Ubud City Tour II: Monkey Forest, Palace, Art Market, and Rice Terrace

Ubud City Tour II packs macaques, rice terraces, shopping, palace grounds, and a giant swing into one private day. The best parts are Ubud Monkey Forest, where about 340 crab-eating macaques roam a temple reserve, and the broad views at Tegalalang Rice Terrace. You also get direct hotel pickup, private transport, entrance tickets, and the freedom to move at your own pace within the schedule.

I like the way this tour joins Ubud’s main sights without making you arrange several taxis. I also like the practical value: at $65 per person, your price includes transport, an English-speaking driver, admissions, and taxes. The main caution is that the driver may not be a full cultural guide, and Ubud Palace gets only 15 minutes, which is enough for a quick look but not a serious visit.

Key points to know before booking

• Monkey Forest is the strongest cultural and nature stop: Expect temple buildings, old trees, paths, and free-moving macaques in a religious setting.
• Tegalalang gives you the big Ubud view: You can take photos from the scenic area or pay a farmer donation if you choose to trek through the rice fields.
• Happy Swing adds a paid-attraction feel: The stop lasts about 90 minutes and focuses on the swing experience and countryside views.
• The private car makes the day easy: Pickup and drop-off are offered from Ubud and many addresses in south Bali.
• The driver experience can vary: Mera and Irwan are noted for sharing Balinese culture, while Wena is praised for service but was not acting as a full guide.
• The palace is brief and the market is practical: Plan to spend more time shopping than studying royal architecture.

A packed route through Ubud’s best-known sights

This is a private tour built for you if you want a broad first look at Ubud without spending several days sorting out transport. The planned day begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs for about eight hours, although one account places the return around 3:00 p.m. The exact timing can depend on traffic, shopping, and how long you spend at the swing or rice terrace.

The route covers five stops. You begin with the Monkey Forest, then move into central Ubud for the palace and traditional art market. From there, the day shifts toward photo-friendly countryside at Happy Swing Bali and Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

That order gives the outing a sensible rhythm. You get culture and animals first, shopping in the middle, then open views later. Since this is a private activity, only your group rides together. That is useful if you want to limit waiting, adjust your pace, or avoid being tied to strangers at every stop.

Meeting Ubud’s macaques at Monkey Forest

Allow about one hour at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. This is not simply a wildlife park. It is also a religious temple complex and a nature reserve with significance for Balinese people. The setting includes temple structures and thick greenery, giving the visit a more atmospheric feel than a standard animal enclosure.

About 340 crab-eating macaques live here. You should expect to see them, but you still need to treat them as wild animals. Keep your belongings secure and follow the sanctuary’s instructions. The appeal is the close view of the monkeys moving through the temple grounds, not a staged animal show.

I would give this stop your full attention. It is the part of the day that feels most distinctively Ubud, combining local religious space with animals and shaded paths. It is also the place where a quick photo can turn into an awkward moment if you focus more on your phone than on your possessions or surroundings.

The one-hour slot is enough for a worthwhile visit, though not necessarily for every path. If you like taking photographs, you may wish the schedule allowed longer. Still, as an opening stop, it works well: you see one of Ubud’s signature places before the shopping and viewpoints begin.

A quick look at Ubud Palace

Ubud Palace, also known as Puri Saren, sits in the center of Ubud Village. The tour allows about 15 minutes here, with admission included.

That short stop tells you what to expect. You will get a quick look at an important local landmark, but this is not a long architectural visit or a detailed palace tour. The central location makes it easy to include, yet the limited time may leave you feeling that you only saw the entrance and main grounds.

I would treat the palace as a brief orientation point rather than the reason to book the day. Some people find it underwhelming compared with Monkey Forest and the rice terrace. If you care deeply about Balinese royal history or architecture, you may want a separate visit with more time and explanation. On this tour, the palace works best as one small piece of the larger Ubud picture.

Shopping at the traditional art market

The Ubud Traditional Art Market gets about an hour. Its stalls carry a wide mix of souvenirs and craft goods, including silver jewelry, precious stones, batik, T-shirts, beach sarongs, wood carvings, and cane-work bags.

This is the most flexible stop on the route. If you enjoy browsing and bargaining, an hour gives you room to compare items. If shopping is not your priority, it can feel long, especially after the shorter palace visit. The market is useful for picking up gifts, but it is not designed as a quiet museum visit.

Go in with a plan. You may find yourself surrounded by many similar goods, and it is easy to spend more time than expected comparing prices. The private format helps here because you can discuss your timing with your driver, although the overall route still needs to stay on schedule.

The market also gives you a look at Ubud’s commercial side. Monkey Forest offers temples and macaques, while the market shows how strongly art and souvenirs shape the town’s visitor economy. I like having both in the same day, but you should not confuse a shopping stop with a workshop or formal art lesson. No such activity is included.

Happy Swing Bali adds a modern attraction

The itinerary gives Happy Swing Bali about 90 minutes. This stop focuses on the thrill of swinging from a cliff area while taking in views of the surrounding countryside.

It is a different kind of experience from the temples and market. The Monkey Forest and palace connect more directly with Ubud’s religious and local identity. Happy Swing is a purpose-built attraction for photographs, views, and a burst of adrenaline.

That contrast can be a plus if you want variety. It can also feel less authentic if your main interest is traditional Bali. The tour includes the entrance ticket, so you do not need to arrange admission separately. The supplied information does not specify which swing options or photo packages are included beyond the stop itself, so ask the operator if you want a particular setup.

The 90-minute time allowance is generous compared with the palace. It gives you time to enjoy the activity without rushing through the rest of the day. If you dislike heights or do not care about swing photographs, this may be the least useful portion of the tour for you.

Taking in Tegalalang Rice Terrace

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the final major scenic stop and gets about an hour. From the roadside location, you can look down across rice paddies and toward fields on the slopes across the valley. The setting is described as cool and breezy, a welcome change after walking through town.

You can use the stop in two ways. The easy option is to enjoy the viewpoint and take photographs. The more active option is to walk into the rice terrace. If you trek, a donation to the farmer is not included and must be paid separately.

That detail matters when comparing the advertised price with your likely total cost. The $65 covers the tour’s listed entrance tickets, but not the farmer donation if you choose the walk. The amount is not specified, so carry some local cash if you want the trekking option.

I would not judge Tegalalang only from the roadside. The view is the main draw, but walking gives you a closer sense of the slopes, paths, and working fields. At the same time, an hour is not enough for a long hike. Think of this as a scenic visit with an optional short walk, not a full rice-field trek.

What the private car and driver add

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, private transport, an English-speaking driver, entrance tickets, and service and government tax. Pickup is offered from Ubud and many addresses in south Bali, which makes the tour useful if you are staying outside the town center.

The private format is the strongest practical feature. You do not share the car with another group, and you avoid arranging separate rides to Monkey Forest, central Ubud, Happy Swing, and Tegalalang. For a first visit, that can be worth a good part of the price.

The guiding level deserves a clear explanation. The driver may share stories and cultural details, but the experience is not guaranteed to include a formal guide at every stop. Mera is noted for explaining sights along the way, and Irwan is described as friendly and helpful with Balinese culture during the drive. Wena is praised for being attentive, punctual, and professional, though the experience did not include the same level of cultural explanation.

If you want background as you go, tell your driver at the start. Ask questions during the drives, since that may be where you receive the most context. If a dedicated guide is important to you, confirm that before booking rather than assuming that English-speaking driver means licensed guide.

Vehicle cleanliness and punctuality also matter on a long day. The service is described as professional, with a clean car and reliable timing. Since Ubud roads can make a short distance take time, direct transport helps preserve energy for the actual stops.

Is $65 a fair price for this day?

At $65 per person, the value depends on your group size and priorities. You are paying for a private tour, hotel transfers, an English-speaking driver, entrance tickets, and taxes. That is a reasonable package if you want convenience and do not want to negotiate several rides yourself.

The price is less compelling if you mainly want Monkey Forest and Tegalalang. Those are the strongest stops, while the palace is brief and the market is easy to visit independently in central Ubud. Happy Swing also matters: if you do not want that activity, part of the itinerary has little value for you.

For two or more people, a private car becomes easier to justify because the price is per person but the vehicle and driver serve the whole group. Group discounts are available, though the exact discount is not stated. Ask for the current group rate before booking.

Remember the extra farmer donation if you trek at Tegalalang. Meals are not included, so plan to eat before or after the tour, or ask your driver about timing. No meal stop is listed, and adding a long restaurant break could reduce time at the sights.

Who will get the most from this Ubud outing?

I would choose this for a first visit, a short stay, or a day when you want the main Ubud sights handled in one go. It suits couples, families, and small private groups that value door-to-door transport and a flexible car more than long guided talks at each stop.

It is also a good fit if your interests are mixed. You get animals, temples, shopping, a photo attraction, and rice fields in one route. You do not need to choose between a cultural day and a scenic day.

I would look elsewhere if your main goal is slow travel. The palace visit is only 15 minutes, the market is geared toward shopping, and the day includes several stops. A specialist temple tour, art walk, or longer rice-field excursion would give you more depth in one subject.

The same applies if you want a fully guided experience. The driver may be an excellent source of information, but the service does not promise a dedicated guide. Your experience can depend on who drives you and how actively you ask questions.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

The start time is 9:00 a.m., and the activity lasts about eight hours. Confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can participate. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Because the tour is often reserved well ahead of the date, book early if you need a particular day. The activity is listed as being booked an average of 113 days in advance, which suggests that popular travel dates can fill long before arrival.

Should you book Ubud City Tour II?

Book it if you want Ubud’s headline sights in one private day, especially Monkey Forest and Tegalalang Rice Terrace. The combination of hotel pickup, included admissions, and a private car gives you a simple way to cover ground, and drivers such as Mera or Irwan may add useful cultural detail along the way.

Book with realistic expectations about the palace and guiding. Ubud Palace is a short stop, the market is mainly for shopping, and your driver may not provide a full guided interpretation. If those limits suit you, $65 offers solid convenience and variety. If you want slow exploration, a serious art tour, or a long rice-field walk, choose a more focused experience instead.

FAQ

What is included in the $65 tour price?

The price includes private tour service, hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, all listed entrance tickets, and service and government tax.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts approximately eight hours.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Does the tour include a meal?

No. Meals are not included.

Is trekking at Tegalalang Rice Terrace included?

You can trek at the rice terrace, but the donation to the farmer is not included in the tour price.

Can I be picked up outside Ubud?

Pickup and drop-off are offered from Ubud and many addresses in south Bali. Confirm your exact address when booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.