Visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud

According to the sanctuary, the forest covers 12.5 hectares with 186 species of trees, and its long-tailed macaques are considered sacred by the local Balinese people. The village's residents see the forest as an important spiritual, economic, educational and conservation centre.

The sanctuary is run on the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, a traditional philosophy of three ways to physical and spiritual well-being, beginning with harmony between people and God.

Sources: Monkey Forest Ubud — Opening hours & maps; Monkey Forest Ubud — Guidelines & FAQ; both read 8 October 2026.

The sanctuary lists three temples:

• the Main Temple (Pura Dalem), in the southwest, where Hyang Widhi is worshipped as Shiva
• the Holy Spring Temple (Beji Temple), in the northwest, honouring the goddess Gangga, often used for melukat, a spiritual and physical cleansing
• the Cremation Temple (Prajapati Temple), in the northeast, beside the cemetery

At the heart of the forest is a central point with a huge banyan tree, and an open stage hosts Balinese dance performances on Saturdays and Sundays. You enter through the lobby by the central parking area, where tickets are sold.

The macaques live in a semi-wild environment, and the sanctuary asks visitors to follow its guidelines:

• keep a safe distance — don't touch or pick up the monkeys
• don't feed or interact with them unless supervised by trained staff
• avoid direct eye contact, which can be read as aggression
• if a monkey jumps on you, stay calm and walk slowly
• no food or drinks in the forest, and keep small objects like jewellery out of sight
• dress respectfully, respect sacred areas, and don't bring plastic

Follow those, and it's one of Ubud's most memorable mornings out.