About Sacred Monkey Forest
A Hindu temple complex in the rainforest where over a thousand long-tailed macaques live among ancient banyan trees and three temples. As one of the headline attractions in Ubud, Sacred Monkey Forest is the kind of stop most first-time visitors build a half-day around — and that returning travelers keep finding new angles on. Tropical forest sanctuary with 1,200 macaques.
Ubud itself sets the tone: bali's cultural capital in the central hills — rice terraces, Hindu temples, yoga retreats, and a daily Legong dance somewhere within walking distance. Sacred Monkey Forest fits squarely into that story, which is why it lands on almost every shortlist of things to do in Ubud, Indonesia.
What to see at Sacred Monkey Forest
Most visits to Sacred Monkey Forest center on a handful of set-pieces. Don't try to rush through all of them — pick two or three and give them real time. The highlights worth pacing yourself for include three temples inside the forest, stone bridges over the gorge, and cool jungle shade in the heat.
Each one rewards a slower look. The first visit tends to be about taking in the scale; the second is when you start noticing the details that make this attraction feel like Ubud and nowhere else.
Insider tips for Sacred Monkey Forest
A few practical notes that locals and repeat visitors tend to repeat: don't bring food; hide sunglasses, no bare shoulders, and walking distance from ubud centre.
These aren't rules — they're just the kind of small choices that turn a decent visit into a memorable one. If you only follow one piece of advice, make it the first.
When to visit
Sacred Monkey Forest is open year-round, but timing your visit to Ubud well makes a real difference to what you'll experience. April–October (dry season). November–March is rainy and humid.
Within the day, early morning and the hour before sunset are almost always the best windows — fewer crowds, softer light, and a better chance of catching Ubud at its calmest. Midday in peak season is the trade-off worth avoiding when you can.
Getting to Sacred Monkey Forest
Reaching Sacred Monkey Forest is straightforward once you get the hang of moving around Ubud. Scooter or hired driver; walking distances are short in the centre but spread out beyond.
Most visitors fold Sacred Monkey Forest into a longer day in this part of Ubud, so leave time on either side to walk the surrounding blocks. The approach is part of the experience.
Where it fits in your Ubud trip
Sacred Monkey Forest pairs naturally with the other headline stops in Ubud. A common rhythm is to combine it with Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Tirta Empul, and Ubud Centre — either across one packed day or split between two slower ones depending on your pace.
If this is your first trip to Ubud, treat Sacred Monkey Forest as an anchor and plan the rest of the day around it. If it's your second or third visit, use it as a reason to explore the streets and food spots nearby that you skipped the first time.
Beyond Ubud
Ubud is the obvious base for visiting Sacred Monkey Forest, but it's worth thinking about what else fits into the same trip. Indonesia rewards travelers who string two or three cities together rather than treating any one as a single destination.
Our Indonesia country guide is the quickest way to see what pairs well with Ubud — and what's only a short hop away if you have a few extra days.
Planning your visit
If you're putting together a trip to Ubud and trying to work out where Sacred Monkey Forest fits, the short answer is: near the top of the list. Most travelers give it between an hour and a half day depending on how deep they want to go, and it sits comfortably alongside the rest of the things to do in Ubud, Indonesia.
Build in a buffer for queues in high season, and don't underestimate how much time you'll want to spend just being in the surrounding area. Tropical forest sanctuary with 1,200 macaques, but Sacred Monkey Forest also doubles as a useful orientation point for the wider attractions and streets that define this side of Ubud.
Pair this guide with our full Ubud city guide for context on neighborhoods, getting around, and where to stay, and with the Indonesia country guide if you're considering more than one stop. Between them you'll have enough to put together a confident itinerary without over-planning a single visit.
