Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal
An elephant riding operation by the ruins, and the welfare complaints in the reviews are hard to ignore.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 09:00–17:00
Dress Modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. Carry a light scarf or sarong — some temples lend wraps, but not all. Shoes come off before entering any building with a Buddha image.
Details
- Phone
- +66 65 009 9361
Full opening hours
Tours that include Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal.
Why go, and how to do it well
I'd skip this one. It's an elephant riding operation in the historic heart of Ayutthaya, open daily 09:00 to 17:00, and you'll see the animals carrying passengers along the roads near the ruins whether you go in or not. Feeding, photos and rides are the whole point of the place.
The reviews split hard. Some people come away happy, saying it looked clean and their partner loved it. But a long run of others describe more than twenty elephants chained in a small area, standing in direct sun through the day, with visitors climbing on and touching them. Words like catatonic come up. That's not one grumpy reviewer, it's a pattern, and it's the sort of thing you can't unsee once you've read it.
If seeing elephants matters to you on this trip, there are places in Thailand built around observation rather than rides, where nobody sits on the animal's back. That's where I'd put your baht. Ayutthaya has enough temple ruins to fill a full day without this stop, and Wat Mahathat and the historical park are right there.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026
Stay within reach of Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal
SponsoredSearch Ayutthaya hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See hotels near Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal KraalOpens Booking.com with your dates
Best rated within a 15-minute walk
Tours that include Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 2 minKum Khun PhaanTemples & Culture · 140 m · 4.4★
- 4 minWiharn Phra Mongkhon BophitTemples & Culture · 280 m · 4.7★
- 4 minAyutthaya Gold Treasure Exhibition BuildingTemples & Culture · 350 m · 4.8★
- 5 minChao Sam Phraya National MuseumTemples & Culture · 370 m · 4.6★
- 5 minWat Phra RamTemples & Culture · 400 m · 4.6★
- 5 minAyutthaya Historical ParkTemples & Culture · 400 m · 4.7★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal, round out your day in Ayutthaya with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
We passed by this place on our way from the ruin to our hotel Classico. (Our tour arranged a visit to an elephant farm, but it didn't include riding, which I didn't mind.) The place looks clean and well-maintained—many elephants with passengers are roaming around the nearby street.
This is a horrible place for elephants. 20+ elephants chained and in direct sunlight ALL day long! It’s so disturbing to see guests riding and touching the elephants. The deserve respect and a much better existence than this. Thailand must do better like Indonesia has recently done!
Appalled to see tourists still engaging in this, hopefully Thailand will finally join so many others in banning this. The elephants are packed tightly, exhibiting catatonic behaviour.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 6,915 reviews on Google.
ประตูชัย Thanon Pa Thon, Tambon Pratuchai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore temples & culture nearby
All within a 5-minute walk of Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal.
Kum Khun Phaan
Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Ayutthaya Gold Treasure Exhibition Building
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
Tips for Visiting Temples & Culture
Mind Your Feet
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk — it's considered deeply disrespectful. When sitting inside a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
Ask Before Photographing
Exterior photos are almost always fine, but some interior halls prohibit photography. Look for signs, and never pose irreverently with Buddha images — it's a legal offense in Thailand.
Go Early Morning
Big-name temples are dramatically less crowded in the first hour after opening. You'll also avoid the worst of the midday heat and get softer light for photos.
Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal worth visiting?
Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal holds a 3.8★ rating from 6,915 Google reviews. Reviews are mixed, so check recent visitor feedback above to see if it fits your plans.
What are the opening hours of Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal?
Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal is typically open 09:00–17:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal?
The best months to visit Ayutthaya are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in November – February — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: August – October (flooding risk).
Where is Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal located?
Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal is at ประตูชัย Thanon Pa Thon, Tambon Pratuchai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand, in Ayutthaya. Getting around Ayutthaya: Bicycle rental (best way to see ruins); Tuk-tuks (negotiate half-day rate).
Also popular in Ayutthaya
Market Ayuttaya Municipality
Kampun Gai Yang
Krodyle Mindfulness House
Chet Sao Noi National Park
Similar Temples & Culture across Thailand
The Grand Palace
Wat Mahathat
Am Samui Palace
