The Monkey Trail is a narrow path of steps and trails through the jungle along the coast, stretching from the end of Ao Nang Beach to the secluded Pai Plong Beach. Monkeys are sometimes encountered, but this is not common. The easiest way to reach the starting point of the Monkey Trail is to walk to the end of Ao Nang Beach (not towards Nopparathara Beach). There you will see a stone bridge and, a few meters further on, a wooden boardwalk with a sign indicating that you are in a national park, that feeding the monkeys, bringing in food and drinks, and smoking are prohibited. The trail climbs quickly, first via steps, then steeply and via more steps, before descending to Pai Plong Beach, a secluded beach accessible only via this trail or from the sea. Upon arrival at the beach, a ranger will ask you to enter your name and arrival time in the register (you must also enter your departure time). It is less crowded here than at Ao Nang Beach. The Centara Grand Beach Club resort is also located there, and its employees use the Monkey Trail to get to and from work. I was there between 7 and 8 a.m. and saw no tourists, but plenty of Centara staff. You can rent kayaks at the hotel and explore the area by paddling. Many find this beach more beautiful than the one in Ao Nang. And the path there isn't particularly difficult. At a normal pace, it took me about 15 to 20 minutes to get from Ao Nang to Pai Plong beach. The Monkey Trail is 700 meters long.

Entry is free. There are no fixed opening hours, but it is not recommended to walk the Ao Nang Monkey Trail at night. Apparently, the monkeys are not present in the early morning, and during the rainy season (June to the end of October) they are rarely seen.

The Ao Nang Monkey Trail is easily accessible on foot from Ao Nang Beach. However, don't follow the route suggested by Google Maps; instead, walk along the beach – it's faster and more pleasant.

How to get there

How do I get to the Ao Nang Monkey Trail? The Ao Nang Monkey Trail is easily accessible on foot from Ao Nang Beach. However, don't follow the route suggested by Google Maps; instead, walk along the beach – it's faster and more pleasant.