Nestled in the picturesque Bang Sare Subdistrict of Thailand, Monkey Island is a tropical paradise that captivates visitors with its stunning landscapes and vibrant wildlife. This serene destination invites adventurers and nature lovers alike to experience its unique charm.
Monkey Island, located in the scenic Bang Sare Subdistrict of Thailand, is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in nature’s beauty. This idyllic locale is home to playful monkeys and stunning coastal views, making it a perfect spot for families, couples, and solo travelers. Visitors can enjoy guided boat tours to explore the pristine waters, or simply unwind on the soft sands, soaking in the sun. The island offers a unique blend of adventure and tranquility, with opportunities for snorkeling, hiking, and observing wildlife in their natural habitat. Each moment spent on Monkey Island is a chance to create lasting memories while surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Thailand’s coastline. Whether you’re seeking an exciting day out or a peaceful escape, Monkey Island is a hidden gem that promises unforgettable experiences. Discover why this enchanting spot is a favorite among locals and tourists alike as you explore all that it has to offer.
Attractions
6 miles
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0.54 miles
1.23 miles
1.75 miles
1.87 miles
1.90 miles
2.13 miles
2.24 miles
2.71 miles
2.86 miles
Monkey Island is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking Bang Sare Subdistrict, Thailand
We are currently staying in 4 Palms resort in Bangsaray and Shaun the owner arranged for a boat trip to Monkey Island and the stunning Koh Khram. 8 of us went on a large wooden boat and the monkeys swam to our boat for us to feed them. This sight alone being this close to monkeys made it well worth the visit. I highly recommend you take this trip if you are staying around this area.
There are several tour operators in Pappaya that you can contact to go to Monkey Island , also in Bang Saray are there bookings to make. if you arrive at the Island better stay on the boot as they try to get everything from you and they bite. It is fun to see and there are hundreds on the Island. Trip will take half a day and a must do if you are in the Pattaya area.
Not really a proper destination or tourist spot, small boats can land but be very careful these are not tame pets, the monkeys rule here and only see people as an opportunity to get food. if you have some food on you the monkeys will know about it and will get that food, no matter what, by biting and grabbing. There is nothing else on the island to see. The monkeys are taken care of and fed proper monkey food (fruit, nuts veggies etc) by the Royal Thai Navy.It is not strictly allowed to land here and some other small islands in the area and I don’t recommend it either.
Monkey Island is one of the standard tour destinations for boats leaving Pattaya on day trips, or short trips. I think it is about one hour from Pattaya, by boat.We arrived at the end of the day, after a full day cruise. Rode and inflatable boat from the cruise boat to the shore. On shore, more than 100 monkeys were waiting. Our tour guides (crew from the cruise boat) brought buckets of food scraps (mostly pineapple and watermelon skins) and some bags of nuts. At first, the monkeys were happy with the fruit rinds, but soon tired. Then, out came the nuts. The monkeys went nuts for the nuts – jumping, grabbing, screeching, fighting, biting.When first arriving, the smaller and middle sized monkeys would jump on you – mostly from behind. Later, the larger monkeys joined in the jumping. And they always jump on your back, when you are not looking. So, you stand there watching the monkeys climbing on other people, and suddenly BOOM! – a 300 to 40 pound monkey lands on you without warning – almost knocking you down.The monkeys sit on your back, your head, your shoulder, your hand and arms. They smell bad, but they are mostly friendly. You just have to avoid touching or pushing them. They don’t stay in one place long, They jump on, sit for a minute or two, then move on. Then, another jumps on you.When they sit on your head, crumbs and liquids drop from the food they are eating. Many of the girls arrived with towels on their heads. That worked about 75%.Expect to be bitten. I and 10 year old son were bitten – lightly, no pain, no blood. One girl beside me was bitten – had a red mark, and complained of pain – but no blood. The three of us did not know what provoked the biting – maybe not enough nuts.Our group stayed 15 to 30 minutes.Lucky I was able to swim after the visit, to clean the sand and food residue off.Yes, it was fun – for a short time.
Before we got off the boat the monkeys rushed us. There were a hundred in the boat. They ripped open all our bags ate everything in site. We started to pull away and the monkeys wouldn’t leave the boat. In total the visit was less than 5 minutes and cost 1200 bhat. It’s the off season and I guess they depend on visitors giving them food. They were VERY hungry..
Monkey island is a great place to experience the fascinating crab eating macaques of Thailand. However, tourists tend to get intimidated and bitten by Macaques quite often here due to lack of understanding about wild macaque behavior. Fortunately its possible to safely experience the monkey island if you follow some simple safety advice. FYI, I learnt about safe interactions with wild macaques while filming them extensively in Thailand for Discovery Channel, National Geographic and BBC documentaries accompanied by leading primatologists. 1) Macaques Don’t Smile.When a macaque looks like it is smiling at you with a wide grin showing its teeth, it is actually challenging you. If a person looks them back in the eye and smiles, they are in affect ‘ramping up the challenge’. If a macaque looks you in the eye and ‘smiles’ at you, simply look somewhere else and it will immediately lose interest.2) Food Etiquette Is Important! Macaques are highly competitive around food and will readily display aggressive behavior in order to gain control of food. If you bring food to monkey island, be prepared to be ‘mobbed’ by lots of macaques with occasionally aggressive behavior and unpredictable outcomes. In other words, don’t do it unless you want trouble. If your guide has brought some food, let him / her do the risky part of controlling the food while you take photos and enjoy observing the monkeys.3) Don’t give macaques ‘the eye’If you look in a macaques eye and it stares back at you with raised eyebrows, it is basically asking you if you would like to challenge it. The simple and safe response is to ignore that particular macaque and observe the others. Problem solved!4) Macaques are big fans of the timeless game ‘catch me if you can’ They get things rolling by running off with peoples possessions like cameras or bags. The problem is, people can never catch them until they grow bored with the game and choose to drop the object, this can take hours. Don’t bring anything to monkey island accept maybe a camera which remains firmly clasped in your hand at all times. 5) Be careful where you step: Monkeys will probably climb on you and all around you on monkey island. If you accidentally stand on a macaques foot while looking down a camera lens for example, it is likely to bite you in response, so tread cautiously. If you avoid engaging in stare downs, grinning with teeth, stomping on monkey feet and food distribution, your chances of having a bad experience with macaques will be very low indeed. Nonetheless, if at any stage you feel threatened or uncomfortable you can walk into the water to get some space between you and macaques while still being close enough to observe their behavior.Enjoy your visit to Monkey Island!
Was quite rough seas on this visit but the guy driving the boat was awesome, this trip is very highly recommended and well worth the effort and cost (about $6000 Baht) for a private boat tour and we were the only ones there, tip… take lots of fruit
I enjoyed my experience with the monkeys but the closest beach area near the monkey location overcharged all three of the couples we were with for our food so pay attention to your costs for things and what you order. The beach itself and the snorkelling was great but the food charge made a nice day a bit unpleasant.