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Chiang Mai TIGER KINGDOM and DOI SUTHEP Tourist Traps or not?

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• published: 10 May 2015
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✈ Chiang Mai Bucket List HERE: http://goo.gl/Xz4ctn ✖ Get your copy of Chiang Mai Bucket List : Skip the tourist traps and explore like a local in Northern Thailand TODAY at a Special price here: http://goo.gl/Xz4ctn Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai's Tiger Kingdom is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to interact with adolescent tigers and baby cubs. You can do every thing from bottle-feeding the baby tigers to bravely posing with and petting the big guys. A couple hours here will stick with you forever, and knowing that the tigers at Chiang Mai's Tiger Kingdom are treated with great care will help to give you peace of mind. The tigers are not sedated like at other tiger places in Thailand and the facilities are extremely clean. The Tiger Kingdom assigns professional staff with each group of visitors to ensure everything goes smoothly and comfortably. Did we mention you can also hire your own on-site photographer so you can focus on the fun instead of your camera? If playing with tigers is on your bucket list, Tiger Kingdom is the best place we've found to do it. Location: 10 km North of Chiang Mai. Just past Mae Rim where Hwy 107 meets County Road 1096 (every driver knows where it is, but we detail it below). They also have a second location in Phuket near Patong Beach which is just as good. We added it on this map as Stop #18 just North of Chiang Mai. Hours: Daily 10am-6pm. You should assume that it will take between 2 1/2-4 hours for a visit. Cost: Smallest (2-3 Months) 620 Baht, Small (4-8 Months) 620 Baht, Medium (9-12 Months) 420 Baht, Big Cat (13-30 Months) 420 Baht. Some people complain about the cost, but we felt it was appropriate. A full-time worker that specializes in each age group will be with you the entire time to ensure safety. Accident insurance is included in the price just in case, and discounts are available when viewing multiple enclosures. Chiang Mai Tigers Kingdom Baby Photographer: You can always bring your own camera or hire their photographer for 299 Baht per cage which includes a CD of 50-100 photos when you leave. We really like hiring their photographer, as it lets you focus on just having fun and enjoying it - plus they already know all the good angles. How do you get to Tiger Kingdom?: There is no need to book a tour since getting there is very easy and any cab driver in Chiang Mai will know what Tiger Kingdom is. Expect to pay 500-700 Baht for a round trip taxi for 4 people which includes the taxi waiting for you the entire time you are there. You'll pay the taxi at the end. How long do you get to spend with the Tigers?: You get to spend about 15 minutes per age group, but they usually stretch this to 15-20 if you have a group or get their photographer. A typical trip including round trip taxi and time in 3 enclosures will take about 2-3 hours. Are the Tigers Sedated or Drugged?: No, the Tigers here are not sedated which is a huge problem at other tiger places, especially the Tiger Temple near Bangkok. The tigers here are very active, which is the most obvious sign they are not sedated. The second, less obvious sign is that 30 months old is the oldest tiger you'll be able to interact with. Adult tigers are often too dangerous and unpredictable for even professional handlers and it would be unethical to let you in. Chances are, any place letting you get close to tigers aged 30 months or older are either drugging or sedating them. Chiang Mai Tigers Kingdom Baby Is Tiger Kingdom Safe?: No one has died.... yet. We found our experience to be extremely safe and the staff not only treats the Tigers well, but doe a great drop making both you and Tigers feel comfortable. The oldest Tigers you can visit are only 30 months old which helps to make it safer and they play with the bigger ones enough to keep them from being too wound up The Tigers aren't sedated so you do have to use common sense by avoiding fast movements or getting by their heads. Petting them firm helps too so they don't think you are a fly. The safety training and constant re-enforcement was welcomed and better than we expected.