Where is polo played in Thailand?
Polo in Thailand is played at the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club, east of Pattaya in Chonburi. The club hosts the country's main tournaments.
The setting is rolling hills with views to the sea. One field looks over Pattaya Bay and the Gulf of Thailand. Each main field has its own clubhouse, built so guests can watch in comfort.
Beyond the fields, the club has a 20-metre saltwater pool on the main clubhouse terrace, close to the play. The Chukka Bar is a copy of the polo bar that once stood in the Langham hotel in London, complete with trophies and old photos. The club also runs stables, an equine clinic and a cross-country course.
New to polo? Two teams of four riders try to hit a small ball through the other team's goal posts with long mallets. A match is split into short periods called chukkas, and riders change ponies between them. At half time, everyone walks onto the field to press the divots back into the grass. Do it once and the sport makes sense.
Pattaya is the nearest base, with resorts by the sea and good golf. Our Pattaya guide explains the city's quieter, high-end side.
The polo season and main tournaments
The polo season runs in the cool, dry months. The 2027 tournament dates are not yet announced (checked 6 Nov 2026). In past years the main finals fell in January and February: in 2026 the Thai Polo Open final was on Saturday 24 January and the Queen's Cup Pink Polo on Saturday 28 February.
The Queen's Cup Pink Polo is a ladies' tournament and our pick for the social highlight of the season. The club also holds an annual charity polo day. Match days are relaxed and stylish: smart summer dress, a hat, lunch in a marquee and drinks as the sun drops behind the hills.
What to wear. Think garden party, not sports day. Light linen, a sun hat and flat shoes or wedges work well on the grass. Bring sunglasses and a light layer for the evening, when the breeze comes in off the hills.
We confirm the 2027 dates as soon as the club publishes them. The Thai Meteorological Department places the cool season from mid-October to mid-February, the most comfortable time to watch.
Can visitors play or take lessons?
Yes. The club runs a polo school for beginners and for players who want to improve. It offers lessons, beginner chukkas and club chukkas with professionals on each team. Weekend polo clinics combine a two-hour lesson in the morning with four chukkas in the afternoon, according to the club.
Beginner chukkas are the first step into a real game. The club describes them as three chukkas of two against two on the stick-and-ball field, with a coach explaining each move. Club chukkas suit riders with some polo experience: four chukkas with two or three professionals in each team.
The club has accommodation for guests on the weekend clinic. American coach Rege Ludwig hosts a polo school there and spends more than six months a year at the club, it says. Lessons, clinics and match days are quoted to your plan. Tell us your riding level and we arrange the right session.
Can non-players go horse riding?
You do not need to play polo to ride here. The club offers trail rides across its grounds, through hills, past lakes and into forest, it says. It is the gentle way to see the land. It also suits a partner or family who would rather ride than play.
Serious riders get more. The club says its cross-country course was laid out in 2007 to an international standard. Its eventing course hosted the first Asia Eventing Championships. Ask us for a private session over fences with a coach.
Wear long trousers, closed shoes and sun protection. Early morning and late afternoon are the coolest times. Tanner confirms the ride length, the horse and the guide's level for you before the day. For more ideas, see our full list of experiences in Thailand.
What about elephant polo?
Elephant polo has ended in Thailand. In 2019 the Thailand Elephant Polo Association decided not to seek permission for a new King's Cup tournament. We do not arrange any animal shows or elephant riding.
How does a private polo day work?
The best polo day is unhurried. A private car collects you in Bangkok or Pattaya, and you arrive in time for lunch at the club. You watch the afternoon chukkas or take a lesson, then stay for drinks at sunset. A night by the sea in Pattaya keeps the drive short.
A private chauffeur makes the day simple, with cold towels and water in the car. Add a round of golf the next morning; our guide to golf in Pattaya lists the best courses nearby. For a hotel, see where to stay in Pattaya.
Polo also works for groups. A match day with a marquee lunch makes a strong reward for a team, and we size it to any group. See our ideas for incentive trips.
Plan your polo day with Tanner
Tanner plans the whole polo day as one booking. That covers the car, the match or lesson, lunch, a trail ride and the hotel by the sea. One planner works for any group size, with Thai staff near the polo grounds. If no match falls on your dates, we say so and suggest a lesson or a ride instead. Tell us your dates and riding level, and we build the day around you.
