Bali Countryside Cycling Tours

The best part of this Bali cycling tour is that the bicycle gets you onto quiet country roads and narrow routes that a car cannot use. Over about 10 hours and 30 minutes, you move from the famous Tegallalang Rice Terrace to bamboo forest, village lanes, a water temple, and fields around Ubud.

I like the mix of scenery and local life, especially the 7.5-hectare Penglipuran Bamboo Forest and the stop at Penglipuran Village. I also like the care shown by guides such as Wayan, Ketut, and Sandi, who share food, fruit, and stories along the way. The main drawback is the long day, with some walking and cycling on uneven rural routes, and the admission details for Penglipuran should be confirmed before departure.

Key points to know before you book

• Cycle through a 7.5-hectare bamboo forest, with a chance to see local bamboo craftsmen at work.
• Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace early in the day, before the cycling section begins.
• Meet local life in Penglipuran Village, known for its traditional culture and distinctive way of living.
• Stop at Pura Taman Narmada Bali Raja, a Subak water temple beside rice paddies and a small lake.
• Finish with lunch in a rice-field restaurant, including a young coconut drink.
• Plan for a full day, with Ubud pickup at about 8:00 a.m. and a maximum group size of 25.

From Ubud pickup to Tegallalang’s green terraces

The day begins with pickup from your accommodation in Ubud at around 8:00 a.m. You ride in an air-conditioned van to Tegallalang, north of Ubud, where the famous rice terraces fill a river gorge with bright green bands.

This is a sensible first stop. You see one of Bali’s best-known sights before getting on the bicycle, and the short visit gives you a quick look at the island’s farming country. About 35 minutes is allowed here, with admission included.

Tegallalang can be busy and highly visited, so do not expect the quietest part of the day at this first stop. Its value is visual: you get the broad terrace views and a useful introduction to the rice-growing scenery that continues later at a slower pace.

The tour does not begin with cycling right outside the terrace area. After breakfast, the van takes you to Undisan, a quieter green area selected as the starting point. That transfer matters because it keeps the ride away from the heaviest sightseeing traffic.

Breakfast is part of the morning plan, although the supplied inclusions list does not spell out the breakfast menu. If you have dietary needs, vegetarian food is available, but you should request it when booking.

Starting the ride in Undisan

At Undisan, the bicycles are ready and the cycling guide gives you the basic equipment: bicycle, helmet, and, during the rainy season, a raincoat. The cycling begins in countryside rather than in a dense town center.

The tour is designed for a relaxed pace. That does not mean the ride is effortless, since you will spend several hours on a bike and later walk to some sites. Still, the route is meant to show you rural Bali without rushing from one vehicle stop to another.

A guide makes a real difference here. Wayan is specifically praised for sharing his love of Bali and for making a family-home visit enjoyable. Ketut is noted for taking good care of the group, while Sandi is described as speaking very good English and offering different Balinese fruits and foods during the day.

Those details tell you what kind of guiding to expect. This is not simply a bike rental with a map. The guide is there to explain what you are seeing, manage the route, and add small food and cultural stops along the way.

The group can reach 25 people, so the experience may feel more social than private. If you prefer more personal attention, a private upgrade is offered. That option is worth considering if you want to ask many questions, need a slower pace, or are traveling with family or a small group.

Riding beneath the Penglipuran bamboo canopy

The bamboo forest is the tour’s most unusual cycling stop. You ride through roughly 7.5 hectares of bamboo, a sharp change from the open rice terraces and a setting that gives the route a more sheltered, rural feel.

A stop here also provides a look at traditional bamboo work. You may see craftsmen working inside the forest, which adds purpose to the visit. You are not only passing through a pretty stretch of trees, you are also seeing a material used in Balinese homes, tools, and everyday life.

The forest visit lasts about 30 minutes and includes admission. That is enough time for a taste of the area, though not a long, unhurried forest walk. Since the tour continues by bicycle, you should keep your footwear practical and be ready for a mix of riding and short walks.

The bamboo forest is also a good reason to choose this tour over a standard Ubud sightseeing circuit. A van can bring you near the major sites, but a bicycle lets you move through smaller routes at ground level. You notice the transitions between homes, fields, forest, and village more clearly.

Penglipuran Village and its traditional way of life

After the bamboo forest, the tour visits Penglipuran Village for about 45 minutes. This is one of the more cultural parts of the day, with a chance to see a traditional Balinese village and learn about its distinct customs and daily patterns.

The visit is not just a quick photo stop. The guide can explain how the village is arranged and point out details connected with local culture. A family-home visit is also part of the experience described by the tour, giving you a closer look at village life than a roadside viewpoint would provide.

You should treat this stop with respect. Penglipuran is a living community, not a museum built only for sightseeing. Listen to your guide about where to walk and what can be photographed.

There is an important pricing wrinkle here. The Penglipuran stop lists admission as not included, while the overall tour inclusions say entrance tickets are included. Because those two details conflict, confirm the current ticket arrangement before you pay or depart. The advertised price is $36, so even a small extra fee may matter when you are comparing tours.

A Subak temple beside paddies and a small lake

After several kilometers of riding, the route reaches Pura Taman Narmada Bali Raja in Taman Bali. This is a Subak water temple surrounded by rice paddies and a small lake.

Subak is Bali’s traditional irrigation system, so this stop helps explain how the fields are supplied with water and how farming is tied to religious life. The temple is not presented as a grand monument. Its appeal is the setting and the connection between water, worship, and agriculture.

You need to walk down a short route to access the spot. The tour allows about 30 minutes, and the admission is listed as free. This is another place where sturdy shoes and a willingness to walk are more useful than dress shoes or delicate sandals.

For me, this stop gives the day a welcome change of pace. The bamboo forest is enclosed and dramatic, while the temple brings you back into open paddies and working farmland. The route keeps presenting Bali from different angles instead of repeating the same type of view.

Lunch among the rice paddies on Jalan Bukit Batu

When the riding session ends, lunch is served at an authentic Balinese-style restaurant in the middle of rice paddies on Jalan Bukit Batu. The meal is paired with a young coconut drink, and mineral water is available at every stop.

The restaurant setting is part of the attraction. After several hours on a bicycle, you will likely appreciate sitting down in a rural setting rather than eating near a busy road or returning to Ubud for lunch.

The tour includes lunch, but it does not list the full menu. Vegetarian food is available if you request it at booking. Alcohol is not included, though it can be purchased.

A day like this depends heavily on the guide’s pacing. Sandi is specifically noted for offering fruit and local foods during the ride, and that kind of small-scale sharing is one of the pleasant extras that can make the day feel personal. You should not assume every guide will provide precisely the same food stops, but the tour clearly places importance on local tastes.

What the $36 price really covers

At $36, this is a strong value if you want transport, guiding, equipment, meals, and several admission stops in one long day. You are not paying only for a bicycle. The price includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned van between areas, a professional English-speaking cycling guide, bicycle, helmet, seasonal raincoat, lunch, mineral water, and listed entrance tickets.

The price also saves you from arranging several separate rides around Ubud. Tegallalang, Undisan, Penglipuran, Taman Bali, and the lunch stop are spread across the countryside. Organizing that route on your own would take time, and a rented bicycle would not provide the cultural explanation or the vehicle transfers.

Still, value depends on your energy level. Ten and a half hours is a major portion of the day. If you want a short morning activity, this is not the right choice. You are paying for a full circuit with several stops, not a quick two-hour ride.

The group limit is 25 people. That is not a tiny group, and the cycling pace may need to suit different abilities. The private option costs more, but it may be worthwhile if you want closer attention or a more flexible feel.

The free-cancellation policy allows you to cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, based on local start time.

Who will enjoy this Bali cycling day

I would choose this tour if you want to see more than Ubud’s cafes and central streets. It suits you if you enjoy gentle outdoor activity, rural scenery, village culture, and a guide who explains what you are seeing.

It is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want an organized day outside Ubud. Pickup, equipment, food, and transfers are handled for you, so you can focus on the route.

Most people can participate, according to the tour information. Even so, you should be honest about your stamina. The day includes cycling for several kilometers, time in the heat and rain-prone countryside, and walking at the temple and village stops.

The tour may be less suitable if you want complete solitude, a short itinerary, or only major monuments. The group can reach 25 people, and some stops are brief. You will see many parts of the countryside, but you will not spend a long time at every one.

Practical tips for a smoother ride

Wear clothes you can cycle in and shoes that handle both pedals and short walks. A helmet is supplied, and a raincoat is supplied during the rainy season, but the weather can still affect how comfortable the day feels.

Bring a little patience for the van transfers. The route starts with Tegallalang, then shifts to the cycling area at Undisan, so the first part of the day is sightseeing by vehicle before the main ride begins.

Tell the operator about vegetarian food when you book. Also ask about the Penglipuran entrance charge, since the stop information and the general inclusions do not match.

If you want more conversation with the guide, ask for the private option. In a larger group, you may still have a good guide, but you will have less control over the pace and fewer chances for one-to-one questions.

The English-speaking guides named in the tour material include Wayan, Ketut, and Sandi. Guide assignment may vary, so treat those names as examples rather than a guarantee that one particular person will lead your ride.

Should you book this countryside cycling tour?

Book it if you want a full day that joins Bali’s best-known rice terraces with quieter rural roads, bamboo forest, village life, a water temple, and a rice-field lunch. The combination gives you more range than a simple Ubud cycling loop.

The strongest reasons to go are the bamboo forest ride, the local guiding, and the chance to see village Bali at ground level. The strongest reasons to hesitate are the long schedule, possible group size, and unclear Penglipuran admission arrangement.

At $36, the tour offers good practical value for an active day with pickup, food, equipment, and guiding included. I would confirm the ticket details, request vegetarian food if needed, and choose the private upgrade if personal attention matters more to you than keeping the cost low.

FAQ

Where does the Bali countryside cycling tour start?

The tour starts in Ubud, in Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia. Hotel pickup is offered, with a stated start time of about 8:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes.

What is the tour price?

The listed price is $36.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup from your hotel or accommodation is offered.

What equipment is provided?

The tour provides a bicycle, helmet, and raincoat during the rainy season.

Is a cycling guide included?

Yes. A professional English-speaking cycling guide is included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served at a Balinese-style restaurant located among rice paddies. A young coconut drink is also described as part of the meal.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available. You should advise the operator when booking.

Which major places does the tour visit?

The route includes Tegallalang Rice Terrace, Undisan, Penglipuran Bamboo Forest, Penglipuran Village, Pura Taman Narmada Bali Raja in Taman Bali, and a restaurant on Jalan Bukit Batu.

Is the Penglipuran entrance fee included?

The tour information gives conflicting details. The Penglipuran Village stop says admission is not included, while the general inclusions say entrance tickets are included. Confirm this point before departure.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 25 people.

Can I book a private tour?

Yes. A private option is available for more personalized attention.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.