Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Forested temple reserve in central Ubud with hundreds of free-roaming long-tailed macaques.
At a glance
- Entry fee
- Charged per person with separate rates for international and Indonesian visitors, a lower rate for children aged three to twelve, and free entry under three. Sources in 2026 put the foreign adult rate at around IDR 130,000 after an increase, while older listings still quote IDR 80,000, so check at the gate rather than budgeting on a blog figure.
- Opening hours
- Open 9am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm. The good windows are soon after opening or in the final hour before last entry.
- Time needed
- An hour to ninety minutes.
About Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, occupies around twelve and a half hectares of dense forest at the southern end of central Ubud, and it is a genuine conservation and research site rather than a zoo. Paved paths drop through tall trees, past moss-covered stone carvings, a stream and a deep ravine, and the sanctuary works with Udayana University on the plant collection, which runs to well over a hundred tree species.
Three Hindu temples sit inside the forest, dating to around the fourteenth century: Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, Pura Beji to the northwest and Pura Prajapati to the northeast. They are active, and parts of them are closed to visitors.
The residents are Balinese long-tailed macaques, more than 1,200 of them, living in distinct troops with their own territories inside the forest. That population has roughly doubled since the early 2010s, which tells you something about how well they are doing and also why the paths feel busy with monkeys. They are wild. They will walk over your feet, climb on you, and take bags, sunglasses, bottles and phones, particularly anything that looks like it might contain food.
The sanctuary publishes clear rules and they are worth following: no food inside, no plastic bags, no touching, no direct eye contact, and no visible small shiny objects. Most incidents involve someone carrying snacks or trying to snatch a stolen item back. Handled sensibly, it is one of the better wildlife experiences in south Bali.
Getting there
The main entrance is at the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest, an easy ten to twenty minute walk from the centre of Ubud and one of the few Ubud attractions you do not need a vehicle for. If you would rather ride, a scooter or a short Grab gets you there quickly, and there is paid parking near the gates. Note that the forest has more than one entrance and the paths run through to the Nyuh Kuning side, so it is possible to walk in from one end and out the other, which is a pleasant way to reach the village. Buy your ticket at whichever gate you enter, and expect the main Jalan Monkey Forest entrance to be the busiest.
Best time
Soon after the nine o'clock opening or in the final hour before the last entry at five. Both give cooler air, fewer people and calmer animals. The middle of the day is hottest, most crowded, and the point at which the macaques are most assertive, because that is when the greatest number of visitors are carrying the greatest number of bags. Rain thins the crowds considerably and the forest is atmospheric in a light shower, though the paved paths get slippery. There is no meaningful seasonal difference beyond that.
Good to know
Entry is charged separately for international and Indonesian visitors, with a lower rate for children aged three to twelve and free entry for under-threes. Rates were revised in April 2026 and the widely-circulated weekday and weekend split no longer applies, so ignore older figures you may find quoted. Tickets can be bought online in advance to skip the queue. The rules the sanctuary publishes are the practical advice. Carry no food or drink into the forest at all, and no plastic bags, since a bag reads as food to a macaque. Zip away sunglasses, phones, jewellery and anything dangling. Avoid direct eye contact, which is read as a challenge. Do not touch or pick up a monkey, and if one climbs on you, stay calm, stay still, and walk away slowly rather than shaking it off. If something is taken, tell a staff member instead of grabbing at it. Bites and scratches do happen. There is a first aid clinic on site with a nurse, and while the sanctuary points to long-running research finding no rabies in Bali's monkeys, Bali authorities renewed rabies warnings for visitors to monkey attractions in 2025, so any bite or scratch should be seen by a doctor promptly.
Things to do at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Walk the forest paths among the macaques
Hundreds of free-roaming long-tailed macaques in a forested temple reserve in the middle of Ubud. They are wild, habituated animals, not an exhibit.
Go at opening or in the last hour
Soon after nine, or the final hour before the five o'clock last entry. The middle of the day is both hottest and busiest.
Carry nothing loose
Sunglasses, water bottles, phones and bags in hands are all taken. Anything you would mind losing goes away before you go in.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary FAQs
How much is the entrance fee?+
Prices are set separately for international and Indonesian visitors, with a reduced rate for children aged three to twelve and free entry for under-threes. Rates were revised in April 2026 and are higher than the figures still circulating on older travel pages. Check the sanctuary's own ticketing before you go, and note the old weekday and weekend split no longer applies.
What time is it open?+
The sanctuary opens at nine in the morning and closes at six, with last entry at five. Arriving at opening or in the last hour gives cooler air, thinner crowds and noticeably calmer monkeys.
Will the monkeys bite, and should I worry about rabies?+
Bites and scratches do happen, almost always when someone is carrying food or tries to take back a stolen item. There is a first aid clinic on site with a nurse. The sanctuary cites long-running research finding no rabies in Bali's monkeys, but Bali authorities renewed rabies warnings for monkey attractions in 2025, and rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, so treat any bite or scratch as a reason to see a doctor the same day.
What must I not bring in?+
No food or drink of any kind, and no plastic bags, which the macaques associate with food. Secure sunglasses, phones, hats, jewellery and anything hanging off a bag. Do not display small shiny objects. Bags in general attract attention, so carry as little as possible.
How many monkeys are there and how big is the forest?+
The sanctuary is around twelve and a half hectares and home to over 1,200 Balinese long-tailed macaques, living in separate troops with their own territories. The population has roughly doubled since the early 2010s. The forest also holds a documented collection of well over a hundred tree species, catalogued with Udayana University.
Is it ethical to visit?+
The Monkey Forest is a conservation and research site run by the local Padangtegal community, with academic partnerships and active temples inside it, rather than a wildlife attraction built for tourists. The animals are free-living and unrestrained. The main ethical issue is visitor behaviour, which is why the no-feeding and no-touching rules exist and are worth taking seriously.
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