Ubud: Waterfalls, Sacred Monkey Forest & Rice Terraces Tour

Ubud’s best-known natural sights come together here in one busy day: macaques in an old forest, rice fields cut into the hills, a waterfall pool, and coffee grown in Bali’s uplands. I like the private minivan, which gives you more control than a large coach, and the mix of nature, food, and local craft. I also like that guides such as Eddie and Adi have helped guests with photos and flexible plans.

The catch is that the tour price does not include entrance tickets, lunch, or drinks beyond bottled water. Pickup also needs care: one booking had a no-show, so confirm your hotel, meeting time, and driver contact before the morning begins.

Key points to know before booking

• Four very different stops: You’ll see monkeys, terraced fields, a waterfall, and a coffee plantation in one outing.
• Private transport throughout: An air-conditioned minivan and private driver-guide make this more comfortable for couples, families, or small groups.
• Swimming is part of the plan: Bring swimwear and dry clothes for the 75-minute stop at Ulu Petanu Waterfall.
• Extra costs are separate: Entrance tickets, lunch at Waroeng De Koi, and other food and drinks are not included.
• Guides can shape the day: Eddie has been praised for punctuality and photos, while Adi has been described as friendly and flexible when an attraction was closed.
• Expect a long day: The advertised duration is six to ten hours, depending on your starting point, traffic, and time spent at each stop.

A private route through Ubud’s countryside

This is not a slow village walk. It is a sightseeing day by car, with four main visits and several hours on the road. That format works well if you want to cover several Ubud-area highlights without arranging separate drivers, tickets, and transport.

You can request pickup from much of southern and central Bali, including Ubud, Gianyar, Sanur, Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Uluwatu, Sideman, and Candi Dasa, with no extra charge stated for those areas. The broad pickup range is useful, but it also explains the six to ten-hour window. A start from Ubud is likely to feel easier than a start from the coast, since long drives can eat into your sightseeing time.

Your driver is also your English-speaking guide. That means the day is more personal than a large group excursion, but the exact depth of guiding may depend on the individual. The supplied information promises stories about Ubud’s culture, traditions, and past, along with information booklets and bottled mineral water.

Please wait in your hotel lobby at least 15 minutes before pickup. The driver is supposed to contact you before arrival, and I would treat that message as important. Confirm the name, vehicle, and pickup point rather than simply waiting outside.

Meeting Bali’s macaques at the Sacred Monkey Forest

The first main stop is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, with about 75 minutes for a safety briefing, guided walk, photographs, and exploration. The attraction is more than a quick animal sighting. You move through an old wooded setting where grey long-tailed macaques are part of the scene, often close enough to make you rethink where you put your phone.

The monkeys are entertaining, but they are still wild animals. Keep your bags closed, avoid waving food around, and follow the safety instructions. The description calls them cheeky and playful, which is fair, but you should also expect sudden movements and assertive behavior. A loose item can attract attention, so secure sunglasses, hats, jewelry, and anything hanging from a pocket.

Seventy-five minutes gives you enough time to see the sanctuary without making the whole day about monkeys. Your guide can help you move through the area and choose places for photos. Eddie, one of the named guides associated with this experience, was specifically praised for taking pictures at good viewpoints. That is a useful service when you are traveling as a couple or small group and want more than selfies.

There is one important practical warning. The forest was closed during one booking, and Adi offered other activities instead, including silver-making classes and shops. That flexibility helped save the day, but a substitute stop is not the same as the advertised sanctuary. If seeing the macaques is your main reason for booking, confirm that the forest is open before departure if possible.

Reading the terraces at Tegallalang

The route then turns toward Tegallalang Rice Terrace for another 75-minute visit. Here, the attraction is the pattern made by farming: narrow green fields stepping down the hills in curved bands. The view is photogenic, but it is also worth pausing to understand what you are seeing. These are working agricultural spaces shaped by generations of hand labor, water management, and careful planting.

You can expect a guided visit, a walk, scenic views along the way, and time for photographs. Wear shoes with a reliable grip. The tour asks you to bring comfortable footwear, and that advice matters more here than a fashionable pair of sandals. Paths around terraced fields can involve uneven ground, and the experience is less enjoyable if you are concentrating on every step.

The 75-minute stop is long enough for a proper look, but not necessarily for a leisurely exploration of every path. Your driver-guide can point out the best viewpoints and keep the schedule moving. If you want a very long rice-field walk, this tour may feel limited. If you want a strong view and a clear introduction to Ubud’s farming country, the timing is more practical.

The terraces also provide a useful contrast with the monkey forest. The first stop is shaded, enclosed, and animal-focused. Tegallalang opens the view and shows how much of Bali’s beauty comes from human work. I like that change of pace, especially on a day that could otherwise become a string of similar photo stops.

Cooling off at Ulu Petanu Waterfall

Ulu Petanu Waterfall is the most active stop. You have about 75 minutes for a visit, photographs, free time, a walk, and swimming. The draw is simple: after time in a vehicle and under the tropical sun, cool water and a natural pool can reset your mood.

Pack swimwear, sunscreen, a towel if you have room, and a full change of clothes. The official packing advice specifically calls for swimwear and dry clothes, so do not treat swimming as a minor possibility. Bottled water is included, but you should carry cash and a card for other needs because food, drinks, and entrance fees are separate.

The waterfall stop requires a little more physical effort than a roadside viewpoint. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or visual impairments, and that limitation should be taken seriously. Even if you are comfortable walking, wet ground and access paths can make the stop demanding. Ask your driver about current conditions before you leave the vehicle.

This is also where the tour’s flexible timing matters. You may prefer to swim, sit near the water, or focus on photographs. A private group gives you more say than a coach tour, although you still need to keep an eye on the clock because lunch and the coffee plantation follow.

Lunch at Waroeng De Koi

Waroeng De Koi is scheduled for about 75 minutes and is listed as the lunch stop. The information emphasizes scenic views on the way, but it does not specify a fixed menu or meal inclusion. Budget for lunch separately and ask the driver about the available choices when you arrive.

That separation is important when you see a price of $19 per person. The low headline fare covers the private vehicle, driver-guide, bottled water, and the planned route, but it is not an all-inclusive day. Entrance tickets and food and drinks are extra, so your final cost will be higher.

I prefer this arrangement to a forced meal package because you can decide how much to spend. Still, check your budget before setting out. Carry cash as requested, along with a credit card, since you may need both for different parts of the day.

Coffee traditions at Pemulan Bali Coffee Plantation

The last major stop is Pemulan Bali Coffee Plantation, with about an hour for a guided visit, a walk, a class, shopping, sightseeing, and coffee tasting. It is a pleasant way to finish because it slows the pace after the waterfall and turns the focus toward a local product.

You’ll learn about traditional Balinese coffee production, from harvesting beans to roasting and grinding. The tasting gives you a chance to compare the finished drink with the work behind it. The plantation setting is described as green and peaceful, though the hour-long schedule means this is an introduction rather than a full agricultural study.

Shopping is part of the stop. You are not required to buy anything based on the information provided, but the setting naturally encourages browsing. If you dislike sales-oriented stops, ask how much time is planned for the class and tasting before you commit to purchases.

The coffee visit has value beyond the drink itself. It links the day’s scenery to daily work and food production. You have already seen rice farming at Tegallalang, and here you see another side of Bali’s relationship with crops. That makes the stop feel more connected to the place than a final souvenir shop would.

What the $19 price really covers

At $19 per person, this tour is priced aggressively for a private day with a vehicle and driver-guide. The strongest value comes when two or more people share the booking, since you receive private transport rather than joining a large bus. The price also includes pickup across a wide part of Bali, air conditioning, bottled water, and information booklets.

Do not mistake the low price for a ticket bundle. Entrance fees are excluded, as are lunch and drinks. You should also allow for any shopping you choose to do at the coffee plantation. Because the exact ticket amounts are not supplied here, ask for the current total before departure.

The private format is especially useful if you want to adjust the day. One booking changed plans when the Monkey Forest was closed, and Adi arranged silver-making activities and shops instead. That kind of flexibility is harder to get on a rigid group bus.

There is also a service risk. One verified booking recorded a complete guide no-show and described the experience as a scam. That is a serious concern, even though the other two available ratings were five out of five. One guest praised Eddie’s punctual hotel pickup, safe driving, friendly manner, and skill at taking photographs. Another praised Adi’s smooth handling of a closure and his willingness to change the plan.

I would not ignore the bad report, but I also would not treat it as proof that every booking will fail. Confirm the reservation, watch for the driver’s contact message, and keep the provider’s details available on the morning of the tour. If nobody has contacted you by the agreed time, act quickly rather than waiting through the whole morning.

Who will enjoy this Ubud day

I would recommend this tour to couples, families with mobile older children, and small groups that want several famous Ubud sights in one private vehicle. It suits you if you like variety more than long stays at one attraction, and if swimming, short walks, photos, and a coffee tasting all sound appealing.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet, slow day with extended time in the rice fields. It is also a poor fit for anyone with limited mobility or visual impairment, since the tour includes walking, uneven natural areas, and a waterfall visit.

You should also consider where you are staying. Pickup from Ubud or Gianyar makes the schedule more efficient. From Candi Dasa, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, or another distant area, the drive may make the day feel long. The broad duration range is a clue that traffic and distance matter.

Bring comfortable shoes, swimwear, a change of clothes, sunscreen, a camera, cash, and a credit card. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and pets are not suitable for the activity.

Should you book this private Ubud tour?

Book it if you want a low-cost, private introduction to Ubud’s major nature stops and you are happy to pay entrance fees and lunch separately. The route offers real variety, and the private minivan makes it easier to adjust the pace or find an alternative if one stop is unavailable.

I would book only after confirming the pickup details and driver contact. The strong service reports about Eddie and Adi are encouraging, but the no-show report means reliability deserves a quick check. If you value convenience, want waterfall swimming, and have a full day available, this is a good-value option with a few practical conditions attached.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts between six and ten hours. The final length depends on your pickup location, traffic, and the time spent at each stop.

Where can pickup be arranged?

Pickup is available from Ubud, Gianyar, Sanur, Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Uluwatu, Sideman, Candi Dasa, and other listed Bali areas without an extra charge stated in the tour details.

Is transportation private?

Yes. You travel in a private air-conditioned minivan with a private English-speaking driver who also acts as your tour guide.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Entrance tickets are not included in the price and must be paid separately.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at Waroeng De Koi is not included. Food and drinks are separate, apart from the bottled mineral water provided.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. Swimming is included as an activity at Ulu Petanu Waterfall. Bring swimwear and a change of clothes.

What language does the guide speak?

The live tour guide service is provided in English.

What happens if the Sacred Monkey Forest is closed?

The tour information indicates that alternative activities may be offered. One reported alternative included silver-making classes and shops.