Ubud Monkey Forest, Rice Terrace & Tirta Empul Temple Tour

Ubud’s best-known sights are packed into one long day here: macaques in the Sacred Monkey Forest, stepped rice fields, a holy water temple, a waterfall, and the town market. You also have the option to add a jungle swing, though that fee is not part of the tour price.

I like the air-conditioned vehicle and included entry fees, which keep the day simple and make the $24.30 price look strong. I also like the mix of nature, culture, shopping, and scenery rather than spending the whole day at one attraction. The drawback is time: six stops in roughly 10 hours can feel busy, and lunch and the swing cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Six Ubud-area stops in about 10 hours: You visit the Monkey Forest, Tegalalang, Tirta Empul, Tibumana Waterfall, Ubud Market, and the jungle swing area.
• Guide Mangkok is one named guide: He is described as professional, funny, and well informed about the places visited.
• Four major admission fees are included: Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple, and Tibumana Waterfall are covered.
• The jungle swing is optional and extra: You can add it for the views and photos, but its fee is not included.
• The group can reach 15 people: The experience is described as a private guided tour, yet the stated maximum is 15, so confirm the arrangement if group size matters to you.
• Book ahead for a popular date: The average booking lead time is 44 days, a useful sign that advance planning may help.

One full day through Ubud’s most famous sights

This tour is built for you if you want a broad first look at Ubud without arranging several separate rides. It runs for about 10 hours and uses an air-conditioned vehicle, with bottled water supplied.

At $24.30 per person, the price is unusually competitive for a day that covers four admission fees and a guide. It becomes an even better deal if you intend to visit all of these places anyway. The tradeoff is that the day is not slow or leisurely. You are moving from one stop to the next, and the six listed activities do not leave much room for lingering.

The tour is described as private, but the maximum group size is 15 people. That wording is worth checking before you pay. If you are traveling with your own small party, ask how the vehicle and guide arrangement works. If you are comfortable with a larger shared group, the low cost may matter more than having a fully private day.

Meeting Bali’s macaques at Sacred Monkey Forest

The day begins with about two hours at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. This is a wooded nature reserve in Ubud, home to hundreds of Balinese long-tailed macaques and many trees and plants.

The appeal is immediate. You are not just looking at a distant animal enclosure. The monkeys move through the forest around you, making this one of the tour’s most lively stops. You may be able to take close photos, but keep your attention on the animals and your belongings. The tour description specifically highlights the chance to capture yourself with them, though it does not promise any particular photo setup or interaction.

Two hours gives you enough time to see the sanctuary without treating it as a quick photo stop. It is also one of the more crowded-feeling parts of the day simply because monkeys and people share the same paths. If you prefer quiet nature, this may be less relaxing than Tibumana Waterfall later on.

Your Monkey Forest admission is included. That helps the tour’s value, since this is one of the major paid sights in the schedule.

Tegalalang’s stepped rice fields

Next comes Tegalalang Rice Terrace, with about one hour set aside. The terraces are carved into hillsides and show the old Balinese irrigation approach, with green rice paddies forming broad steps across the slopes.

This is the stop for wide views and photographs. I like that it follows the Monkey Forest, since the day shifts from close-up animals to open countryside. You get a different sense of Ubud here, with the cultivated hills contrasting with the trees at the sanctuary.

One hour is enough to see the main view and take pictures, but it is not a long walk through the rice fields. If you want a slower visit, the schedule may feel tight. The tour includes entry to Tegalalang, so you do not need to calculate another admission charge.

The nearby Ubud Jungle Swing is also included in the route. The swing fee is not included, so treat it as an optional add-on rather than part of the advertised price. The attraction is designed around views of jungle, rice terraces, and river valleys. It can be a fun choice if you want a memorable photograph, but you should budget separately for it.

A ritual stop at Tirta Empul Temple

Tirta Empul receives about two hours, making it one of the day’s longer visits. This Hindu water temple near Tampaksiring is famous for holy spring water used in purification rituals.

This stop adds a cultural layer that the Monkey Forest and rice terraces cannot provide. You can see why water matters in Balinese Hindu practice and why the temple is treated as a sacred place, not simply a scenic attraction.

The two-hour allocation gives the guide room to explain the site and gives you time to look around without racing through it. The supplied information does not specify whether visitors take part in the purification ritual, so you should not assume that ritual participation is included. The tour does include temple admission.

Tirta Empul is likely the most meaningful stop for you if you want more than photographs. Dress and behavior expectations at a temple can matter, but this tour information does not give specific clothing rules. Ask your guide for current instructions before entering the most sacred areas.

Quiet water at Tibumana Waterfall

Tibumana Waterfall also receives about two hours. Water drops from a cliff into a shallow pool, with tropical plants around it. The setting is presented as a calm place for swimming and relaxation.

I like the way this stop changes the pace after the temple. Instead of another viewpoint or shopping area, you get water, shade, and a chance to sit for a while. If conditions suit you, the shallow pool offers the possibility of a swim.

Do not expect a vast waterfall complex from the description. Tibumana is valued for its peaceful setting and natural surroundings, not for a long list of facilities or activities. Bring the right expectations: this is a scenic pause with possible swimming, not a full water park.

The two-hour timing is generous compared with the one hour at Tegalalang. It may be especially welcome on a hot day, though the tour does not specify changing facilities, towels, or swim equipment. Those items are not listed as included, so plan accordingly.

Shopping at Ubud Traditional Market

The Ubud Traditional Market gets about one hour. Also called Pasar Ubud, it sells many kinds of goods for local shoppers and people looking for souvenirs.

This is a practical addition rather than a major sightseeing landmark. You can look for gifts to take home, compare prices, and see a more commercial side of central Ubud. The description specifically presents the market as a good place to shop for family souvenirs.

One hour is enough for a focused browse, but not enough for a relaxed market expedition if you enjoy bargaining at every stall. Keep your shopping simple and agree on what you want before entering. The tour information does not specify what items are sold on the day of your visit, so product selection may vary.

Admission is listed as included, although a traditional market generally is not the kind of attraction where an entry charge is the main concern. The real value here is convenience: your driver and guide build shopping time into a day already covering several far-flung sights.

The optional Ubud Jungle Swing

The jungle swing is listed as a two-hour stop, but the fee is separate. That makes it different from the four attractions whose entrance charges are already covered.

The attraction is aimed at scenic photographs, with swings looking over jungle, rice terraces, and river valleys. If you want that classic Bali swing picture, this is your chance to add it without arranging a separate visit.

Still, you should decide based on your budget and interests. The swing is not essential to the cultural or nature experience, and the tour already includes plenty of photo opportunities at Tegalalang and Tibumana. If you are paying $24.30 for the base tour, remember that the final cost rises when the swing fee and lunch are added.

The schedule also deserves attention. Six stops, including a two-hour swing visit, create a full day. Ask the guide how much time will actually be available at each place if you want both the swing and a relaxed waterfall visit.

What the $24.30 price really covers

The strongest part of the price is not just the low headline cost. It is the combination of transportation, water, guide service, and entrance fees at four named attractions.

Included are:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Bottled water
• Sacred Monkey Forest admission
• Tegalalang Rice Terrace admission
• Tirta Empul Temple admission
• Tibumana Waterfall admission

Lunch is not included. Neither are Bali Swing fees. Those two exclusions are easy to overlook when comparing tour prices, so add them to your spending plan.

The tour is a particularly good fit if you want one driver, one route, and one booking for a full Ubud day. It is less suited to you if you prefer to choose a restaurant at length, spend half a day at one temple, or stop whenever a view catches your eye.

Timing, group size, and the guide

The stated duration is approximately 10 hours, so this is a substantial day rather than a short Ubud outing. Pickup is offered, and the air-conditioned vehicle should make the long route more comfortable, especially when moving between outdoor stops.

The listed maximum is 15 people. That is small enough to remain manageable, but it is not the same experience as traveling with only your own companions. Since the tour is described as private while also carrying a 15-person maximum, confirm the exact setup when booking.

Guide Mangkok is specifically named in the available feedback and described as professional, funny, and well informed. You may not receive Mangkok on every departure, so treat him as one possible guide rather than a guaranteed assignment. A guide matters most at Tirta Empul, where context can help you understand the temple beyond its photographs.

The tour has a 5 out of 5 rating from 28 reviews and a 100 percent recommendation rate. That is a strong signal, though the sample is not enormous. I would put the most weight on the repeated praise for the guide and the practical value of the route.

Who should book this Ubud day

I would choose this tour if you are visiting Ubud for the first time and want to cover the main sights in one day. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value transport and a clear plan over a slow, self-directed schedule.

It also works well for souvenir hunters, since the market is built into the route. Nature lovers get monkeys, rice terraces, and a waterfall, while people interested in Balinese religious practice get a substantial visit to Tirta Empul.

I would hesitate if you dislike busy schedules or want to spend a full morning at one place. The day covers a lot, but that breadth comes with less flexibility. You should also think twice if the advertised low price leaves no room for lunch or optional activities.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want maximum Ubud coverage for a low base price and you are happy with a long, structured day. The included admissions and air-conditioned transport make the cost easy to justify, while Tirta Empul and Tibumana add more than a simple photo circuit.

Before booking, confirm the pickup details, the meaning of private tour, and whether Guide Mangkok is available. Then budget for lunch and the jungle swing. If you prefer depth over variety, choose a shorter tour with fewer stops. If you want a first-day overview of Ubud’s monkeys, terraces, temple, waterfall, market, and swing option, this is a sensible buy.

FAQ

How long does the Ubud tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $24.30 per person.

Is hotel pickup offered?

Yes. Pickup is offered, though the provided information does not specify the pickup areas or times.

What attractions are visited?

The tour visits Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple, Tibumana Waterfall, Ubud Traditional Art Market, and Ubud Jungle Swing.

Are entrance fees included?

Entrance fees are included for Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple, and Tibumana Waterfall.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is the Bali Jungle Swing included?

No. Bali Swing fees are not included.

What is the maximum group size?

The activity has a maximum of 15 participants.

Is bottled water provided?

Yes. Bottled water is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.