Meet the monkeys in Ubud

Families, backpackers, fashionistas etc. flock to the main thoroughfare of Jalan Raya, attracted by the clothing, jewellery and accessory shops, restaurants of all kinds and trendy bars... And let's face it, there's no shortage of things to satisfy consumerist desires, undermining the authenticity so often proclaimed.

To escape the sometimes annoying rush of tourists, we recommend visiting the Ubud market between 4am and 8.30am. You'll have the chance to enjoy a charming food market with exotic fruits and local breakfasts, before the stalls are replaced by souvenirs for the tourists. From 8.30am onwards, turn back: the market will be invaded by a compact crowd.

The Monkey Forest is located close to Ubud town centre and within walking distance of the guest houses and resorts along the main roads of Jalan Hanoman. It is about 1.8 km or less than 5 minutes' drive from Ubud Palace (Puri Saren) and Ubud Art Market. So you can easily get there from the market.

The villagers consider the monkey forest to be an important spiritual, economic, educational and conservation centre for the village.

There are around 749 monkeys known as "Balinese monkeys" living in this sanctuary. They are divided into 6 groups of between 100 and 120 monkeys.

For animal lovers, this is the place to be: you can get up close and personal with the monkeys, and even let them climb on your shoulders if you're brave enough! The luxuriant nature of the forest may also surprise you, with its 186 species of trees spread over 12.5 hectares of forest.

In the heart of the forest, you'll also find Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, which dates back to the 14th century. This temple is dedicated to Durga, the goddess of death. It is also known as the Temple of Death, as it is said to be haunted by evil spirits. Another site of interest is the Pura Prajapati, dedicated to village funerals. Here you can see relics and mossy statues hidden under dense foliage with little sunlight, giving this site a very impressive mystical aspect.

The Ubud Monkey Forest is open to visitors from 08:30 to 18:00 every day, and the ticket office closes at 17:30. If you want to make the most of your visit, we advise you to come at 2pm, as the monkeys have already been fed by previous visitors and are therefore less likely to pester you for food. If you do not wish to interact with the monkeys, it is not advisable to bring bottles, food or even plastic bags with you.

When it comes to clothing, we advise you to cover your legs and shoulders for two reasons: in case the monkeys climb on you (their little claws can sometimes be painful), and because you will be passing sacred places in the forest, so you need to respect the dress code in force.

Dance performances, in particular, come in a multitude of genres (Wayang Kulit, Kecak, among others) that pay tribute to the fertile fervour of the island's inhabitants. While some hotels can offer evening performances to their guests, the architecture of the temples provides a much more enchanting backdrop for the shows.

One of the most magical places to see a dance performance is definitely Pura Taman Saraswati. You can see superb dance performances in the evening in this enchanting place, nicknamed "the water palace", where water lilies and lotus flowers reign supreme.