Monkey Hill Viewpoint

#songkran2024 This is a spectacular and special way to see monkeys. And you will see monkeys, lots and lots of them. In case you’re not enthusiastic about walking to the top of the hill, just know that you will not have to walk far to see monkeys. I walked to the top where the view of the city is nice, but if you’re there just to see monkeys it is not necessary. The locals advised me (belatedly) not to go alone. Know what to do in case the monkeys get pushy and aggressive which they will definitely do if they think you have food: do not smile (they think you’re baring your teeth), do not make direct eye contact, hold your palms up and out up so they can see you have nothing and slowly back away. If you make the mistake of shouting and using threatening gestures, it will be you against a pack of monkeys. You will lose the battle. I know this unfortunately from experience. A local man with a slingshot had to came to my rescue. My recommendation is to not bring or buy monkey food. They tend to ignore you if you do not have food (but not always). There will still be many playful monkeys to watch and photograph. They are wild creatures. They are unpredictable. Please remember that. Any move you make for your backpack will attract motivated monkeys who think you have food for them and they will jump, claw, unzip, and bite to get that food. It is not advised to carry a bag in your hands because monkeys will grab it from you, no matter what is in it. If you do take food, make sure you do not have to spend too much time getting it out of your backpack or unwrapping it. The monkeys will not wait and it will be a frightening experience when they rush at you aggressively. Keep your children close to you. Be careful getting too close to the mother monkeys with babies. There might be an aggressive male watching. Keep these critical things in mind for your safety and enjoy this truly magical walk. There are dogs, like others have mentioned in their reviews. I found them to be docile and uninterested in people.