At first glance, it sounds like a joke. A park dedicated to paper made from elephant dung? But step inside the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park in Chiang Mai, and you quickly realise this quirky attraction carries a serious message: sustainability can be creative, educational, and fun.
Located to the north of Chiang Mai city, this open-air museum blends humour with environmental awareness, offering visitors a hands-on introduction to recycling and responsible tourism.
A playful approach to serious sustainability
The concept behind the park is simple but powerful. Elephants consume large amounts of plant material, and their dung is rich in fibrous content, which is perfect for papermaking. Instead of letting this natural by-product go to waste, the park transforms it into eco-friendly paper products such as notebooks, cards, and souvenirs.
Visitors follow the entire process through a series of interactive pavilions, from cleaning and boiling the fibres to pressing and drying the paper. This innovative tourism model is a sanuk (fun) experience that is ideal for the whole family.
Responsible tourism in action
The issue of elephant tourism in Thailand is complex and can be controversial. However, the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park offers an alternative experience that cleverly connects visitors to elephants but without direct interaction.
In many ways, Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park is the ultimate recycling centre. And being able to see each stage of the process is not just educational, it’s a unique way to support sustainable craft traditions and raise awareness about elephant conservation issues.
By transforming smelly waste into odourless, usable products, the park tangibly demonstrates circular economy principles. Visitors don’t just learn about sustainability, they actively participate in it.
From poo to paper
A visit typically lasts a couple of hours and includes a guided or self-guided walking tour through several pavilions that explain each stage of the papermaking process. From collecting the elephant dung to cleaning and the final stage of product assembly.
Although the idea of making paper from elephant dung is relatively new, it is inspired by a long history of papermaking in Chiang Mai. Traditionally, saa paper is made from mulberry bark. In North Thailand, this is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years, with the paper used to make lanterns and parasols. Visitors to the park can learn more about this, along with the story of how paper was invented in China and its use spread throughout Asia and other parts of the world.
DIY crafting and art studio
If you’d like to try your hand at making something, pull up a stool (pun intended) and create a unique keepsake to take home with you. But don’t worry if you’re not artistic, because you can visit the gift shop (the park calls it a ‘poo-tique’) for memorable souvenirs of your visit.
Visiting Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park
The family-friendly park is located in Mae Rim, a 30-minute drive north of Chiang Mai city. Visits can be arranged through tour agents and hotels in Chiang Mai, or you can book your own taxi or songthaew to take you there and back.
Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park is open daily from 9AM-5PM (last tour at 4PM). Entry fee is 150 Baht per person (free for children under four). Extra costs may apply for craft activities and souvenirs.
Visiting the on-site cafe with its adjacent playground for youngsters is a lovely way to round off your visit to this unique Chiang Mai attraction. A trip to the park can also be combined with a visit to other nearby attractions, such as Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens.
Products from Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park can be found at locations in Chiang Mai city, including Maya Mall and One Nimman.
Contact the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park for more details:
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Photos: Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park Facebook page
