Skip to Content

8 Things to Know About the Monkey Forest in Ubud

Want to see monkeys in Bali? Then add the Bali Monkey Forest to your Ubud itinerary! Here’s what you need to know before visiting the Bali monkeys at Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana aka the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud!

Monkey Forest in Ubud

There’s a sacred monkey forest sanctuary in Ubud where you can get up close with monkeys in Bali like never before! Known in Balinese as Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana, the sanctuary is more commonly referred to as the Bali Monkey Forest by tourists.

Here, there are over a thousand (yes, really!) of wild monkeys. It’s hard to believe as the monkey sanctuary is only around 10 minutes away from the centre of Ubud!

There are also three temples inside the monkey forest, namely Dalem Agung Padangtegal Temple, Holy Spring Temple and Prajapati Temple. 

This Ubud monkey forest is full of fun Bali monkeys and is a must-visit location to add to your Ubud itinerary. That said, these are wild animals so it’s worth knowing what you’re getting yourself into before you go.

How much is the Monkey Forest in Ubud?

The Monkey Forest Bali price is 80k IDR which is around £4.20 or $5.60. You can buy your entrance ticket at the monkey forest ticket office at the time of your visit. There may be a short queue depending on the time of day.

What should I wear to Monkey Forest Ubud?

Feel free to wear what you want to the Monkey Forest in Ubud. The only thing to consider is there are three temples inside and you would have to be dressed respectfully if you wanted to visit these.

A simple sarong thrown in your backpack would suffice. Please note these temples are for prayer, rather than tourism.

What is inside the Monkey Forest?

The monkey forest is home to hundreds of wild Balinese long-tailed monkeys. It is estimated that there are over 600 monkeys living in the sanctuary!

There are whole families of monkeys living here and you’ll see baby monkeys as well as larger, senior monkeys. You’ll see them eating, sleeping, grooming, fighting, humping, playing, swinging and generally monkeying around. Take as many photos as you want!

The forest is very large and the monkeys tend to congregate in certain areas so the forest isn’t teeming with them. There are lots of lovely stretches of green forest where there aren’t any monkeys which are still nice to wander around.

There’s a river flowing through the forest and there are beautiful bridges as well as old Balinese stonework. There are also three Hindu temples and a human cemetery inside the forest. The temples have been around since the 14th century!

Can you touch the monkeys in the monkey forest in Ubud?

Can you touch the monkeys in the Monkey Forest?

The first thing to bear in mind is that these Bali monkeys are not tame. If you want to touch one of the monkeys or have one climb on you, stand quite close to it, maybe slowly reach out your hand so it could grab it if it wants.

Do not try to forcibly touch one of the monkeys – they are wild animals after all! Most especially don’t try to sneakily touch a monkey whilst it is otherwise occupied i.e. eating. This may agitate the monkey and it may even bite you.

If you stand close to a monkey, it may voluntarily climb on you. If not, move on. To get the monkey off you, just start walking, and it should hop off.

Can you feed the monkeys?

Technically, yes. No one is going to stop you from feeding the monkeys. Indeed, some people may bring in food with the specific intent of enticing a monkey towards them.

However, I personally wouldn’t recommend bringing food into the monkey forest.

For one, they are already fed by the people who look after the park and adding lots of unnecessary food to their diet has led to a lot of obese monkeys.

The monkeys are also smart and may come sniffing around your bags and belongings if you are carrying food on your person. If you don’t want to find a monkey rooting around inside your backpack for food and other goodies (I saw it happen!) then perhaps leave the snacks at home.

Speaking of snacks, when I was at the monkey forest, I saw a monkey try to eat a piece of plastic wrapper laying on the floor. Please don’t attempt to feed the monkeys human snacks and don’t leave any litter behind. This is a sacred nature conservation!

Senior monkey in the monkey forest in Ubud

How long do you need at the Monkey Forest Ubud?

Ubud Monkey Forest occupies around 27 acres of forest land so it’s pretty expansive and you can spend as much or as little time in here as you want. I’d plan to spend around one hour in Ubud monkey forest, more if you want to spend some time wandering through the forest or seeking out the three temples inside.

People come for the novelty of the Bali monkeys though and you won’t have to wander deep into the forest to find them. In fact, there are often clusters close to the entrance.

Is the Monkey Forest in Bali safe?

The Monkey Forest in Bali is very safe and is visited by hoards of tourists each year. As noted above, the monkeys are wild so you just need to be mindful of that as you wander around. There are monkey forest staff keeping an eye on things too.

Do keep your wits about you and keep your eye out on the monkeys are they are rather cheeky. These monkeys are attracted to things like watches, rings and glasses so it’s best not to have anything on your person that they could easily grab and run away with.  

What if a monkey bites you in Bali?

As the monkeys are wild, their behaviour can be unpredictable. If you agitate one of the monkeys, it may bite you, so I would suggest moving calmly and slowly around them. Don’t panic or make sudden movements.  

If a monkey does bite you, there is a Monkey Forest First Aid unit that will be able to assist you in cleaning the bite. You shouldn’t need any further treatment than that as these monkeys are healthy and do not have rabies or any other diseases.

Of course, if you are concerned about a monkey bite then please seek further medical advice.

Summary: Monkey Forest Ubud Tips

  • The monkeys are wild but you may be able to touch them
  • Wait for the monkeys to touch you, don’t force it
  • Don’t carry any loose items that the monkeys could steal
  • Dress appropriately if you want to visit the temples
  • Don’t litter, it is a sacred forest

For more posts about Indonesia, check out these:
11 Things to Do in Ubud, Bali

All You Need to Know About Prambanan Ramayana Ballet
All You Need to Know About the Gates of Heaven

Visiting Borobudur in Indonesia

Laura whatshotblog profile photo

Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.