The Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Everything You MUST Know Before Visiting
Meeting some cheeky monkeys is usually high on everyone’s list when visiting the country of Indonesia. The Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is THE place to do just that, you can walk around in the Balinese long-tailed macaques natural habitat. In this blog post you will find a complete guide of everything you need to know when visiting.
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How To Get There?
The Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is located just outside of Ubud which is a beautiful destination in the centre of Bali only an hour away from the international airport.
The Sanctuary is just a short 10 minute drive outside of Ubud town so it is easily accessible by both taxi or motorbike.
You can use the Gojek app to order a taxi there and either speak to your driver to ask them to take you back or just simply order another once you are finished. The other option is to use a local taxi as there are many in Ubud, simply ask your accommodation to order one for you or speak to one of the taxi drivers on the street.
Another way to get to the Monkey Forest is by booking a tour through your hotel or from any tour company on the streets of Ubud. This will include transport to and from the park.
We highly recommend just renting a motorbike or scooter as it is the easiest option and means you can enjoy the sanctuary at your own pace.
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Best Time To Visit?
Opening times for the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through to Sunday.
As we say for nearly every attraction in Bali; it is better to go early. If you head to the park just before it opens around 8:50 then you will be one of the first people to purchase a ticket and start exploring.
The crowds are not a massive problem at the sanctuary as there is plenty of space to explore and also a lot of monkeys to see. The only place where you may have to queue for longer would be before entering when purchasing your ticket, or at any of the points where you can pay to take a picture with the monkeys.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fees to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary as of 2023 are as follows –
Weekdays:
- Adult IDR 80,000 ($6)
- Child IDR 60,000 ($4.50)
Weekends:
- Adult IDR 100,000 ($7.50)
- Child IDR 80,000 ($6)
The prices for this popular attraction are very reasonable and they allow you to explore the park for as long as you like. Most people spend around 1-2 hours here but you may want to take longer exploring each part of the park.
The price for taking the famous monkey selfie is unclear however, many people say it is completely free to ask the staff to take a picture with you and the monkey yet we saw many people paying the staff. It might just be that it is a tip or donation for the picture so be prepared that it may not be as free as people say.
What To Expect?
Now you have all the information about how to get inside, so here is what to expect. The sanctuary is very big; around 30 acres in total, including jungle surrounding a 14th Century Hindu Temple. The Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, is the main Hindu Temple and has earned its nickname of Monkey Temple as it is one of the favourite places for the monkeys to hang out.
As you make your way through the jungle scenery there are old majestic looking statues everywhere. They show depictions of Komodo dragons, Hindu Gods and of course monkeys. They give the sanctuary a mystical feel and it really transports you to the jungle.
So now to the main attraction: the monkeys! In the sanctuary there are almost 600 Balinese long-tailed macaques. The experience of visiting the monkey forest is very different to that of a zoo as there are no cages and no glass to keep you seperated. You are walking in the monkeys’ natural habitats and they are free to act as they would in the wild.
It is not unusual to see; the monkeys climbing on people including on your head, going through bags and stealing food and sometimes valuables, peeing near to or on people or some monkeys fighting each other. It is important to always follow the guidelines and to remain calm if any of these happen to you.
There are many keepers who look after the monkeys and can usually persuade them away from you with some food (or the snap of a slingshot – they never hit them but the noise is enough to stop them.)
You can also get the famous monkey selfie which is easier than it looks. The helpful keepers will hold food to guide the monkey onto you and then use it as a lure to guide their attention to the camera. The results make for a truly unique picture that you can impress everyone at home with.
The rest of the time you can expect to see monkeys living their natural routines such as running around the trees, sitting in small groups or just moving around. This is a fascinating way to view these animals and much more of an experience than a regular zoo.
Is It Safe?
The overall answer is yes. There are many keepers who are skilled at their jobs and can control the monkeys in a calm way if anything is to happen.
There have never been any cases of rabies or any other animal bite related illnesses or diseases reported from the sanctuary. If you are bitten there is little risk of catching a disease, the only thing you need to do is sanitise the bite and there is a first aid office in the grounds.
The monkeys’ behaviour can be a worry for some; personally Jaimee found it pretty terrifying being around these animals and we can understand why some people are worried.
There are clear guidelines to follow that will ensure you have an enjoyable time at the sanctuary and as always common sense goes a long way.
Things NOT to Do
- Do not bring anything valuable with you in your bag or on you: sunglasses, jewellery and tech can be stolen by the monkeys.
- Do not bring food into the forest: the monkeys are known for being greedy and sniffing out even the smallest snack at the bottom of your bag. And of course do not feed them on purpose.
- Do not panic or run away from the monkeys: if you scream or panic it is likely to result in the same reaction from the monkeys.
- Do not try to touch the monkeys: the monkeys do not like being touched at all, if they climb on you do not try to remove them just wait until they climb off.
- Do not look the monkeys in the eye: monkeys can see this as a sign of aggression and act accordingly.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this guide to the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, we hope you have everything you need to visit this unique attraction.
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