Ah, yes. Bali’s, Ubud Monkey Forest, the place that’s simultaneously everyone’s favorite and simultaneously least favorite Bali attraction.
My first visit was this summer when I was solo backpacking across different countries in Southeast Asia, I knew if I was in Bali, I’d have to go to the forest.
My experience here was pretty rough to say the least, I remember practically walking out in tears.
In fact, upon leaving the forest, I ran to the first cafe I saw, and googled “Can I get an infection from monkey pee in my eye?”, as I sipped on my passionfruit smoothie.
The Ubud Monkey forest didn’t hold back on me to say the least.
TO be fair, I was navigating the forest by myself and I could see how it might have been a more enjoyable experience had it not just been me navigating my way through a forest of 1200 monkeys….but I digress…..
Here’s 10 tips to have your very best and very safest Ubud Monkey Forest visit.
1. Book a Guide
You can definitely explore the grounds on your own and still get to see all the monkeys, which is what I did. But I immediately wished I would’ve just booked a personal guided tour off somewhere like Trip Advisor.
Not only do the tour guides have extensive knowledge of the Monkey Forest that make your trip that much more interesting, but they capture and stage the most insane photo ops for you with the monkeys.
Seeing as it can be really dangerous to approach the monkeys if you’re not a professional, you can’t really get these photos otherwise.
And let’s be honest, if you’re going to a forest full of hundreds of monkeys, you’re gonna want those pics.
2. Don’t Wear Loose Articles of Clothing/ Accessories
I cannot say this with enough seriousness. No sunglasses. No earrings. No necklaces, hats, bracelets, or flowy pants/ shirts. Nada!
These monkeys are next level mischievous and will absolutely rip anything off of you that they can to either eat, or use to try and blackmail you into giving them food.
Take this from someone who almost got pantsed by these monkeys in front of a ton of people. Be conscious of your outfit choices.
They’re calculated and people are constantly losing their possessions to them not realizing just how serious it is.
If you forget about this up until the point of entering the forest, don’t worry, you can just go to the front desk where you get your ticket and they’ll hold onto anything for you.
3. Avoid Eye Contact With the Monkeys
Remember how I mentioned the monkeys can be rather mischievous? Yea, they can also be quite aggressive.
There are signs everywhere upon entering the Monkey forest that will tell you the rules of interacting with the monkeys. The first of which being, DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE MONKEYS!! It has something to do with being taken as a threat and demonstration of dominance to them, they will get aggressive.
4. Don’t Bring in Outside Food
People feeding the monkeys is part of what makes them so aggressive. If you have any food on you, the monkeys will smell it and raid your bag or harass you until you give it to them.
When you’re in a forest that’s their territory, actively surrounded by hundreds of monkeys, trust me, that’s not something you want.
There will probably be a table selling bananas outside as you enter the forest. The same rules apply, play it safe, you don’t want to give them a reason to engage with you.
5. Interact With Monkeys from a Respectful Distance
You’ll see people interacting with the monkeys in different ways, when I went I was determined to get a selfie with one on my shoulder, which ended up being the most terrifying 30 seconds of my life.
(Cool photo, but really not sure if it was all that worth it.)
The fact is, the monkeys can be really unpredictable. Unless you’re with a guide I would try to not interact directly with them.
The forest is huge and you’ll get the opportunity to observe the monkeys doing different activities, with plenty of photo opportunities.
You can admire them from a distance, or as they cross your path.
6. Accidents Can Happen
I don’t want to discourage anyone too much from wanting to visit Ubud’s Monkey Forest, but just know accidents DO happen, and often.
When I was in Bali, it felt like every other person I talked to was someone or new someone that had some kind of accident occur with getting a little too up close and personal with a monkey or just generally not being aware of what was going on around them.
The Monkey Forest should be respected in all its wild beauty.
The animals aren’t trained and if you aren’t being respectful of them you may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.
When I went to the Monkey Forest I had already been warned by several people how careful you have to be there and still, I practically had my pants almost pulled off by a monkey, my phone almost stolen, and was even showered in monkey pee.
An eventful visit to say the least.
7. Be aware of Your Surroundings
Monkeys are going to be roaming around everywhere in the forest. Sometimes they’ll be chillin on the bench you wanted to sit on or blocking the path you were walking.
Be aware of this, if you can tell that there’s some unfriendly monkeys on the stairs that you were going up, go around or wait for them to leave.
(I almost had my pants pulled off by a monkey when I wasn’t paying attention. I had sat on a bench, and unknowingly one of the monkeys crawled next to me and grabbed a piece of fabric hanging from my pants. By the time I tried to get up and walk away, he wouldn’t let go and started pulling. Obviously there wasn’t much I could do, so I stayed calm and just kept taking steps in the opposite direction. He hissed at me and showed his fangs, but I just kept walking slowly and calmly. Eventually he let go.)
A lot of accidents in the forest can be avoided as long as you’re being aware of your surroundings and where the monkeys are around you.
8. If Monkeys Jump on You, Stay Calm
The best thing to do if a monkey does jump on you, whether you’re seated or standing, is remain completely calm. This will also be written on signs a you enter the forest.
You want to stay completely calm and slowly get up, if you’re seated, and start walking away. Eventually, as you move, the monkey will just hop off you.
(As you can tell I did not read any tip list before entering the forest, I would not recommend doing this with the monkeys, unless you are with a professional)
9. Hold Onto Your Belongings (Especially Your Phone!)
I’m sure it goes without saying at this point, but you want to hold onto your belongings.
By the time you’ve made sure you don’t have any hats or jewelry on you, you might forget that a purse or your phone can be just as easy to snatch.
Hold onto your phone as you take photos, and keep one hand on your bag.
10. Have Fun!
This list may have seem rather serious, but really it’s just to ensure you have a stress free Monkey Forest Visit.
As always if you have any questions about my time at the Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary feel free to leave a comment down below.
Do you have any upcoming trips planned? Whether it’s to the Monkey Forest, Bali, or Asia in general, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!!