7 Places To See Wild Monkeys in Bali (Safe & Ethical)

Seeing wild monkeys in Bali is an unforgettable experience. These cheeky, tree-hopping locals are an important part of Balinese culture. They roam freely across the island, so you can have genuine, ethical encounters in their natural habitat.

After exploring the entire island, we’ve listed some of our favourite places we’ve come across wild monkeys. Plus, a few tips to stay safe and respectful while enjoying their company.

What To Know About Monkeys in Bali

1. There are two types of monkeys in Bali

In Bali, you'll mostly come across long-tailed macaques (left). But if you visit West Bali National Park, you may also spot the endangered Javan lutung (right). The latter are simply called ‘black monkeys’ by the locals because of their fur colour.

2. Monkeys are sacred guardians of temples

In Bali, monkeys are sacred and are considered to embody the Hindu monkey god Hanuman. If you attend a traditional dance in Bali, you might spot some performers dressed as monkeys – this is Hanuman and his monkey army. He's a symbol of strength and loyalty in Hindu mythology.

Monkeys are allowed to roam freely across Bali, especially at temples. They are seen as spiritual guardians that protect the sacred grounds from negative energies - please be respectful of them!

3. They can be very cheeky, so always be cautious

We’ve noticed that the monkeys behave differently in each area of Bali, depending on the level of human interaction they're used to.

Those at popular spots like Uluwatu Temple and Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest are quite cheeky [read: little sh*ts] and often try to jump on people and steal possessions. Whereas those in quieter areas, such as West Bali National Park, are more timid around humans.

It’s better to be safe than sorry and always act with caution. Most monkeys aren't aggressive. But they are still wild animals and will defend themselves if they feel threatened. Avoid feeding or interacting with them unless you are with a knowledgeable guide, and never taunt or provoke them.

Best Places To See Monkeys in Bali

1. West Bali National Park

Our favourite experience seeing monkeys in Bali was on a safari through West Bali National Park. This large protected area is the only place in Bali where you can see the endangered black monkeys (aka Javan lutung monkeys).

The black monkeys are very shy, so it takes a while to find them hiding up in the trees. But it’s worth it when you do. They are very cute, with glossy fur and a messy human-like fringe around their faces.

We also saw hundreds of macaques here, who were much more confident and often chased our truck along the road, hoping for scraps of food.

Our safari was organised by West Bali Explorer, who drove us around the park in a stylish converted VW safari van. We had two local guides and a pair of binoculars, which helped us also spot endangered Javan rusa deer (aka Menjangan deer) and some HUGE monitor lizards.

While some activities can be booked at the national park entrance, we recommend booking in advance so you can use a reputable company like West Bali Explorer and get a better price.

To enter the protected area, all visitors must pay a fee of 200,000 IDR ⓘ on weekdays and 300,000 IDR ⓘ on weekends and holidays (this was included in the tour price with West Bali Explorer).

2. Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud

The Sacred Monkey Forest is one of the top attractions in Ubud, where over a thousand cheeky long-tailed macaques run wild in a large nature reserve, within walking distance from the town centre.

The forest is a great place to see the monkeys play and interact in their natural habitat. It's also very photogenic, filled with ancient temples covered in moss and vines, bridges, rivers, and forest trails - like something from Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.

However, the monkeys here have become very accustomed to people. Maybe a little too much so. They’ll often approach you and even jump on you. It makes a great photo opportunity if you’re comfortable with that, but it could be overwhelming if you’re nervous.

While we didn't have anything stolen, we’ve heard from several people who have, so be sure to use the on-site lockers to store anything loose. And if you do want to take your phone or other items in, use a phone strap and super secure bag - the monkeys can undo zips!

Tickets to visit the Monkey Forest cost 80,000 IDR ⓘ on weekdays and 100,000 IDR ⓘ on weekends. You can buy tickets at the door or book online in advance to skip the line.

The monkeys aren’t confined to any forest boundary, so even without entering, you can usually see them on nearby roads. We stayed at Kaamala Luxury Resort near the Monkey Forest and they came right to the pool outside our room!

3. Sangeh Monkey Forest, Ubud

Sangeh Monkey Forest is another nature reserve where you can see hundreds of long-tailed macaques close to Ubud. It’s a slightly less chaotic option with calmer monkeys and fewer people compared to the original Sacred Monkey Forest.

While the reserve itself is quite large, only a small section is open to tourists, so we were only there for around 30 minutes. You can see an ancient temple and walk along the forest trail where many monkeys hang out, including lots of adorable babies during our visit

Included with the entrance fee was a small bag of nuts to feed the monkeys. At first, this felt overwhelming as they all hurdled towards us for a share of the food. But to our surprise, most were fairly gentle and waited for us to hand them food out.

It was reassuring that many staff members were on hand to keep the monkeys under control and take photos. You can let them climb on you, or stand back and they won’t bother you.

Being a 30-minute drive from central Ubud, it may be harder to fit Sangeh Monkey Forest into your itinerary. But we combined it with the water purification at Taman Beji Griya Waterfall for a lovely day trip from Ubud.

4. Bedugul/Wanagiri, Central Highlands

In the jungles of Northern Bali, the road between Bedugul and Munduk runs through a village called Wanagiri, which literally translates to “forest of monkeys”.

Given the name, you shouldn't be too surprised to hear that this stretch of road is one of the best places to spot wild monkeys in Bali, so keep your eyes peeled.

If you’re feeling brave and want to feed them, there’s a pullover (here) where you’re guaranteed to find monkeys hanging out during the day. You’ll usually find locals selling nuts and bananas to feed them for around 20,000 IDR ⓘ.

The monkeys here are some of the calmest and friendliest we've experienced in Bali. They waited patiently beside us for their turn and gently took the food straight from our hands.

But do remember that these are still wild animals and this is not an official tourist attraction, so take extra care.

5. Uluwatu Temple, Bukit Peninsula

Next up are Bali’s most infamous monkeys, who’ve even made it to the BBC and Netflix after being featured by David Attenborough for their thieving behaviour (watch a clip here).

These are the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple, which sits high on the clifftops of the Bukit Peninsula. This important sea temple is best known for its nightly Kecak dance, which has become one of the top things to do in Uluwatu.

While waiting to enter the amphitheatre for the performance, we took the opportunity to explore the rest of the temple, where we saw hundreds of monkeys roaming wild. They also have a rare albino monkey, although he has to be kept in a cage as he gets bullied by the other monkeys.

Of all the monkeys we’ve encountered in Bali, these are the most mischievous. In one evening, we saw them steal multiple pairs of glasses (once even from on top of someone's head), a full handbag, and a mobile phone, which the staff luckily recovered by bartering with food.

While it’s amusing to watch them play, having your belongings stolen could ruin your trip, so take extra care. Take the bare minimum with you into the temple! Leave your possessions at home, in your scooter, or with a driver. Or have an extra secure bag and wear it on your front.

We wrote a full guide about watching the Kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple, including one big mistake we made, so you can avoid doing the same.

6. Pulaki Temple, North West Bali

North West Bali is home to some of the most beautiful temples in Bali which are worth visiting in their own right. Many are also home to small troops of monkeys, which locals see as spiritual guardians of the temples.

The one we want to highlight is Permuteran's Pulaki Temple (Pura Pulaki), which is one of Bali’s important sea temples, a ring of temples around the coast that protects the island from evil spirits. But it’s also earned itself the nickname of North Bali’s 'monkey temple'.

According to local legends, the temple was built in the 1500s by a Javanese Hindu priest named Dang Hyang Nirartha, who was guided to the site through the jungle by a troupe of macaques.

Their descendants still roam freely around the temple today. Inside, many of the shrines and statues have been fenced off to protect them from the mischievous monkeys who will climb on anything.

During our visit, the monkeys were everywhere and always on the lookout for food, though they were quite shy and didn’t try to approach us. The temple was free to visit, with sarongs provided (we recommend making a small donation for upkeep).

While in the area, combine this temple with the colourful Pura Melanting, which is one of our favourite temples on the island!

7. Sang Hyang Ambu Gates, East Bali

If you’re heading to East Bali, you’ll probably pass Sang Hyang Ambu Gates, which sit right beside the main road. These are candi bentar (entrance gates) to Gumang Temple at the top of the hill.

The unique design of the gates, combining ancient Balinese architecture with a Stone Age influence, has made them a popular photo spot. But it’s also a perfect place to pull over and spot dozens of monkeys who come down from the hills where they live and congregate near the roadside.

Though we’ve never had any trouble with the monkeys here, we’ve heard of some tourists having belongings snatched – so it’s best to leave everything in the car while you get out to see them.

Some food vendors here have branched out into selling bananas that you can feed to the monkeys for a small fee.

FAQs

Is Alas Kedaton a good place to see monkeys in Bali?

Another alternative to the popular Monkey Forest in Ubud is Alas Kedaton, which is around an hour drive from Central Ubud. This is even more off-the-beaten-path than Sangeh, however, we’ve chosen not to include it as a recommendation, as they also have caged bats for photos, which we’d prefer not to support.

Can you see orangutans in Bali?

While orangutans are native to two islands in Indonesia, they are not native to Bali and cannot be seen in the wild.

Unfortunately, a few tourist attractions keep them in captivity for visitors to interact with. Please keep in mind that these attractions don’t have a good reputation for ethics, which is why we haven’t mentioned them.

If you’d like to see orangutans in Indonesia, we recommend visiting the islands of Borneo or Sumatra, where they can still be found in the wild.

Can you catch rabies from monkeys in Bali?

Yes, you can catch rabies from monkeys, bats, and dogs in Bali. While they are usually calm, monkeys are wild animals and can be aggressive when they feel threatened.

In 2024, there were 4 human deaths from rabies in Bali, though all were linked to dog bites, not monkeys (source).

What to do if a monkey bites or scratches you?

If a monkey bite or scratch breaks the skin, it should be treated as a potential exposure to rabies. If you’re at a regulated tourist attraction, such as the Sacred Monkey Forest or Uluwatu Temple, alert staff straight away. Otherwise, wash the area well and seek your own medical attention.

Even if you’ve had the rabies vaccine, you’ll still need some form of treatment. There are plenty of places in Bali that can provide this.

Don’t delay treatment – the onset of rabies is completely preventable if you get treated quickly enough.