If you’re planning a trip to Bali and are a fan of monkey’s then, The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud should be high up on your bucket list.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud is a nature reserve and temple complex in the heart of Ubud centre. The main reason why this is such a popular destination is of course due to the abundant number of long tailed Balinese macaques, who roam the forest and that are very eager to interact with tourists.
According to the official website the forest is home to over 1,200 long tailed Balinese monkey’s and from the sheer abundance of monkey’s you will see, this is definitely not an over estimate.
How to get there?
As previously mentioned, the forest is located in central Ubud, making it fairly convenient place to visit if you are staying in Ubud proper or nearby. In my case, I was around 8km away from the forest, however Bali traffic is no walk in the park. The roads are heavily congested with traffic ranging from scooters to large HGV’s.
Additionally, the roads are not exactly suited for such a high volume of traffic and are in a sorry state with pot holes littering the road. All of this combined with the tight and narrow windy roads, which are often no more than 8 meters wide at some sections. Results in a lot of waiting around or driving around for that matter.
If you are a bit further out from the centre of Ubud I would recommend that you take a Grab or similar alternative, getting stuck in heavy traffic is never fun especially in the sweltering sun. In our case, we took a grab to the centre of Ubud and then opted to walk the short distance to the forest, which was around 2 km and took around 20 minutes.
I know riding a scooter is cool, trust me I know. But, please take the advice from someone living in Vietnam, which lets face it doesn’t exactly have the best reputation for smooth, uninterrupted driving conditions. It’s not worth it!
Ticket and entry fee
As of March 2026 the ticket price to enter the forest are as follows:
Weekdays (Monday – Friday)
- International adult: IDR 100,000
- International child (3–12): IDR 80,000
Weekends & Public Holidays
- International adult: IDR 120,000
- International child (3–12): IDR 100,000
Exploring the forest
After paying the entrance fee, you can make your way along the main trail. Following this you’ll enter an opening where you can choose which pathway you would like to explore. The trails are covered by the shade of expansive and beautiful green trees, which provides much needed respite from the hot Bali sun.
Quite literally after entering the forest you’ll see the monkey’s who are dotted everywhere from hanging in the trees above or congregating at the base of the footpath where visitors are throwing food for the monkey’s to eat.
Don’t worry, it’s not a frenzied free for all, generally speaking the monkey’s are quite calm, however I opted not to bring any food or feed the monkey’s just as a precaution.
The elephant in the room
Before visiting, I was slightly concerned about aggressive monkeys.
The good news? Serious incidents are rare (as long as you follow the rules and use common sense).
That being said, we did see a monkey holding someone’s rain jacket. So yes, theft is very real.
Follow These Safety Tips:
- Keep phones, hats, and bags secure
- Do not feed the monkeys (especially bananas)
- Do not touch or attempt to pet them
- Stay calm if one approaches you
Respect the animals, and your visit should be smooth.
Taking in the nature
Not only is the forest a great place to see and interact with monkeys, but also offers stunning jungle views which makes it an ideal place to take photos and immerse yourself in nature.
Final Thoughts
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is one of Ubud’s most popular attractions — and for good reason. It offers a mix of wildlife, culture, and jungle scenery in one accessible location.
If you’re visiting Ubud, it’s absolutely worth adding to your itinerary.