Sangeh Monkey Forest — Attraction in Pulau Bali

I have mixed feelings about this place. At first glance, I thought it was a friendly and welcoming spot. The grounds are very clean, the entry price is affordable, and the overall ambiance feels peaceful, and family-friendly.

That said, there are a few things to be aware of. Some of the locals are quite pushy about selling photos, which can take away from the experience. The monkeys themselves are also aggressive. Our tour guide warned us not to look them in the eyes since it’s seen as a sign of aggression, and unfortunately, we witnessed a girl get bit. After that, the excitement of seeing the monkeys quickly turned into unease, and we didn’t feel comfortable continuing.

On the positive side, the forest itself feels sacred and serene — You can definitely sense its cultural and spiritual importance. The staff are friendly, and our tour guide was incredibly informative, which helped balance out some of the discomfort. There’s plenty of parking available (though you do have to pay for it), and one thing to note is that there’s no Wi-Fi on the grounds, so you’ll need to rely on your cellular connection for the most part.

Pro Tips: • The bathrooms are located outside the monkey forest, and there’s a 5,000 RP fee to use them. • They don’t ask for donations, but the facilities aren’t the cleanest. Toilet paper is limited, so bring your own just in case. • Stay aware of your surroundings and avoid eye contact with the monkeys to reduce the risk of getting bitten.

Overall, Sangeh Monkey Forest has a unique and sacred atmosphere worth experiencing, but you should go prepared, stay cautious around the monkeys, and expect a bit of hustle from locals...

Amazing experience, friendly monkeys and not that touristy.

This is the second monkey forest we've been to in Bali, The other being the Ubud monkey forest, and this experience was completely different.

The Ubud monkey forest was beautiful, and very big compared to this one, you can spend a lot of time walking around. But it was very packed with tourists when we went and the monkeys were very aggressive. They can come and bite you unprovoked which is quite dangerous considering the rabies risk.

However, Sangeh monkey forest was very chilled, wide open with monkeys roaming around the grounds. The monkeys are noticeably a lot calmer and more chill. You are able to sit down and let them climb on you for pictures (let a guide help you).

The entrance is 30k/pp which is well worth it. If your brave enough you can buy nuts for 10k a bag and feed the monkeys. But be careful to only get out 1 or 2 at a time and don't show them the bag or you will be swarmed. We rotated around the area feeding one or 2 at a time. Occasionally sitting down and letting the baby monkeys come over and interact with us, speak to them and sneakily give them a peanut or 2 before the bigger ones came running over to get some haha.

We spent about an hour and a half here walking around interacting with the monkeys. There was hardly any tourists so it was very good. There are guides walking around with sticks who keep the monkeys from getting too naughty.

It was a very enjoyable experience and we are planning to come back soon to chill and feed the monkeys. It's a very...

My visit to Sangeh Monkey Forest in Bali started off feeling like a magical experience—like stepping into a monkey paradise. Monkeys were everywhere, and it was adorable to see them up close. We had a guide who whistled for the monkeys, and they eagerly came over to interact with us. Each of us had the chance to feed the monkeys and even have them sit on our shoulders or heads.

It was all fun until one of the monkeys on my shoulder suddenly launched off, scratching my neck deeply with its claws. I was alarmed to see blood and immediately concerned about the potential risks. Although the staff reassured me that the monkeys were disease-free, it took over half an hour before someone provided alcohol to clean the wound.

Unfortunately, in the following days, I became very ill. I needed an infusion in Bali, and upon returning to Australia, I went straight to my clinic. Blood and urine tests confirmed a bacterial infection and poor liver function. It took two courses of antibiotics and several months before my liver returned to normal.

This experience was incredibly disappointing because I genuinely love monkeys. I know the incident wasn’t out of aggression, but in hindsight, I wish I had been better informed about the risks. Had I known, I would have covered my skin completely to avoid exposure.

While Sangeh Monkey Forest is beautiful and offers a unique experience, I strongly recommend that visitors exercise caution. Wear protective clothing that covers all exposed skin to ensure your visit remains safe...