MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN BALI: MONKEY FOREST UBUD


HOW TO GET TO MONKEY FOREST UBUD
The Ubud Monkey Forest lies within the village of Padangtegal. For the village residents, the Monkey Forest is an important spiritual and economic center. The forest is very close to the center of Ubud, so it is very convenient for tourists and locals to visit the Monkeys.
There are 1 260 monkeys in Monkey Forest. They live in 10 separate groups, each with their home range:
- Central Group
- Temple Group
- Selatan Group
- Cemetery Group
- Michelin Group
- East Group
- New Forest Group
- Ashram Group
- Atap
How can you reach Monkey Forest:
- Shuttle bus – drives back and forth from Ubud center every 15 minutes, free of charge
- Walking 15 minutes from the center of Ubud
- You can book a personal driver for the day, that will walk you everywhere you need. I paid 400K IDR (27€ or 26 USD) and my driver was at all times with me, showing me around, entering with me everywhere I went, and, taking very nice pictures for me. They go the extra mile to make you feel comfortable and deliver a bespoke service.
- Take a taxi scooter. For instance, if you need to go for a relatively short distance and spend the day there, just look for locals that propose to drive you with their scooter. I usually paid between 50K and 80K IDR (3-6 €/USD), depending on the distance. They provide you with a helmet, as it is forbidden in Bali to ride without a helmet.
- Use the Go-Jek or Grab app to book a taxi. There is a standard base fare for Bali taxis of around 0.44 €/USD (7K IDR), and an additional charge per km of around 0.47 €/USD (7.5K IDR).
- Rent a bike and ride like Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love for total satisfaction.
- Book the tour on Get Your Guide HERE. Includes Bottled water, All entrance fees, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Jungle swing (if option selected), and Lunch (if option selected).
Balinese LONG-TAIL Monkeys
IMPORTANT GUIDELINES
1. Don’t bring any food at all. There will be people trying to sell you bananas for the Monkeys. Food can transform a cute monkey into the devil itself.
2. If the monkeys get close to you or jump on you, drop any food you have and let them have it. The best would be not to have any visible food on you, bottle of water included.
3. Keep calm and don’t scream. Screaming frightens them and makes them even more aggressive.
4. Don’t touch, grab or disturb the monkeys. Don’t get too close to them to film them or photograph them.
5. Don’t feed the monkeys peanuts, cookies, bread, snacks, or drinks. The monkey’s diet is very important and so it is maintaining their health. They follow the strict diet that I’ve stated above.
6. Don’t wear long dresses, as I did. Monkeys love them, they will play with them and things can turn ugly.
I moved my feet just a little bit and the Monkey bit me. It wasn’t too deep so I did not need first aid medical attention.
Best time to visit the Monkey Forest
The best time to visit the Monkey Forest is in the morning. The tourists have not yet rushed into the forest, so it will be more peaceful and quiet for you to observe the monkeys. Remember not to disturb the monkeys in their habitat. I went in the afternoon and the light was amazing for video and photography.
The Ubud Monkey Forest is open every day from 8.30 AM to 6 PM. The last entry will be at 5.30 PM.
Tickets: The ticket price for adults in Monkey Forest is IDR 50 000 (3 €/$). A child’s ticket is IDR 40 000 (2.6 €/$).
CHECK OUT THE BEST ACTIVITY TOURS IN BALI
DID YOU FIND THIS ARTICLE USEFUL?
Tell me in the comments section if you’ve been to Bali and what was your experience. If you are planning to go on solo travel to Bali ask me for some useful tips that are not in this article.
FOR MORE TRAVEL INSPIRATION, FOLLOW ME ON
DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS
Must-Do Activities in Bali: Alas Harum Cretya Ubud
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN BALI: ALAS HARUM & CRETYA UBUD IS IT WORTH IT to visit The alas harum & cretya UBUD? If you’ve never heard of Alas Harum & Cretya it’s because this extraordinary luxurious destination opened in November 2021. […]
Must-Do Activities in Bali: HIDDEN CANYON BEJI GUWANG
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN BALI: HIDDEN CANYON BEJI GUWANG HIDDEN GEM: 100% ADVENTURE! For me, Solo Travel equals adventure! When I am alone I decide which adventure I should pursue and which not, at my own pace. And I am a […]
20 most instagramable places in Bali
20 MOST INSTAGRAMABLE PLACES IN BALI Even though Bali is the most instagramable island on earth, there are a few locations you should definitely put on your bucket list. Your Instagram feed and your Pinterest board will fire up for […]
Things to avoid as a Solo Traveler in Bali
THINGS TO AVOID AS A SOLO TRAVELER IN BALI TRAVELING TO BALI IS 100% SAFE, but there are some things to avoid! I’ve been on so many Solo Travels that you would think I got used by now. I always […]
5 Facts you need to know about Bali
5 FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BALI TRAVELING TO BALI IS THE JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE Balinese people are warm and friendly. They will do everything to make you feel comfortable and to provide you with the best […]
Must-Do Activities in Bali: Tegenungan Waterfall
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN BALI: TEGENUNGAN WATERFALL IS IT WORTH IT to visit The Tegenungan Waterfall in Bali? Tegenungan waterfall is one of the most popular waterfalls in Bali, not only because it is the most impressive one, but also because […]
How to prepare Balinese dish Opor Tempe Tahu
HOW TO PREPARE BALINESE DISH OPOR TEMPE TAHU INDULGE IN THE BALINESE CUISINE Balinese cooking is a plethora of cultural influences. Balinese dishes, cooking styles, and tools for preparing food have been cultivated from other cultures. The Chinese introduced […]
Must-See Cremation Ceremony of 2 royals in Bali
MUST-SEE CREMATION CEREMONY OF 2 ROYALS IN BALI WHAT IS A CREMATION PROCESSION IN BALI? The cremation procession, locally named, Ngaben, is one of the most important ceremonies in Balinese Hinduism. It’s a centuries-old spiritual tradition culminating in the cremation […]