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Monkey Beach

Wild macaques on a gorgeous strip of sand, and they'll go through your bag if you let them.

4.4(4,465)Rose Hanna · 12 min walk
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Getting there
Rose Hanna
12 min walk

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Andaman coast beaches (Phuket, Krabi) have rough seas May–October. Koh Samui's beaches are roughest October–December, and Hua Hin's wettest months are September and October. Plan your beach trip around these windows for calm water and safe swimming.

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Finding your way around Monkey Beach

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Monkey Beach or Monkey Bay?

Monkey Beach (this page)
The small cove on Phi Phi Don's western arm, about a kilometer west of Tonsai pier, and the Monkey Beach on the Phi Phi day trips after Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon.
Monkey Bay
A different cove about 2.6 km to the south, listed separately on Google, where macaques also come down to the sand on some island-hopping runs.

Getting there and around

  • Boat access only, on an island-hopping tour or by longtail or kayak from Tonsai Bay.
  • Go early. The beach is small, shrinks at high tide, and two or three boats are enough to fill it.

Why go, and how to do it well

The monkeys are the point, and they're the catch. This small cove on Phi Phi Don's western arm, about a kilometer west of Tonsai pier, has everything you'd want from a Phi Phi beach stop, white sand, water so clear you can see fish from the shallows, limestone cliffs behind you, but the resident troop of long-tailed macaques is what people come for and what people get bitten over. They're wild. They can turn aggressive. Don't touch them, don't feed them, and zip your bag before the boat lands.

My advice is to treat it as a stop rather than a destination. Most island-hopping tours pull in for half an hour or so, and plenty of them give you the option of staying aboard and watching from the water, which is honestly a fine way to do it if you're traveling with kids or you'd rather not test your luck. If you do go ashore, the snorkeling is genuinely good, with parrotfish and sergeant majors over shallow coral in about two meters of water just off the sand.

The beach is small, it shrinks further at high tide, and two or three boats are enough to fill it. The macaques are used to being fed, which is what made them bold, so don't hold food in your hand and never step between an adult and its baby. A bite or a scratch means seeing a doctor, because rabies is a risk in Thailand.

Don't mix it up with Monkey Bay, a different cove about 2.6 km to the south that Google lists separately, where macaques also come down to the sand. Pattaya's Koh Larn has a small Monkey Beach of its own, too. The Monkey Beach on the Phi Phi day trips, the stop after Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, is this one.

It's boat access only, either as part of an organized tour or by longtail or kayak from Tonsai Bay. Go early. Later in the day brings more boats, and the beach is small to begin with. Seas are calmest and access most dependable from roughly November to April.

Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026

Tours that include Monkey Beach

Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Monkey Beach.

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Experience hints

Pair your visit. After Monkey Beach, round out your day in Phi Phi Islands with contrasting stops nearby.

Reviews from Google

Monkey Beach is a truly beautiful slice of Phi Phi, featuring the perfect combination of powdery white sand, dramatic limestone cliffs, and crystal-clear turquoise water. It’s an idyllic spot for swimming and snorkeling, with abundant marine life visible just offshore. The primary attraction, of course, is the resident troop of wild long-tailed macaque monkeys, which are a fascinating sight to observe in their natural habitat. However, a serious note of caution is essential for any visitor. While the monkeys are the highlight, they are wild animals and should be treated with utmost respect and distance. Never, under any circumstances, should you feed the monkeys. Human food is harmful to them and directly leads to aggressive behavior and potential bites, which require immediate medical attention and rabies shots. Furthermore, please be vigilant with all personal belongings. These monkeys are notorious thieves and will snatch anything shiny, loose, or resembling a food container—including water bottles, sunglasses, and bags. Keep everything zipped and secured, preferably in a dry bag, and maintain at least a three-meter distance at all times. Visit early to beat the crowds, observe quietly, and help keep this incredible natural area pristine. The beauty here is undeniable, provided you prioritize safety and respect the wildlife's space.

This is one of the most famous Monkey Beaches, a picturesque cove on the southwestern side of Phi Phi Don Island. It features white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, and is home to a population of wild macaque monkeys. Visitors often reach it by long-tail boat or rented kayak from Tonsai Bay and enjoy swimming and snorkeling there.

Monkey Beach was a very cool and unique experience. Seeing wild monkeys up close in their natural environment was something special and definitely a highlight of the trip. Depending on the tour you choose, you can either go onto the beach or stay on the boat. We chose to watch from a distance, which still gave us a great view and felt comfortable. The monkeys were easy to see, and it was really fun just observing them from the boat. It’s not something you get to experience every day, and it makes the place feel very different from a regular beach. We also went snorkeling nearby, just outside the beach area, and that was another great part of the stop. The water was nice, and it was fun to combine wildlife with snorkeling in the same place. Overall, Monkey Beach is definitely worth visiting, whether you choose to stay on the boat or go onto the beach. A very cool experience that I would absolutely recommend.

A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 4,465 reviews on Google.

PQV6+7JX, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand

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Tips for Visiting Beaches

Go Early for Empty Sand

Even the busiest beaches are nearly deserted before 9 AM. A sunrise walk is the best hour of the day on the sand, and you'll beat the heat for a morning swim.

Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Many Thai marine parks ban chemical sunscreens that damage coral. Bring reef-safe (mineral/zinc-based) sunscreen from home — it's harder to find and pricier in Thailand.

Monkey Beach: Frequently Asked Questions

Are the monkeys at Monkey Beach dangerous?

They can be. The long-tailed macaques are wild and used to being fed, and they bite and scratch. Don't feed them, don't hold food, keep bags zipped and never step between an adult and its baby. A bite or scratch means seeing a doctor, because rabies is a risk in Thailand.

Can you snorkel at Monkey Beach?

Yes. Parrotfish and sergeant majors feed over shallow coral in about two meters of water just off the sand, and it's the usual snorkel stop on the Phi Phi boat days.

Is Monkey Beach worth visiting?

Monkey Beach holds a 4.4★ rating from 4,465 Google reviews — a strong rating for beaches in Phi Phi Islands.

When is the best time to visit Monkey Beach?

The best months to visit Phi Phi Islands are November – April, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – February — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: May – October (rough crossings, storm swell).

Where is Monkey Beach located?

Monkey Beach is at PQV6+7JX, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand, in Phi Phi Islands. Getting around Phi Phi Islands: Walking — Tonsai village and the twin bays are entirely pedestrian; Longtail taxis to Long Beach and the outer bays.

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