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cute monkey in Bali's sangeh monkey forest

Sangeh Monkey Forest or Ubud Monkey Forest – Which Should You Visit?

Bali‘s sacred monkey forests, filled with those cute but mischievous long-tailed macaques, are a great draw for visitors. There are a few different options to choose from, including the Ubud Monkey Forest, Sangeh Monkey Forest and the Ala Kedaton Monkey Forest. You are also very likely to see some macaques when visiting the Uluwatu temple in south Bali and you might see some when visiting Mount Batur (though we didn’t see any there during our time there). We put together...

long-tail macaque ubud

Bali’s Ubud Monkey Forest – A Visiting Guide

One of the most unique activities to do while in Bali is to visit Ubud’s fascinating monkey forest. Officially named the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and is home to over 1200 long-tailed macaques. It is also still used by the local community for worship as there are three temples within the forest grounds, including the impressive 14th-century Pura Dalem Agung. The forest itself is also quite beautiful and pleasant to walk through even...

Bali’s Penglipuran Village – A Visiting Guide

  • February 25, 2025
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  • Bali

Penglipuran Village is Bali‘s most famous “traditional village”, renowned for its pristine beauty and steadfast preservation of traditional Balinese customs. It is also a place where the community has graciously opened its doors to the public to help promote and celebrate Balinese culture. Often described as the cleanest village in the world, it strongly adheres to the Balinese philosophy promoting harmony between humans, nature, and the divine. To help you plan your visit and get the most out of your...

Best and Most Beautiful Temples and Palaces in Bali

  • February 24, 2025
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  • Bali

Bali is known for many things, including stunning waterfalls and relaxing beaches, but some of its most interesting attractions include its beautiful temples, many of which are historical and architectural gems. Despite its small size, Bali is a land of over 10,000 Hindu temples. With so many to choose from, it might be hard to wrap your head around all of the available information and make a proper informed choice. That’s why we put together this guide on the Best...

Best Temples in and Around Ubud

  • February 21, 2025
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  • Bali

Despite its small size, Bali is home to more than 10,000 Hindu temples. Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital, whose location makes it the perfect base from which to explore many of the island’s temples. In this guide on the Best Temples in and Around Ubud, we will focus on our favourites that are either in Ubud itself or within about an hour’s drive from town. Disclosure: This page (Best Temples in and Around Ubud) may contain product affiliate links. At no...

Gunung Kawi temple

Bali’s Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring – A Temple Visiting Guide

  • February 18, 2025
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  • Bali

Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring is easily one of our favorite temples in Bali, if not our favorite (though it’s hard to pick just one). Gunung Kawi is several attractions rolled into one: a beautiful temple complex, and huge archeological site that includes royal tombs, and a series of stunning rice terraces, all of which are surrounded by lush green vegetation and crisscrossed by the scenic Pakerisan River (which also flows through the nearby Pura Tirta Empul and Pura Mengening temples). As...

Pura Mengening fountains and pool

Bali’s Pura Mengening – A Temple Visiting Guide

  • February 11, 2025
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  • Bali

Often overlooked by tourists, Pura Mengening is one of Bali’s Bali‘s best-kept secrets and a true hidden gem. Tucked away in the shadows of the more popular Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring, Pura Mengening is a beautiful oasis surrounded by lush vegetation on all sides. Also, much like in Tirta Empul, its popular neighbour temple from down the street, you can take part in a water purification ritual but in a much more relaxed atmosphere with fewer other tourists....

Bali’s Pura Tirta Empul – A Temple Visiting Guide

  • February 10, 2025
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  • Bali

Pura Tirta Empul is one of Bali‘s most popular temple complexes, a sanctuary revered for its sacred springs and spiritual significance. One of the main draws to this temple is the opportunity to take part in a purification ritual (Melukat purification ceremony), where you will enter the bathing pools to receive holy water from several water sprouts in a specific sequence. The temple is also quite large and has several courtyards, meaning there’s lots to explore here even if you...

Bali’s Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu – A Temple Visiting Guide

  • February 9, 2025
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  • Bali

Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu is a very scenic temple complex located in the heart of Bali, north of Ubud. It’s filled with relaxing koi ponds, pools and fountains designated for purification rituals, and several photogenic shrines. The temple complex, which was built into a dip in the ground, is surrounded by high stonewalls on three sides and by a lush jungle on the other. It’s also located near the town of Tampaksiring, where you’ll three other fantastic temples, including the...

Bali's Goa Gajah the Elephant Cave

Bali’s Pura Goa Gajah (The Elephant Cave) – A Temple Visiting Guide

  • February 9, 2025
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  • Bali

Located just outside Ubud, Goa Gajah is a popular destination due to its impressive “Elephant Cave”, whose impressive and ornate doorway is a unique attraction in Bali. Though many are unimpressed with the temple complex beyond the main cave doorway, that’s because most don’t venture beyond the elephant cave to discover paths that go through a lush jungle garden with a cascading river, beautiful stone bridges and a scenic waterfall. Although we visited with somewhat low expectations, we were pleasantly...