Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace

Ubud’s best sights are spread across the countryside, and this private day tour links them in one long, busy loop. You’ll see Sacred Monkey Forest, Tegalalang’s rice terraces, a coffee plantation, Tegenungan Waterfall, Batuan Temple, the Ubud Art Market, and one Balinese art village.

I like the private vehicle and English-speaking guide, since you can ask questions and avoid being tied to a large group. I also like that lunch, bottled water, entrance fees, and transportation are included in the $79 price. The drawback is the pace: seven main stops plus an art village make this a full day, with limited time for quiet wandering.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven major stops in one day: The route covers nature, temples, food, shopping, coffee, and local arts.
• Private transportation: Your group travels in an air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver and guide.
• Ketut received special praise: One detailed account singled out Ketut for explaining local customs and answering questions clearly.
• Lunch and entry fees are included: You pay separately only for personal expenses.
• Choose one art village: Celuk, Mas, or Batuan can be selected for silverwork, wood carving, or painting.
• Temple clothing and timing matter: Batuan Temple has a dress and access restriction for women during menstruation, and the 8:30 a.m. start helps fit the long route into one day.

Why this Ubud day tour works well

Ubud is not a compact sightseeing town. Its major attractions sit along roads that spread through villages, farms, and forested valleys. A private car saves you from arranging separate rides, checking admission details, and figuring out how to connect Tegalalang with Tegenungan Waterfall.

This tour also gives you more than scenery. You move from macaques and tropical forest to working agricultural land, Balinese coffee production, traditional food, temple architecture, local painting, and handicrafts. It is a broad introduction to the area rather than a slow, single-subject outing.

I would choose it if you have only one full day around Ubud and want to cover a lot. If you already know Ubud well, or if your ideal day means sitting for hours beside a rice field, the schedule may feel crowded.

The advertised price is $79 per person. For a private tour, that includes an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, bottled water, lunch, taxes, and admission fees. That gives the price reasonable value, especially for a family or small group that would otherwise need to arrange several separate rides and tickets.

Sacred Monkey Forest, where nature and nerves meet

The day begins with about one hour at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, also called the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. The sanctuary is home to more than 700 grey long-tailed macaques, and paved paths run through a leafy nutmeg forest.

I like this first stop because it offers an immediate sense of Ubud’s tropical setting. You are not looking at animals behind glass. The macaques move through a natural sanctuary, while the paths make the area manageable for a short visit.

You should still pay attention. Monkeys are wild animals, and the experience is best approached calmly. Keep personal items secure and follow local instructions. The supplied information does not specify a formal safety briefing, so use common sense and ask your guide if you are unsure about behavior around the macaques.

One hour is enough for a first look, but not for a slow walk through every path. If this is the highlight you care about most, tell the guide early so you can make the most of your time there.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace and Bali’s green countryside

The tour allows about two hours at Tegalalang Rice Terrace, one of Ubud’s best-known agricultural sights. The stepped fields create the classic green scenery many people associate with central Bali.

This is one of the stronger parts of the day because it gives context to Ubud’s rural setting. You are seeing cultivated land, not just a scenic viewpoint designed for photographs. The terraces show how farming shapes the hills around the town.

The exact walking conditions are not described, so you should expect a countryside stop rather than a flat urban pavement. Wear shoes you can walk in and bring sun protection. Two hours gives you time to look around without rushing straight back to the car, though the full itinerary means you will not have an entire morning here.

The tour’s format is useful for first-time visitors. You can see the terraces, ask about the area, and then continue without needing to negotiate another ride. I would not choose this day if your main aim is a long agricultural walk, but it works well as part of a wider Ubud introduction.

Bali Pulina Coffee Plantation and a tasting with a view

At Bali Pulina, you spend about an hour at an agrotourism site where you can see how coffee is made and taste it while looking out over the surrounding scenery.

This stop adds a working-food element to the day. Instead of simply ordering a cup at a café, you get an explanation of production and a chance to connect the drink with its agricultural source. For me, that makes the stop more useful than a standard souvenir-shop visit.

The visit is also a natural pause after the rice terraces. One hour is enough for an introduction and tasting, but do not expect a full coffee course. Personal purchases are not included in the tour price, so any coffee, gifts, or other items you choose to buy would be your responsibility.

Lunch at D Alas Warung

Lunch is served at D Alas Warung, where the menu focuses on Balinese food and homegrown ingredients. The restaurant describes its cooking as a mix of traditional spices, familiar local flavors, and creative dishes.

I like having lunch built into a day with this many stops. You avoid losing time searching for a restaurant, and the meal gives you a chance to sit down in the middle of the schedule. Since lunch is included, the $79 price is easier to assess because one substantial part of the day is already covered.

The available information does not specify a set menu, dietary choices, or meal duration beyond about one hour. If you have food restrictions, contact the operator before departure rather than assuming the restaurant can accommodate them.

Ubud Art Market and the practical side of shopping

The Ubud Art Market, known locally as Pasar Seni Ubud, is scheduled for about one hour. It is a central place to look at Balinese arts and crafts and to practice your bargaining skills.

A short market visit can be useful even if you do not plan to shop. You will see the kind of artwork and handmade goods associated with the area, and you can compare items before deciding if something is worth carrying home. The one-hour limit keeps shopping from taking over the day.

The trade-off is that market shopping can be personal and unpredictable. You may want more time to compare prices, while someone else in your group may be ready to leave after a quick look. Since this is a private tour, you can ask your guide about timing, but the route still has several other stops to fit in.

Bring a little room in your luggage if you are interested in souvenirs. Personal expenses are not included, so purchases are separate from the tour price.

Tegenungan Waterfall and the longest nature stop

Tegenungan Waterfall receives about two hours, making it one of the longer stops. It is known for its green valley views and the falling water, and it is a popular nature outing from Ubud and nearby Sukawati.

The two-hour allocation matters. A waterfall visit usually requires more time than a roadside photo stop, and this schedule allows room to see the area rather than immediately returning to the vehicle. You should still ask your guide about the day’s conditions and the easiest way to use your time there, since the supplied details do not spell out swimming access, trail conditions, or exact walking distances.

This stop balances the cultural and shopping portions of the day. After temples, coffee, food, and market stalls, the waterfall gives you a chance to focus on scenery. It may also be the most physically demanding part, depending on how far you walk around the site, so comfortable footwear is sensible.

Do not assume the waterfall will feel secluded. It is a well-known attraction, and the tour information does not promise a quiet setting. The strength here is the chance to see a major natural attraction without arranging separate transport.

Batuan Temple and respectful temple visits

Batuan Temple, also known as Pura Puseh Batuan, is allotted about one hour. The temple is described as one of Bali’s historically important and visually striking religious sites, located in Batuan village near Ubud.

This stop gives the day a stronger cultural focus. A good guide can explain what you are looking at rather than leaving you to photograph gates and stone carvings without context. One detailed account specifically praised Ketut for explaining local customs and answering questions, which is the kind of guidance that can make a temple visit more meaningful.

Dress and access rules matter here. The supplied information states that women who are menstruating are not allowed to visit the temple. You should also follow any clothing or entry instructions given at the site. The tour includes admission fees, but respectful behavior and local rules remain your responsibility.

One hour is enough for an introduction. It is not a long religious or architectural study, but it fits the day’s purpose: seeing several important sides of Ubud and its surrounding villages.

Select one Balinese art village

The schedule includes a choice of one art village. You can select Celuk for gold and silver smithing, Mas for wood carving, or Batuan for its painting community.

This choice is valuable because it lets you shape the cultural part of the tour. Celuk suits you if jewelry and metalwork interest you. Mas is the better match for wood carving. Batuan makes sense if you want to focus on painting and local artistic practice.

The information does not state how long this stop lasts, so confirm the timing when you book or meet your guide. The art village is also listed more than once in the supplied schedule, but the wording indicates that you choose one village rather than visiting all three.

I would decide before the morning begins. That avoids spending time debating options while the rest of the day is already moving quickly.

What the private format changes

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. That is a major advantage on a route with many stops. You can ask for clarification, discuss the art village choice, and manage the pace more easily than you could with a large coach group.

The driver and English-speaking guide are central to the experience. A private car is especially useful in Ubud, where attractions are spread out and the roads between them can take time. The tour begins at 8:30 a.m., and the stated duration is approximately nine to ten hours.

Pickup is offered, and a mobile ticket is available. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the long day and several outdoor stops may not suit anyone who needs a slower schedule.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes or cancellations made inside that period are not refunded, so check the local start time before making plans.

Who should book this Ubud tour?

I would recommend this tour to a first-time visitor with one free day who wants a broad look at Ubud. It suits couples, families, and small private groups that value included transportation and a guide who can explain Balinese customs.

It is also a sensible choice if you want costs kept clear. Lunch, bottled water, admission fees, taxes, and the air-conditioned vehicle are included, while personal shopping and other individual spending are not.

I would be more cautious if you dislike full schedules, want to spend half a day at one rice terrace, or prefer to avoid commercial stops such as coffee tasting and market shopping. The route is designed for variety, not silence or depth at every location.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing many Ubud highlights in one private day without arranging separate transport. The combination of Monkey Forest, rice terraces, waterfall, temple, coffee, food, art, and shopping gives you a useful first picture of the area.

Skip it if you want a slow rural walk or a specialist cultural tour. For most first-time visitors, though, the included costs, private vehicle, and guide-led explanations make $79 a fair price for a long and varied day. Ask for Ketut if he is available, since his ability to explain local customs was a particular strength.

FAQ

How long does the Bali Ubud tour last?

The tour lasts approximately nine to ten hours. The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and private transportation is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What is included in the $79 price?

Lunch, all fees and taxes, private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water are included. Personal expenses are not included.

Which attractions are included?

The tour includes Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Bali Pulina Coffee Plantation, D Alas Warung, Ubud Art Market, Tegenungan Waterfall, and Batuan Temple. You can also choose one art village.

Which art village can I choose?

You can choose Celuk for gold and silver smithing, Mas for wood carving, or Batuan to see its painting community.

Can women visit Batuan Temple during menstruation?

No. The tour information states that women who are menstruating are not allowed to visit the temple.