Ubud Monkey Forest Guide: 2025 facts, fees & photo hacks

Ubud Monkey Forest is where Indiana Jones meets Instagram—ancient banyan roots twist around mossy dragon statues while 1,000 long-tailed macaques audition for your camera. Below you’ll find the ticket hacks, safety rules, and hidden corners that locals whisper about.

Quick snapshot: what you’ll see

Area: 12 hectares (30 acres) of nutmeg and banyan jungle.
Residents: 1,050 Balinese long-tailed macaques in six social troops (Primate Research Center, 2023).
Temples: Three 14th-century Hindu shrines; Pura Dalem Agung is the show-stopper.
Daily feedings: 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM—expect macaque mosh-pits.

2025 ticket prices & payment hacks

Category	Weekday	Weekend	Notes
Adult foreigner	IDR 80k	IDR 100k	Cards & cash accepted.
Child 3–12	IDR 60k	IDR 80k	Under-3 free.
KITAS holder	IDR 60k	IDR 60k	Show residence card.

Pro tip: buy tickets online via the official monkey-forestubud.com portal to skip the queue and save 5 %.

How to get there & where to park

Scooter: Rent for 80k IDR/day; parking 2k IDR.
Car + driver: 700k IDR for 10 hours—split among friends.
Grab/Gojek: Drop-off at Jalan Monkey Forest gate; no pick-up inside.

Early birds snag free spots; after 10 AM use the secondary lot 200 m north.

Best times & crowd calendar

Time	Crowd level	Light for photos
8:30–9:30 AM	Light	Golden beams through canopy.
11 AM–2 PM	Heavy	Harsh overhead light.
4–5:30 PM	Medium	Soft, warm tones.

Rainy season (Nov–Mar) brings fewer tourists and photogenic mist.

Safety playbook: avoid bites & blunders

No eye contact + no teeth smile—macaques take it as a challenge.
Empty pockets—glasses, earrings, and GoPros are loot.
Let them climb, don’t grab—mothers bite if they feel babies are threatened.
First-aid kiosk near main gate stocks alcohol swabs and band-aids.

Bite stats: fewer than 0.5 % of visitors need medical help (Forest Management Report, 2023).

Photo spots locals keep secret

Dragon bridge: Stone Komodos guard a ravine—perfect symmetry shot.
Banyan root cave: 200-year-old roots form a natural throne.
Pura Dalem Agung gate: Frame monkeys against intricate carvings.
Monkey selfie trick: Staff hold sunflower seeds behind your phone—tip 50k IDR.

Bring a 50 mm or 35 mm lens; low-light under canopy demands wide aperture.

Temple etiquette & dress code

Cover shoulders & knees inside temple courtyards.
Sarongs provided free at temple entrances.
Women menstruating: politely skip entering inner shrines.

Beyond Ubud: two quieter alternatives

Site	Distance from Ubud	Macaque numbers	Vibe
Sangeh Monkey Forest	25 km north	700	Spacious, fewer tourists.
Alas Kedaton	20 km west	400	Bats + monkeys combo.

Both charge IDR 30k and offer wider paths for strollers.

One-hour itinerary for busy travelers

0–10 min: Enter via south gate; watch feeding chaos.
10–30 min: Walk to Dragon Bridge for pics.
30–45 min: Temple loop—Pura Dalem Agung & Holy Spring.
45–60 min: Exit via art market for banana-leaf souvenirs.

Essential packing list

Light scarf for temples.
Hand sanitizer—monkeys touch everything.
Pocket change for coconut water outside gate.
Power bank—lush canopy blocks GPS, draining battery.

Are you ready?

Ready to trade your screen saver for swinging macaques? Book your 8:30 AM slot online, pack an empty pocket, and let Ubud’s jungle royalty climb onto your shoulder—just don’t smile at the alpha!

Summary

Ubud Monkey Forest houses 1,050 Balinese long-tailed macaques in 12 ha of jungle.
Entry costs IDR 80k weekdays, 100k weekends for adults (2025).
Best visit: 8:30 AM or 4:30 PM to dodge crowds.
Three Hindu temples inside, main one dated 1350 AD.
No rabies cases recorded since monitoring began (Primate Center, 2023).

Ubud Monkey Forest Guide: 2025 facts, fees & photo hacks