The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud was one of the highlights of my trip to Bali. The moment you step inside, you feel like you’ve entered a magical jungle—huge banyan trees, moss-covered statues, and peaceful temple ruins all hidden within the forest. It’s not just a tourist attraction, it really feels like a sacred place. Of course, the monkeys are the stars here. They’re playful, cheeky, and endlessly entertaining to watch. I loved seeing them jump from tree to tree, care for their babies, and interact naturally with each other. It felt like being a guest in their world rather than just looking at animals behind cages. What impressed me most is how well the sanctuary is maintained. The paths are clean and easy to walk, the temples are stunning, and there are staff around to make sure both visitors and monkeys stay safe. I also appreciated the clear rules—they remind you to respect the animals and enjoy observing them without disturbing their natural behavior or even to feed them. I’d recommend going in the morning when it’s cooler and less crowded. Bring your camera (you’ll want a hundred photos!), but keep your belongings secure because the monkeys are curious and love to “borrow” things.

Ubud palace gives good glimpse of Balinese culture. 30min is sufficient to visit the palace. It's worth stopping here. However, ubud water palace is a must see. It's little different than all the Balinese architecture we saw at different places. It's little colourful. 30-45 mins is sufficient to visit this place.

A peaceful walk through Ubud’s heart. The Campuhan Ridge Walk is pure magic — especially early in the morning when the air is cool and the light touches the rice fields with gold. It’s an easy, scenic trail surrounded by lush hills, birdsong, and a calm that feels timeless. You’ll pass small temples, locals on morning walks, and cafés tucked along the path — perfect for a juice or coconut after your walk. The views are simply breathtaking, especially if you pause often and let nature quiet your mind. 🌾 ✨ Shared on my journey of mindful travel, yoga & healing at @AlwaysInYogaFlow

Highlights & Attractions The Cave Entrance: The most famous and photographed part is the massive, menacing face carved into the rock, with its gaping mouth serving as the entrance. It is often described as a spectacular and bizarre sight. The Cave Interior: The cave is relatively small and T-shaped. Inside, visitors find a statue of the Hindu god Ganesha and representations of Shiva (lingam and yoni). It was historically a site for meditation. The Grounds and Surrounding Nature: True beauty and attraction lies outside the cave. The complex includes: Sacred Bathing Pools (Tirta Empul): Featuring seven statues of female figures (Hindu angels/nymphs) that act as waterspouts. Lush Valley and Rice Paddies: A walk down a path leads to a beautiful, serene valley with tropical gardens, lush greenery, and a small waterfall, offering great photo opportunities. Buddhist Section: Ruins of a Buddhist temple and relics are located at the southern end of the complex, showcasing the co-existence of Hindu and Buddhist elements. Historical Significance: Visitors appreciate that the site is an important archaeological landmark, believed to date back to the 9th century and listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Best Time to Visit: Early in the morning is highly recommended to avoid the crowds, the heat, and to enjoy a more peaceful, serene experience. Time Needed: The cave itself takes only a few minutes to explore, but most recommend setting aside less than an hour to explore the entire complex, including the valley, rice fields, and bathing pools. Dress Code:As it is an active worship site, a sarong and sash are mandatory to cover knees and shoulders for both men and women. These are typically available for rent or included with the entrance fee. What to Bring:Wear comfortable shoes as there are many stone steps and paths, and bring water.

Keep in mind that "it is easier to go down the stairs than to go back up the stairs", especially if you visit on a hot and humidity day. I wish that we had gone earlier in the day so that we could enjoy the beautiful waterfalls, just for the fun and the frolick of it. Sadly people queue in line to get a great iconic picture of themselves with the whole waterfalls, when just a segment would suffice for a very good picture. I am however grateful that people line-up patiently to get their most memorable photos, but there is one thing... Smoking. When you do it in line, in a river, you kind of ruin the mood for others. You are enjoying the beauty of nature in the presence of people who do not smoke. It changes our perception of the place and our comfort. Some of us are even intolerant to the smell of smoke and can still smell it hours after being exposed. Will you keep your cigarette butt or confidently let it go down the river when you are done? We stood near the rock façade opposite the falls and took a selfie where we managed to block most people from the queue. We're happy with our photo. As we had come down the stairs to the left (up river) and enjoyed a swim in the fast current, we feel that we had a beautiful experience. 5 local boys showed up after school and had a great time, rousing the bridge and splashing about. This is the joy that you expect to find in such a place, not faux meditation pictures.

An absolute must visit for fine dining lovers. This restaurant offers an exceptional menu. We decided on the signature menu with beverage pairing. I highly recommend the pairing as 3 out of 8 courses were served with a cocktail that lifted flavours like no wine could have. The service was impeccable with high attentiveness but without intrusion- just what you want. I can't even start talking food, too good. As food connoisseur we were extremely satisfied by flavour and outstanding technique. This restaurant, if located in Europe, would be on the Michelin 2 star list.

Hidden a few metres from main road stood a traditional & simple with rustic feel eateries. One man, sorry, woman, cook who whipped out delicious restaurant standard local food at fraction of the cost. Thumbs up. Delicious!

Great place! Hidden away off the busy street you find the lovely pool and gardens, its peaceful but a good vibe. Perfect to spend the day relaxing. Food and drinks were delicious. Highly recommend the tenderloin sandwich which was a big portion, delicious and on proper sourdough bread! And staff were super helpful and attentive!

A spectacular experience. My fiancé and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary together here after two different locals recommended Mozaic. The staff were amazing, the food was divine, and the atmosphere was perfect. We chose the 6 course tasting menu which was creatively-crafted, and we opted for a seasonal cocktail each as we had plans early the next morning and didn't want to drink too much, but there are cocktail and wine pairing options. We must say that the canapés before we even sat down for our starters already had us saying how amazing it was!! It was quite expensive, but then again, one of our best dinner date night experiences ever and we would highly recommend it!