Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Park

Address: Mandala Suci Wenara Wana (Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary), Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

Website: https://monkeyforestubud.com

Hours: Daily 8:30am-6:00pm

Admission: IDR 80,000 (approx. adult admission)

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, often called the Ubud Monkey Forest, is a community-managed nature reserve and Hindu temple complex in Padangtegal village, Ubud, Bali. The site covers roughly 12.5 hectares of secondary forest and is home to a large population of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

The sanctuary contains three main temples and numerous stone carvings set among dense canopy, paved paths and moss-covered walls; many of the temples date back several centuries and remain active places of worship. The monkey population roams the paths and temple grounds and is well known to visitors for its habituated behaviour.

The area is managed by the local village trust as both a spiritual site and a conservation area, combining protective measures for the forest with visitor facilities and rules to reduce conflict between people and monkeys. The sanctuary is one of Ubud’s primary attractions and a key element of the town’s cultural landscape.

The sanctuary sits in central Ubud, adjacent to Ubud Palace and within easy walking distance of the town’s main streets and markets.

• Local management: Founded and managed by the local Padangtegal village, the site combines temple complexes and a conservation area and charges a modest entrance fee to support maintenance.
• Visiting tips: Visit early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and more active wildlife; follow the sanctuary’s rules about not feeding or provoking monkeys and securing loose items.

What to See#

• Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal: Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal is the main temple within the sanctuary, dating back several centuries and still used for religious ceremonies.
• Forest reserve: The forest reserve covers about 12.5 hectares of protected secondary forest crossed by paved paths, stone steps and boardwalks.
• Macaque population: A free-ranging population of long-tailed macaques numbering in the hundreds lives throughout the sanctuary and is a primary visitor attraction.

Cared for by the village of Padangtegal, the sanctuary has become an integral part of Ubud’s tourism while keeping education and conservation at the heart of its work; monthly visitor numbers can now reach 10,000, up from a few hundred a couple of decades ago.

Several hundred long-tailed macaques live here. Closely tied to Balinese Hinduism, they are highly respected, though they can be cheeky and brazen with visitors. Beyond the monkeys, the sanctuary’s Balinese Hindu temples offer more tranquil corners, among them the Bathing Temple and the main temple at its heart. The forest itself shelters more than 150 species of trees, making it a refuge for plant life as much as for its famous residents.

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is in central Ubud, Bali, on Jalan Monkey Forest (Monkey Forest Road) a short 5-10 minute walk from Ubud Palace and the main market. It’s easily reached on foot from central Ubud or by a short taxi/motorbike ride from elsewhere in Ubud; there is limited visitor parking on the adjacent roads.

• Arrive right at opening time to see the macaques active and to get photos before coach groups arrive; the sanctuary fills up quickly by late morning.
• Enter through the main Jalan Monkey Forest entrance and buy tickets at the official counter-stick to marked paths and the ranger-guided areas to avoid traps and aggressive animals.
• Don't carry loose food or plastic bags and keep phones, glasses and small items secure; the site's deeper paths and temple ruins (including Pura Dalem) are often missed by visitors who only stay near the entrance.