Viewpoints · Behind Phuket Town
Monkey Hill (Khao Toh Sae)
A hill behind Phuket Town where hundreds of wild macaques live along the road up. Feeding them is forbidden, and the view at the top is only partial, according to one guide.
Access
On foot from the road
Time to allow
A long walk uphill on a road
Best time
Morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler
Why go
For a walk up a hill on the edge of town, with wild macaques around you. Go for the walk; one guide finds the view at the top disappointing, with only glimpses through the trees.
What you will find
The local press counted more than 800 macaques on Khao Toh Sae in 2024. A small Chinese shrine, Poh Tae Toh Sae, stands on the way up, according to one guide.
Since February 2024, bringing food for the monkeys has been forbidden, and the authorities set out to clear the vendors who sold it. In January 2026, signs on the hill still told visitors not to feed or approach the monkeys.
Getting there
According to one 2026 guide, the access road starts opposite the provincial hall in Phuket Town, motorbikes are no longer allowed on it, and the walk to the top is about 1.7 km after you park. It is not steep, but it is long.
Before you go
Do not feed the monkeys and do not approach them: feeding makes them more aggressive, and bites happen. Keep bags closed and pockets empty, leave nothing hanging from a pushchair, and keep away from mothers with babies.
If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a doctor without delay: monkeys can carry rabies.
Not for you with young children you cannot keep close, or with food you cannot keep out of sight.
Where this place leads
Common questions
Can you feed the monkeys on Monkey Hill?
No. Bringing food for the monkeys has been forbidden since February 2024, and signs on the hill tell visitors not to feed or approach them.
Can you ride a scooter up Monkey Hill?
No, according to one 2026 guide: motorbikes are no longer allowed on the road. You park and walk about 1.7 km to the top.
What should I do if a monkey bites me?
Wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a doctor without delay, because of the risk of infection and rabies.