Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace

Ubud’s best sights are spread across the countryside, and this full-day trip links them in one long, busy loop. You’ll see macaques in a forest sanctuary, walk among rice terraces, visit a coffee plantation, shop at the art market, and finish at Tegenungan Waterfall. The private format lets your group travel with its own driver and English-speaking guide.

I like the private air-conditioned car, since nine or ten hours in Bali’s heat is much easier with your own transport. I also like the way the day mixes major sights with cultural stops, especially Batuan Temple and your choice of Celuk, Mas, or Batuan art village.

The main drawback is the pace. Seven listed stops, lunch, road time, and an art village make this a full day rather than a slow Ubud outing. Some stops receive only an hour, and the waterfall requires time on foot, so comfortable shoes matter.

Key points to know before booking

• Private sightseeing from 8:30 am: Only your group takes part, with an air-conditioned vehicle and private transportation.
• Seven major stops: The route includes Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Bali Pulina, D Alas Warung, Ubud Art Market, Tegenungan Waterfall, and Batuan Temple.
• One art village is included: Choose Celuk for gold and silver work, Mas for wood carving, or Batuan for painting.
• Lunch and entrance fees are covered: Bottled water, lunch, all listed fees, and taxes are included in the price.
• A guide can add cultural context: One guest specifically praised guide Ketut for explaining local customs and answering questions clearly.
• Temple clothing matters: Women who are menstruating are not allowed to visit the temple, according to the tour information.

A long Ubud day built around variety

At $79 per person, this tour is best understood as a private transport and sightseeing package, not simply a ride between two attractions. The fee includes lunch, entrance fees, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, and an English-speaking driver and guide.

That bundle can offer solid value if you want to cover several parts of the Ubud area in one day. Booking separate cars, paying individual admissions, arranging lunch, and organizing a temple and art village visit would take more time and planning.

The tradeoff is that variety replaces free time. The schedule gives one hour at the Monkey Forest, one hour at the coffee plantation, one hour at the market, and one hour at Batuan Temple. Tegalalang and Tegenungan receive about two hours each, which makes sense because both require more time to walk and take in the scenery.

The day begins at 8:30 am, with pickup offered. Since the tour lasts about nine to ten hours, you should expect to return in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on road conditions and how long your group spends at each stop.

Sacred Monkey Forest: an atmospheric first stop

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, also called the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal, is home to more than 700 grey long-tailed macaques. Paved paths lead through a leafy nutmeg forest, giving you a cooler and more shaded start to the day than an open viewpoint or market would provide.

One hour is enough to walk through part of the sanctuary and see the setting, but it is not a leisurely study of every path. Keep your attention on the monkeys and follow the guide’s instructions. The animals are the main attraction, but the forest itself is a major part of the appeal.

This stop suits you if you want nature and local culture at the same time. It is less suitable if you dislike being close to free-roaming animals or prefer quiet, empty paths. Since the visit is early in the itinerary, it also gives your guide a chance to explain customs and practical points for the rest of the day.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace: two hours among Ubud’s green slopes

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is one of the clearest reasons to choose this outing. Ubud is known for its green countryside, and Tegalalang gives you a chance to see the stepped rice fields that shape the area’s identity.

The two-hour visit is longer than most of the other stops, and that extra time matters. You can take in the terraces, walk along the paths, and pause for photographs rather than rushing through a single lookout. The experience is still active, though. Rice terraces involve slopes, steps, and uneven ground, so shoes with a secure sole are a better choice than dress sandals.

I like this part of the schedule because it gives the countryside room to breathe. The possible weakness is that the tour description does not specify exactly how much walking is planned or which section of the terraces you will visit. Your private guide can help shape the stop, but the overall day still has a fixed series of attractions to cover.

Bali Pulina: coffee with a view

Bali Pulina is an agrotourism stop where you can see how coffee is made and taste the finished drink while looking out over the surrounding area. The one-hour visit adds an agricultural side to the day, breaking up the temple, market, and nature stops.

This is a useful stop for anyone curious about Balinese coffee rather than interested only in taking photographs. You get to connect the drink with its production process, and the setting offers a change from the road.

The limitation is time. An hour gives you an introduction, not an extended plantation visit. Personal expenses are not included, so you should treat any additional purchases as separate from the tour price. The included items cover lunch, fees and taxes, transport, and bottled water, but not personal spending.

D Alas Warung: the included lunch break

Lunch takes place at D Alas Warung Restaurant, where the menu is described as authentic Balinese food using homegrown ingredients and traditional spices alongside creative dishes. Lunch is included, which makes this more than a quick roadside stop added at your own cost.

A planned meal is especially useful on a nine to ten-hour outing. You do not need to stop the day to search for a restaurant, compare menus, or arrange payment for the main meal. It also gives you a seated pause after the morning’s forest and rice terrace visits.

The tour information does not list the exact dishes, menu choices, or arrangements for dietary needs. If you have allergies or special food requirements, ask before booking rather than assuming the menu can be changed. Personal expenses remain your responsibility, so anything beyond the included lunch is not part of the $79 price.

Ubud Art Market: a short look at local craft

The Ubud Art Market, known locally as Pasar Seni Ubud, is a central stop for Balinese handicrafts and artistic work. You have about an hour here, enough to browse stalls and get a feel for the market without turning the entire day into a shopping trip.

This is a practical place to look for souvenirs, but you should set your own spending limit. Personal expenses are not included, and the tour price does not cover purchases.

One hour can feel short if you enjoy bargaining and want to inspect many items. It can also be just right if you prefer a quick cultural stop before moving on. I like the market’s place in the itinerary because it adds everyday commerce and craft after the more scenic morning stops.

Tegenungan Waterfall: the day’s biggest nature stop

Tegenungan Waterfall receives about two hours, making it one of the main anchors of the itinerary. It is a popular nature attraction near Ubud and Sukawati, with a green valley view surrounding the falling water.

Allow time for walking. The tour description does not promise swimming or any particular water activity, so you should book this as a waterfall visit and viewpoint experience rather than expect a guaranteed swim. The paths and changes in elevation are worth taking seriously, especially after a full day of sightseeing.

Two hours gives you more room here than at the art market or temple. You can see the waterfall, take photographs, and enjoy the valley without being forced straight back into the vehicle. Still, the stop comes after several earlier visits, so the day may feel tiring by this point.

If you want a tour focused mainly on nature, this itinerary may include too many cultural and shopping stops. If you want a broad introduction to Ubud’s sights, Tegenungan provides a strong contrast to the monkey sanctuary and rice fields.

Batuan Temple: a meaningful cultural stop

Batuan Temple, also called Pura Puseh Batuan, is one of the area’s notable Balinese temples and a visually striking stop near Ubud. The itinerary allows one hour, enough to see the temple grounds and learn about local customs from the guide.

This is where an English-speaking guide can make a real difference. A previous tour experience singled out Ketut for taking time to explain cultural customs and answer questions. That detail matters because a temple visit is not simply a photo stop. Understanding how to behave, what you are seeing, and why the place matters makes the hour more useful.

Dress and conduct are important at religious sites. The supplied information specifically says women who are menstruating are not allowed to visit the temple. That restriction should be considered before booking, since Batuan Temple is part of the planned route.

The temple visit also gives the day a needed change of rhythm. After the waterfall and market, it brings you back to Bali’s religious traditions before the return journey.

Choose one art village to shape your day

The tour offers a choice of one Balinese art village. You can select:

• Celuk, known for gold and silver smithing
• Mas, known for wood carving
• Batuan, known for its painter community

This choice is one of the most useful customizable parts of the experience. If you are interested in jewelry and metalwork, Celuk is the natural pick. Mas suits you if carved wood and traditional craft interest you more. Batuan is the better match for painting.

The information does not provide a separate duration for this village visit, and the itinerary repeats the choice several times without specifying whether it replaces another stop or is added to the full route. Confirm the exact arrangement with Diana Bali Tours before departure. That question matters because the day already contains a full sequence of visits.

I would choose the village based on your real interest, not simply the closest-sounding name. A focused craft stop can be more rewarding than trying to see every art form in one hurried hour.

What the private format changes

Only your group takes part in this tour. That makes the day more flexible than a large shared bus outing, even though the route itself is busy.

A private driver and English-speaking guide can help with questions, timing, and cultural explanations. The strongest direct praise connected with this experience focused on Ketut’s explanations of local customs and his willingness to answer questions. If Ketut is assigned to your group, you have a guide with a clear strength in cultural interpretation. Guide assignments can vary, so do not assume a specific person unless the operator confirms it.

The air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water are small details that matter in Bali’s heat. Private transportation also removes the need to arrange separate rides between Ubud, the rice terraces, the waterfall, and the nearby villages.

The private format does not eliminate road time or crowds at popular attractions. It simply gives you your own vehicle and group rather than sharing the day with strangers.

Is $79 a fair price?

For a nine to ten-hour private day with lunch, entrance fees, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a guide, $79 per person is a reasonable package price, especially if you are traveling with family or friends and can share the private vehicle experience.

The value improves when you use most of the included stops. If you visit the Monkey Forest, Tegalalang, Bali Pulina, D Alas Warung, the market, Tegenungan, Batuan Temple, and an art village, you are paying for a broad day of transport and access rather than one headline attraction.

The price may feel less attractive if you want a quiet, slow-paced day or plan to skip shopping and art stops. Personal expenses are extra, so keep a little spending money for market purchases or anything beyond the included meal.

Group discounts are offered, but no discount amount is provided. Ask the operator for the current group rate before booking.

Who should book this Ubud tour?

I would recommend this tour if you have one full day for Ubud and want a practical first look at several major sights. It suits families, couples, and small groups who value a private car, an English-speaking guide, and an itinerary that includes both nature and culture.

It is also a good fit if you do not want to plan separate transport to Tegalalang, Tegenungan, Batuan, and the art villages. The included lunch and entrance fees make the cost easier to estimate.

I would hesitate if you prefer long visits at fewer places. The schedule is full, and one hour can pass quickly at the market, temple, coffee plantation, or Monkey Forest. Anyone with mobility concerns should also ask about the walking conditions at the rice terraces and waterfall before booking, since the supplied information only says most people can participate.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made within that period are not accepted for a refund.

My verdict on the Best of Ubud day

Book this experience if your priority is coverage: monkeys, rice terraces, coffee, lunch, crafts, a temple, a market, and a waterfall in one private day. I especially value the combination of included costs and cultural guidance, with the option to choose an art village that matches your interests.

Skip it if you want a slow Ubud day built around one or two places. For most first-time visitors with limited time, though, the route offers a useful introduction to the area and strong practical value at $79 per person.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:30 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately nine to ten hours.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered.

Is this a private tour?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included and is scheduled at D Alas Warung Restaurant.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. All fees and taxes are included in the tour price.

Which art village can I visit?

You can choose one art village: Celuk for gold and silver smithing, Mas for wood carving, or Batuan to see a painter community.

Can women who are menstruating visit Batuan Temple?

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