Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (Snake Farm)

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  • Address
    cnr Th Henri Dunant, 1871 Th Rama IV, Silom
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    0 2252 0161
  • Transport
    train: Sala Daeng
bus: ordinary 4, 47, 50
underground rail: Samyan
  • Mon-Fri 08:30 - 16:30 , Sat-Sun 08:30 - 12:00 ;

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Lonely Planet review

It's touristy, yet completely compelling. This snake farm, one of only a few world-wide, was established in 1923 to breed snakes for antivenoms. The snake feeding and milking shows are a nice sideline; get the snake handlers to show you Thailand's most venomous snakes such as the king cobra, banded krait and Russell's viper.

Of course, all the fun isn't just for the amusement of tourists. The institute was founded in 1923, when it was only the second of its kind in the world (the first was in Brazil), and has gone on to become one of the world's leading centres in the study of snakes. The venom collected during the milkings is used to make snake-bite antivenins, which are distributed throughout the country.

It's best to arrive 30 minutes before the advertised show time to see a video presentation about the institute and its work (usually in Thai with English subtitles). Outside show times you can stroll the small garden complex where the snakes are kept in escapeproof cages. The snakes tend to be camera shy during nonperformance times, though you could get lucky and spot a camouflaged king cobra poised to strike.

This institution is named in honour of Queen Saovabha, wife of Rama V, who championed a wide variety of medical causes and education, including a school for midwives and other modern birthing practices.