Once a cozy and stunning spot on Phi Phi Don, Monkey Beach has now turned into a mass tourist playground. You know how any idyllic beach can be ruined when 30 boats full of loud tourists are unloaded onto the shore.
The azure sea gets blocked by boat hulls, the horizon is cluttered with catamarans and yachts, and the beach becomes crowded with colorful sarongs and swimsuits. That’s when you realize your trip to this paradise has turned into a chaotic mess.
Maya Bay suffers from the same problem—too many people. So, the best thing you can do is visit Monkey Beach either before or after the midday tourist rush.
Beach Overview
Monkey Beach is a wild, secluded spot known for its wild monkeys. The beach faces north and stretches nearly 300 meters (984 feet) in length, with a sandy strip that ranges from disappearing entirely at high tide to about 30 meters (98 feet) wide at low tide.
Surrounded by steep, rocky cliffs, the beach is only accessible by sea. It’s located about a kilometer (0.6 miles) from Loh Dalum, so many visitors rent kayaks and paddle over in about 15–20 minutes.
For those less inclined to paddle, there’s the option of a taxi boat, but be prepared to negotiate the price and the length of your stay. On average, it costs about 400 baht for two hours. The trip is well worth it—the sand is incredibly fine and light, turning almost white when it dries in the sun.
Swimming
The shoreline at Monkey Beach gently slopes into the sea, with shallow water extending about 100 meters (328 feet) out. The first 30 meters (98 feet) are smooth, clean sand—walking on it feels almost luxurious. Beyond that point, you’ll come across rocks and bits of reef, which become more visible at low tide.
This beach is excellent for swimming. During high tide, you can wade chest-deep into the water without stepping on a single rock. Waves are typically mild, depending on the wind, and on calm days, the water is crystal clear, offering those picture-perfect tropical views—as long as you avoid peak excursion times.
Sunbeds and Shade
This is a completely wild beach on a remote part of Phi Phi Don, so don’t expect any amenities—there are no umbrellas, sunbeds, or bars. The only “staff” here are the local macaques.
Bring your own beach mats and enjoy the dense vegetation that offers plenty of natural shade throughout the day, thanks to the beach’s geographic location.
From what I’ve observed, tourists visiting on day trips don’t stay long, while independent kayakers seem perfectly happy lounging on the sand—if the monkeys let them, of course.
Beach Photos
Amenities
The infrastructure at Monkey Beach mainly consists of warning signs. These signs remind you not to feed the monkeys and to be cautious—they are wild animals and can bite. The monkeys are the only real “attraction” here, and while they can be amusing, they can also injure tourists.
Parents with children should be especially careful. Kids don’t realize that showing their teeth to macaques (a sign of aggression) or trying to pet them, or taking back what the monkeys grab, can lead to trouble. Monkey bites are a regular occurrence, and getting rabies shots is no fun!
Accommodation
There are no rental houses or hotels at Monkey Beach. It’s physically impossible to build even a small hut here, as the narrow strip of sand ends in piles of rock that have tumbled down from the steep cliffs surrounding the cove.
The only residents of these rocks and trees are the local monkeys. During high tide, nearly the entire beach is submerged, so there’s no way to set up even temporary shelters.
It’s truly a wild spot—especially between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., when there are no tourists. Interestingly, the monkeys often stay hidden until they hear the noise of incoming boats—they’ve learned that food arrives with the loud boats.
Below, you’ll find a link to a general list of hotels on Phi Phi Don. You can use the map icon to find accommodation options near Monkey Beach.
How to Find the Beach
Start by checking its location on Google Maps and saving it on your phone. But I doubt seasoned travelers need advice on using maps. If you’re going as part of a tour, just tell the tour operator or boat driver two words: “Monkey Beach.”
Then, ask “how much?” and start bargaining—but don’t go overboard. 350–400 baht is a reasonable price for two or three hours of a boatman’s time to take you to Monkey Beach, wait for you, and bring you back to the Phi Phi Don isthmus.
Google Reviews
