One of Bali\u2019s most famous wild animals is the macaque monkey. These\nbeautiful and super-intelligent primates hold deep spiritual\nsignificance for Balinese people and can be found in their natural\nhabitats from Ubud to Uluwatu and plenty of forested areas in\nbetween.<\/p>\n
While the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple have been described as running a\n\u2018criminal enterprise\u2019 and the monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Forest in\nUbud receive the most attention, there is a troop of macaques at Bali\u2019s\nsecret monkey forest attraction for whom tourists can observe without\nthe crowds.<\/p>\n
In fact, so few people even know about Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest, on\naverage, the attraction welcomes just 40-50 people per day, and a busy\nday sees still only around 100 visitors.<\/p>\n
Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is one of Bali\u2019s lesser-known nature\nattractions. The forest spans over 12 hectares and is a heavily\nprotected forest that has been stewarded by the local community for\ncenturies.<\/p>\n
The forest is home to around 2,000 Balinese long-tailed macaques,\nsome of whom never come out of the forest, while others are more than\nhappy to enter the tourist area of the park.<\/p>\n
As Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest explains, \u201cThe local community\nconsiders the forest a sacred sanctuary that must be preserved at all\ncosts, and it\u2019s an integral spiritual, educational, economic and\nconservation centre for Kukuh Village.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is open every day from 9 am until 5 pm and\nis rarely crowded. The forest sanctuary is home to more than just the\nmonkeys, who, of course, steal the show.<\/p>\n
The Alas Kedaton Forest is home to flying foxes, too. These huge\nfruit bats are a marvel to behold and are particularly active at dusk.\nThis forest is a sanctuary for this species too, which has been losing\nhabitat over the last 100 years across the island and all its natural\nhome ranges.<\/p>\n
Inside the forest complex, tourists will also find a stunning Bliense\nTemple. As explained by the Alas Kedaton team, \u201cThe Pura Dalem Kahyangan\nis believed to serve spiritual power, as a means of avoiding all sorts\nof dangers, which is indicated by the image of Ganeca sitting on a lotus\nwith the two dragons and the image of the eight-hand Durga\nMahesasurawardani, which is believed to provide protection and\nconquest.\u201d<\/p>\n
While visitors are welcome to enjoy the space at their own pace, a\nlocal guide or ranger will always be close by to ensure that\nobservations remain safe for all beings.<\/p>\n
The local guides and rangers work at Alas Kedaton as part of a\ncommunity-based tourism initiative, and each guide has their own\npersonal stories of the village and the forest to share with guests.<\/p>\n
The daily schedule at Alas Kedaton helps connect tourists to the\nlandscape in a meaningful way, and to Balinese culture too.<\/p>\n
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 am and 1 pm, there is a\nBarong Bangkung performance from local artists.<\/p>\n
New ticket prices for Alas Kedaton are set to be rolled out in early\n2026. Speaking to reporters in August 2025, the Head of Kukuh Village, I\nGusti Ngurah Arta Wijaya, told reporters that his team has decided to\nincrease the entry fee for tourists to be in alignment with other Monkey\nForest attractions around the island.<\/p>\n
He explained, \u201cDon\u2019t compare the prices in Ubud, which already cost\nhundreds of thousands. For example, in Sangeh Monkey Forest, the price\nis already IDR 75,000. The increase is also driven by tour guides. If\nthe price is too low, it will be difficult to find funding for monkey\nfood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ticket prices are expected to increase for international adult\ntickets, increase from IDR 30,000 to IDR 70,000, while children will be\ncharged at IDR 60,000, up from IDR 20,000. It is advisable to bring cash\nto Alas Kedaton and many other smaller and emerging tourism attractions\nlike it.<\/p>\n
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