Monkey Beach
Monkey Beach is a small bay tucked into the eastern side of Phi Phi Don, sheltered by low rock outcrops and fringed by a short stretch of powdery white sand edged with jungle. It looks like dozens of other beautiful bays in the Phi Phi Islands — until you notice the movement along the rocks. A troop of wild long-tailed macaques live here, foraging along the shoreline, watching the passing boats, and carrying on their daily routines with almost complete indifference to human observers.
As part of a Phi Phi Islands boat tour from Phuket, Monkey Beach is a natural and memorable stop — a chance to observe wild animals in their genuine habitat, with no fencing, no stage management, and no feeding involved. For guests interested in the Wildlife and Animals experiences on offer through Simba Sea Trips, it sits comfortably alongside snorkeling and sunrise viewing as one of the more distinctive moments of the day.
Tours that visit here
Join-In TourPhi Phi Islands Sunrise Tour
The Best Phi Phi Island Tour From Phuket
Escape the crowds and experience the stunning beauty of the Phi Phi Islands in ultimate comfort. This exclusive Phi Phi Island tour from Phuket by Simba Sea Trips is designed for travelers who want to explore these world-famous islands before the masses arrive. Glide across the turquoise waters on a premium speedboat and witness the breathtaking landscapes of Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave and more.
Join-In TourPhi Phi Island Shark Spotting Sunset Tour
The Phi Phi Sunset Shark Tour
Escape the crowds and experience the stunning beauty of Phuket in ultimate comfort on the Phi Phi Sunset Shark Tour. This exclusive Phi Phi Island tour by Simba Sea Trips is designed for travelers who want to explore these world-famous islands before the masses arrive. Glide across the turquoise waters on a premium speedboat and witness the breathtaking landscapes of Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave and more.
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Why Visit Monkey Beach?
Wildlife encounters at sea are rarely guaranteed, but Monkey Beach is one of those reliably rewarding stops where the chances of seeing the resident macaques are high. The troop is well established, and the beach and rocks form part of their regular foraging territory. They are active in the mornings — which aligns well with the early timing of a Simba sunrise tour — and their behaviour at the water’s edge is natural and unscripted.
The setting itself is beautiful independent of the wildlife. The bay is sheltered and calm, the sand is clean, and the surrounding trees and rocks give it a character that feels different from the more open beaches elsewhere in the Phi Phi group. The combination of scenery and wildlife makes Monkey Beach one of the more photographed stops on the tour, and rightly so.
Simba’s approach to Monkey Beach is guided by a clear principle: the monkeys are wild animals and their home is the island. Guests observe from the boat, hear the guide explain the macaques’ behaviour and the importance of not approaching or feeding them, and enjoy the encounter on the animals’ terms. This is responsible wildlife viewing in a straightforward sense — and it tends to make the experience feel more genuine than if the interaction were engineered.
What to Expect at Monkey Beach
Observing the Macaques
Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are the species found on Monkey Beach. They are a medium-sized primate, with grey-brown fur and the long tails that give them their name. They are highly social animals and typically move in troops of varying sizes, with a clear hierarchy. At Monkey Beach, they are commonly seen foraging in the tidal zone — turning over rocks, picking at crabs and shellfish, and occasionally swimming between the rocks and the shallower water.
Your guide will point out individuals and explain aspects of their behaviour — feeding patterns, social dynamics, and the history of the troop’s presence on the island. These are genuinely interesting animals to watch, and the briefing from the crew adds context that makes the stop more than a simple photograph opportunity.
The Bay Itself
Even when the macaques are not immediately visible, Monkey Beach is a beautiful spot. The shallow, clear water in the bay makes it a naturally attractive place to slow down for a few minutes. The surrounding rock formations and tree line create a sense of enclosure that feels different from the more open stretches of Phi Phi Don, and the views across the water from this angle of the island are worth taking in quietly.
Wildlife Viewing and Responsible Tourism
A few simple principles apply at Monkey Beach, and Simba’s crew briefs all guests before arrival:
- Do not feed the monkeys. Feeding disrupts their natural foraging behaviour, encourages dependency on humans, and can cause health issues for the animals.
- Do not approach the monkeys or attempt to touch them. Wild macaques can bite if they feel threatened, and interaction with humans can stress the troop.
- Observe from the boat. In most cases, the encounter at Monkey Beach is enjoyed from the water, with the macaques moving freely along the shoreline. This distance is comfortable for both guests and animals.
- No loud noises or sudden movements near the shore. Keeping calm helps the macaques behave naturally rather than retreating into the tree line.
These guidelines are not restrictions designed to reduce enjoyment — they are what makes the experience worthwhile. A wild troop of macaques going about their morning routine at the water’s edge is genuinely interesting to watch precisely because it is natural. Simba’s crew approach this stop the same way across every tour, regardless of how many guests are on board.
Monkey Beach also connects with the broader Wildlife and Animals experience category on Simba’s site, which covers everything from blacktip reef shark encounters at Maya Bay to the bird life visible from the boat during the crossing.
How We Visit Monkey Beach on Our Phi Phi Islands Tour
Monkey Beach features as a point of interest on our Phi Phi sunrise tour and can be included as a dedicated stop on private Phi Phi Islands charters. On a join-in tour, the boat typically slows or pauses near the beach during the route around Phi Phi Don, giving guests time to watch the macaques, hear the guide’s briefing, and take photographs before continuing to the next stop.
On a private Phi Phi Islands charter, the time at Monkey Beach can be extended if your group wants a longer wildlife viewing session, or it can be combined with a nearby snorkeling stop depending on the day’s conditions. The flexibility of a private tour allows the itinerary to be shaped around what your group values most, and for wildlife-focused travellers, this stop can become a highlight of the day rather than a passing moment.
Both tour formats maintain Simba’s standard of small group sizes (around 14 to 16 guests on join-in tours), attentive crew, and a thoughtful approach to the places visited — which at Monkey Beach means taking the wildlife encounter seriously rather than treating it as a backdrop for quick photographs.
Best Time to Visit Monkey Beach
The macaques are typically most active in the morning and early afternoon, which aligns well with the timing of Simba's sunrise tour. The troop tends to be visible at or near the shoreline during the cooler hours, and activity generally increases before the heat of the afternoon. Monkey Beach can be visited year-round. The bay is relatively sheltered and accessible even in low-season conditions, though rough weather can occasionally make the stop impractical. Simba adjusts the itinerary as conditions require, and on most days the stop is straightforward.
What Our Customers Say
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4.9 based on 4290 reviews
The best day
We really enjoyed our day visiting the Phi Phi islands, Dee was brilliant and all the crew on Simba 8 as well as the staff at the SOHO club! It was very special to see the sunrise and all of the activities were amazing and well planned. Everything ran smoothly and the fresh fruit and drinks provided were a nice touch. The experience felt very exclusive and never rushed!
Fantastic day - stops - beat crowds
Amazing day. All stops were fantastic. Definitely worth beating the crowds. Lunch excellent. Super speed boat (not luxury). Great guide Harry.
BEST EARLY MORNING TOUR PHANG NGA BAY
Extremely well organised, great communication regarding pick up time. Harry our guide was the AWESOME
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