One of Bali’s most famous wild animals is the macaque monkey. These beautiful and super-intelligent primates hold deep spiritual significance for Balinese people and can be found in their natural habitats from Ubud to Uluwatu and plenty of forested areas in between.
While the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple have been described as running a ‘criminal enterprise’ and the monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud receive the most attention, there is a troop of macaques at Bali’s secret monkey forest attraction for whom tourists can observe without the crowds.
In fact, so few people even know about Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest, on average, the attraction welcomes just 40-50 people per day, and a busy day sees still only around 100 visitors.
Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is one of Bali’s lesser-known nature attractions. The forest spans over 12 hectares and is a heavily protected forest that has been stewarded by the local community for centuries.
The forest is home to around 2,000 Balinese long-tailed macaques, some of whom never come out of the forest, while others are more than happy to enter the tourist area of the park.
As Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest explains, “The local community considers the forest a sacred sanctuary that must be preserved at all costs, and it’s an integral spiritual, educational, economic and conservation centre for Kukuh Village.”
Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is open every day from 9 am until 5 pm and is rarely crowded. The forest sanctuary is home to more than just the monkeys, who, of course, steal the show.
The Alas Kedaton Forest is home to flying foxes, too. These huge fruit bats are a marvel to behold and are particularly active at dusk. This forest is a sanctuary for this species too, which has been losing habitat over the last 100 years across the island and all its natural home ranges.
Inside the forest complex, tourists will also find a stunning Bliense Temple. As explained by the Alas Kedaton team, “The Pura Dalem Kahyangan is believed to serve spiritual power, as a means of avoiding all sorts of dangers, which is indicated by the image of Ganeca sitting on a lotus with the two dragons and the image of the eight-hand Durga Mahesasurawardani, which is believed to provide protection and conquest.”
While visitors are welcome to enjoy the space at their own pace, a local guide or ranger will always be close by to ensure that observations remain safe for all beings.
The local guides and rangers work at Alas Kedaton as part of a community-based tourism initiative, and each guide has their own personal stories of the village and the forest to share with guests.
The daily schedule at Alas Kedaton helps connect tourists to the landscape in a meaningful way, and to Balinese culture too.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 am and 1 pm, there is a Barong Bangkung performance from local artists.
New ticket prices for Alas Kedaton are set to be rolled out in early 2026. Speaking to reporters in August 2025, the Head of Kukuh Village, I Gusti Ngurah Arta Wijaya, told reporters that his team has decided to increase the entry fee for tourists to be in alignment with other Monkey Forest attractions around the island.
He explained, “Don’t compare the prices in Ubud, which already cost hundreds of thousands. For example, in Sangeh Monkey Forest, the price is already IDR 75,000. The increase is also driven by tour guides. If the price is too low, it will be difficult to find funding for monkey food.”
Ticket prices are expected to increase for international adult tickets, increase from IDR 30,000 to IDR 70,000, while children will be charged at IDR 60,000, up from IDR 20,000. It is advisable to bring cash to Alas Kedaton and many other smaller and emerging tourism attractions like it.
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