Let’s be honest—what kid doesn’t think poop is funny? That’s why a trip to the Elephant Poopoo Paper Park should be on every family’s Chiang Mai itinerary. Here, kids and parents get hands-on, making recycled paper out of… You guessed it, elephant poop! Get ready for messy hands, plenty of giggles, and a truly unforgettable family experience.
What Is the Elephant Poopoo Paper Park?
This outdoor park takes visitors through the process of making paper from elephant poop. And yes, that sounds strange—but it’s also surprisingly fun.
Because elephants eat a strictly plant-based diet and digest food inefficiently, their waste contains a high amount of usable fibre. Instead of throwing those fibres away, the park reuses them to make handmade paper products. The result is a fun activity that feels more like a workshop than a tour, especially for kids.
Poopoo Park Experience
The visit starts with a guided walking tour through a series of open-air stations. At each stop, guides explain and demonstrate a step of the paper-making process, highlighting the sustainability practices, and keeping things light, visual, and easy for kids to follow.
Along the way, kids get to:
• See how the fibres are cleaned and prepared without any harsh chemicals
• Observe large pots boil the fibres into pulp
• Watch the pulp being mixed
• Spread the pulp onto the screens themselves
• Help set the paper out to dry in the sun
It may sound gross, but the elephant poop is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before kids get to work. Our boys loved getting their hands into the papier-mâché-like mixture, joking that they were making poopoo paper!
The experience ends at a craft station, where kids can decorate items made from elephant poop paper, such as bookmarks and journals – leaving them with a great souvenir to take home.
Why It Works So Well for Families
This isn’t a place where kids are expected to stand quietly and listen. It’s:
• Short and engaging
• Kids can move around freely
• Interactive from start to finish
• Silly enough to be memorable, but still meaningful
The guides do a great job of keeping kids involved, and the outdoor setup makes it easy to move, touch, and explore without feeling restricted.
A Lesson in Sustainability
While the focus is on fun, a gentle message about reuse and recycling is woven in. Kids see how something that would normally be thrown away can be turned into something useful—and even beautiful.
There’s also a brief look at Chiang Mai’s history of traditional paper making and handicrafts, and the tour touches on how paper production has evolved across different cultures and regions over time.
Visiting With Kids
• Best for kids 3 and up
• Younger kids will enjoy the hands-on parts with help
• Older kids can participate more independently
It’s especially good if your kids enjoy crafts, messy activities, or anything a little unusual.
How Much Time Do You Need?
• About 40 minutes for the guided tour
• Plan extra time if your kids want to linger at the craft station
This makes it an easy stop to fit into a larger day. We paired this visit with Bua Thong Falls (Sticky Waterfalls), since it sits roughly along the same route—an easy, fun day-trip combination.
Booking a Tour
• Multiple tours run daily
• Booking is available online
• Cost: 100 THB per person
A Stop That’s Sure to Make You Giggle
The Elephant Poopoo Paper Park is one of those experiences that kids won’t stop talking about—part funny, part hands-on, and totally unique. From spreading the pulp to crafting their own paper creations, children get to see, touch, and learn all about elephant poop!
Ready to Explore Thailand?
Check out these related posts to help plan your trip:
• 3-Week Thailand Itinerary with Kids
• A Family Guide to Visiting Bangkok’s Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
• Fun Things to do in Bangkok with Kids
• 6-Day Itinerary in Krabi, Thailand with Kids
• Kayaking Ao Tha Lane’s Mangrove Forest: A Family Guide
• Snorkelling Around Phi Phi Island with Kids
• Emerald Pool Krabi: Why Going on Your Own Is Better Than a Tour
• 5-Day Itinerary in Chiang Mai with Kids
• Up Close With Elephants: A Family Day at a Chiang Mai Sanctuary
• Chiang Mai’s Elephant Poopoo Paper Park with Kids
• Climbing Chiang Mai’s Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls with Kids
• The White Temple, Chiang Rai: A Family Guide
• Biking Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand: A Family Guide
