Sangeh Monkey Forest: A Monkey Jungle Near Ubud, Bali

The Sangeh Monkey Forest is a big protected jungle area in central Bali with hundreds of friendly (but wild) monkeys to photograph and play with.

This place is not nearly as well known as the famous monkey forest in Ubud, but it has some of its own great features that make it a worthwhile addition to your Bali itinerary.

Sangeh is well managed and the Bali monkeys are fantastic fun to interact with, as usual. No matter who you are, you’re guaranteed to have some memorable experiences here!

This travel guide will explain how to get to Sangeh, current entry ticket prices, and everything else you need to know before you go!

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Where To Stay

The Kayon Resort

Adiwana Unagi Suites

Pondok Serayu

Umah Dajane Guesthouse

The Sangeh Monkey Forest

The Sangeh Monkey Forest (pronounced Sang – Ay) is still a hidden gem.

Compared to the place in Ubud this one is much quieter, cheaper, and less crowded. It’s a bit bigger too, with 14 hectares (35 acres) of jungle.

These are all reasons why Sangeh has become a favorite spot for locals to do their prewedding photo shoots. You can almost always see couples doing traditional Balinese prewedding photos here, which is another neat perk of visiting.

To top it off, the monkeys at Sangeh have better manners than the ones at Ubud. They don’t have ‘human interaction overload’ seven days a week, so they’re much calmer and better behaved.

With that said, both monkey forests have their own advantages. The one in Ubud is more accessible and it has some amazing statues and banyan trees that are great for photos.

I would have a hard time choosing between Sangeh or Ubud. They’re both worth visiting if you have time!

Ancient temples

Balinese prewedding photos at Sangeh Monkey Forest

Sangeh prewedding photos

The monkey whisperer!

What To Expect

The monkeys at Sangeh are tamer than the ones at Ubud, but they’re still wild animals.

I’ve seen the Bali monkeys crawl on peoples’ faces, pull down women’s tops, steal water bottles, steal sunglasses (don’t wear those), and just flop down and take naps in the middle of the walking path.

Somehow I’ve miraculously escaped being peed on, even though I’ve let countless monkeys climb on my shoulders over the years.

With that said, this is a place where you have a decent chance of being bitten or peed on. If you don’t like monkeys, then stay far away!

Girl holding a Bali monkey at the Sangeh Monkey Forest Bali monkeys at the Sangeh Monkey Forest

Who, me?!

We’ve gotten a few bites and scratches, but nothing serious, and the monkeys don’t really have any diseases to worry about.

The staff at Sangeh can follow you around and give the monkeys peanuts to sit on your lap or shoulder for photos.

This works great, and the staff carry a slingshot to warn the monkeys if they misbehave. One look at the slingshot and troublemaking monkeys hop into the jungle.

Just remember to give the staff a small tip for their help!

Bali monkeys at Sangeh

Sangeh temple tower

Things NOT To Do

Do NOT bring any kind of valuables. The Bali monkeys will steal them.
Do NOT wear glasses or sunglasses. The monkeys will try to steal them off of your face.
Do NOT bring outside food or hide it in your pockets. The monkeys will find it, and they will not be happy about you hiding it.
Do NOT run from the monkeys. They know what this means.
Do NOT look the monkeys in the eye and grin at them. They will freak out if you do this, especially the bigger ones. For some reason they take it as a sign of aggression.
Do NOT touch or grab the Bali monkeys. They won’t let anyone pick them up, and they hate being touched. Let them do the touching.

Girl holding a Bali monkey at Sangeh

The Sangeh Temples

The Sangeh experience is complimented by a fantastic jungle and several ancient Balinese temples.

The trees are incredibly tall, and it’s a fascinating place to explore. There are 4 different temples spread out in the forest, so it helps to have a map (they give a free map with your ticket).

These Hindu temples were established by the Mengwi kingdom in the 17th century, with the main temple (Pura Bukit Sari Sangeh) being built by the royal family of Mengwi.

Sangeh temple

Sangeh monkeys

Hours & Entrance Fees

Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
Ticket (Foreigners): 30k IDR ($2)
Ticket (Locals): 15k IDR

How To Get There

The Sangeh Monkey Forest is located about 30 minutes northwest of Ubud, Bali.

From Canggu or Sanur, the drive to Sangeh takes about 45-60 minutes depending on traffic.

The best way to get there is to rent a scooter or hire a private car and driver (both of these can be booked online).

Two other great places to visit near Sangeh are the Taman Ayun Temple and the Kayu Putih Giant Tree. Happy travels!

Mom monkey and baby monkey

Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental

If you want to explore Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English speaking driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.

Their price is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. That's the total price for the whole car + driver + petrol! It's a great deal. They also offer affordable hotel transfers from the airport.

If you'd rather travel by motorbike, they have that too. Their scooter rentals start at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, rain coat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.

We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.

Book Now: Bali Private Driver / Scooter Rental