Ubud and the Monkey Forest

The inland town of Ubud in the centre of the island is the cultural heartland of Bali. Ubud was made famous by the film Eat, Pray, Love, and has become one of the most popular must see places in Bali. Some tourists choose to base themselves in Ubud, but almost everybody visit on a day trip while in Bali. One of the most popular things to do in Ubud is visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest, also known as the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. It’s a natural forest sanctuary home to a horde of mischievous grey long-tailed macaques, and is in easy walking distance from the centre of Ubud.
Besides watching the playful monkeys swinging through jungle canopies, lazing around quite and feeding on bananas, deep inside the forest lays some beautifully atmospheric 14th century temples. These are complete with guardian statues covered in moss and shady banyan trees which give the forest a mystical atmosphere.

You can visit Ubud on a day trip and combine visiting the Monkey Forest with seeing the Tegalalang rice terraces and the Ubud Royal Palace. It’s also worth checking out the exquisite local arts and crafts at the Ubud Art Market and having lunch at one of Ubud’s healthy vegan and vegetarian cafes overlooking the scenic rice paddies.