Monkey Beach à Phi Phi Island
Northwest of Loh Dalam Bay, Monkey Bay is home to a colony of macaques, who are not shy at all and won't hesitate to climb on your legs in search of a piece of banana.
Several times a day, speedboats stop here and dozens of tourists disembark, forcibly feeding the monkeys fruit before leaving again. The ballet is uninterrupted and the monkeys wait patiently. They're not afraid to wade into the sea to get their hands on the precious treats. The consequence is that the animals can sometimes be aggressive if you don't bring food with you (we have read about this but haven't had any particular problems).
So you can join an organized trip and stop at different places. The big drawbacks are that it's expensive, not environmentally friendly (speedboat) and very fast, so you won't have time to enjoy the macaques and the beauty of the place (because yes, it is beautiful!).
Another alternative: water taxis. The cove is easily reached by Long Tails in a handful of minutes, but the ideal solution is to rent a kayak at Loh Dalam Bay and row to Monkey Beach. It's relatively close. Stay close to the shore and don't forget to buy a waterproof bag if you want to take your picnic or camera with you...
On the beach, keep your kayak on the sand well in advance to prevent it from escaping into the open sea, and remove all your personal belongings: monkeys are curious and thieves! Once they think they're the rightful owners of your belongings, you'll have a hard time getting them back. And these little animals have sharp teeth.
You can then continue your exploration of other deserted coves, hidden from prying eyes by the island's high relief. Be careful not to stray too far. With rocky peaks blocking the horizon, you won't always know how far you've gone.
Beware of the tides as well. Periodically, the sea recedes completely from Loh Dalam Bay. You'll be forced to carry your kayak to the beach... and that can be a long, long way.
Where?
In a bay to the northwest of Loh Dalam Bay. The bay can be reached on foot in the Long Tail, but the best way to get there is to rent a kayak at Loh Dalam.
Duration?
By kayak, allow at least 2 hours. It takes half an hour to paddle from Loh Dalam to Monkey Beach.
How much does it cost?
Access to the beach is free. Expect to pay a few hundred baht for the kayak.