Siam Insect Zoo is a small discovery museum and live insect breeding attraction in the Mae Sa Valley, northwest of Chiang Mai. Preserved specimens introduce the extraordinary variety of insects, while the living displays and butterfly garden let you look for the same kinds of shapes, camouflage and life-cycle changes in motion.
It is an outing for close observation rather than a large conventional zoo. Children can compare an insect’s wings, legs and body with what they have seen outdoors, while adults with an interest in natural history can spend longer examining the collections.
The specimen collection and living displays
Looking closely in the museum
The museum grew from entomologist Pisuth Ek-Amnuay’s insect collection. Butterflies and beetles are among the specimens that show how widely insects vary in size, colour and form. Slowing down in front of a display gives you more to notice than a quick walk around the room: look at wing patterns, antennae and differences between related-looking creatures.
The collection and the living areas serve different purposes. Preserved specimens make it easier to compare details side by side, while a live animal may be hidden, resting or difficult to spot. Allow for that difference, particularly with children expecting every enclosure to have an obvious moving occupant.
Camouflage, breeding and the butterfly garden
Living displays include insects such as stick insects, leaf insects and mantises, with other small animals such as spiders and scorpions also featured. Spiders and scorpions are arachnids rather than insects, offering a useful comparison when looking at their legs and body structure. Species on display can vary with breeding cycles and the season.
The butterfly garden adds an outdoor part to the visit. Look among the vegetation as well as in the air, and give yourself time to find animals that blend into their surroundings. Where eggs, larvae or pupae are displayed, they help explain why a butterfly’s life is more than its familiar winged adult stage.
Staff demonstrations and visiting with children
Ask staff about any supervised demonstrations available during your visit. Close encounters should follow their instructions and depend on the species and activity offered that day; handling is not a requirement for enjoying the displays. Do not open enclosures or pick up animals on your own.
A child who is nervous around insects can begin with the specimen cases and watch a demonstration from a comfortable distance. Comfortable footwear is useful for moving between indoor exhibits and the garden. Allow roughly an hour to an hour and a half as a planning estimate, with extra time if your group enjoys examining the smaller details.
Admission, hours and arrival
The zoo is generally listed as open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission is charged; confirm the current adult and child rates, applicable visitor categories and any group arrangement when planning your visit. A museum visit and a particular guided activity should not be assumed to have identical inclusions.
The address is 23/4 Moo 1, Mae Rim-Samoeng Road, Mae Raem, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180. Approach via Route 1096 in the Mae Sa Valley and follow the local turn for the zoo, rather than expecting the entrance to be directly on Chiang Mai’s city streets.
A car or arranged taxi is practical for combining it with other valley stops. Agree your return pickup or onward journey in advance. Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is a separate outing farther along the valley road, needing its own visiting time and admission arrangements. Mae Sa Waterfall was temporarily closed on 5 October 2026 after heavy rain and rising water. Confirm reopening with Doi Suthep-Pui National Park before adding it to your itinerary; choose another valley stop while access is restricted.
Siam Insect Zoo FAQs
Is Siam Insect Zoo a museum or a zoo?
It combines a preserved insect collection with living displays, breeding areas and a butterfly garden. Expect a compact natural-history visit focused on small creatures rather than a large animal park.
Can visitors handle the animals?
Ask staff which supervised demonstrations are available and follow their instructions. Handling depends on the animal and the day’s programme, and visitors can enjoy the displays without participating in a close encounter.
How much does admission cost?
Check the current adult and child rates directly, including any visitor category or group conditions. Confirm whether a selected activity is included rather than assuming every ticket has the same programme.
How long should you spend there?
Around an hour to an hour and a half is a useful allowance for the collection and garden. Visitors who enjoy identifying specimens or watching demonstrations may want longer.
Where is the zoo?
It is in Mae Raem, Mae Rim, off the Mae Rim-Samoeng Road in the Mae Sa Valley. Arrange transport to the zoo itself and plan the return journey, particularly if you are visiting by taxi.
Can you visit with a child who dislikes insects?
Start with the specimen displays and let the child observe live animals from a comfortable distance. Close handling is optional, so there is no need to turn the visit into a compulsory encounter.
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