It was on our way from Phuket to Krabi that we spotted it — yet another sheep farm to spring up out of Thailand’s countryside.
That’s not a complaint, by the way — beyond being a perfect time for a break from the scooter (Phuket to Krabi is a long haul on a scooter), they’re sheep! Unsure of what to expect, we paid a reasonable 80 baht admission fee to enter.
Your admission includes a small bundle of grass to feed the sheep — or the llamas, in this case. Unlike the Swiss sheep farm (where the sheep compete with a giant Hulk and a mechanical bull) and the Hug You Sheep Farm (where the animals played second fiddle to selfies with faux buildings), the Dairy Hut farm puts the sheep front and center. Walk up and down the shaded row to take in…
Did… did we just step through the Twilight Zone here? Sheep are normally supposed to be… white… right?
Uh… what? The half-asleep guy sitting next to the sheep was utterly unable to answer or understand anything in English; after some pantomiming attempts to understand their rationale, I gave up, more than a little confused. I learned later it’s actually a common way of identifying one’s flocks, while it can also add some color for a sheep-to-shawl contest.
Since these sheep were unlikely to be mingling with sheep from other farms, I can only conclude the cutesy factor and inevitable squeals won out. Ain’t they cute?
With the sheep behind us, we meandered onward along the trail:
Had no idea ‘Lady Bras’ (or ‘Lady Bars’, for that matter) were a thing in this anachronistic space. It’s just part of the facade, I know, but you’d think at least a few non-Thai tourists would be rolling through…
The sheep were quite real — the hippo, flamingos, and ducks? Not so much. The only other real animals around were a few Dromedary camels and a dozens of un-dyed, huddling in the shade during the punishingly hot afternoon.
Because every sheep farm needs a Kung Fu Panda, don’t they?
I would love to know what kind of grass they’re eating to get eyes like that…
It’s about as family and kid-friendly as it gets, and as long as you have your own wheels, it’s both obvious and easy to reach. The sheep looked fairly well-treated, though most were understandably seeking shade on a hot day in Thailand. The souvenir shop and on-site restaurant looked fine, and the animals seemed well-treated. If you’re passing through Phang Nga it’s worth the hour or so diversion. Pair it with the Heaven and Hell temple (Wat Tham Ta Pan, NSFW) in town to help fill the day.
Name: Dairy Hut Sheep Farm (แดรี่ฮัทพังงา)
Address: Along route 4311, Tham Nam Phut, Mueang Phang-nga District, 82000
Phang-nga 82000, Thailand (GPS: 8.421917, 98.532750)
Directions: From Phang Nga’s Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park (or the intersection of route 4 and route 4311), head southeast on route 4311 for about 2.5 kilometers. Look for the sheep farm on your left.
Hours: 9am-7pm
Admission: 80 baht (includes coupon for free grass for the animals)
Phone: 076–481–350 or 081–0849449
Website: dairyhutfarm.com
