, held in a separate area where you can observe the life of animals that are more active in the dark.

The show Journey to the Jungle runs for about half an hour, starting time: 11:00 13:10 15:10; a ticket for it, if you come on your own, costs 100 baht for an adult and 50 for a child.

Animals Show starts at 10:15, 12:15, 14:15 and 16:00. The penguin show is held twice a day.

It is better to check the current times of different shows on site, when entering the zoo. There you can also see a map of Khao Kheo with zones.

How to get there

The zoo is located 45 km from Pattaya, towards the cities of Sriracha and Bangkok. By car from Pattaya you can get there in 40-60 minutes. There is no public transport in Khao Kheo, so either use your own/rented transport (just keep in mind that riding a bike on the highway is not entirely comfortable) or take a taxi. If you wish, you can also take a tuk-tuk to the city of Sriracha, it is closer to the zoo. And then take a taxi from there.

But the easiest way, if you don’t have your own transport, is to take an organized tour from one of the travel agencies in Pattaya. With a tour, you will see a little less than you would see yourself if you stayed there all day (if you have the strength). But the tour includes transfer from the hotel and back, which is more convenient and may even be more profitable than paying for a taxi yourself.

On the map

P.S. Write your reviews about the zoo. Maybe I don’t know something, but this is so far the best zoo I’ve ever seen. What I liked most was traveling by car, it’s very convenient and you can see some of the animals right from the car window.

60 km from Pattaya there is one of the largest and most interesting zoos in Thailand - Khao Kheo. Hundreds of different species of animals and birds live here, living in conditions close to their natural environment. The animals are provided with spacious enclosures where they are carefully monitored and cared for. Most animals can be petted, fed and photographed with. Children will especially like the Khao Kheo Zoo, as they will be able to see in real life many animals that they had previously only seen in pictures.

The territory of Khao Kheo Zoo is about 800 hectares and it is quite difficult to cover it on foot in one day. Therefore, visitors can take advantage of the free electric cars that travel around the zoo. Such electric cars recruit a group of people and take them along a specific route, stopping at interesting places. If you do not want to depend on other people and want to travel on your own route, you can rent a double electric car for 150 baht per hour.

For the convenience of visitors, the zoo territory is divided into thematic zones:

• Savannah— an area with animals from Africa. Here you can see hippos, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, ostriches, camels and others.
• Deer zone. Here you will see a large group of deer roaming freely around the zoo. You can pet them and feed them. Deer are very cute and friendly animals.
• Butterfly garden. This area contains a large collection of butterflies from all over the world. Many of them are quite unusual and incredibly beautiful.
• Aviary with birds. There are a variety of bird species here. You can see flamingos, parrots and many others.
• Valley of cats. In this area there are various felines. Here you can see tigers, panthers, leopards, lions and others. These animals are considered aggressive and dangerous, so their enclosures are fenced with bars or glass. For 10 baht you can feed a tiger through the bars.
• Monkey Island. Gibbons live on a small green island. The island is surrounded on all sides by a small canal with water, so you won’t be able to get close to the monkeys.
• Children's Zoo. Here you will find fluffy bunnies, turtles, anacondas, and a separate building where penguins live.

At the entrance to the zoo there is a map indicating where each thematic area is located. You can also buy a bag of pet food at the entrance for 100 baht. This bag includes a bunch of bananas, beans, corn and carrots. I recommend buying a bag of food like this as the animals are always happy to get a treat. But always pay attention to signs when feeding, because many animals can only be fed certain foods.

Khao Kheo Zoo is a very interesting place. Here you can pet many animals. Children are simply delighted with the deer, which are not fenced in any way, but walk among people. Deer are very kind and are not at all afraid of visitors, but, on the contrary, approach them themselves in the hope of getting their portion of carrots.

It was unusual to see penguins in tropical Thailand. They are located in a special building where certain conditions are maintained for them. Penguins are so funny and funny. They have their own pool where they love to swim.

There are also many animals in the zoo that I had never even heard of before. Here you can see tapirs, white lions, binturongs, pygmy hippos and others. Binturong is actually some kind of mixture of a cat and a bear. You can feed him bananas, the animal is very cute and fluffy.

And if you want to get acquainted with the night life of animals, then the zoo offers a night safari. It starts at 6 pm. After sunset, many animals awaken and become more active. During this time you will be able to see the night life of the jungle. If desired, the guide will take you along the most interesting and secret paths, many of which are not even indicated on the zoo map.

I won’t tell you too much about the zoo, it’s better to come and see for yourself. Believe me, the zoo is worth a visit. There are few places where you can immediately see such a variety of animals, and even interact with them.

Animal show

The Khao Kheo Zoo also hosts shows in which its guests take part: otters, hyenas, tigers, pelicans and many others. The show shows the life of animals in their natural environment. Here you can see tigers hunting for their prey, binturongs climbing trees, hyenas finishing off prey after tigers. The show is completely safe. As soon as predatory animals enter the arena, the auditorium is closed with bars. The show lasts about half an hour.

There are always Thai people on the territory of the zoo who hand out leaflets containing detailed information about each show.

Working hours

Khao Kheo Zoo is open daily from 8am to 6pm. But if you booked a night safari, it runs from 6 pm to 8 pm. There is also a hotel on the territory of the zoo where anyone can stay.

Ticket price

• Adult ticket - 300 baht.
• Child ticket - 150 baht.

If you have a Thai license, then by showing it you can enter the zoo at local prices, paying only 150 baht for entry.

How to get there?

Khao Kheo Zoo is located 60 km from Pattaya and public transport does not go there. Available ways to get to the zoo from Pattaya are as follows:

Taxi. You can order a taxi from your hotel to the zoo, but the trip will be quite expensive. However, you can do it differently: take a public songthaew to Sri Racha Zoo, and from there take a taxi. In this case, you will pay much less for the road.

Own transport. If you rent a bike or car, you can get to Khao Kheo Zoo on your own. Take Route 7 north from Pattaya to the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo. After 5 km from this zoo, near the traffic light there will be a sign for Khao Kheo. Turn right and drive another 20 km until you see a sign for Khao Kheo Zoo.

Note! Officially, it is prohibited to ride a bike on Route 7, but many people do it anyway. But if you are stopped by the police, you will have to pay a fine of 5,000 baht.

The easiest way to get to the zoo is to book a tour. Cost approximately 600-700 baht. In this case, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken back. In addition to the transfer, the excursion package also includes entrance tickets. You can book an excursion at your nearest travel agency or at.

Khao Kheow Zoo Map

On this map you can see the exact location of the zoo.

Khao Kheo Zoo is the best zoo not only in Pattaya and the surrounding area, but also one of the best in Thailand. It is much more interesting and richer than the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok. So if you like animals, you should definitely visit the Khao Kheo Zoo, especially since it is quite inexpensive.

You can get to the Khao Kheo Zoo either independently or with a guided tour. Both options are good; over the years of living here, we have been to Khao Kheo dozens of times, both ourselves and with a tour group. Oddly enough, it is cheaper for tourists to go on a guided tour. What's good about Khao Kheow Zoo? Why is it always included in the top 5 excursions from Pattaya? What is there at Khao Kheow Zoo and how much does it cost to enter?

How to get to Khao Kheo Zoo on your own from Patatya?

Let's start with the fact that you can get to Khao Kheo Zoo on your own either by car or by bike. By car, of course, it is preferable, for various reasons, including the fact that in general you cannot ride a bike on the Bangkok M7 highway.
A fine of 5,000 baht if you are caught on highway No. 7 Pattaya-Bangkok on a bike; a corresponding poster describing the prices for fines hangs on the highway itself.

You can rent a car in Pattaya or a bike –

There are two programs available to visit Khao Kheo Zoo. Ordinary, takes place every day and costs – 600 baht adult and 450 children's ticket. (with a Russian guide).
and there is the Khao Kheo VIP program - I highly recommend it. I came here for the first time quite recently and didn’t know that it existed.

The main differences in the programs are that on the Khao Kheo VIP excursion you will also be taken to the island of lemurs in the zoo, where you can communicate very closely with fluffy lemurs. You can feed, pet, take pictures. They live on a separate island, where people are brought in small groups, wearing shoe covers and with special food, on a raft.

The Khao Kheo VIP excursion takes place only on weekends and holidays, since the island of lemurs is closed to visitors on other days.

The second difference is that this program has very small groups. Literally 6-12 people. Great guide, very knowledgeable, interesting, educated. I learned a lot of new and interesting things from him.

Khao Kheo Vip excursion price – 800 baht adult and 500 baht children's

For ourselves, we found an excellent excursion bureau that organizes and sends out all the famous excursions in Pattaya, the prices there are pleasant and they will give discounts to my readers.
I can recommend them, they have never let me down.
You don't need to go anywhere, you don't need to buy anything in advance. Payment is made upon delivery, after the bus has arrived for your excursion.

If necessary, write in the comments, I will send you contact information.

How to get to Khao Kheow by car?

From Sukhumvit you take the M7 highway, which leads to Bangkok.

This time I didn’t forget to take a photo of the exit from the overpass under the bridge, since this fork is the trickiest and is easy to skip:

You drive onto the bridge and follow the signs in the area of ​​7 km, there are signs for both the zoo and Khao Kheo Country Club. The last one is a little before the zoo, there is a golf course.

Entry price to Khao Kheow Zoo

Entrance has become more expensive for both farangs and Thais. in 2019 already 400 baht + payment for car arrival.

According to Thai licenses, entrance to Khao Kheo costs 300 baht, but everyone who wants to receive such a discount should have a license. In 2019, changes took place and they began to check more strictly and even charge children as tourists if they do not have documents confirming Thai residence. .

How to rent a golf cart to Khao Kheow Zoo?

At the zoo, if you have a license (which you definitely need to show), you can rent a golf cart and ride around the park on it.

If you decide, here are the prices and the list of documents that need to be provided:

Keep in mind that a golf cart will not be rented without a driving license. Insurance costs 50 baht, decide for yourself whether it is needed, we did not take it.

If you are 16 minutes late (just like us), you will have to pay for another hour. It was very relaxing that we could be 15 minutes late, we thought we’d be in time.
Such pettiness somehow spoiled the impression.

Innovation No. 1 in Khao Kheo is bicycle rental. Nobody uses it, although the prices are humane:

There are no fools, you can earn a heart attack while rolling uphill in such a hot mess.

The advice is this: check the weather on the day you are going to Khao Kheo Zoo. Try to get there in the morning to see everything before lunch, because we
We arrived at the very hottest time (at 13-14:00) and it was a bit hot.

What animals are there at Pattaya Zoo?

There are a lot of different animals in Khaoi Kheo now. Every year they bring some new ones, for example, in 2017 a panther, new elephants and other species of rare animals appeared in Khao Kheo.

As always, the giraffes have a full house, they eat willingly, people like it.

The bears were sick from the heat. Even though they have a waterfall and dripping shower. Their skin was wet from water, but it was still hot.

They only picked up the bananas that were under their paws; they were too lazy to move any further.

Unperturbed Thais are having lunch. Birds scour in search of prey. The birds are alive, yes:

Kids can relax by riding on cars and trains:

All around, as before, they sell ice cream, juices and waters, yes, the most important thing! Apparently there are more people, several new cafes and coffee shops have opened, maybe this is due to the fact that
that Thai children are on vacation and now they go to Khao Kheo Zoo more often. So there was no need to go to Black Canyon on the way, we just thought that, as usual, we wouldn’t be able to eat at the Khao Kheo Zoo, but that’s not the case.
At the end we fed the elephants and went home.

Be sure to visit the enclosures of sea otters and koalas. It’s rare to see koalas in any zoo, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be given the opportunity to feed and touch them.

Khao Kheo also has its own sheep farm; children really like this attraction with feeding lambs.

There are also several shows that take place in Khao Kheo throughout the day. The visit is included in the price of the excursion or ticket to the zoo.

Also in Khao Kheo live beautiful tapirs, surricats, white tigers, rare species of birds, crocodiles, animals that are found only in Thailand or Asia.

In general, to enjoy visiting Khao Kheo Zoo, go in the morning on a cloudy day and you will be happy.

I know that many of my readers love animals and want to communicate with them, cuddle and play with them, so in addition to the Khao Kheo Zoo, I highly recommend that families with children and just all travelers to Pattaya go on an excursion to , which is located in Pattaya itself. Don't confuse it with the terrible tiger park in Sriracha, where they simply abuse animals.

This excursion to the tigers is new, it appeared recently. On your own, the price will be the same as with the excursion, only the latter also includes transfer of tourists from the hotel and back.

This excursion is unique in that this is a nursery where tigers are loved and raised from birth, they are tamed and it is completely safe for people to communicate with them.
You can go into the enclosure of baby tiger cubs who are not yet 2 months old, teenage tigers, adult tigers and take a photo, pet them, even lie on the tiger.

The children couldn't be taken away from the tigers!

I advise you to read my detailed review-story about this attraction. Tiger Park Pattaya comes complete with a tour to Nong Nooch Garden,
and even if you have been there several times already, the impressions are worth updating. Nong Nooch is remade every year, I was amazed by the theater and shows they opened
in this season. New areas have also opened in Nong Nooch, such as the dinosaur trail and much more.

How to save money on a hotel or apartment on vacation?

I'm looking on the Rumguru website. It contains absolutely all discounts on hotels and apartments from 30 booking systems, including booking. I often find very profitable options, I can save from 30 to 80%

How to save on insurance?

Insurance abroad is required. Any appointment is very expensive and the only way to avoid paying out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. We have been applying for many years on the website, which gives the best prices for insurance and selection along with registration takes only a couple of minutes.