Where to See Monkeys in Phuket?
Phuket Monkey Hill is the best-known monkey playground on the island, a hill covered with immense red and white antennas in the back of Phuket Town. That hill may be easy to see but not as easy to reach: the road climbing to it is opposite the provincial hall, past the old Phuket prison. It’s not a tough climb, but it is quite long, and motorbikes are not allowed anymore.
Once your bike is parked, start walking, and they are all here, all sitting in the middle of the road, waiting for tourists to bring them some fruits or anything edible.
You can stop at a small Chinese shrine (Poh Tae Toh Sae Shrine) on the way up to Phuket Monkey Hill. It’s not very impressive, but everything should be interesting if you are new to Asia. Then continue further up, and you will need to park your bike and continue on foot for 1,7 km until the very top of the hill.
Around noon, on most days, an old man might come in a pickup truck to distribute some fruits to the monkeys. He likes to play with the animals and is proud to show you a few tricks he taught them. I suspect he enjoys fame with tourists as much as he does feeding his little friends.
Is Phuket Monkey Hill safe?
Update: Monkeys are unpredictable and can be dangerous! Never feed them by hand. Accidents are not unusual and are not worth risking your holiday!
Important note for Parents with Strollers up the Hill: Macaque monkeys on Monkey Hill pose a significant threat to children in strollers. These wild animals are particularly attracted to bags and items stored underneath or hanging from strollers. Stay particularly away from the biggest monkey sitting in the middle of the road: he is the boss and can be territorial.
In typical situations, these are not aggressive monkeys if you follow some basic rules: don’t leave anything hanging out of your pockets or bags, especially cookies, or worse, your Vuitton bag (don’t laugh, I saw that). Babies are adorable, but if the mother feels their baby threatened, who knows how she would react? And don’t challenge that big, hairy guy in the middle; he is the boss, and he’ll be happy to remind you. You can freely walk around and take all the photos you like. A zoom lens will give you some great and safe shots.
However, always be on your guard and try to read their body language. Everything went fine on the lower part of the road where hundreds of monkeys hang together. But at the very top, a big, lonely monkey tried to attack my leg but ran away on the first kick.
The Panoramic Terrace
The top of Phuket Monkey Hill doesn’t offer fantastic views of Phuket, but here and there, you can still see some nice bird views between the bushes.
The Other Places to See Monkeys
Khao Rang Hill
Khao Rang Hill is an easier option if you don’t feel like walking 3.5 kilometres uphill. You can drive all the way to the top and park right next to the viewpoint. The monkeys hang around the parking area and the terrace, usually waiting for someone to give them food.
The macaques here seem calmer than the ones on Monkey Hill. I’ve never had any trouble with them, though the usual rules apply: don’t wave food around, keep your bag closed, watch your sunglasses. It’s a good choice if you’re with kids or older relatives who can’t manage the long walk up Toh Sae Hill. You get the monkeys, the view over Phuket Town, and you don’t have to break a sweat getting there.
Koh Sirey Bridge
Another point to see monkeys in their happy little life is even easier to find: drive to Koh Sirey, this not-so-well-known island east of Phuket Town. Before reaching the island, the municipality was kind enough to place a dozen cute little green signs on each side of the road. Parking is easy, and monkeys are all around. Enjoy!
Monkey Hill Photos
Phuket Monkey Hill Street View
Poh Tae Toh Sae Shrine
Tucked away on Monkey Hill on the way to the viewpoint, Pho Ta Toh Sae Shrine is a small, old Chinese shrine renowned for its unusual display of tiger statues. We discovered dozens of tigers in varying sizes and ages guarding the entrance and lining the inner courtyard. Despite its modest size, the shrine draws locals seeking blessings in work, finance, and study. Its rich mix of spirit worship and tiger iconography makes it an interesting stop on the hill.
Phu Anda Cafe and Restaurant
Phu Anda Cafe sits quietly above Wat Charoen Samanakij on Toh Sae Hill (better known as Monkey Hill), offering one of Phuket Town’s hidden dining secrets, popular with locals. This hillside restaurant serves authentic, affordable Thai cuisine with panoramic views that stretch across Phuket Town and all the way to Koh Siray Bay.
Where is Monkey Hill?
If you are on mobile, add the map here: https://goo.gl/maps/41U5jYSopAMUAQPs5.
Your Phuket Town Travel Guide
