Bangkok Snake Farm, also known as Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, is a fantastic place to spend a few hours, and is especially popular with children.
The are snakes on display both outside, in snake pits, and inside the main building on the ground floor. Additionally there is a venom extraction show, a snake handling show and another floor that has snake skeletons and a short video about the lifecycle of snakes.
Some of the Snakes at Bangkok Snake Farm
These are just a very small selection of the snakes we saw. Many are difficult to get photos of because there is either relection from the glass or the snakes are hidden away.
Ball Python (Royal Python)
This is a small python species found in Africa. It usually grows to around 90-150 cm.
Banded Rat Snake
The Banded Rat Snake is common in Thailand and grows to 120-320 cm.
This snake isn’t venomous. Thailand has over 180 species of snakes but only around ten of those are venomous.
Brazilian Rainbow Boa
This snake species is found in Central and South America. It grows to around 120-150 cm.
Burmese Python
The Burmese Python can grow to around 4-5 meters. This is a non-venomous snake.
At the end of the snake handling show you can have your photo taken with a Burmese Python.
Dog-Toothed Cat-Eye Snake
This snake species grows to 180-277 cm and is non-venomous.
Gray Banded Cat-Eye Snake
This species can grow to around 2-3 meters and is non-venomous.
Indochinese Spitting Cobra
This snake species is venomous so you should keep well away if you ever see one. When threatened it can spit venom into the eyes from a distance of 1-2 meters.
Oriental Whip Snake
This was possibly the cutest snake we saw. It can grow to around 2 meters and is non-venomous.
This snake was quite lively, as you can see in the video above.
Red-Tailed Rat Snake
Rat snakes are very common in Thailand, where farmers introduce them into the rice fields to keep down the rat population.
This species of rat snake grows to around 170-240 cm.
Reticulated Python
The Reticulated Pythn is one of the world’s longest snakes and is found in Thailand and Southeast Asia. It usually grows to around 4-6 meters.
Yellow-Spotted Keelback Snake
Another non-venomous species that grows up to 1 meter.
Snake Exhibition (2nd Floor)
On the second floor of the main building these is a snake exhibition that has some awesome snake skeletons, replicas of dissected snakes showing the eggs inside and a short video (under 5 minutes) showing the lifecycle of snakes.
There are some truly huge snake skeletons on show, so make sure you don’t have any nightmares when you go to sleep. It was difficult to take photos in this area, as the sun was relecting onto the glass cases.
Venom Extraction Show
The venom extraction show takes place at 11:00 on Mon-Fri. It’s a bit of a shame that they don’t do this show around the same time as the snake handling (14:30). Your tickets are valid for a whole day though, so you can go in the morning for the venon extraction then come back in the afternoon for the snake handling show.
We saw the venom extraction show a few years ago so didn’t both this time. It’s an interesting show though, so well worth seeing. The venom is used to make anti-venom for local hospitals.
Snake Handling Show
The snake handling is the most popular attraction at the snake farm. It takes place at 14:30 Mon-Fri and 11:00 on weekends and holidays. I would suggest you get a seat at the front at least 30 minutes before the show starts.
The snake handling show is in both English and Thai.
King Cobra
Above is a short video of a King Cobra. As well as showing the snakes, you learn about them and also what to do if you encounter one.
Above you can see how to catch a King Cobra. Don’t try this yourself. These are highly trained snake handlers.
Siamese Cobras
Siamese Cobras are beautiful snakes but highly venomous. It was great to see them so close.
Hope you’re enjoying these photos and videos. Don’t foret to share with your friends.
Banded Krait
The Banded Krait is one of Thailand’s most deadly snakes.
This is a nocturnal snake, so tends to be quite docile in the daytime but very deadly at night when it’s out hunting prey. Stay well away.
Aggressive Rat Snake
I’m not sure what species of rat snake this one was, but it was very aggressive. It feeds on mice and rats on farms around Thailand.
There were other snakes, but I didn’t manage to get good photos or videos, as we were seated towards the side, so the view wasn’t great. As mentioned above, try to arrive early and get a seat at the front.
Burmese Python
The highlight for most of the children and many of the adults at the snake farm was the chance to hold and have their photo taken with a beautiful Burmese Python.
Bangkok Snake Farm Details
Address: Rama IV Road near Sam Yan MRT station
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 09:30-15:30; Weekends and Holidays 09:30-13:00
Venom Extraction: Mon-Fri 11:00
Snake Handling: Mon-Fri 14:30, Weekends and Holidays 11:00
Price: Adults 200 baht; Children 50 baht; Thais 40 baht
How To Get There: It’s a few minutes walk from Sam Yan MRT, Silom MRT and Sala Daeng BTS. All taxi drivers should know where it is.