Ubud Monkey Forest: The Sacred Sanctuary of Padangtegal
Today's plan was the Ubud Monkey Forest, also known as the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. But first - we started our day with a swim, breakfast, laundry, and an early morning visit to Ubud's local market for some smart shopping.
Early Morning Market Shopping
We headed to Ubud's local (touristic) market early in the morning, knowing we'd get better prices. The first sale of the day is believed to bring good luck in Balinese culture, so shopkeepers often offer significant discounts to conclude that first transaction quickly.
Surprisingly, we found the market nearly empty of tourists - most visitors don't know about this trick! We took full advantage: Kro bought a beautiful long grey dress for IDR 100,000, bargained down from IDR 250,000. That's 60% off just by arriving early!
Strolling Through Ubud
We strolled through Ubud's streets, carefully dodging the Canang Sari - daily offerings placed on the ground by Balinese Hindus. These beautiful little pallets filled with rice, candies, flowers, and incense honor the gods. The nature-based worship was a stark contrast to the loud (and very early) calls to prayer from mosques we'd experienced in Java. Bali is a Hindu island in an otherwise predominantly Muslim country.
Every other minute, someone would call out: "Taxi! Taxi! Motorbike rent!" Ubud has no shortage of taxi drivers and motorbike rental offers. We couldn't walk two minutes without being offered a ride. It soon became background noise.
Ubud Royal Palace
On our way to the Monkey Forest, we passed the Ubud Palace where the Ubud royal family apparently still lives. The palace is open to the public at no cost - and we love free attractions! We explored the numerous statues draped in colorful sarongs, admired the ornate doors, and examined the detailed carvings. In 30 minutes we'd seen the entire small complex.
Entering the Sacred Monkey Forest
After a filling smoothie, we headed to the Ubud Monkey Forest. The entrance fee was a bargain at only 50,000 IDR (about $3.50 USD). However, we were genuinely concerned about our safety.
We'd heard numerous horror stories about people being attacked. Monkey bites occur daily at the sanctuary. We took precautions:
- Hid all belongings deep in our backpack
- Left our pockets completely empty
- Skipped the banana vendors (didn't want to attract too much attention from the 600 macaques)
- Were ready to run if necessary
We entered the forest warily - we weren't vaccinated for rabies and couldn't risk being bitten.
600 Macaques in Their Natural Habitat
We explored the sanctuary trying to avoid direct eye contact with these "evil creatures" (though they looked absolutely adorable and innocent!). Cute baby monkeys were everywhere - playing, feeding on bananas, swinging through the trees like Tarzan, fighting with each other. We gradually relaxed and grew more confident. It was wonderful seeing the Ubud monkeys in their natural habitat.
The forest itself was stunning, with ancient Hindu temples, narrow jungle paths, gorgeous stone bridges, and intricate monkey-inspired carvings throughout.
The Monkey Attack!
We wandered peacefully through the sanctuary... until a grey-haired long-tailed monkey abruptly jumped on Kro and clung to her camera case! The monkey was literally pulling items out of her bag. Fortunately, he only found:
- Tissues
- Our Ubud map
- Our Monkey Forest entrance tickets
The thief hopped down and tore apart his "treasure," perhaps disgusted not to find anything edible. We tried to retrieve the rubbish, but the little bandit wouldn't let go - he growled and bared his sharp incisors at us. We wisely backed away and continued our exploration, now much more cautious!
Tropical Storm
Just as we were calming down from our monkey encounter, the sky opened up. It started pouring rain, turning the pavements into rushing rivers. We sheltered by the park's exit waiting for the storm to pass. It didn't stop.
We left the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest soaked, went for food, and Kro went on a shopping spree. She hurt her leg during the day (don't worry, she's fine!). We called it a day after our eventful adventure.
Is the Ubud Monkey Forest Worth Visiting?
Yes! We believe the Ubud Monkey Forest is a must-visit attraction in Bali. Just come prepared and follow the safety advice provided by the park:
- Don't carry visible bags or items
- Skip the banana vendors unless you're prepared for aggressive monkey attention
- Avoid eye contact and sudden movements
- Remember that these are wild animals despite how cute and approachable they seem
The combination of ancient temples, lush jungle, and playful (if mischievous) monkeys makes for an unforgettable experience!
Did you visit the Ubud Monkey Forest? Were you brave enough to buy bananas? Did any monkeys steal from you? Share your monkey encounter stories below!
Visiting Ubud Monkey Forest
- Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal: Located in the heart of Ubud, easily walkable from town center. Address: Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Gianyar. Open daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
- Entrance fee (2018): 50,000 IDR (~$3.50 USD) for adults, 40,000 IDR for children. Very affordable for the experience. Cash only.
- Population: ~600 long-tailed Balinese macaques live in the sanctuary. They're wild animals, not pets - treat them with caution and respect.
- Safety first: Hide all belongings in your bag, empty your pockets, remove dangling items (sunglasses, jewelry, hats). Monkey bites and thefts happen daily!
- Avoid buying bananas unless prepared for aggressive monkey attention. Don't make eye contact, don't show teeth (they see it as aggression), don't run or make sudden movements.
- Rabies risk: Consider rabies vaccination before traveling to Bali if you plan wildlife encounters. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention.
- Visit early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds and cooler temperatures. Allow 1-2 hours to explore the full sanctuary.
- The forest contains three Hindu temples: Dalem Agung Padangtegal Temple, Holy Spring Temple, and Prajapati Temple. All are sacred sites still used for ceremonies.
- Ubud Market tip: Visit early morning for best prices! First sale brings good luck in Balinese culture, so vendors offer big discounts to secure it.
- Combine with Ubud Palace (free entry) and nearby cafes for a full day. Ubud has excellent vegetarian/vegan restaurants and smoothie bars.
The Ubud Monkey Forest combines ancient Hindu temples, lush jungle pathways, and 600 playful macaques for an unforgettable wildlife encounter. Despite our close call with a bag-raiding monkey, it remains one of our favorite Ubud experiences - just remember these are wild animals and come prepared!