One of the most fascinating destinations to visit in Indonesia is the town of Ubud, located about 20kms north of Denpasar on the island of Bali. Within the Ubud region, one of Bali’s most sacred and most visited landmarks is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is operated and cared for by the village of Padangtegal, and has grown in statue as an integral part of Bali’s tourism sector. During a monthly period, visitors numbers to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary can reach as high as 10,000, with the average two decades ago barely reaching 800. Nevertheless, the increase in tourism has had little impact on the local environment, as education and conservation are key features of the sanctuary’s tours.

There are several hundred long-tail macaques inhabiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Due to their close relationship with Balinese Hinduism, the monkeys that inhabit the sanctuary are highly respected, even though they can be extremely cheeky and very brazen.

Although many tourists visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary to experience monkeys up close and personally, the numerous Balinese Hindu temples that sporadically dot the landscape offer more tranquil and intriguing places of interest. Some of the most alluring sacred sites on offer include the Bathing Temple, and the main temple in the heart of the sanctuary.

In addition to the monkeys and temples, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is home to over 150 species of trees, providing not only a sanctuary for fauna, but for floral wildlife too.

  • What is it? a sanctuary housing monkeys, temples and native forests.
  • Opening hours: daylight hours, daily
  • Entrance fees: adults RP15,000; children RP7,500
  • Where: located in the village of Padangtegal, outside the town of Ubud
  • How to get there: most tourists ride by van to Padangtegal