Two long-tailed macaques holding infants while sitting on a mossy rock under the forest canopy

Wildlife · Padangtegal, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Forest reserve and temple complex in central Ubud, home to over a thousand long-tailed macaques

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Photo: Ernests Vaga (@ernests) / Unsplash

Discover Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

A short walk from Ubud's main street, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a patch of old forest cut by a stream-filled ravine, with towering banyan trees, moss-covered stone carvings and three temples. Paved paths and wooden walkways wind through it, and everywhere you look there are monkeys: grooming on the steps, swinging in the canopy and carrying infants across the paths.

The sanctuary is run by the local village and treated as sacred ground, so it is as much a temple complex as a wildlife attraction. Visits are easy to fit into a day in Ubud, and the cool shade under the trees is welcome in the middle of the day.

Don’t miss

01Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, the main temple, believed to date to around the 14th century
02The Holy Water Temple and spring in the ravine, reached by mossy stone steps
03Stone dragon bridge and carved guardian statues covered in moss
04Wooden walkways through the forested ravine
05Daily life of the macaque groups: grooming, feeding and playing infants

History & culture

The story of Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The sanctuary's three temples are believed to date to around the 14th century. The main temple, Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, is dedicated to Shiva; the Holy Water Temple honours the goddess Gangga; and the cremation temple, Pura Prajapati, stands beside the village cemetery. The forest is owned by the village of Padangtegal and managed according to Tri Hita Karana, the Balinese principle of harmony between people, nature and the divine.

The macaques living here are long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). The sanctuary counts around 1,054 animals in seven groups and works with Udayana University's Primate Research Center on their health and welfare.

Local life & traditions

For the people of Padangtegal, the forest is a sacred space tied to the village's death temple and cremation ground, and ceremonies still take place here. The monkeys are regarded as sacred and are fed by staff several times a day, mainly on sweet potato, bananas and seasonal fruit. Income from visitors supports the upkeep of the forest and the temples.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Follow the main loop through the forest at an unhurried pace, stopping at the temples (which are viewed from outside, as their inner courts are reserved for prayer) and at the ravine with the holy spring. Staff are stationed along the paths, and the sanctuary's guidelines ask visitors to keep their distance, avoid touching the monkeys and not to bring food or drink in.

Photography is allowed from a sensible distance. The site also has an exhibition room, a first-aid clinic and a monkey clinic. Combine a visit with a walk up Jalan Monkey Forest to the Ubud Palace and Art Market, about 15 minutes away on foot.

When to go

The sanctuary can be visited year-round, and the forest canopy keeps it cooler than the streets outside. Mornings soon after opening are quieter and the monkeys are often most active. In the wet season, roughly November to March, paths and steps can be slippery after rain.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00 daily; last entry 17:00. Source: monkeyforestubud.com ↗
Size and residents: About 12.5 hectares, with around 1,054 Balinese long-tailed macaques in seven groups. Source: monkeyforestubud.com ↗
Visitor rules: No food, drinks or plastic bags in the forest; do not touch or feed the monkeys; keep small objects out of sight; dress respectfully. Lockers are available in the lobby. Source: monkeyforestubud.com ↗
Address: Jalan Monkey Forest, Padangtegal, Ubud, Bali 80571. Source: monkeyforestubud.com ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Leave food, snacks and plastic bags in your hotel or a locker; monkeys will search for them.
Avoid direct eye contact with the monkeys and move away calmly if one climbs on you.
Keep sunglasses, earrings and phones secured or out of sight.
Keep children close and do not let them play with the monkeys.
Wear closed shoes; steps in the ravine can be slippery after rain.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: food, markets & places to stay

The sanctuary sits at the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest, a street lined with cafes, restaurants, spas and boutiques that leads north to the Ubud Palace and Art Market. Ubud has a wide choice of accommodation within walking distance. Taxi apps and private drivers operate throughout Ubud, though traffic in the town centre is often slow and walking is frequently quicker.