Discover one of the most popular attractions: the Monkey Forest Bali, a must-see destination in Ubud! Dive into a natural paradise sacred to Balinese culture, complete with beautiful temples, rivers and ancient trees, populated (densely populated) by curious monkeys. It is undoubtedly a unique experience, where you can spot more than 1,000 monkeys on the loose. Read our complete guide to exploring Monkey Forest Bali, your start for an unforgettable experience! to an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Ubud.
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The story of the Monkey Forest in Bali, Ubud.
A stone's throw from the centre of Ubud is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, home to more than a thousand mischievous monkeys that absolutely rule here! Although Bali has several forests where you can see the grey macaques, the Monkey Forest is the most famous. So it is not for nothing that it is one of Bali's most popular attractions.
The Monkey Forest in Bali has been established and preserved according to the ancient Hindu concept of Tri Hita Karana. This philosophical principle, derived from Hinduism, aims for people to live in harmony with their environment and the nature around them. The Monkey Forest, which serves as an essential sanctuary for more than 1,000 monkeys, not only contributes to animal conservation but also has profound spiritual significance for local people.
It is also a ‘living laboratory’ for educational institutions. Several important conservation and research programmes are conducted for the animals, forests and rare plants living within the sanctuary.
What can you expect from the Monkey Forest Bali?
You can easily walk around for 2 hours and you won't be bored for a minute. Because with an area of 30.8 hectares and more than a thousand monkeys, there is always something to see!
Discover the different types of monkeys
More than a thousand Balinese long-tailed monkeys live in Bali's Monkey Forest, split into several groups. They live freely here, so you won't encounter any barriers or fences. So they are also free to leave the forest. This is why you also encounter them outside the Monkey Forest. However, most monkeys stay in the park because they are fed 9 times a day by the staff.
The monkeys are most active during the day and, as they are not shy of humans, they come close! So keep in mind to keep your bag tightly closed, avoid wearing loose accessories and stashing away food, as the cheeky monkeys may try to search your pockets or make off with your bag.
Note: Sometimes we see online that people describe the monkeys as tame. However, this is not the case! The monkeys stay calm because they are fed, but if they don't get what they want, they can show their teeth. They are and remain wild animals and can therefore be dangerous too! Keep this in mind when you visit the Monkey Forest in Bali.
Staying close to the monkey forest? Find all hotel options in Ubud here!
Why you can no longer feed monkeys
The monkeys are fed 9 times a day by the shelter staff. They get a mix of food such as sweet potato, banana, coconut and papaya leaf. Tourists used to be able to feed bananas to the monkeys. However, this has now been stopped. This measure was taken to protect both the monkeys and visitors in the park.
The protected forest: a magical green oasis
The Ubud Monkey Forest is huge! As we mentioned just now, it has an area of about 30.8 hectares which means you can wander around for at least 2 hours. Besides, it is ideal for escaping the hot Balinese sun for a while. The thick canopy makes it a bit cooler here and you walk in the shade all the time.
The forest is an important part of Balinese heritage as well as everyday life. So it is not only a tourist attraction but also an important part of the spiritual and economic life of the people. In addition, it is an important place for researchers. It is therefore important for us guests (tourists) not to stray from the walkways.
Here are all the hotel options in Ubud
Discover the temples of Monkey Forest
Within the Monkey Forest are three Hindu temples dating back to the 14th century. These temples testify to the pursuit of harmony between man and nature within Hinduism, where plants and animals have religious significance. To the southwest is the temple Pura Dalem Agung, to the northwest is Pura Beiji and to the northeast is Pura Prajapati. The temples are used to worship gods and are sacred to locals. You cannot enter these temples as a guest.
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Transport to Monkey Forest Bali, Ubud
We recommend taking a scooter to the Monkey forest. It is by far the easiest way to get yourself around the island. Should you prefer not to drive yourself, you can choose from the following options:
- Taxi: If you are not staying in Ubud, opt for a taxi. You have several options but a Grab taxi is our absolute favourite. Prefer not to book through the app? Then ask if your hotel or hostel can arrange a taxi for you.
- Shuttle bus: A shuttle bus runs all day from the centre to the entrance of the Monkey forest. A ride takes about 15 minutes.
- Walking: The nature reserve is about a 15-minute walk from the centre of Ubud. As the traffic is very ‘chaotic’, we think this is a better option than the shuttle bus.
- Scooter: As indicated above. The scooter is by far the easiest way to get to the park. Keep in mind that you pay a small fee to park your scooter at the park.
In addition, it is also possible to have a day tour to book. Several tours are available on the site of Getyouguide.co.uk. Super convenient! Then you don't have to worry about anything. Get in and go!
This is the exact location Of the Monkey Forest Bali in Ubud.
Entrance fees and opening hours of Monkey Forest Bali, Ubud
The Monkey Forest Bali in Ubud is open every day from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.. You can buy tickets at the ticket office for the park until 16:00.
Weekday ticket prices:
The ticket price for adults is IDR 80,000 (€4.75)
A ticket for children IDR 60,000 (€3.50)
Ticket prices on weekends:
The ticket price for adults is IDR 100,000 (€5.87)
A ticket for children IDR 80,000 (€4.75)
Tip: Want more information? Then check out the official website.
Is the Monkey Forest in Ubud safe?
Completely safe we can't say. Despite being a very cool experience, we always advise people to be careful. Indeed, some monkeys are very cheeky and unpredictable.
During our visit, there was a monkey who wanted to take a look inside our bag. No problem you might think... but he got frustrated because the zip wouldn't open. When we calmly pulled our bag away, he got very angry, showed his teeth and started blowing.
You can't blame them, but you have to be careful. The monkeys associate tourists with food and thus like to come and have a look at you. However, many monkeys are very quiet and only come and sit beside or near you for a while. So don't be alarmed if a monkey jumps on you. It is important that you stay calm and calmly walk away or stand up.
You need not be afraid of being bitten if you follow safety guidelines. Monkeys are not naturally aggressive and they will only defend themselves if they are threatened (or don't get their way). The rule of thumb is not to look the monkeys in the eye or show your teeth, as monkeys may see this as a form of aggression.
Ubud Monkey Forest Bali safety guidelines
We are guests at the Monkey Forest, so we are asked to respect the following guidelines. You will find these guidelines at the entrance and on the official website. Here they are in brief:
- Do not touch the monkeys: It sounds logical yet many people do this. The monkeys may be startled by this and react aggressively.
- Don't panic: When monkeys come close or jump on you, stay calm. If necessary, drop the food you have in your hand and walk away.
- Don't run away or shout: When monkeys approach you, stay calm and don't shout. Avoid shouting as this may scare them.
- Don't look the monkeys in the eye: This may make the monkeys feel threatened.
- Do not bring food and do not feed the monkeys: Monkeys smell all the food you carry. So also the food in your bag. If monkeys can't get hold of this, they can react very aggressively.
- Do not bring plastic / paper bags: To keep the forest clean and prevent monkeys from playing with it.
- Take care of your personal belongings: Make sure jewellery and sunglasses are stowed in your bag. Also check that your bag is zipped up properly.
We hope this information helps you plan your trip to Monkey Forest Bali. Still have questions? Then feel free to drop us a line at Instagram.
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