Tourists usually plan from the first day not only a beach holiday, but also an active one. They clarify the dates of excursions, their cost, and try to cover as many attractions and entertainment as possible. But do not forget that Phuket is rich in unique places where vacationers can get on their own, paying only for travel to the place.

Among the leaders of such amazing places is Monkey Mountain, which is the highest hill in the country. On the mountain (Monkey Hill ) wild monkeys live in their usual habitat. In front of the entrance to the park there is a Buddhist temple with a statue of the golden Buddha, next to which in the shop you can buy bunches of bananas and other monkey goodies at a low price to please the flock with fruits and nuts.

Considering that you will have to walk up a spiral road for about 700 meters, which is quite tiring, the best time to visit the Monkey Mountain park is the second half of the day, closer to 15:00. By the way, from the observation deck you can watch the southern sunset. You will have to climb within an hour, but the first, most curious monkeys will meet you at the beginning of the journey. Along the way, you will find a restaurant where you can order cold drinks, ice cream and light snacks, as well as admire the excellent surrounding views.

Monkey Mountain has three equipped observation decks. At the beginning of the path you will see a large stone on which there are two sculptures of monkeys. Before the observation deck you will come across about a dozen such sculptures. This viewing area is called "Sea Views". You will see the gorgeous Andaman coast. The place is equipped with tables, benches, a toilet with a washstand. You can buy cold drinks in the pavilion.

The journey to the main observation deck will take no more than 30 minutes. Along the way, you can rest on the benches that you will see along the entire route. On the main platform you will have a magnificent overview of Phuket Town.

Monkey Mountain is so called because it is home to hundreds of wild monkeys who are used to being fed and photographed by tourists every day. These small, active animals are very hungry for food, so try not to throw out all your supplies right away. This is such a national monkey sport - to snatch a banana from the hands of a tourist, and then run for a long time and beg for a new one. But if you show empty palms, they will back off, realizing that you have nothing more.

The observations of the communication of these animals are amazing. This is a real society with its own pack structure, hierarchy, ways and laws. The leader of the pack is the largest and unconditional leader. When he appears, the entire flock falls silent and does not ask tourists for anything. The leader's movements are full of importance and absolute dignity. He doesn’t ask, he approaches tourists and brazenly takes the treat as if it were booty.

No matter how wonderful these animals are, Monkey Mountain is home to wild packs, so please note:

• Keep an eye on your things, or better yet, put them away, monkeys might snatch them from your hands;
• The behavior of wild monkeys is unpredictable, so feed carefully. If they begin to aggressively demand food, give what they demand;
• Don't even pet babies, they might bite. This is very dangerous, because any individual can become a carrier of infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

Friends, I must say that at the moment we are no longer in Phuket, but in the town of Udon Thani, bordering Laos. We managed to spend an unforgettable month in the cultural capital of Thailand - Chiang Mai, I will definitely write about this in the following articles. Our journey continues, and we are returning to Phuket and today I will tell you about one of the amazing days spent in close proximity to monkeys!

After our first close encounter with humanoid mammals in Phuket, which I described in detail in my article, we wanted to enhance the emotions from communicating with monkeys and observe them in their natural environment.

Initially, I remembered that there is a zoo in Phuket, where, perhaps, you can “touch” the most diverse tropical fauna, and, at the same time, make acquaintances with all the representatives of monkeys living in Thailand. I couldn’t find any information about the zoo in Phuket on the Internet - either we dug up a pearl that had not yet been discovered by anyone, or the zoo in Phuket is not a budget pleasure, and therefore is no longer a pearl. After telling our fortunes a little on the “thick sand,” we got on a bike and went to the zoo. The opening did not work out - the pleasure turned out to be by no means budget-friendly, the cost of entry - 500 baht for an adult and 300 baht for a child - is a bit expensive, and it is not at all clear what awaits us there. There are no traveler reviews about the Phuket Zoo, and it is unknown whether the animals there, just like in our zoos, sit in cages and cannot be interacted with in person.

Therefore, having given up on the zoo, we turned around and went to Monkey Hill - and did not regret this adventure for a second! Looking ahead, I must say that I have already visited the Chiang Mai Zoo, which is considered one of the best in Thailand; entrance there, by the way, costs 150 baht. So, our visit to Monkey Hill was no less emotional, and in some cases even more interesting! In addition, entry there is completely free.

Monkey Hill is a large park in Phuket town where monkeys live and everyone can exercise. At the end of the post there is a map, by looking at which it is easy to find your way. The best way to get to the monkey park is by bike. Since we live on Panwa, the road to Phuket town took very little time. A few turns, a slight uphill climb - and we are already there. We decide to continue on foot, park the bike (the parking is convenient, with markings) and walk 200 meters along the road. I couldn’t imagine what we would see ahead, we were just walking along the asphalt road and thoughts came into my head - where could monkeys even live here?

And it turns out that they are already meeting us!

I didn’t expect to see animals sitting right on the road; I thought that they still lived somewhere in the trees. Looking around, I noticed many tailed individuals in the forest, some were sitting on tree branches, but a large number of monkeys were just sitting on the road. Since people feed them (there are even feeding places with buckets), the animals brazenly lie right on the roadway.

"Hello! What did you come with?”

For tourists, there are benches where you can sit in the shade and watch the monkeys. Just the sedukhi are located behind the sign.

Bikes pass here very rarely, and drivers behave modestly and try not to scare the animals. In fact, Monkey Hill in Phuket is also a health park where Thais come in the evening to exercise and, sometimes, they themselves are surprised by the abundance of monkeys.

Macaques allow you to get quite close to them, but you can’t get closer than half a meter to adults without a treat. Seeing a visitor who is not an athlete, the animals begin, like professional beggars, to look languidly into the eyes, begging for something tasty.

I don’t know how it happened, but we again arrived at the monkeys without any food. To be honest, I didn’t want to come very close to them and touch them, just watching was a great pleasure, which I enjoyed to the fullest. Despite the traditionally hot day, I jumped around the macaques with a camera, crouched, I think, 200 times, if not more. This place is conducive to sports

Realizing that we didn’t bring anything tasty with us, the animals immediately lost interest in us and turned their backs.

The most interesting thing about meeting a large pride of marmosets or macaques is observing the social roles in their community. There are quite a lot of individuals in the pride of macaques on Monkey Hill - about 20-30, maybe more. We found only one leader - an angry monkey with frowning eyebrows and a hard look, who imposingly and flexing his muscles walked around the territory and fertilized females.

He had less muscular males as his assistants, acting as guards. They controlled the periphery of the pride and were ready to issue a signal of danger if there really was one. The assistants were the first to start moving if the pride decided to move to a new location. I came face to face with one of these guard males in .

Females and cubs live a carefree life within the pride, while at the same time forming the backbone of this social organism.

Having completely lost interest in us, the monkeys dispersed in different directions: some were scratching themselves on the road, others were cautiously watching us from a tree branch, others were looking at something in the distance, stretched out on the side of the road. I was in a state of creative euphoria - just imagine that next to you there are about 20 live monkeys, not trained, without collars and chains, not hiding behind bars, but here they are - walking around and looking closely, sniffing, also studying and observing!

Meet the “great thinker” who comprehends the meaning of existence. How impressed I was by this macaque sitting on a stone!

More than an hour had already passed; we calmly, but under the watchful gaze of the pride guards, moved from one macaque to another. The animals didn’t let us get close to them, but they behaved quite friendly. Suddenly the monkeys got excited, some screamed and rushed somewhere to the side. Out of fear, I froze in place and widened my eyes. What's happening?

And here is the cause of concern - a European man, passing by, threw peanuts to the macaques. What a brawl started there! Some individuals simply fell from the tree to grab food. There was even a small fight, as a result of which the food went to the strongest and most arrogant. As soon as the last nuts were eaten, the animals calmed down.

When the monkeys’ excitement passed, I decided to take a photo with them, but I didn’t dare to get close. It turned out, maybe not very well, but there is documentary evidence of my presence in this place :-)

After a not very successful photo session, where we turned out to be quite tense, although happy, I again started observing the macaques.

Look at this romantic monkey, so lost in his dreams that he didn’t even notice the butterfly flying past.

But a caring mother hugs her baby. Of course, they look unnatural on the asphalt, but are they better than in a cage?

For the purpose of reconnaissance, we decided to leave the monkeys for a while and climb higher on the mountain.

After about 500 meters we found a small view point, from which a rather pleasant view opens up and, by the way, you can see a Buddha statue. But we didn’t linger here - it was too hot.

There is some kind of building on the mountain, something like a sports facility, many runners disappear from view in that direction. But I couldn’t wait to get back to the macaques, so we did.

On the way back we met this monkey, I don’t know why, but I decided that it was a girl, although I didn’t look under its tail. We made another attempt with her to take a good photo, but, unfortunately, this attempt was unsuccessful, and the animal quickly got tired of the excessive attention.

I noticed that the tailed animals behaved demonstratively calmly with us, but in reality they looked at the main one to see if he would give an alarm signal, but this one did not take his eyes off us.

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

More than two hours have passed, but I still am not tired of watching. It was getting close to sunset, so some of them had already started their evening dress.

Some had a massage, others caught fleas, and others fought a little.

She raised her head up, and there the tailed creature was rushing along the wires.

“Well, here’s how to explain it to you... You see,...”

“Why were you late for the lecture? Next time I won’t let you in!”

Kids are the cutest, most spontaneous and curious. They let you get close. It’s not scary to feed them by hand, but, to be honest, we haven’t tried, and, I’m afraid, big macaques will run in and take everything away.

Still, monkeys are very similar to us: in their habits, appearance, postures.

“Doctor, what do I have there?”

The tenderness is off the charts! At this moment, the macaque (for some reason I decided that he was a male, maybe he is, I can guess cats by their faces) gets a back massage.

This kid first funny played with flies over the poop, then looked at my lens.

We offered friendship to the monkey. I think he was hoping to see something more.

He almost agreed, but at the last moment he changed his mind and ran away.

The sun began to set, I couldn’t get enough of the monkeys, but I had to say goodbye to the pride and head back to get down the mountain before dark. While we were descending, twilight began and the entrance to the park was blocked, but they let us out. Impressed by what we saw, we went home to Panva.

And now some useful information for those who want to diversify their stay in Phuket and decide to go to Monkey Hill.

Visiting the park is free. In the evening they put up a barrier, so after 17.00 you can only get to the very top on foot (it’s a long walk, about 1.5-2 km). I don’t see any point in coming in the evening; we were in the park from about 13.30 to 17.30.

You don’t have to worry that you’ll arrive and won’t see any animals. There are no tourists in the park, I only saw a couple of Thais who also came on a bike, the rest were engaged in sports. If there are no tourists, then there are no huge tourist buses, which with their horns can scare away every living thing a kilometer away. Animal feeding is organized on site, so the monkeys are constantly nearby.

If you want to feed the animals, as well as the presence of more macaques around you, take peanuts with you (not roasted), this is what they feed the macaques there.

I think traveling with children under 5-8 years old is a bad idea (although I admit that children are different). Here you are not in a zoo, where you paid an entrance fee and are guaranteed safety. At Monkey Hill you will be responsible for yourself and your children. Children can scream loudly, fearlessly come very close to animals, and there are also offspring who will tease and generally behave incorrectly, which can provoke aggression from the entire flock. For those who like to drink, I strongly advise you to stay lying on the beach, as any animals do not like the smell of alcohol, and you need to be able to control the situation. A visit to Monkey Hill is not an entertainment attraction, but an opportunity to communicate with representatives of the animal world and observe - a place for naturalists and romantics.

Map included, have a nice trip!

Monkey Hill got its name because of the large number of wild monkeys living on the slopes of the mountain. The furry inhabitants of the jungle sit along the road leading to the top and beg for a treat. Therefore, when going to Monkey Mountain (Thai name Khao Toe Sae), take bananas or nuts with you.

I will warn you right away: when dealing with monkeys, be extremely careful, do not try to pet the monkey, otherwise you risk being bitten or scratched.

You can climb the mountain by bike or car, but it is best to walk as there is not much parking at the top. In addition, the mountain is quite steep, and you will have to drive on the brakes the entire way back. On the way to the top there is an observation deck with views of Phuket Town. From here you can see the very beautiful Wat Khao Rang temple - it is easily recognized by the large statue of the Golden Buddha. By the way, at the foot of Monkey Mountain there is also a Buddhist temple, but less beautiful than Khao Rang.

From the top of the mountain the view is a little worse - trees interfere, as well as large television antennas installed at the top.

Background information about Monkey Mountain

Photos from Mount Khao Toe Sae

A wonderful eco-excursion is offered to tourists on the island of Phuket - a visit to an exotic place with the attractive name “Monkey Mountain”, which rises in the area of ​​Phuket Town.

Monkey Mountain in Phuket is the highest hill on the island. The hill acquired its name because of the red macaques that live on the slopes of the mountain. They are harmless, but caution is a good idea.

On the mountain of monkeys there is a park and observation platforms, visiting which tourists can admire the panorama of the surrounding area. Anyone can treat the monkeys with fruit and take a photo with them. But remember, monkeys in Thailand are not guests, but indigenous people.

The park is open 24 hours a day, the best time for walks is morning and evening, when the macaques do not suffer from the heat, hiding in the treetops. Monkey Mountain offers free admission from morning to evening. You can get there by car or motorcycle.

If you go to Monkey Mountain from the “Central Festival” (shopping center) towards Phuket Town, then after about 700 m you need to turn left and drive another 3 kilometers. Then, 200m from the prison building, turn left again.

There is an asphalt road leading up the mountain, which you can drive on a motorcycle or car, or walk. However, it is preferable to take a walk, leaving your vehicle at the foot of the mountain.

The road up the mountain is steep and narrow, you need to slow down to go down. It is not possible to park a vehicle at the top; it is better to leave the car at the bottom of the mountain. On the way to the top of the hill there is a wonderful view of Wat Khao Rang - a temple with a golden Buddha statue.

At the foot of the mountain rises Wat Charoen Samanakit, a currently functioning Buddhist temple. It is mainly visited by local residents, but tourists are also not prohibited from visiting this religious building.

A road runs from the temple up the hillside. At the very top of it there is a sculpture of two monkeys sitting on a stone. But their living counterparts can be found everywhere here.

There is a fruit stand near the entrance to the park. For 15 baht you can buy a bunch of bananas or nuts for the monkeys. You can feed the animals on the mountain without any problems. This is allowed in the park. Now you know where to see monkeys in Phuket and how to get there!

What is the park

There are three platforms on the hill suitable for exploring the surrounding area. The first allows tourists to enjoy the amazing view of the Andaman coast. There is a small cafe on the mountain where, having bought a can of beer or cola, you can sit at a table and contemplate the beauty of the local nature.

The first observation point on the mountain is a 30-minute walk from the main observation deck. Along the way there are gazebos and benches that serve for visitors to rest during the ascent. Several small areas have horizontal bars designed for amateur athletes. A large platform has been built on the main platform, where you can view the panorama of Phuket Town.

But most tourists come to the mountain to admire the magnificent scenery.

Undoubtedly, they are attracted by the funny inhabitants living on the slopes of the mountain. Macaques living in the wild are accustomed to such visits from tourists and are absolutely not afraid of people. Seeing the approach of park visitors from afar, the monkeys do not try to run away and do not hide in the treetops, but rather rush to people in the hope of getting treats.

Several small flocks of wild macaques live in the park, the total number is approximately 400 individuals. They differ from monastery monkeys in their rather peaceful character. Red-haired macaques are not aggressive because they have long been accustomed to the presence of humans.

Sitting along the side of the road, they patiently wait for treats from visitors, and many of them are not afraid to beg for food from park guests. Therefore, when going to Monkey Mountain, do not forget to bring something edible for the macaques.

What a tourist needs to know when visiting Monkey Mountain

Don't forget that monkeys in Phuket are wild animals. Therefore, you need to take precautions in the park: you cannot leave things unattended (especially a camera or a movie camera). Animals can drag them away or break them. Macaques are allowed to be fed directly from their hands. But don't try to iron!

Dominant males should not look directly in the eyes and smile, baring their teeth. For monkeys, this is regarded as a threat. Following its instincts, the animal can attack and bite. Don't risk offending or teasing the monkeys.

Monitor children closely and be extremely careful when handling baby macaques. After all, no one knows how their mother will react.

Monkey Hill in Phuket - Monkey Hill.

View from the hill

This afternoon we decided to climb Monkey Hill, this is another place in Phuket where you can meet wild macaques. I will write below where this place is located and when and how best to visit it.

It’s not that we’ve never been there, we’ve been there more than once. I even ran there several times. But this time the interest was not sporting. I wanted to go and photograph our funny little brothers who live freely there in their natural environment. Therefore, there are many photographs of monkeys, or more correctly, “rhesus macaques,” as this individual is called in scientific language.

Another place where you can meet wild monkeys in Phuket is, I wrote about it earlier.

Climbing the hill is not that difficult, anyone can climb it, although you will still have to make some efforts. The entire hike from the parking lot to the top takes approximately 20 minutes. By the way, right next to the beginning of the climb there is a Buddhist monastery, you can also look there.

The hill is located 550 meters above sea level, which is approximately the same level as the statue of the Big Buddha. There is a great view from the top. And many local athletes use this place to train and run uphill, we met about ten runners and a couple of cyclists. About halfway along the route there is a small fitness park, but I have never seen anyone use it.

Legend:

Locals call this hill Khao To Sae, and the common people call this place Monkey Hill - Monkey Hill.
About 10 minutes from the start of the climb there is a small altar with statues of wild animals, mainly tigers.

The altar has the same name Khao To Sae. And it was built in honor of a man with the same name - “To Sae”.
There are rumors that “To Sae” was a hermit who lived on this hill and had magical properties. In ancient times, residents of nearby villages and towns came to him for help. This is where the hill got its name. Where did the wizard go then? “To Sae” No one knows.

On the way to the top, I took photos on my phone and posted them on Instagram, I didn’t want to take out and pack the camera until we climbed to the monkeys, it’s not convenient to walk with it. But along the way we came across something interesting. So here are some photos from mine Instagram. And you have already seen a couple of them above.

Monkeys can be found anywhere during the climb, but there are two places where they are most numerous. These places are located closer to the top. The macaques are specially fed there. They do this not to attract tourists, since 80% of visitors to the hill are locals. It's a kind of tradition.

You can't miss these places. If during your climb you are already desperate to see the macaques, then just move on, they are waiting for you. There are a lot of monkeys there, they sit right on the road and sometimes even the car cannot calmly climb to the top of the hill.

There are several stories about a Thai who was the first to feed monkeys in this place. I came across these notes from other bloggers. But there is definitely no information, so in order not to lie, I will omit this point.

Rhesus macaques are one of those primates that are most similar in social structure to humans, making them very interesting to watch.

For example, rhesus monkeys have several types of calls. Rhesus dogs make these sounds in various situations.

A monkey roars, confident in its abilities and threatening another, lower-ranking one.
I was lucky to catch these two at just such a moment.

But this leader sat down at the very top of the observation deck.

The macaque below froze before leaping.

The piercing scream first sounds at a very high note, then ends abruptly; This is the sound a rhesus makes when it is threatened by a high-ranking relative.

Macaque with baby.

Rhesus macaques live in groups of 20 individuals.

When and how best to visit.

I like the view from the top of the hill even more than the view from the big Buddha statue. Especially during sunset hours, which is approximately 5.40 - 6.30 pm. And it’s not so hot to get up at this time. See the map below for where the hill is located. It is best to combine a visit to Monkey Hill with a visit, which is a five-minute drive away.

I don’t like visiting the same places several times, because there is so much that has not yet been explored, but I will definitely come up here again.
Probably not for nothing that the hermit “To Sae” chose this place for myself. Maybe there really is something magical here.

Art:

Other notes about our little brothers and about nature: