If you’re heading to Bali and monkeys are on your travel bucket list, then you may have included the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud on your itinerary. Whilst this is a great option, I want to share an option that is much less explored. Sangeh Monkey Forest is a great alternative to the busy and crowded Ubud Monkey Forest or the thieving and scary monkeys of Uluwatu Temple.
What is Sangeh Monkey Forest?
Pala Sangeh Forest and the temples that reside inside have been overrun with over 600 long-tailed macaques. The monkeys here are fed and well looked after and you can visit from 8am – 5pm daily.
Where is Sangeh Monkey Forest?
This hidden gem is just 30 minutes west of Ubud or 45 minutes north-east of Canggu (depending on traffic) in the small village of Sangeh.
Why choose Sangeh Monkey Forest?
The monkeys here are much more relaxed, you can get monkey selfies, feed them and not be surrounded by hundreds of other tourists.
Here are some reasons why I would recommend Sangeh Monkey Forest over Ubud:
Value for money
Sangeh Monkey Forest is a little cheaper than Ubud but besides that you get a few things included that make the experience that little bit better. Entry is 75k (less than $5 USD) which includes a bag of peanuts to feed the monkeys and a bottle of water for yourself. You can also pay an extra 25k to feed the fish on the property.
Ubud Monkey Forest charges 80k, which is roughly the same price but you don’t get anything apart from your entry included. You are not allowed to feed the monkeys here or engage with them in any way. There are many warning signs telling you to be careful due to the monkeys fiery nature.
Monkeys attitude
In Ubud you have to be very careful with your belongings. You will notice the monkeys try to steal hats, sunglasses, bags and even phones. After decades of being a busy tourist attraction they know that these items are valuable to humans and they use them as bartering tools for food. It’s dangerous to take food in with you so this means you rely on the temple guards or workers to try to barter for you but at such a busy place you may not see them very often. The monkeys are also are not afraid to jump on people, open your zips and take what they want. They can be aggressive and snarl, scratch or bite.
Monkeys in Sangeh were very different during my visit. They were super relaxed, I walked around with sunglasses on my head the whole time and when I asked a temple guard if I should put them away he said no. “They only want the food,” he said. Monkeys will climb on you and get close, but only for the food and will fight with each other over it but not the people giving them the food. Smart move by Sangeh. There were also many guards around to help.
Monkey selfie
At Sangeh Monkey Forest there are workers around the grounds that have their own food stash and can help you get the famous monkey selfie. Just make sure to tip them for their time and help (I would suggest 20-30k). You can also pay to have one join you for the whole trip as an additional safety precaution and for an additional fee.
In Ubud, if you wish to take selfies, they do have monkey selfie stations, but they are not open all the time. If they are open, you pay 50k and staff will help you to get a selfie. Unfortunately it seems to rarely be open and was closed on both of my most recent visits. There is also no way to know if it will be operating or not as it seems to be random, maybe depending on a few factors.
Ambience
Ubud is super busy so not only are you surrounded by monkeys but people too. Sangeh was such a more peaceful experience, with only a few other tourists and monkeys very much outnumbering humans.
Location
Sangeh is a small village with minimal traffic coming through. Getting there is a lot more stress free than having to navigate and sit in traffic on the busy roads of Ubud.
Tips to visiting Sangeh Monkey Forest
Be careful
Whilst I do mention often how much more relaxed the monkeys here are, they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable. Always exercise a degree of caution and care around them. You are still not allowed to touch them unless they climb onto you which is only recommended with the help of one of the guides/temple workers. Don’t look into their eyes for long as they can see this as a threat and may snarl at you or get aggressive.
Visit as a stop on a day trip
Sangeh is a perfect stop on a day trip to some of Central or North Bali’s best kept secrets. The village of Sangeh is small and there isn’t much else to see, so I wouldn’t recommend dedicating a whole day to visiting.
Instead stop here on the way to, or on the way back from places like Leke Leke Waterfall, Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. This private tour covers all of these stops at a reasonable price.
Another organised tour option also includes a visit to Ulun Danu Temple and the mountains nearby which are also home to a lot of long-tailed macaques. This stops at a Botanical Gardens and another famous temple on the beach called Tanah Lot.
Or book a fully customisable private tour and plan your own itinerary. Use discount code: WANDERLUSTKLOOK to save 10% on your trips (save this code as it works across all experiences with Klook).
If you need some help deciding where to go in Bali, I have created a whole map full of options. Check out my Bali Google Map Pins and use the code BLOG for 10% off full access.
Considering visiting more waterfalls on your day trip? Check out our guide to all 101 waterfalls in Bali.
Don’t take food in
Apart from the peanuts you are given, don’t take any food in with you that you aren’t willing to lose. Even if you are okay with losing it, you just never know how the monkeys may react and if they might get aggressive in the pursuit of acquiring your tasty treats.
I had my backpack on when I visited recently and forgot I had a mangosteen in one of the front pockets. A monkey climbed onto my back and took the fruit out almost as soon as I got into the forest. I didn’t mind and no harm done, but if you don’t want to part with any of your snacks then leave them in the car.
Don’t get too close to the baby monkeys
As cute as they are, the older monkeys are very protective of the younger ones and will not appreciate any approach or attempt to touch. Respect their space and admire from afar. This goes towards all of the monkeys but especially the babies.
