Your Guide to The Ubud Monkey Forest, Bali

Located in Ubud, Bali, the Sacred Monkey Forest is a sanctuary for hundreds of Balinese long-tailed monkeys. The site is about 30.8 acres big and contains three temples dedicated to different gods; Pura Dalem Agung is the main temple, Pura Beji is the holy spring temple, and Pura Prajapati is the temple located close to a graveyard.

The Monkey Forest has over 115 species of trees and hundreds of Balinese macaques, so it makes for quite an interesting place to visit. It also helps to know that the Ubud Monkey Forest is a conservation and research centre that studies the monkeys' interactions and behaviour, so there's plenty to learn here as well.

To get to the Ubud Monkey Forest, it's best to take a Bali travel tour or rent a car with a driver. Taxis and motorbikes are a good option too. Bali's Ubud Monkey Forest is located in Ubud town at Kabupaten Gianyar. A quick search in Google Maps or Waze should show you how to get there, and if you are nearby and want to get there on foot, you can ask the locals to point you the way.

The first thing you'd probably want to know is if the monkeys at Bali's Ubud Monkey Forest are aggressive and if it's safe to visit. The good news is, the monkeys here are friendly and generally not aggressive. However, they are mischievous and being wild animals, can get aggressive if they sense they may be in danger. Here are some tips when dealing with the monkeys:

Don't panic and run.
Avoid looking a monkey in the eyes as it's a sign of aggression.
Avoid bringing food, and if you do, don't hide them as the monkeys can smell them and will try to rummage through your belongings.
Don't touch the monkeys especially the babies as the mothers can get aggressive. Also, don't disturb them or make sudden movements around them.
Secure your belongings especially your bags, hats, sunglasses, and mobile phones as some monkeys may steal your items.
If a monkey climbs on you, just gently shoo them off you. You can also get assistance from one of the staff.
The monkeys have a strict diet, and things you shouldn't feed them include bread, candy, cookies, peanuts, and other snacks and drinks.

The Ubud Monkey Forest is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the best time to visit is in the morning when the weather is nice and cool. If you want to visit but avoid the monkeys, then a good time to be there is around feeding time as the monkeys will be busy eating. While there's no official dress code in the area, it's best to wear appropriate clothing since there are temples in the compound.

The Sacred Monkey Forest is a unique attraction with centuries of history and natural beauty. If you're in Bali and touring Ubud, why not visit other attractions as part of your Ubud tour such as the Tegenungan waterfall and Tegalalang Rice Terrace? At Club Med Bali, we can arrange excursions for you around Bali including to the Monkey Forest and other nearby destinations for a fulfilling day. Book a stay with us when you travel to Bali!