Ubud has a lot of sites that you simply can’t miss when traveling in Bali. One of those is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The Monkey Forest is a must-do in Ubud. We fell in love with the forest filled with monkeys. Therefore, we would absolutely recommend you visit Ubud Monkey Forest. In this complete guide, we have gathered all the information you need to know for a visit to the Monkey Forest in Ubud.
The Monkey Forest of Ubud
The Monkey Forest in Ubud is a sanctuary where the worship of Hinduism is at its highest. The big forest has more than 100 different wood species and over 600 monkeys. And lies undisturbed between the busy streets of Ubud.
The hundreds of Balinese long-tailed monkeys are split into four different groups, which each has its own territory inside the forest. Aside from the monkeys, it’s also possible to experience 3 Hindu temples. Rumor has it that they were built in the 14th century. Old age is evident from the condition of each temple. But all 3 temples are still being used by the locals.
Besides the hundreds of monkeys and old temples, Ubud Monkey Forest is a huge area of around 30.8 acres. This area is filled with wild, beautiful, and fascinating nature. The atmosphere inside the Monkey Forest is quite special. As you walk along pathways you will see waterfalls, huge trees, and most important wild monkeys in their natural habitat.
A visit to Ubud Monkey Forest should definitely be on your bucket list.
Getting to Monkey Forest in Ubud
Getting to Monkey Forest in Ubud is very easy. The address of the forest is Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia. But you can easily search for Sacred Monkey Forest on Google Maps and then the app will guide you to the monkeys.
As Ubud is a small town almost everything is accessible on foot. So, save your money and walk towards Ubud Monkey Forest. The town of Ubud is very cozy and you won’t regret walking around the streets.
Everything you need to know before visiting Ubud Monkey Forest
As with so many other attractions some things are good to know. Even though the monkeys seem super cute there are some things you should be aware of. The monkeys can be just as aggressive as they can be cute. Therefore, you should always keep in mind that monkeys are wild animals.
To make your visit easier we have gathered everything you need to know before visiting Ubud Monkey Forest.
Opening Hours
Ubud Monkey Forest is open every day (despite holidays) from 8:30 to 18:00. Keep in mind that you can only buy a ticket and enter the forest until 17:30.
Entrance fee
The entrance fees for Ubud Monkey Forest are 80.000 IDR for an adult and 60.000 IDR for a child. When you have bought a ticket, you are allowed to spend as much time inside the Monkey Forest as you want (until closing time).
Time spend in Ubud Monkey Forest
How much time do you spend in Ubud Monkey Forest? The answer to that question depends very much on you and what you want to get out of your visit to the forest. On average people spend about 1 to 2 hours inside the Monkey Forest.
During our visit, we walked around the whole forest, took our time, enjoyed the view and the monkeys as well as had some breaks. Therefore, we spent about 3 hours inside Ubud Monkey Forest. And we could definitely have spent more time as it’s very fascinating being so close to the monkeys in their natural habitat.
Personal belongings
When walking around Ubud Monkey Forest you must have a close eye on your belongings. And by this, we mean all your belongings – backpack, (sun)classes, even jewelry. Because the monkeys are quick and can easily snatch some of your stuff while you are looking the other way.
Therefore, it’s recommended you pack away all your unnecessary things inside your backpack. And we would recommend you do that as well. On the other hand, we would like to say that we didn’t experience any problems with the monkeys and didn’t get anything snatched.
Your rule of thumb should be to keep your distance from the monkeys and don’t provoke them
Behavior around the monkeys
Because the monkeys are wild animals there are some rules for your behavior when you are around them. One of the rules is that you are not allowed to run inside the forest – if you do so you might get a herd of monkeys following you.
Another rule is; do not get eye contact with the monkeys. They can be aggressive and getting eye contact with them can induce a rage attack. At the same time, you must be aware of the baby monkeys as the mothers are very protective of them. Therefore, you mustn’t touch the monkeys – especially not the babies.
Lastly, you mustn’t panic around the monkeys. And that can be easier said than done. Some of the monkeys may come very close and in some situations, they begin crawling on top of your head. Some people live it – others don’t. We would recommend avoiding having a monkey on top of your head. Almost every monkey has herpes as well as head lice.
To avoid getting a monkey on top of your head we recommend that you don’t bend down or sit down when there are a lot of monkeys around you. We didn’t bend or sit during our visit and didn’t experience getting a monkey on top of our heads.
Food and drinks
It’s not a good idea to bring food or any types of snacks inside Ubud Monkey Forest. The monkeys are crazy about food – Therefore, you are only allowed to bring food and drinks if it stays inside your backpack during your visit to Ubud Monkey Forest.
It’s only legal to feed the monkeys inside the forest with bananas bought at the entrance. If you decide to buy bananas, be prepared for an intense experience. The monkeys can smell the bananas and tend to be a bit crazy when there is food around.
If you ask us we would recommend you don’t feed the monkeys. That way you will have the quietest and greatest (in our opinion) experience of Ubud Monkey Forest. Because it is still incredible to walk around the wild monkeys inside the forest and to be a guest in their home.
Best time to visit Ubud Monkey Forest
The best time to visit Ubud Monkey Forest is as early in the day as possible. That way you avoid the bigger crowds of tourists and it’s possible to take it all in. As well as the temperature is often very comfortable in the morning.
But no matter what time of the day you visit Ubud Monkey Forest it will be an experience you will never forget.