Ubud Monkey Forest Tour — Craft Villages, Palace & Art Market
This ubud monkey forest tour takes you through six of Ubud’s essential stops in one private day trip, covering both the town’s best-known icon and the villages where Bali’s crafts are actually made. The route runs from Tohpati to Celuk to Mas, then on to the Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud Royal Palace, and Ubud Art Market. You’ll travel by private car with an English-speaking driver, with hotel pickup included.
Most Ubud tours pair the monkey forest with the Bali swing or the rice terraces. This one takes a different route, stopping at the batik workshops of Tohpati, the silversmiths of Celuk, and the woodcarving galleries of Mas before you reach the forest itself. It’s a day built around craft as much as sightseeing, so you leave with a fuller picture of how Ubud actually works.
The Sacred Monkey Forest — What to Know Before You Go
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a nature reserve and temple complex in the heart of Ubud, home to over 1,200 long-tailed macaques living freely across the forest grounds. On this tour, you’ll spend around 1.5 to 2 hours here, enough time to walk the main paths, see the resident temples, and watch the monkeys go about their day without feeling rushed.
Entrance costs IDR 100,000 on weekdays and IDR 120,000 on weekends, and the sanctuary is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
is it safe to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest?
Yes, as long as you follow a few simple rules. Don’t carry loose food or wear sunglasses where a monkey can reach them, since both are common targets. Avoid touching or reaching for the monkeys, even if one approaches you first. Rangers are stationed throughout the sanctuary and will step in if a situation needs managing, so follow their guidance if they ask you to move on or keep your distance.
Craft Villages & Royal Ubud — The Rest of the Route
Beyond the monkey forest, this tour moves through three villages built around a single craft each, then finishes in the heart of Ubud itself.
tohpati — batik workshops
Your first stop is Tohpati, where local artisans work in batik using the traditional canting technique, drawing wax patterns onto fabric by hand before dyeing. You can watch the process from start to finish and buy finished pieces directly from the workshop if something catches your eye.
celuk — silver workshops
Celuk is Bali’s silver village, where you’ll see artisans at work on rings, bangles, and other pieces in small workshops. The attached showrooms do sell finished jewellery, but there’s no pressure to buy. It’s just as easy to watch the craftsmanship and move on.
mas — woodcarving galleries
Mas is known island-wide for woodcarving, and its galleries display everything from traditional Balinese figures to large-scale sculptural work. It’s worth a slow walk through if you’re interested in the craft rather than just the finished pieces.
ubud royal palace & ubud art market
The tour closes in central Ubud with the Royal Palace and the Art Market, roughly 20 to 30 minutes at each. The palace grounds are open to walk through and photograph, while the market is the place to pick up textiles, art, and souvenirs. Haggling is expected here, so start below the asking price and settle somewhere in the middle.
This is a full-day tour, running around 8 to 10 hours including pickup and drop-off. The price is IDR 550,000, which covers the private car, English-speaking driver, and hotel pickup for the full route.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ubud Monkey Forest Tour