Visiting and experiencing the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali is one of the top things to do in Ubud. The sanctuary is an old rainforest filled with stunning temples, ancient trees and hundreds of monkeys roaming freely.
So what exactly is the monkey forest, where is it, how much does it cost, etc? Here is the complete guide to visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali.
What Is The Ubud Monkey Forest?
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (or Ubud Monkey Forest) is a nature reserve and Hindu temple complex in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. It’s one of the top attractions in Bali.
The conservation of the sanctuary is based on a ancient Hindu philosophy: Tri Hita Karana meaning “Three ways to reach spiritual and physical well-being”.
These principles demonstrate that people can live in harmony with their environment and the nature around them.
The area enclosed by the temple walls and the forest area around it is considered sacred and has an important spiritual significance for the local people.
The Forest
The sanctuary forest is huge. It takes around 1.5 to 2h to wander around the Monkey Forest as it covers an area about 30.8 acres and is home to around 115 separate species of trees.
It’s also an important spot for research and conservation programs for the animals, and rare plants that live within the sanctuary.
It’s a good place for a walk to take a break from the hot Balinese sun as the forest canopy provides shade and cooler temperatures.
The Monkeys
There are about 900 Balinese long-tailed monkeys living in this area, split in 7 groups that live together.
They rest at night and are most active during the day. As they roam freely in the reserve, the are in constant contact with humans visiting during the opening hours.
You can observe their daily activities – mating, fighting, grooming, and caring for their young – at close range, and can even sit next to monkeys along the park’s paths.
The Temples
There are three temples in the area of Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.
If you ever watched Jungle Book, you will think that you are actually in the movie. The monkeys are jumping around the temples that are surrounded by hanging trees and roots.
Be careful though, you can’t enter those temples as they sacred and reserved for the prayer community only.
Where Is The Monkey Forest?
The Ubud Monkey Forest is located in the town of Ubud on the island of Bali in Indonesia.
- Address: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80571, Indonesia
How To Get To Ubud Monkey Forest?
There are many different ways to get to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary:
Free options:
- Walk: The forest is just a short 15min walk from the center of Ubud
- Shuttle: Drives back and forth from Ubud center every 15 mins
Paid options:
- Motorbike: Rent a motorbike and park in the parking area of the sanctuary for a small fee
- Taxi: Hire a taxi driver for the day or book a ‘Grab’ taxi which is the same as Uber
Entrance Fee & Opening Times
When Is The Sacred Monkey Forest Open?
The Ubud Monkey Forest is open daily from 9:00 AM till 6:00 PM. Tickets are only available for sale until 5:00 PM, as that is the last entrance.
How Much Does It Cost To Go To Ubud Monkey Forest?
As of April 2023, the entrance fees for the Ubud Monkey Forest are:
| WEEK DAY | WEEK-END | |
| ADULT | IDR 80.000 (~5,50 USD) | IDR 100.000 (~6,80 USD) |
| CHILD | IDR 60.000 (~4,10 USD) | IDR 80.000 (~5,50 USD) |
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the Ubud Monkey Forest is in the morning when temperatures are cooler and the park is peaceful and quiet. But for the best photos, head to the forest around 5:00 PM when the light shimmers through the trees.
Read here about the best time to visit Bali, Indonesia.
Is Ubud Monkey Forest Safe?
The monkeys are friendly and not scared of humans but keep in mind they still are wild animals and unpredictable.
The truth is, they associate visitors with food so they will come really close and sometimes even jump on you to find out if you carry interesting things. If ever it happens to you, don’t panic. Stay calm and slowly walk away.
Also don’t be scared of being bitten. Monkey aren’t aggressive by nature, they will only defend themselves if they fell threatened. The number one rule is not to look them in the eye as they can see this as a form of aggression.
Safety Guidelines
Ubud Monkey Forest provides a list of some important things you should know while you are visiting the monkeys in the reserve:
- Do NOT panic – if monkeys jump on you, just drop the food and walk away slowly. They will jump off quickly.
- Do NOT run – avoid shouting, and scream when monkeys approach you. Just keep calm.
- Do NOT look the monkeys in the eye – monkeys can interpret this as a sign of aggression.
- Do NOT hide any food – the monkeys will smell that you have food and will try to find it. Do NOT try to pull it back either.
- Do NOT bring any kind of plastic or paper bag – the monkeys will want to play with them. The Ubud Monkey Forest also tries to prevent litter and damage to nature.
- Take care of your valuable belongings – remove your jewelry, sunglasses and hats as monkeys will try to steal them.
- Do NOT touch or disturb the monkeys – it can frighten the monkeys and cause aggressive behaviors. Be really careful around mothers as they will try to protect their babies.
- Take care of your children – they must be supervised at all time. Take the time to explain the Ubud Monkey Forest rules and help them understand how to behave with the monkeys.
You can find these guidelines at the entrance of the sanctuary.
Do The Monkeys In The Monkey Forest Have Rabies?
Short answer — NO, the Bali monkeys do not have rabies.
The sanctuary vets are in cooperation with Primate Research Center of Udayana University to monitor monkey health. From 14 years research, they never found any case of rabies in any monkey in Bali.
If ever you were bitten by a monkey, just seek help at the on-site first aid center, where a qualified nurse will help you.
