The Monkey Forest is a pocket of protected jungle right inside Ubud: paved paths under giant banyans, a stream gorge, three moss-covered 14th-century temples and around 700 long-tailed macaques living in wild troops. It's a working sacred site of Padang Tegal village, not a zoo — the monkeys are genuinely wild, with their own hierarchy and attitude.
The entrance is at the end of Monkey Forest Road, a 10–15 minute walk from Ubud's centre. Survival rules are simple: carry nothing loose in your hands, don't make eye contact, no food inside, zip your bags and hold phones firmly. Don't touch the babies. Follow that and the walk is entirely peaceful — rangers keep order throughout the grounds.
Tips
- •Remove glasses and earrings before entering — they're the macaques' favourite loot
- •Come at opening: cooler, quieter, and the monkeys aren't yet worked up by the crowd
- •If a macaque jumps on you, stay calm and still — a ranger will remove it in seconds
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