Best of Ubud – All Inclusive

Ubud packs a lot into one day here: a waterfall, a holy spring temple, rice terraces, coffee tasting, lunch, and cheeky macaques at Monkey Forest. The private format lets you move with your own group, which matters when Bali traffic turns a short drive into a slow crawl.

I like the broad mix of scenery and culture, and I like that admission tickets and lunch are included rather than left for you to sort out. Guides Giddy and Gede are praised for patient service, strong English, good driving, and helping with photographs. The main drawback is the pace: six stops in 8 to 10 hours means you will see a lot, but you will not linger everywhere.

Key points to know

• Six major Ubud stops: Waterfall, temple, coffee plantation, rice terraces, lunch, and Monkey Forest.
• Private touring: Only your group takes part, with pickup offered.
• Included value: Listed admission fees, lunch, and coffee and tea tasting are covered.
• Extra charge: Luwak coffee costs more than the included tasting.
• Guide quality matters: Giddy and Gede are noted for patient help, photography, English, and driving.
• Flexible cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund.

A full day built around Ubud’s greatest hits

This is a classic first-day introduction to Ubud. You get the natural sights that fill Bali postcards, the religious setting that gives the area its character, and two places where you can see local food and agriculture in the mix.

The private setup is the big advantage. You are not tied to a large coach group, and only your party participates. That makes the day easier for couples, families, or a small group with its own rhythm. Pickup is offered, and the tour lasts about 8 to 10 hours, so plan to give it most of your day.

The route is still ambitious. Tegenungan Waterfall gets about 40 minutes, Tirta Empul one hour, the coffee plantation 40 minutes, Tegalalang 40 minutes, lunch one hour, and Monkey Forest one hour. Those stops add up neatly, but the time spent on Bali roads connects them all. Your actual time at each site can feel short if traffic is heavy.

Tegenungan Waterfall in a 40-minute stop

Tegenungan is the day’s first big nature stop. Water drops about 15 meters into a large pool, with thick greenery around the cascade. The setting is photogenic, and the sound of the falling water gives you a quick change from Ubud’s roads and buildings.

You have about 40 minutes here, with admission included. That is enough for a look, photographs, and a sense of the place. It is not a long nature walk or a slow morning by the water, so keep your expectations in check.

Wear footwear you can manage comfortably around a waterfall area. The tour information does not promise swimming time, so think of this stop mainly as a scenic visit rather than a full water activity. If waterfalls are your main reason for booking, the brief stop may feel rushed. If you want a strong opening sight without spending half the day in one place, the timing works.

Tirta Empul and Bali’s holy spring

Tirta Empul gives the day its clearest cultural focus. This Hindu water temple is known for its holy spring and purification rituals. The water is central to the temple’s meaning, so this is more than a quick photo stop at a pretty building.

You get about an hour here, with admission included. That gives you time to take in the temple and understand why the spring matters. The experience is best approached with respect. This is a sacred place, not simply a backdrop for holiday pictures.

The tour description refers to the purifying rituals, but it does not say that participation is included or required. I would treat your visit as an opportunity to observe the temple and its religious setting unless your guide gives you clear instructions about what is appropriate.

For many people, this will be the most memorable stop because it connects the sights to living Balinese Hindu practice. The waterfall shows you Bali’s natural side. Tirta Empul shows you how faith shapes daily life.

Coffee, tea, and the optional luwak tasting

At Satria Agrowisata, you visit a coffee plantation and see a traditional coffee maker. You can taste the coffee and tea at no extra charge. The stop lasts about 40 minutes, making it a compact break between the temple and rice terraces.

This is useful if you want to learn how local drinks fit into the island’s agricultural life without committing to a long plantation visit. It also gives you a chance to sample products before deciding if you want to buy any.

Luwak coffee is not included. It costs extra, so ask about the price before ordering if you are curious about it. That detail matters because the tour is described as all-inclusive, but this particular product is specifically excluded from the included tasting.

I like the clear split between the included coffee and tea tasting and the paid luwak option. You can enjoy the basic stop without adding a cost, then choose for yourself if the extra tasting is worth it.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the limits of a short stop

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is one of the most recognizable sights around Ubud. Its green paddies are arranged in stepped fields, creating the layered view most people associate with the area. The setting gives you a direct look at rice farming rather than just another viewpoint.

Admission is included, and the visit lasts about 40 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a short look, but not enough for a leisurely exploration of every path. The tour does not list extra activities here, so do not assume that swings or other add-ons are part of the price.

I see this as a good overview stop. You can appreciate the shape of the terraces and move on before the day becomes too slow. If you want a long walk through the fields, this schedule may not satisfy you. If you want the classic view as one part of a larger Ubud day, it fits well.

The order also works nicely. After the temple and plantation, the rice terraces bring the day back to farming and the land. The stops are varied, even though the time at each one remains controlled.

Lunch at D’Alas Warung

Lunch takes one hour at D’Alas Warung in Sebatu, a village near Ubud. The restaurant is set among rice terraces and greenery, and Indonesian food is part of the experience. Admission is listed as included, which makes this more than a stop where you simply pay for your own meal.

An included lunch has practical value. You do not have to hunt for a restaurant during a packed schedule, and the one-hour break gives you a proper pause before the final attraction. After several short visits, sitting down to eat can make the second half of the day easier.

The restaurant setting is presented as quiet and surrounded by greenery, but the supplied details do not list a specific menu. If you have dietary needs, raise them when booking or with the provider, since no special meal information is provided.

This is also where the all-inclusive label needs a little care. Lunch is included, along with listed admissions and the basic coffee and tea tasting. Luwak coffee is extra, and the tour does not say that every possible food or drink purchase at the restaurant is covered.

Meeting the macaques at Sacred Monkey Forest

The final stop is Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. You spend about an hour in a protected setting where macaques are cared for and fed. The monkeys are the main attraction, but the sanctuary itself gives the visit a more wooded, contained feel than a simple animal sighting.

The macaques are cheeky, so keep your attention on your belongings and follow the guide’s directions. The supplied details do not specify a full set of animal-handling rules, so avoid assuming that touching or feeding them is allowed.

Ending at Monkey Forest gives the day a lively finish. The waterfall is powerful, the temple is solemn, and the rice terraces are calm. The monkeys bring a little mischief to the last hour. For families, couples, and first-time visitors to Ubud, this variety is a strong reason to choose the tour.

One hour is enough to see the sanctuary’s main appeal. It is not a slow afternoon in the forest, so people who want an extended nature visit may wish for more time. Still, after five earlier stops, the compact schedule helps you finish without stretching the day much further.

Why the private guide can make or break the day

A private tour is only as good as the person behind the wheel and beside you. Here, Giddy is praised for courteous service, strong English, humor, careful driving, and going out of his way to take many photographs. That last point is useful for couples who want pictures together without relying on strangers or a timer.

Gede is described as patient, kind, and helpful, with a friendly approach throughout the day. He is also praised as a fantastic driver. In Bali, driving skill matters because traffic can make the roads feel unpredictable and slow.

You should still tell your guide what matters most to you. If photographs are a priority, say so early. If you prefer more time at Tirta Empul or the rice terraces, ask what can be adjusted. The tour has a stated route and timing, but a private group gives you a better chance to discuss the pace than a large shared excursion.

The guide also helps with the practical side of the day: moving between stops, handling the route, and keeping the schedule on track. That is a real part of the value, especially when you want to see several Ubud sights without arranging separate rides.

What the $85 price really covers

At $85 per person, the value depends on how much you would otherwise spend arranging a private day. The price includes a private guided experience, pickup offered, listed admission tickets, lunch, and the coffee and tea tasting. Those inclusions remove several small costs that can add up.

You are also paying for a full 8 to 10 hours with a driver and guide, rather than simply buying entry to one attraction. For a small group, that can make the price easier to justify because the cost buys convenience as well as sightseeing.

The limits are clear. Luwak coffee costs extra, and the tour does not say that every purchase at the plantation or restaurant is included. The six-stop plan also favors coverage over long visits. You are paying for a wide sample of Ubud, not for a slow, specialist tour of one temple or one set of rice fields.

Group discounts are offered, which may improve the value for a larger party. The private format means you do not share the activity with other groups, and that privacy is a useful feature for families or friends who want to stay together.

Who will enjoy this Ubud day most

I would choose this tour for a first visit to Ubud when you want the main sights in one organized day. It suits people who prefer a private car and guide, want lunch handled, and do not want to plan a separate route through Bali traffic.

It is also a good fit for couples who want help with photographs. Giddy’s attention to taking pictures is worth noting, while Gede’s patience and kindness sound useful for anyone who wants a relaxed guide rather than a rushed one.

Families may like the short, varied stops. Children can see a waterfall, monkeys, rice terraces, and coffee production in one day, though adults should supervise them closely around the macaques and at the temple.

I would hesitate to recommend it to you if your main goal is extended hiking, long temple study, or hours in one rice terrace. The schedule gives each place a taste. That is its strength and its limitation.

The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or an insufficient number of bookings cancels the day, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made later are not accepted.

Should you book the Best of Ubud day?

Book it if you want a private, efficient introduction to Ubud with the major stops bundled together. The strongest reasons are the broad route, included lunch and admission, private transport arrangement, and the chance to have a guide such as Giddy or Gede handle the traffic and photography.

Skip it if you want to linger. Six stops in 8 to 10 hours is a lot, and the 40-minute visits at the waterfall, coffee plantation, and rice terraces are designed for an overview. For most first-time visitors, though, the range of experiences makes the $85 price sensible, especially when a group discount applies.

FAQ

How long does the Best of Ubud tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 to 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered.

What attractions are included?

The route includes Tegenungan Waterfall, Tirta Empul Temple, Satria Agrowisata coffee plantation, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, D’Alas Warung Restaurant, and Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Are admission tickets included?

Admission tickets are included for Tegenungan Waterfall, Tirta Empul Temple, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, D’Alas Warung Restaurant, and Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes lunch with Indonesian food at D’Alas Warung Restaurant.

Is coffee tasting included?

Coffee and tea tasting at Satria Agrowisata is included. Luwak coffee costs extra.

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.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.