Bali’s monkey forests were some of the most chaotic, hilarious, and slightly nerve-racking stops on our Ubud itinerary. We visited both Sacred Monkey Forest and Sangeh Monkey Forest, and while both involved plenty of monkey business, they were very different experiences. Sacred Monkey Forest is the big, iconic Ubud classic with mossy temples, jungle paths, and monkeys roaming like they own the place. Sangeh Monkey Forest is smaller and quicker to visit, but because you can feed the monkeys there, it felt a lot more like walking into a tiny jungle snack heist. Both were memorable, but your best choice depends on whether you want scenic monkey watching or full-contact monkey negotiations.

💡 Tips: Surviving the Monkey Business

• 🐒 Choose the Right Monkey Forest: Sacred Monkey Forest is larger, more scenic, and more iconic. Sangeh is smaller, quicker, and much more interactive because feeding is allowed.
• ⏰ Allow More Time for Sacred Monkey Forest: The grounds are expansive, with jungle paths, temples, bridges, and plenty to explore beyond the monkeys.
• 🍌 Know the Feeding Rules: Feeding is not allowed at Sacred Monkey Forest, while Sangeh includes peanuts and bananas with admission. Once the Sangeh monkeys spot the food, expect them to get very close and very interested.
• 👜 Protect the Snacks: Sangeh monkeys are expert thieves. Keep food bags closed and never set them down unless you are ready to lose them.
• 📸 Decide How Close You Want to Get: At Sangeh, food can entice monkeys onto your shoulders or head for photos, but be prepared for a very hands-on experience.
• 😎 Secure Loose Items: Keep sunglasses, hats, phones, and bags secure. Zipped or crossbody bags are safest.
• 🚗 Pair Them With the Right Day: Sacred Monkey Forest fits easily into central Ubud. Sangeh works well with a driver day toward Jatiluwih or Ulun Danu Beratan.
• ⏰ Avoid Peak Crowds: Visit Sacred Monkey Forest earlier or later in the day, but leave enough time to explore the grounds.
• 🧼 Bring Hand Sanitizer: Especially useful after feeding monkeys, touching railings, or having one climb on you.
• 💉 Have a Bite Plan: Avoid teasing or grabbing monkeys and seek medical care promptly for any bite or scratch. We chose pre-exposure rabies vaccination as an extra precaution, but you still need treatment after a potential exposure.
• 🐵 Remember They Are Wild Animals: Do not touch babies, grab monkeys, or pull food away once offered. Stay calm if one gets close.

🍌 Sangeh Monkey Forest: Up Close & a Little Bananas

Sangeh Monkey Forest is smaller, faster to visit, and much more interactive, which is a nice way of saying the monkeys are absolutely aware you brought snacks. Your ticket includes peanuts and bananas to feed them, and the second you have food in your hand, you become the most interesting person in the forest. If you entice them, they may even climb onto your shoulders or head, which makes for a memorable photo but also feels a little like you accidentally volunteered as a jungle gym. The monkeys here were much more aggressive than the ones at Sacred Monkey Forest, and I learned this the hard way when I set my food bag down for one second and it was immediately stolen. Gone. No negotiation. No goodbye. Just monkey crime in broad daylight. It was hilarious and memorable, but I would only recommend Sangeh if you are comfortable with monkeys getting very close, climbing on you, and potentially treating your belongings like a buffet. Scott loved the monkey interactions and preferred this monkey forest.

🎥 Highlights: YouTube Short, TikTok, Reel

🐵 Sacred Monkey Forest: Temples, Jungle & Monkey Business

Sacred Monkey Forest is the classic Ubud monkey experience, and the monkeys absolutely deliver. We saw baby monkeys clinging to their mothers, monkeys barrel rolling, fighting, climbing statues and temple ruins, and generally causing nonstop mischief. The main feeding area was especially entertaining because you could just stand back and watch all the monkey drama unfold. Compared to Sangeh, the monkeys here felt a little less aggressive since visitors are not allowed to feed them, which made the experience feel more controlled. I preferred Sacred Monkey Forest because I loved the combination of monkeys, temples, and jungle scenery, and appreciated being able to watch the chaos without carrying the snacks everyone wanted.

🎥 Highlights: YouTube, TikTok, Reel

🐉 Dragon Bridge, Jungle Paths & Temple Setting

Some of our favorite parts of Sacred Monkey Forest were actually the scenery. Giant banyan trees with hanging roots tower over jungle pathways, moss-covered statues line the ravines, and hidden water features make parts of the sanctuary feel straight out of an adventure movie. The Dragon Bridge was a highlight, with carved dragon figures, lush jungle all around, and monkeys climbing nearby. The sanctuary is much larger than Sangeh, so leave extra time to explore the temples, bridges, ravines, and walking paths instead of treating it as just a quick monkey stop.

🎥 Dragon Bridge and Banyan Trees: YouTube, TikTok, Reel