{"id":12660,"date":"2024-03-24T23:59:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T10:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edwinov.com\/edwininnz\/?p=12660"},"modified":"2026-04-06T11:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T23:05:59","slug":"thailand-day-24-four-islands-and-monkey-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edwinov.com\/edwininnz\/2024\/03\/thailand-day-24-four-islands-and-monkey-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Thailand Day 24 – Four Islands And Monkey Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For today I booked the Four<\/a> Islands<\/a> Tour, I’m getting picked up at Ao Nang beach<\/p><\/div>\n

And then taken to Nang An Pier<\/p><\/div>\n

Where we board this speedboat<\/p><\/div>\n

It’s not very diverse, I’m the only white dude on the boat<\/p><\/div>\n

The speedboat is really fast, I deliberately chose the speedboat for this trip as I want to spend most my time on the islands, not the boat<\/p><\/div>\n

Though these boats can be quite fast as well<\/p><\/div>\n

No OSH issues for Thai<\/p><\/div>\n

The first of four islands that we stop at<\/p><\/div>\n

Which turns out not to be an island at all, it’s simply East Railay Bay Beach<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

But hey, there are monkeys<\/p><\/div>\n

Friendly looking monkeys<\/p><\/div>\n

Like this one<\/p><\/div>\n

That’s carrying her baby<\/p><\/div>\n

We walk south towards Princess Cave<\/p><\/div>\n

Interesting rocks here<\/p><\/div>\n

Now we get to Phra Nang<\/a> Beach<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

I’m surprised to find a tent here, can you camp here?<\/p><\/div>\n

Rock climbers<\/p><\/div>\n

Princess Cave, a shrine to penises! You don’t see them here anymore (don’t know why?) but they definitely used to be here<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Ko Rang Beach and Ko Rang Nok<\/p><\/div>\n

Me<\/p><\/div>\n

It’s high tide, we have to wade through the water to get to the other side of the beach, there’s some Bat Cave there but we are not allowed enough time to visit there, I’m already on my way back and just made it back in time to the boat<\/p><\/div>\n

Then we go to ‘Chicken<\/a> Island<\/a>‘, it’s called that way because this rock in the photo looks so incredibly much like a chicken… We don’t stop here, it’s just to have a look<\/p><\/div>\n

Then it’s off to Ko Thap<\/a> (this is looking to my left)<\/p><\/div>\n

Otherwise known as Tup<\/a> (looking to my right), two tiny islands (but they are considered to be one island) with a land bridge between them when the tide is low, if the tide is really low you can even walk to Chicken Island from here<\/p><\/div>\n

These boats do look great, don’t they?<\/p><\/div>\n

Lovely warm water<\/p><\/div>\n

Tide has gone out even more now, the land bridge is dry<\/p><\/div>\n

There is a little area here where we can swim (where the boats aren’t allowed to come)<\/p><\/div>\n

And after a short visit it’s off to the next island<\/p><\/div>\n

Koh<\/a> Poda<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Where I enjoy a small lunch on my fantastic Dahab<\/a> towel, I actually had a second lunch, they had some spares<\/p><\/div>\n

The big rock is Ko Ma Tang Ming<\/p><\/div>\n

The island is rather big and everyone seems to come here to have their lunch<\/p><\/div>\n

We spend a few hours here<\/p><\/div>\n

Lots of fishies in the water<\/p><\/div>\n

And reminders of the devastating tsunami<\/a> of 2004<\/p><\/div>\n

Choices, choices<\/p><\/div>\n

The local pub<\/p><\/div>\n

And we’re back at Nang An Pier, what to do next?<\/p><\/div>\n

I opt for the local Monkey<\/a> Trail<\/a>, which leads me past fancy hotels<\/p><\/div>\n

To the start of the trail where this monkey is enjoying some peanuts, good choice!<\/p><\/div>\n

And this one trying to bite through a coconut, good luck with that!<\/p><\/div>\n

Awww<\/p><\/div>\n

They are so used to humans they are just sitting on the steps we walk on<\/p><\/div>\n

They’re all around us, I wonder what the white stuff is, is it plastic? Or some fabric? How did it get there? Did the cheeky monkeys ‘find’ it somewhere?<\/p><\/div>\n

Social grooming<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

On the other side of track is another beach<\/p><\/div>\n

You can’t even come here by car so these are fancy luxury hotels\/resorts here<\/p><\/div>\n

There’s a long pier made of floating plastic blocks<\/p><\/div>\n

Some hotel guests were being dropped off<\/p><\/div>\n

I wouldn’t like be on here when the sea is rough<\/p><\/div>\n

More of these sand balls the crabs here make, this one is trying to fool us by making the pattern look like crop circles!<\/p><\/div>\n

There’s even a wedding here. Hello!<\/p><\/div>\n

I think I was ruining their view as I was asked to move on<\/p><\/div>\n

Are we going to get another great sunset tonight?<\/p><\/div>\n

Before the sun sets I first need to walk the trail again, back to Ao Nang beach. The monkeys are getting ready to watch the sunset as well<\/p><\/div>\n

And soaking up some sunlight<\/p><\/div>\n

Awww, a baby monkey<\/p><\/div>\n

Shared use of the steps and railings<\/p><\/div>\n

Serious monkey<\/p><\/div>\n

Playful monkey<\/p><\/div>\n

Descending on to Ao Nang beach again<\/p><\/div>\n

I like the silhouettes<\/p><\/div>\n

For how many thousands of years will people have gathered on this very beach to watch the sunset?<\/p><\/div>\n

Sunsets have something magical, like watching a (camp) fire, you just have to look<\/p><\/div>\n

The local mosque<\/p><\/div>\n

Lots of stalls here, just like in Khao Lak, with affordable food, I like!<\/p><\/div>\n

And smoothies!<\/p><\/div>\n

Once they saw my camera they were like ‘Strike a pose there’s nothing to it’<\/p><\/div>\n

No thanks. I’ve had enough for today, I get on my scooter and drive back to my hotel (that’s way outside of Ao Nang)<\/p><\/div>\n