Know Before You Go: Monkey Hill in Phuket, Thailand
Nestled in the heart of Phuket, Thailand, lies a hill that offers a unique opportunity to see the islands locals - monkeys!
We discovered this location during our around-the-world trip after deciding to head to the island of Phuket, Thailand, from the busy city of Chiang Mai. When we arrived, the beauty was so unreal, and I couldn’t wait to explore the island. One of the stops I wanted to make was at Monkey Hill because I had never seen wild monkeys in their natural habitat before, and we heard this was the best place for it.
While this ended up being one of our most memorable experiences on this island, there are some important things to know before you go. Below, you will find general information on the area, along with nine things to know so you can be prepared before you arrive at Monkey Hill.
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Getting to Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill Viewpoint is located on the southeastern side of Phuket. There are a few different ways to get here depending on where you stay. The closest larger city is Old Phuket Town. I highly recommend visiting both the town and Monkey Hill during your trip!
We stayed at an Airbnb in Kamala on the west side of Phuket, so we decided to take a cab toward Old Phuket Town. The drive was just under 40 minutes southeast of our Airbnb.
Once we were dropped off, the monkeys were out along the road, so you’ll see them soon after arriving.
What to Bring
Monkey Hill is not a managed park and has very limited amenities. It is simply a hill with a winding road to the top where monkeys live, and it is the most common place to see them. I recommend bringing a few important things with you when visiting. There were some locals selling bananas and waters at the base of the hill for tourists visiting in case you want or need either!
Tennis Shoes (I made the mistake of wearing sandals which were not best for walking up an incline)
Cash (Only if you plan on buying bananas or waters at the base of the hill)
Hat or Sunglasses (I recommend ones with a strap)
Granola Bar or Light Snack (Eating before your visit is wise so you stay safe)
Backpack or Fanny Pack (do not bring purses with long straps as the monkeys will try and grab them)
What to Expect
You will know you’ve arrived at the base of Monkey Hill when you see a pink and a blue sign on the corner of the street with monkey statues on them. This marks the starting point. As you begin your journey, you will pass locals selling bananas and waters. It is free to visit the park, so you can stay for as long or as little as you like. We continued past the banana stand because our cab driver warned us about how aggressive the monkeys can be with food.
From there, you will see a pathway on the side of the road. As you walk or hike up, the monkeys will come and go, checking out what’s happening and looking for food. The sidewalk is marked with the distance you’ve covered to help you keep track.
The total trek is just over two miles or about 3.8 kilometers, but in the hot sun, it can feel much longer. If your goal is simply to see monkeys, I recommend exploring until you’re tired and then heading back down. There are some nice spots nearby where you can grab a cold drink and cool off after being in the direct sunlight. You can also catch a taxi or tuk-tuk back into the main shopping area in Old Phuket Town.
What to Know Before You Go
Now that we’ve covered the basics of visiting Monkey Hill, let’s go over some important things to know before you go. These tips are in no particular order but will help ensure you have a fun and safe visit.
1). Monkeys are wild animals
Do your best at respecting the monkeys’ space. Occasionally, a monkey might get a little too confident and come too close to you.
I had a monkey come up, grab my pants, and try to bite my ankle. Luckily, after kicking my foot around and shaking it off, it ran away. I recommend keeping your full attention on the monkeys around you and waiting to check your photos or look at your phone until you are off the hill.
2). Carry a walking stick
Monkeys tend to go after what they want and often won’t stop until they get it, especially when it comes to food. Walking sticks help you navigate up the steep hill and can also serve as a last resort if a monkey tries to get too close. Unfortunately, there were several times when people carrying bananas were swarmed by monkeys trying to steal them all. Do not harm the animals, but you can use the walking stick to gently push them away if they try to climb on you, attack, or grab your belongings.
3). The monkeys are not afraid of humans
These monkeys are so used to humans that they will walk right up to you. They usually approach expecting you to have food and to check out what you’re holding. The monkeys may walk next to you, follow behind, and watch as you hike up and down the hill. If you don’t mind being close to them, they won’t mind being near you. Most are just curious and won’t bother you.
4). Stay on the pathway
For your safety, always keep an eye on the road and try and stay on the sidewalks when possible. Some visitors choose to drive up and down the hill, rounding tight turns at high speeds. A few times we saw passengers in a Jeep throwing bananas out the window as they drove.
5). There is a lot of trash
It is disappointing to see how much trash and pollution fill the forest and roads of Monkey Hill. Please do not litter and remember to carry out whatever you carry in.
6). This is not a managed park
When I first heard of Monkey Hill, I assumed it was a designated park with rangers providing a safer way to see monkeys in their natural habitat. While we had no issues during our visit, it can get a bit chaotic if people mistreat the animals or refuse to give the monkeys food when they expect it. This area is open to everyone, so you can visit at your own risk.
7). Do not feed the monkeys bananas
If the monkeys realize you do not have food, they may simply come up, look at you, and then move on. This helps ensure a safer visit for everyone.
8). Keep your belongings in a secure location
Monkeys are curious animals, and they will come up to investigate whatever you are holding. Keeping your items in the car, on your scooter, or in a secure bag is the best way to prevent a monkey from stealing them. My friend was carrying her water bottle during this hike, and a monkey came up and pulled it right out of her hands. It was mostly just curious, and once it got bored, it let go. We were able to grab the bottle and throw it away after we got down the hill.
9). Remember - you are in the wild
This should go without saying, but you are in the wild here and need to be mindful of that. Wild animals can be dangerous, or they may leave you alone entirely. It depends on the day, their surroundings, and whether people have food. As long as you stay mindful and respectful of the environment and those around you, you should have a great experience.
I hope this helps you decide whether you’d like to visit Monkey Hill in Phuket, Thailand. This was a truly unique experience and helped me overcome my fear of monkeys. If you go, I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
As always, thank you for reading and sharing this post. I appreciate every single one of you.
