Khao Chong Krajok: Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Monkey Mountain

While Khao Chong Krajok is actually a fairly small hill, you might be forgiven for seeing it as a mountain given the way it dominates the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan. From almost anywhere in town, you can spot the brilliant white temple buildings atop the hill (making it a fantastic landmark for navigating!). Read on to learn about climbing the hill, etiquette since it’s a temple, what to expect from the pack of monkeys on the way up, and more!

Khao Chong Krajok: The Basics

This temple-topped hill is located immediately north of the main downtown part of Prachuap Khiri Khan town. (But locating it shouldn’t be a problem; you really can’t miss it!)

At the top, beyond the 396 stairs, you’ll find a golden chedi that houses sacred Buddhist relics. Several beautiful red-roofed white structures offer incredible views in every direction, from the bays to the mountains in neighboring Myanmar to the large nearby temple Wat Thammikaram Worawihan.

When to climb Khao Chong Krajok:

Sunrise! We recommend looking up the sunrise time, and getting to the base of the hill about 15-20 minutes before that. The dawn light will allow you to see the stairs, but you’ll still have time to make it to the top before the full beauty of sunrise. This is the ideal time to head up because it’s quiet, private, and relatively cool.

If you can’t make it at sunrise, the next best time is in the early evening just before sunset. It’ll be hotter than it was at dawn, but significantly less miserable than mid-afternoon. Just be sure you’re heading down while there’s still some light, as the stairs aren’t lit and can be a minor challenge in the dark.

Watching the sunrise at the top of the mountain is the best way to start the day.

What to bring:

Nothing that could be mistaken for food (read about the monkeys below!). But definitely bring your camera and wear plenty of sunscreen. If your camera has an interchangeable lens, we recommend bringing both your favorite portrait lens for shots of monkeys along the way, as well as your favorite landscape lens to capture the beautiful views from the top.

If you’re feeling generous, also bring some Thai currency to donate to the temple at the top. Donations definitely aren’t required, and any amount is appreciated.

Climbing Khao Chong Krajok

There are two sets of stairs that head up Khao Chong Krajok: a bright yellow, well-marked set and a nondescript grey cement set tucked away in some bushes. If you hadn’t guessed, the yellow set is the one you should take! The base of these stairs is located on Sao Noi Road, right across the street from the beautiful temple Wat Thammikaram Worawihan.

There are “only” 396 stairs to the top, but somehow it feels like a lot more, especially in the blazing heat! You can expect to spend about 10 minutes walking up, give or take depending on your fitness level and whether you need to stop and catch your breath on the way up.

Luckily for those of us who do need to take a quick break, there are several beautiful rest areas with benches on the way up. A couple of these are covered to offer shelter from the sun, while a couple others are fully open and provide stunning views of the area.

Welcome sign at the top of Khao Chong Krajok.

The Monkeys of Khao Chong Krajok

On the way up Khao Chong Krajok, you’ll encounter a pack of very greedy and assertive macaque monkeys. As a result, it’s important to take some simple precautions before heading up! Leave any food behind (hiding it in a backpack isn’t good enough; they’ll smell it). Put away any bags that even look like they might contain food (for example, if you keep your camera in a plastic bag to protect it from the elements, put it away in your backpack). If you’re still nervous, bring a stick. You probably won’t need to actually hit the monkeys, but waving it at them will help shoo them away.

Khao Chong Krajok is home to hundreds of macaques.

We also have an entire guide on how to deal with macaques specifically, including several tips and tricks for getting them to leave you alone. At this point, using the techniques we describe, we’re able to walk up the hill without any incidents at all, and don’t even bother carrying sticks anymore because we never need them. Check out the article at this link to learn all about how to avoid triggering macaques!

Close-up of one of the monkeys you can expect to see on your way up.

Khao Chong Krajok Dress Code & Etiquette

Prachuap Khiri Khan is a beach town, yes, but Khao Chong Krajok is a temple hill. This means dressing respectfully is deeply appreciated. You (probably) won’t be turned away for dressing inappropriately, as you might at some more famous temples, but that doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate to dress in beachy clothes.

At a minimum, your shoulders and knees should be covered. Ideally, ankles should be covered as well. Looser clothing is more appropriate; this is a great excuse to buy and wear some loose flowy Thai pants!

If you go inside the temple building at the top, take off your shoes and socks and step over (not onto) the threshold. If you sit down inside, your feet should be pointing away from the Buddha statue.