One of the popular places in Phuket is Monkey Hill, or the mountain with monkeys, which also has a Thai name - Khao Toe Sae. Phuket Monkey Hill and Khao To Se Health Park are located on the northern outskirts of Phuket Town. In fact, this is the only hill that can be seen from all parts of Phuket Town when driving through or past the town. There, at the very top, there are radio towers and cellular masts, and the attraction itself (monkeys) - they hang in the jungle along the road that leads to the very top to these towers.
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Phuket Monkey Mountain
For a tourist attraction, the road to Monkey Hill in Phuket is surprisingly narrow. I came here by car, so I say right away that it would be more comfortable on a bike. Not that there was particularly active traffic here, and almost all the way there are places where you can pass with oncoming traffic. But whatever one may say - for all four kilometers of the way there is only one lane for traffic, with a bunch of pedestrians. Moreover, pedestrians can be either local athletes who habitually keep to the side of the road or never leave the sidewalk at all, or just tourists who scatter along the entire road like cows.
When you go to Monkey Mountain, then along the road, from the base of the mountain, you will encounter two intermediate parking lots that are not worthy of attention, but the third parking lot will be the main area. As a rule, this is where everyone stops for dangerous entertainment - to feed the monkeys. In the parking lot, you will see parked bikes, people and monkeys. Also, there is an option to leave the car at the very bottom, as many do, and completely walk all the way upstairs..
Trekking is a useful pleasure, but not for everybody in the heat, plus a long one, so I got to the top by car to save time. If it is important for you to look closely at the monkeys and feed them, you can buy food for the monkeys at the beginning of the road, where there is a sanctuary with tigers and several shops. Fruits and nuts for 20 baht are sold downstairs. You can come like me and just watch the monkeys from the side, take pictures of how others feed them. I think this activity is quite dangerous, especially if you are with children..
At the bottom of the Monkey Mountain
Going upstairs
Monkeys, whatever one may say, remain wild animals, and on Monkey Hill it is not uncommon for them to bite people who later had to contact the insurance (in case you have insurance) and getting rabies injections is a terribly unpleasant procedure, especially on vacation. If you decide to feed the monkeys, be on the alert. It makes sense to hide away bags, especially small ones, close them more tightly, hold them tightly, remove chains and earrings - they can also attract the attention of monkeys. The monkey can run up and snatch everything shiny from his hands, for example, the keys to the bike. You need to be careful with things. But many people hammer on elementary safety rules, feed the monkeys from their hands, let the children do it, then you yourself decide how you feel about it..
I noticed that some people climb from the very bottom to the top purely for the load, they go in for sports, they are fit, athletic. For me, this is not the best place to do sports, run between people and monkeys. Better to climb nearby Rank Hill, where there is a normal observation deck with a view, a couple of restaurants, but almost no macaques and tourists.
Someone wrote that this is not a mountain of wild monkeys, but a mountain of wild dogs, but I still do not understand why. Several dogs hang out at the base of the hill, but their number is clearly not enough to call the whole mountain that way. Apparently I was just lucky that there were no dogs higher up the slope..
This is the main site
Monkey Hill in Phuket
Monkeys in Phuket
Phuket Monkey Mountain
Have taken over my car
Viewpoint
If you came here only for the sake of the monkeys, then you don't have to go above the last and main platform with monkeys (above in the photo). Although the first time, it will probably be difficult to understand that she is the last. Usually there are the most monkeys, people feeding them and enough parking space..
So, a little higher there will be an observation deck with a view of Phuket Town - a very small wooden platform with a railing. The views do not even open 180 degrees, as trees interfere. Monkeys come across all the way, but closer to the top they are almost nonexistent. If you are on transport, then why not go up.
And even above this point, literally after 100 meters, there are cell towers and all sorts of structures related to them. In principle, there is nothing to see and there are no observation platforms either. On the way up the mountain, you come across outdoor fitness equipment. There is also a small outdoor gym upstairs: dumbbell bars and two barbells.
Climbing even higher
Monkey Hill Observation Deck
The views here are mediocre
And even higher than the cell phone mast
There is even a small temple
The main radio communications building is located in the Dead End.
Maximum that you can see here through the trees
Driving back down
Information to visit
Open from 6 am to 8 pm. The best time to visit the viewpoint is closer to sunset.
If you get into the feeding hours (I could not find out which ones), then you can participate and you don't have to buy fruits and nuts. Do not keep nuts and feed in the bag - they will take it away. It is better to put nuts in your pocket and not attract attention by rustling the packaging, then you can safely feed the macaques. Do not leave food under the seat of the scooter - they will smell it, they can turn the saddle and drop the scooter. Macaques near feeding sites are calmer than on the outskirts and on the top of the mountain. Do not smile at them, for them a smile is an aggressive grin and a challenge to a duel..
Everything shiny does not belong to you, either hide it in advance or get ready to fight back. But you should be afraid in general, even for bags, wallets and other items hanging on you. I'm not kidding. They tried to take the camera away from me, grabbing the strap from it. Honestly, little pleasant.
A warning at the foot of the hill that everyone ignores
On the map
The point marked on the map stands in the place where the main platform with monkeys is. There is one road, you will figure it out along the way.
Monkey mountain
Monkey mountain
Monkey Hill. The mountain where the monkeys live. A popular place, people come here to feed the monkeys. The point is on the main site, of which there are a couple more pieces.
More about the attraction.
Monkey Hill. The mountain where the monkeys live. A popular place, people come here to feed the monkeys. The point is on the main site, of which there are a couple more..
