Belarus / 26.05.2024

Monkeys in Pattaya - where to see them? Excursion to Monkey Island Excursion to Monkey Island in Pattaya

Monkey Island is located in Thailand, near the large resort of Pattaya, in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. In addition to the everyday, philistine name, the island also has an official version of the name, although there are several of them: Pet Island, Ped Island or even Ling Island. It all depends on which option is closer – Vietnamese or Thai.

Monkey Island is not inhabited by humans. It is a small piece of land among the surrounding waters of the bay, almost completely covered by jungle thickets, which is quite densely populated by a real horde of crab-eating macaques.

The island itself has an elongated oblong shape with a narrow coastline (no more than 3 meters wide). The rest of the land is occupied by forests. Despite the fact that the island's territory is slightly larger than a standard football field, there are a huge number of monkeys here. It is this phenomenon that attracts foreign tourists so much.

Story

Today Monkey Island is a real 24-hectare home to hundreds of primates who are accustomed to meeting people every day and are already eagerly awaiting their appearance.

A large population of macaques appeared here after 1969, when a colony of white-handed gibbons bred by US military scientists was based on the island between 1967 and 1969. These animals were used for experimental purposes: to test a vaccine against malaria, but only for a few years. After such tests were banned, the gibbons were released into the forests.

There is also a legend according to which Monkey Island was a completely uninhabited place for quite a long time. During the hostilities that broke out in Vietnam, representatives of the US armed forces were based nearby and, for fun, began to breed a population of macaques on a small island nearby, bringing there several individuals of this species. The macaques were periodically supplied with provisions, which led to the creation of good conditions for life and reproduction. Thus, a few years later, when the war ended, the Americans transferred Monkey Island to the jurisdiction of Thailand with all its inhabitants, of which at that time there were already about 2,000 individuals.

How to get to the island?

You can get to Monkey Island in two ways: rent a boat on your own from the pier in Pattaya, or buy a place as part of an organized excursion group, where one of the entertainments is a visit to the mentioned island, or purchase a special tour that involves visiting purely Monkey Island.

Excursion to the island

Centralized excursions to Monkey Island from Pattaya depart several times a day. The most popular is the one that starts at 07.00 am from the resort pier. Most often, excursion tours in this direction are not limited to visiting only Monkey Island, since you won’t spend much time here, and even that is of no use. You can feed the monkeys and take interesting photos in one to two hours.

Every time a new ship from Pattaya appears on the horizon, the monkeys are already eagerly awaiting new visitors on the shore. Some particularly impatient individuals immediately jump into the water and head towards the ship in order to have time to snatch something from the hands of a gaping tourist, so be extremely attentive and careful. If you miss the moment, you will run after monkeys all over the island in search of your property.

When visiting this island, you should be careful, especially if you plan to do a photo shoot. Macaques are quite suspicious of the flashes of phones and cameras; this can anger them and force them to attack, which will subsequently lead to scratches and bites on the body of a careless tourist. If this happens, go to your local hospital immediately to get a rabies vaccine.

When going to the island, do not forget that its inhabitants expect delicious food from you. Thus, macaques love nuts and fruits, in particular bananas, but they have a special weakness for watermelons.

Most often, an excursion to the island includes, in addition to having fun with monkeys, snorkeling off neighboring islands, visiting a fishing village, relaxing on picturesque beaches and returning back to the pier in Pattaya. This usually happens around 5:00 p.m.

Due to the fact that recently, thanks to the efforts of tourists, the population of macaques has increased so much that during the low season it is quite difficult for them, because tourists do not come here in a continuous stream every day. Often in local newspapers and on television, since 2010, this information has been conveyed, calling on Thai citizens to save the poor primates. Also in 2010, a special program was developed to supply food to crab-eating macaques from the beginning of May to the end of September. This responsibility was assigned to the Royal Thai Navy.

Monkeys are not uncommon in Phuket. Of course, you won’t find them on the beach, but in the jungle there are more than enough of them. There are special places on the island, by visiting which you can see how these animals live in natural conditions. One of these places is Monkey Mountain. There are quite a lot of monkeys here, you can not only watch them, but also feed them. However, do not forget about safety rules.

Monkey Mountain is one of the most interesting places in Phuket. It is located near Phuket Town. This name was not given to it by chance, since it is here that you can meet hundreds of amazing monkeys who have adapted so well to the constant flow of tourists that they are not afraid to go to a meeting and pose for a video camera.

Since Monkey Mountain is one of the highest hills on the island, it was advisable to create an observation deck on it. There are three of them here and they are all located at different levels. The first level offers a view of the sea; for convenience, it is equipped with benches and a cafe. The second gives a slightly larger overview, which you can enjoy from the gazebo. But having climbed to the very top, you will see a stunning panoramic view of the capital of Phuket and the coast. Romance lovers come here for the magnificent sunsets. There is a special platform with benches here.

Monkey

The macaques that live on the hill are very sociable and friendly. Over the years, they have become so accustomed to guests that they are not afraid to approach tourists within the distance of an extended river. Monkeys can be seen everywhere, you will meet them along the entire route, and there are especially many of them in the area of the observation platforms.

There is no point in searching or calling macaques. Remember that the main interest for tailed animals is not your personality, but the delicacy that you bring for them. Animals love bananas, mangoes, nuts, and corn.

To enjoy communicating with them, you should not show everything you brought at once. Divide the bananas individually and put most of the nuts in your pockets. Otherwise, you will be forced to give them everything at once, since, having noticed a large piece of delicacy in your hands, they are unlikely to be interested in a small piece of banana that you sent them for tasting.

Precautionary measures

When going to meet the monkeys, do not forget about safety precautions. After all, monkeys are wild animals and it is unknown how they will behave in a given situation. Therefore, adhere to the following rules:

You should not try to pet the animal, as this may result in a bite. In Thailand, macaques are carriers of various diseases, including rabies. It’s unlikely that anyone would want to spend all their time in a hospital instead of a hotel.
Avoid eye-to-eye contact with animals; they perceive this as aggression.
Keep all your belongings with you, especially phones and cameras. Cases when animals take away equipment from tourists are common, so it’s better not to take risks. In addition, hide jewelry, glasses and other elements that can cause increased interest in your personality.
If you see monkeys fighting, stay away from them, and also do not approach those who show their grin.
Be especially careful when interacting with the little ones. Remember that their mother is walking somewhere nearby and she may perceive any wrong movement as a threat to her child.

How to get there?

Getting to Monkey Mountain is not difficult, since it is located in Phuket Town. I would immediately like to point out that the songthaew routes do not go there, which means you will have to use a taxi, tuk-tuk or rented bike.

If you are coming from, then you should move towards Phuket Town. After driving about a kilometer, you will see a fork where you need to turn left. After 3 kilometers a prison building will appear in front of you. After it, after about 200 meters, you need to make another left turn and you will arrive at the foot of the desired hill.

There is an asphalt road leading to the top, which allows you to continue your journey by transport. Most people come here on motorbikes, but you need to be extremely careful during the descent, as there are sharp changes in height and you need to constantly keep your foot on the brake to control the speed.

The local population generally loves to conquer the mountain on foot. This ascent can take about an hour.

Monkey Mountain on the map

You can see the exact location of Monkey Mountain in Phuket on this map.

If you are on holiday in Phuket, be sure to take time and go to Monkey Mountain. This is much better than a zoo, and admission is absolutely free.

Pattaya, with all the disadvantages in the form of a dirty sea in the city itself, is still a wonderful place, because literally a few kilometers from Pattaya there are islands with clean beaches with white sand and a clear blue sea. You especially feel this when you get out of your gray winter homeland, you find yourself, like in a fairy tale, in another country, where there is sun, a different language, different smells and colors. Pattaya has become a second home for many Russians. Many of our compatriots come here in winter, as if to a dacha.

And everything is fine here. Pattaya delights with massage parlors, small cafes where you can taste exotic dishes, and shopping streets littered with all sorts of food. Here you can find not very expensive housing and you practically don’t need to know English here. Pattaya has long been a Russian place. But whatever you say, Pattaya is a fairly large city and there is not and cannot be a clean sea in Pattaya itself. Alas, to visit the tropical paradise from the picture you need to go to the islands near Pattaya.

How to make it easier. You can get to the islands on your own or as part of excursions. Fortunately, there are enough islands near Pattaya. And for every taste. You can go to a desert island and enjoy your own personal paradise, or go to a national park on an educational excursion. But it’s easier to cross the sea by ferry and find yourself under palm trees surrounded by monkeys, and in the evening return home to cozy Pattaya.

The closest island near Pattaya is Koh Larn.

Just in case, don’t forget to wear a life jacket on the ferry; after the ferry sank in Pattaya, this is especially important

If you want to go to the island on a speedboat, you need to ask the same people snooping around the pier. The most interesting thing is that over several decades of Russian tourists staying in Pattaya, the Thais have learned to recognize our interrogative intonations and therefore the words “Speedboat?” what is said with the appropriate intonation will be quite enough. You will immediately find the right person, usually the boat captain.

Tawaen Beach

You can get here by ferry and it is the most popular beach on the island. Fortunately, it is very large, about 750 meters long and 100 meters wide. There are restaurants, shops with souvenirs, pareos and hats, a first-aid post, and police. Several bungalows. The beach is equipped with sun loungers from 100 baht per person. There are water attractions and the opportunity to rent a scooter. Masseuses walk around and offer their services.

Tien Beach

From the parking lot where you are dropped off, there is a pedestrian bridge leading to the beach. The beach is about 500 meters long. There is all the infrastructure here: cafes and attractions, but not in such abundance as on Ta Waen. Sunbeds are cheaper. Fewer people.

The beach is mostly sandy, but there are also rocks. Strange fish swim around the rocks and reefs. The beach is good for snorkeling and fishing, but be very careful when entering the water.

Samae Beach

Large crowded beach suitable for swimming. The beach is located in a lagoon, so the water is calm and there are no high waves. Snow-white fine sand and clear sea. Very popular among tourists, you can get here by tuk-tuk from the pier. For sunbeds you will pay from 50 baht. There are cafes and attractions.

Monkey Beach (Nual Beach or Monkey Beach)

You won't necessarily see monkeys here. The monkeys do not live on the beach itself, but come from the jungle from the mountain, which is located at the very end of the beach. They can be fed fruit. Monkeys are very persistent and you may no longer see what they like from your things. Be careful. There are sunbeds, the sea is mostly calm.

But the beach next to the mountain where the monkeys live is not very suitable for swimming due to reefs, urchins and concrete structures in the water, along with a sunken ship. If you want, these places will be suitable for snorkeling.

In addition to the beaches, the island has two observation platforms, a statue of the black Buddha, and in the village there is a Buddhist temple open to tourists. You can travel around the island by taxi or rent a motorbike near the pier.

If you are going to relax somewhere in Southeast Asia, and tourism in general is your hobby, then this article is for you! Often, when looking through information about warm countries, on the Internet you can come across a mention of how, for example, monkeys in Thailand robbed tourists. And that's nothing! After all, primates even manage to bite some exotic lovers. To avoid getting into a similar situation on vacation, let’s learn more about our little brothers...

Cute, human-like, harmful, terrifying - regardless of your opinion about monkeys, you are likely to encounter them when traveling through the countries of Southeast Asia and beyond.

It’s a pleasure to watch the antics of the primates and take stunning photographs of them, so that you can then send them home or make an impressive album upon your return. It will only be possible to do this if these “cuties” did not steal your camera.

Monkeys come in different types and sizes. Among them, the most common species that you are sure to encounter is macaques. In second place are gibbons, with a white mask on the face and a beige-black body.

Also found in large numbers in Southeast Asia are orangutans, langurs, and the proboscis monkey (a Caucasian species in the world of apes).

Where can you find monkeys in Thailand?

In the land of smiles, they live almost everywhere, especially macaques. In the provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi, for example, they even know how to dive, while catching clams, sea crabs and mussels. There is even a special school for macaques on the island of Koh Chang, where they are taught various tricks, including collecting coconuts from palm trees, and then performing daily performances for tourists. On Koh Samui you can also watch monkeys picking coconuts from palm trees on a plantation.

If you are vacationing in Pattaya, then you also have a chance to get to know these “cute” animals better. Indeed, during boat trips, tourists are often taken to the nearby Monkey Island, measuring 24 hectares. There are simply thousands of primates on it, and their main food is offerings from tourists. Therefore, when they see another ship or boat, the monkeys run to the shore in anticipation of guests and treats.

On the island of Phuket, you can get acquainted with these animals by climbing Monkey Hill, located between the village of Ang Sila and Saen Beach. Just don’t forget to buy their favorite treat – bananas – along the way.

No matter how tame and good-natured the monkeys seem to tourists, they still need to be approached with caution, follow some simple recommendations and be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism towards their touching faces.

Rules of conduct if there is a monkey next to you:

Don't smile! If you think that “a smile will make everyone brighter,” then this is not the case. With monkeys, the “smile wide and sincere” tactic doesn’t work. For cute humanoid animals, showing teeth is one of the signs of threat and aggression. Conclusion: you shouldn’t smile at a monkey if you don’t want to fight it off or run away.

Don't engage in tug of war. The main reason why tourists are bitten is simple - they did not let go of what the monkey grabbed. Most often, those who grab the limbs of macaques and other primates encroach on camera belts, backpacks, glasses, water bottles, and the like. Professionals recommend that as soon as a monkey grabs something from you, you should let it go and not pick on it. Ideally, if you act this way, the primate will simply examine the captured object and throw it away. But what condition the item will be in after inspection is not specified. Maybe the backpack is not as necessary as you thought?

Don't offer food! Feeding a monkey, for example, chips, a hamburger or a sausage roll is, in any case, a bad idea. But if you offer a banana to one attractive individual from the order of higher mammals, then relatives of this very individual may appear.

And here there are several options for the development of events:

You have enough bananas to pay off and leave quietly.
You don’t have that many bananas, the monkeys are upset, but have lost interest in you - they won’t hit you or bite you.
You don't have that many bananas, the monkeys are upset, and they are not going to accept your refusal... Signal to attack... I hope you run fast?

Don't show your fear. Monkey clans usually follow a caste system, with a large alpha male at the head, with all the ensuing consequences.

Be careful while filming. If a monkey somehow sees its reflection in the lens of your camera, this may provoke it to attack.

Monkey behavior.

Know! Primates are overly curious, so be interested in what’s in your backpack or purse. Most meetings with relatives of Grandfather Darwin are peaceful, so try not to panic if one of them wants to get to know you or your things better.

Immediately release whatever they grab. Although the best option is to leave no chance for the monkey to grab it! Hide everything that dangles ahead of time, and the belts, first of all.

Monkeys have an ideal sense of smell and will detect even unopened food, so you won’t be surprised if you, and most likely the Snickers in your backpack, make a splash among the “local population.”

In some places, macaques may even jump on your shoulders without permission. Don't panic and don't try to drive it away yourself - the monkey will jump off as soon as it's ready.

In places with a large monkey population, apparently due to high competition, local primates may decide to rummage through your things, bags, backpacks or sacks left unattended.

Watch out! Because once, after swimming to your heart’s content, you can go out to the beach and collect your things for a long, long time. And why all? Monkeys can work with lightning!

Monkey bite.

A monkey bite, no matter how trivial, can very quickly turn into a dangerous precedent.

For example, monkeys are a traditional carrier of rabies, and those that do not have it can be carriers of other equally dangerous infections (measles, tuberculosis, polio, fever, etc.), due to the high level of bacteria in the mouth.

If you are bitten, each victim must be examined by a doctor and you will most likely have to endure a series of painful and expensive rabies vaccinations.

Moreover, in this case, you, in principle, have no choice: rabies has no early symptoms, and the disease can result in death if not treated immediately.

Are you scared? That's how it was intended.

What to do if a monkey behaves aggressively?

If the monkey acts particularly aggressively, you need to stand your ground: wave your arms, or take a stick if you have one. In general, show “who is the real man here.”

If you are forced to retreat (an aggressive monkey has more goods), then move slowly, without haste: running or another manifestation of fear will force them to attack rather than retreat.

What to do if you are nevertheless bitten by a monkey.

The bite should be immediately washed with clean water and treated with iodine or another antiseptic. Preferably within 15 minutes.

Then immediately seek help from a doctor, who will begin treating you with antibiotics and also suggest measures to combat rabies.

These are the simple rules of behavior!

Compliance with all the above rules will allow the monkeys to be remembered by you as the cute little animals “in the photo” and leave a good impression of your vacation!

They are found everywhere - they can be seen especially often on beaches, in parks and in. For Aboriginal people, they are part of everyday life, its background. Some of these human ancestors remained wild. They are cautious and try to stay away from people. But there are representatives of the Banderlog people who are overly kind and fed. This is the merit of tourists who cannot pass by a funny macaque without giving her a handout. Primates are quite unpredictable - in the first minute of close contact they will allow themselves to be stroked, and in any other minute they will find any opportunity to steal something from you.

What kind of monkeys are found in Thailand?

Most likely, the monkey seen in Thailand will be a macaque or a gibbon. These are exactly the beggars who run rackets in crowded tourist areas. The country's jungles are also home to langurs and orangutans. These animals rarely come down to the ground and spend most of their time on the upper tier of tree thickets; they, as a rule, avoid people.

Gibbons

Gibbons in Thailand often serve as pets. Locals call them “lar”; they have a white mask on their face and a beige-black body. The periodic hoots that come from the jungle in the morning are the sounds made by gibbons. They are graceful and beautiful, capable of deftly performing acrobatic stunts and climbing trees. Their popularity is the reason for poaching, which has become so widespread that some gibbons have to be seized and kept in rehabilitation centers so that they can return to their usual habitat.

Macaques

Macaques live everywhere in Thailand. They use the lower tier of woody vegetation for overnight stays and as shelter. They obtain food on the ground, and are especially often found along the banks of rivers and lakes, where they hunt for mollusks and small crustaceans in shallow water. In and Phang Nga they adapted to catch sea crabs and mussels. These animals not only climb well, but also swim and are capable of diving. They carry food supplies in cheek pouches, much like hamsters.

Monkey banquet

Held once a year, on the last Sunday of November. The scene is the Phra Prang Sam Yot temple near the city of Lop Buri, which is one and a half hundred kilometers from. The tradition began in 1988, but the festival is associated with a legendary event - the help of an army of monkeys led by Hanuman to the supreme deity Rama in the battle with the demon Ravana. Townspeople bring sweets, fruits and other delicacies to the 7-meter-long table. In 2011 there were almost 4 tons.

Usually more than five hundred macaques take part in the feast. Their appetite is excellent, but the same cannot be said about their manners. By the end of the event, the table is completely destroyed, and the overfed primates sit on tree branches and throw cores, scraps and soda cans at tourists. In the evening, tourists are invited to the Ramak monkey show, conducted under the direction of experienced trainers.

Monkey College

The local population has adapted to use the energy of monkeys for peaceful purposes. They look for the ripest nuts in the coconut plantations. There are even road signs on this island, literally translated into Russian - "Monkeys work on coconut plantations". Take the time to stop and watch the laborious rush of the dexterous poison dart frogs. They collect from 700 to 1 thousand coconuts per day. A Monkey College has been organized to educate macaques. It is located in the city of Surat Thani. In addition to imparting production skills, they are taught to entertain tourists. There is a similar establishment on. There is also a daily monkey show there.

Monkey Island

is a piece of land with an area of 24 hectares, located south of. They were brought there for the purpose of entertaining tourists, who were originally American Air Force pilots. Having no natural enemies, the colony of primates multiplied to incredible sizes. There are thousands of them there. In the absence of visitors, macaques feed on crabs and mussels. But the main source of food is offerings from tourists. Seeing the boat, the entire herd of monkeys spills onto the shore and waits for it to land. Then the real bacchanalia begins. Animals literally walk over heads and drag everything that is bad and good. The number of stolen cameras, smartphones and small personal items is incalculable.

Monkey Mountain

Monkey Mountain in Thailand is Monkey Hill on the island of Phuket. It is located nearby, approximately halfway between Ang Sila village and Saen Beach. There are extremely many macaques there and they are busy with their usual business - racketeering. At the entrance to the park there is a shop where they sell green bananas. It’s better not to climb the hill without them, you won’t get repulsed. Be extremely careful around monkeys. They might bite. Take care of cameras and other things: macaques have no hesitation in rummaging through purses.

Monkey is dangerous!

Treating a monkey as a cool, harmless little animal cannot be considered correct. She is kind only as long as she is full or accidentally strays from the herd. Then she can even allow herself to be stroked. A friendly group of primates is equivalent to a gang of gopniks in a dark alley, and if they are hungry, then their impudence exceeds all limits. They are capable of stealing from a tourist everything that their playful hands can reach, and in the event of a massive attack, resistance is completely useless. Therefore, in places where monkeys gather, be extremely attentive and careful. If something valuable is stolen from you, then you can return it, but only in the first moment, and not by force, but in exchange for something edible. If the monkey does not find something useful for himself in the stolen item, he will tear it or break it. Don't hug the monkey. She could easily bite. In this case, consult a doctor immediately. The animal may be rabid.

If a monkey bites...

So, what to do if bitten by a monkey in Thailand? Even if you were not bitten, but scratched, be sure to wash the wound with clean water and treat it with iodine or a similar antiseptic. After this, be sure to consult a doctor, since a wild and unvaccinated animal can be a carrier of the same diseases that are dangerous to humans - measles, polio, rabies, tuberculosis and others. In general, the entire list of diseases from the medical encyclopedia.

The simplest security measures

The largest number of monkeys in Thailand hang out on the territory of Buddhist temples. The reason for this is the offerings from visitors to the supreme and other minor deities. And also where they are bred specifically for the amusement of tourists or where travelers fed them themselves. If you intend to visit such places, try to carry nothing with you other than clothes. Handbags, umbrellas, cameras - anything that protrudes beyond the size of a tourist or dangles on him can attract the attention of a primate. If you take a video camera, it is better to let it be an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera. Try to stay away from females with cubs and not offend members of the monkey group, since somewhere nearby there may be a dominant male or female who will definitely take measures to protect them. In case of a collective attack, try to quickly retreat.

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