Monkey Training College ONLY OPEN ON APPOINTMENT /วิทยาลัยฝึกลิง — Attraction in Surat Thani Province

I completely changed my opinion - and therefore my first judgement, where I wrote, that even one star is to much.

That's what happened: I tried to announce my visit by calling there, like they ask you to do on their website, but no one has gone to the phone. Later on that dutchman called back, but I didn't get it, who was calling - and he didn't tell me, but just break up the call. I adjusted the number and called back, but he just hanged up the phone again. So I wrote a real polite mail, did even excuse myself and ask, if I can come the next day in the morning. The answer was: Sorry, no. Because of that behavior I made the worst judgement there is.

The next morning he did call me again because of that judgement and we discussed our behavior quite a while. There were a lot of misunderstanding, he excused for being not nice and offered to me to pass by later on that day. (In the morning there was another group and he didn't know that I have enough time to pass by anytime.) Furthermore he arranged a TukTuk for real less money and when I did arrive, he welcomed me, telling me first, that he did rethink about my bad judgement - and now he thought that it was realy good, because otherwise he wouldn't have called me back and than I would have missed to visit them. From that point and on that level he was real polite and the next 2,5 hours were just great, one of my absolute highlights on a long-term stay in Thailand. (I'm not repeating, how great they teach the monkeys and so on, because other already did that quite good on their reviews.)

Conclusion: I'm nor resentful - everybody can have a bad day and I can accept his explanations and the kind of excuse. The rest were just great, wonderful!!! So if you should have a problem like this, be persistent - otherwise you will miss something unique! (In the end I was realy thinking about giving five stars...)."

Nice greetings to Amphoe Kanchanadit, good luck with...

A Haven for Animal Lovers

From the moment I arrived at the charming retreat in the lush Thai countryside, I knew I was in for a treat. The hosts, a delightful couple with a passion for wildlife, welcomed me with open arms and warm smiles. Their love for animals was evident in every corner of the property, which doubled as a sanctuary for rescued dogs and birds, and a school for monkeys.

The accommodation itself was a traditional Thai architecture, so you can taste the local life. The hut was clean, included basic amenities, comfortable bed and a terrace that offered a  view of the surrounding greenery and the monkey enclosure. The gentle sounds of nature provided a soothing backdrop, making it the perfect place to unwind.

But what truly set this place apart were the hosts. Their knowledge of local flora and fauna was impressive, and they were always eager to share stories about their animal friends. They offered guided walks around the property, where I got to meet the furry residents up close. Additionally, they organize guided tours to the many attractions around their property, like a boat trip over Tapee River, the night market in Surat Thani, or visit to the Khamin Cave.

The food was another highlight. Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients were transformed into delicious meals, served with a side of friendly conversation. It was clear that the hosts put their heart into every dish, just as they did with everything else on the property.

Overall, my stay was an unforgettable experience. It’s not just a holiday accommodation; it’s a home away from home, especially for those who cherish the company of animals. I left feeling refreshed, with a newfound appreciation for nature and the kind souls who dedicate their lives to protecting it. Highly recommended for any traveler looking to connect with nature and enjoy the warm hospitality of...

We had a wonderful day at the Monkey Training College in Surat Thani. Somjai is the most welcoming host. She is very kind, funny and attentive. It was great to see her working with the monkeys and the demonstration was super fun.

For the record: we love excursions with animals but are always avoiding the ones where animals are treated cruel. There was no sign of animal cruelty here what so ever. It was very endearing to see how familiar the monkeys were with Somjai. She was treating them with the utmost respect, also when they were naughty, only using rewards to get them to do things in stead of punishment. The monkeys all seemed very relaxed around Somjai. They knew what was expected of them and didn’t seem to mind their ‘chores’ at all. Just like obedient kids in school, doing what their teacher asks them. There really is no difference in keeping a dog and learning it to obey from what Somjai does with her monkeys.

We stayed for a couple of hours so Somjai had arranged a tasty Pad Thai from a neighboring restaurant. And she had made us Thai spring rolls that were the best. Afterwords she served us different flavors of homemade ice cream, all made with coconut milk. A very nice treat, especially for the kids. All in all a very pleasant day, great for all ages.

Itinerary: We took the night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, had some breakfast along the way, visited the monkeyschool and later in the afternoon we took the boat to Koh Phangan from the Tapee Pier which is only a 20...