Exploring the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali

One of the most photographed attractions in Ubud is the Sacred Monkey Forest. Have you seen the famous selfies where it looks like a monkey is taking the photo? They happen here. And if you were wondering: they’re fake. However, that doesn’t mean that the Sacred Monkey Forest should not be a part of your itinerary in Ubud. In fact, the Monkey Forest was one of our most memorable experiences in Ubud spending the morning with these little mischievous yet adorable creatures! Getting to the Monkey Forest in Ubud is not by any means difficult, but there are a few things to take into account before visiting. Let’s dive right into them!

If you would like to read more about Ubud check out the link below:

→ Perfect 3 days itinerary in Ubud, Bali

* Since I need to maintain Feast of Travel, it is possible that this post contains affiliate links. It does not affect you in any way, but if you want to read more about it, you can have a look at the Trusted companies page.

The philosophy behind the Monkey Forest in Ubud

The Monkey Forest is actually a sanctuary that is home to a large colony of long-tailed Macaques, as well as many species of plants. This sacred forest follows the Hindu philosophy of Tri Hata Karana, which promotes harmonious relationships between humans and humans, between humans and nature and between humans and The Supreme God. This is achieved by a beautiful environment in a lush rainforest that contains three temples that look out of the Jungle Book.

How to take pictures with the monkeys

That being said, the main reason for most visitors to enter the Monkey Forest is to take pictures of these mischievous animals. With the amount of monkeys in the park, how well accustomed they are to human beings and how naive the tourists are, it is a recipe for disaster. Every day, there are objects being stolen and monkey bites. But fear not, as long as you behave yourself, the monkeys will probably just be curious about you and not much more.

They can be very friendly if you keep calm

Travel tip: to avoid conflict with monkeys: 1. Do not bring food to the park, 2. Leave jewellery, glasses and other easily snatched or shiny objects in your hotel, and 3. Do not look the monkeys in the eye: they see it as a threat. And in general just keep an eye on your belongings.

This little guy trying to steal my stuff

Price and opening hours

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9 am – 6 pm (last tickets at 5pm).

Price: 80.000 IDR adults (around 5.5€) and 60.000 IDR children (4€); weekend 100.000 IDR adults (around 7€) and 80.000 IDR children (around 5.5€).

How to get to the Monkey Forest in Ubud

The Sacred Monkey Forest is smack in the center of town, so if you are based in Ubud you can just walk there. If you are located on the outskirts of the city or elsewhere in Bali, you’ll need another method of transportation. A very popular way to move around in Bali is scooter rental. You can easily score a decent scooter for 60 to 80k IDR for the day (around 4-6€). While roads in Bali are generally better than in other parts of Indonesia, there are certain areas (including downtown Ubud), where traffic is less than manageable for Western standards, so if you are not very familiar with a scooter, I suggest you look at other options.

An alternative to renting a scooter is to use a taxi service. There is nothing easier than getting a taxi in Bali, since every single person you find in the street seems to be a taxi driver waiting to take you anywhere you want. That being said, taxi drivers in Bali have thrived for decades on a scam system, wildly overcharging unknowing tourists. That’s why the arrival of car hailing apps has changed the game. There are many car hailing apps in Bali, including Grab, Gojek and InDriver. Use them simultaneously and pick the cheapest one. Roughly, car hailing will be less than half the price of a taxi. It is also great for solo travellers because you can get a mototaxi, which is extremely cheap.

Travel tip: some people or even hanging signs will tell you that car hailing apps are forbidden in that area. It is just not true, but taxi drivers may get a bit aggressive with the car hailing drivers so try to be discrete.

If you’re gonna visit other locations during the day you can arrange a private car with your accommodation or arrange a day of activities with an agency such as Get Your Guide (see below). Another option is, again, Grab, which has an option to hire a driver per hour at very good rates.

Where to stay around the Monkey Forest

Unsurprisingly, the best place to stay around the Monkey Forest is Ubud. While Ubud is quite the tourist center and can get very busy, it is not difficult to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Budget

Our choice was perfect at Nyoman Homestay Ubud, a relatively new accommodation located right in the center of Ubud but in a side street, which made extremely calm and relaxing. It is built in a family home, with its common dining area, temple and lush tropical garden with a small but beautiful swimming pool. They only have 5 rooms, so the experience is quite intimate and the treatment from the owner family is perfect. For its location, beautiful setting, central location and including breakfast, double rooms start at only 250k IDR (16€).

Some options in the lower price end include Tegal Sari, with wonderful views to the rice paddies, or Biyukukung Suite & Spa for a simple but beautiful stay in wooden cabins.

Mid-range

For a mid-range stay VERY close to the Monkey Forest, have a look at Komaneka at Monkey Forest. If you prefer a camping experience without compromising on comfort, your choice should be Sandat Glamping Tents.

Luxury

If you prefer something more luxurious, probably your chances are better in the outskirts of Ubud, where you can find resort hotels overlooking the beautiful rice terraces or the jungle. Some examples are Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve or Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. If you’re into wellness, try COMO Shambhala Estate. You always dreamed of a beautiful wooden villa in the jungle in Bali? Grab your chance at Viceroy Bali or 11 on Kajeng.

Closing statement

The Monkey Forest is a definite must if you visit Ubud and Bali in general. It is a great way to understand the philosophy behind tradition, nature and people in the region. Also, the little guys are really adorable to look at and see how they behave. And let’s not forget, you’ll get incredible pictures to show friends and family when you’re back from your holiday! Stay tuned for most posts about Bali and Indonesia in Feast of Travel!

If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia, have a look at these posts:

Perfect 3 days itinerary in Ubud, Bali

11 top things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

What to do in North Sumatra, the secret Indonesia keeps from you

Perfect 3-day itinerary in Nusa Penida, Indonesia

Quick Gili islands guide: a starters kit for paradise seekers in Indonesia

Perfect 10 days Flores itinerary in Indonesia

PIN ME: