Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace

Bali Waterfalls Tours

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace

13 min read

Ubud moves fast, and this tour keeps you moving the right way. You get a tight mix of culture and nature in one day, with an experienced driver and an English guide, plus an air-conditioned vehicle for the ride between stops. It’s built for people who want the highlights without juggling tickets and timing.

I especially like that admission tickets are included for the major stops, so the day stays smooth. I also like the built-in meal stop at d’Alas Warung Restaurant, since it removes one of the biggest hassles of day tours in Bali: figuring out where to eat and when.

One consideration: the day is long and packed, and it includes a temple visit where women in a period are not allowed. If you’re sensitive to long walking periods or want extra flexibility, this itinerary may feel rushed.

Key things I’d bank on before you go

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Key things I’d bank on before you go

  • English guide + private vehicle: You stay in your own group with a driver who can explain what you’re seeing.
  • Tickets and lunch included: Fewer decisions, fewer extra payments during the day.
  • Monkey Forest with paved paths in a nutmeg forest: You’ll see 700+ grey long-tailed macaques in a dedicated sanctuary setting.
  • Tegalalang Rice Terrace time for photos and views: A full 2 hours gives you room to slow down.
  • Coffee plantation with a tasting moment: Bali Pulina is an agrotourism stop with both process viewing and tasting.
  • Temple visit comes with rules: Plan around the Batuan Temple visit restrictions.

Ubud in 9–10 Hours: How the day flows

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Ubud in 9–10 Hours: How the day flows
This tour starts at 8:30 am and runs about 9 to 10 hours. That timing matters because you want enough daylight for the waterfall and still have time for temples and terraces without feeling like you’re racing in the dark. You’re also traveling by air-conditioned vehicle and get bottled water, which helps when the day is warm and humid.

What makes this format work for me is the pacing: you’re not stuck in one place all day, but you also aren’t just doing drive-bys. The stops are spaced so you can absorb each place: animal encounters first, then rice views, then coffee, then a meal and art browsing, and finally waterfall plus temple.

Since it’s private transportation with only your group, you avoid the constant reshuffling that happens on big group tours. You still get group discounts, but the experience stays centered on your own party.

Other Ubud tours we've reviewed in Ubud

Stop 1: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and the 700 macaques

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Stop 1: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and the 700 macaques
Your first major stop is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Padangtegal. The big draw is the scale: this sanctuary is home to over 700 grey long-tailed macaques. You’ll walk paved pathways through a leafy nutmeg forest, which is a nice detail because it’s not just an open zoo feel. It’s a real sanctuary area with greenery and paths that guide your movement.

Why I like starting here: you’re early in the day, when people often move more slowly and the atmosphere feels less frantic. Also, you’re fresh enough to handle active, energetic surroundings—before the day turns into a chain of viewpoints, meals, and temple rules.

What to keep in mind: you should expect the presence of macaques to be part of the experience, not a distant background element. If you prefer calm, low-energy sights, this stop will feel more lively than the rest.

Stop 2: Tegalalang Rice Terrace for real time in the views

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Stop 2: Tegalalang Rice Terrace for real time in the views
Next up is Tegalalang Rice Terrace, one of Ubud’s most recognizable green scenes. You’ll get about 2 hours, and that’s the useful part. With that time, you can take in the terraced geometry, stroll along the viewpoints at an easy pace, and still have a moment to just watch the activity around the fields.

This stop is valuable because it’s not only about the photo. Rice terraces here are also a window into Bali’s farming culture and how the landscape is shaped for agriculture. Even if you’re only casually interested, you’ll notice how the terracing channels the way you look and move through the area.

Potential drawback: this kind of viewpoint is popular, so you may encounter crowds depending on the day. Two hours helps, though, because you can spread your time rather than rushing from one angle to another.

Stop 3: Bali Pulina Coffee Plantation and the process-to-cup feel

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Stop 3: Bali Pulina Coffee Plantation and the process-to-cup feel
You’ll stop at Bali Pulina Coffee Plantation for about 1 hour. This is an agrotourism visit, meaning you’re not only tasting. You also see the process of coffee-making and then taste it while looking at the views.

I like this stop because it’s more interactive than a typical roadside coffee stop. You’re given a structured chunk of time to understand how the product gets from plant to cup, then you get to try it directly. It’s a good “break” stop between sightseeing blocks, too.

What you should consider: it’s listed as a 1-hour stop, so you shouldn’t expect a slow, deep experience. If you love coffee research and want a long tasting session, you may want to spend extra time elsewhere afterward—but for a tour day, it fits the schedule.

Stop 4: d’Alas Warung Restaurant lunch stop

For lunch, the tour includes a stop at d’Alas Warung Restaurant for about 1 hour. The emphasis here is on authentic Balinese food and healthy homegrown food using quality ingredients. The menu concept also includes creative dishes that experiment with traditional spices and flavors from across Bali.

This matters for value. Many Ubud tours either skip lunch or leave you hunting for it. Here, lunch is built into the plan, and you get time boxed into the day so you’re not losing momentum before the waterfall and temple.

The one thing to plan for: your lunch window is fixed inside the itinerary. If you have dietary needs, you’ll want to think ahead and manage expectations, since the tour data only guarantees lunch is included, not specific menu customization.

Stop 5: Ubud Art Market and the Pasar Seni vibe

After lunch, you’ll visit the Ubud Art Market, also known as pasar seni ubud. The goal of this stop is to connect with local arts and crafts in a place where buying and browsing are part of the culture.

You get about 1 hour here, which is enough time to look for souvenirs, see what’s being sold by artisans, and get a feel for the market’s energy without burning your whole afternoon. If you like practical shopping—things that represent the place rather than generic items—this is the kind of stop that can make your day feel complete.

One consideration: markets are active by nature. If you prefer quiet, this may feel like a change in tempo compared to the rice terraces or coffee plantation.

Stop 6: Tegenungan Waterfall for the green valley views

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Stop 6: Tegenungan Waterfall for the green valley views
Next is Tegenungan Waterfall, with about 2 hours on the site. The appeal is the combination of the waterfall itself and the green valley panorama around it. For nature lovers, this is where the day turns scenic in a bigger, more dramatic way.

Two hours is a strong amount of time for a waterfall stop because it lets you take photos, enjoy the view, and not feel like you’re being herded. It’s also a helpful buffer before the last cultural stop at Batuan Temple, since you can slow down rather than rushing straight from shopping and lunch into a religious site.

Potential drawback: depending on conditions, waterfall areas can be slippery or wet, and you’ll want to keep an eye on how you move. The good news is that you’re not stuck there for only 20 minutes—you have time to adjust and enjoy.

Stop 7: Batuan Temple (Pura Puseh Batuan) and the temple visit rules

Bali Ubud Tour: Monkey Forest, Waterfall & Rice Terrace - Stop 7: Batuan Temple (Pura Puseh Batuan) and the temple visit rules
Your final major cultural stop is Batuan Temple, also known as Pura Puseh Batuan. It’s described as one of Bali’s historically significant and visually captivating temples, and it’s located in the village of Batuan, just a short drive from Ubud.

You’ll spend about 1 hour here. I like closing with a temple because the earlier nature and viewpoints set the visual mood, and the temple adds meaning: ritual architecture, place-based culture, and a sense that this island isn’t only about scenic stops.

Important rule to know from the tour info: women in a period are not allowed to visit the temple. If that applies to you, you’ll want to plan how your party will handle the final stop.

Optional art village stop: Celuk, Mas, or Batuan for artisan communities

Between the listed stops, the tour includes a choice: you can pick one of Bali’s art villages, such as Celuk (gold and silver smiths), Mas (wood carving village), or Batuan (painter community). The idea is to see more focused artisan work beyond what you’ll find at the general market.

This optional piece is where the tour can feel less like a checklist and more like a cultural story. If you love crafts, choosing a specific art village lets you connect what you see to the skill behind it.

How to choose fast: if you like wearable or collectible metals, go Celuk. If you’re drawn to carvings and woodwork, go Mas. If you’re more into painting and visual art, pick Batuan.

Pickup, private transport, and why the logistics feel low-stress

The tour offers pickup, runs from a start time of 8:30 am, and uses an air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation. There’s also bottled water, which sounds small until you’re sitting in a car under the Bali sun.

You’ll also get mobile ticket access and admission ticket included for the main stops (Monkey Forest, rice terrace, Bali Pulina, d’Alas restaurant, Ubud art market, Tegenungan waterfall, and Batuan Temple are all listed as admission-ticket-included). That’s a big deal for value and comfort. You spend your attention on the places, not on last-minute ticket lines.

It’s also described as private, meaning only your group will participate. That’s ideal if you’re traveling with family, want more control over pacing, or simply want a quieter day.

Price and value: Is $79 a fair deal for this day?

At $79 per person (listed price), this tour can be good value if you like structure and you’re planning to see most of Ubud’s top “big hits” in one day. Here’s why: the inclusions cover multiple cost categories that add up quickly when you DIY.

You’re paying for:

  • Admission tickets included for the main stops
  • Lunch included
  • All fees and taxes included
  • Air-conditioned vehicle + private transportation
  • Bottled water

When you compare that to piecing it together on your own, the savings don’t always show up as a direct math win. But they do show up as time saved and stress reduced. You also avoid the common DIY problem: the day gets expensive because each site tacks on fees and you still need transport.

So for me, $79 makes sense if you want a one-day overview plus enough time at each stop to enjoy it. If you already have transport and you plan to select only one or two sites, then you might prefer a lighter itinerary. But for a full day, this is priced like a “no-hassle” package.

Who this tour suits best

This tour fits best if you:

  • Want an all-in-one Ubud day with nature + culture
  • Prefer having tickets handled and lunch included
  • Travel with family or a small group and want a private setup
  • Like the idea of adding one art village choice (Celuk, Mas, or Batuan)

It may not be the best match if you:

  • Want a slower pace with fewer stops
  • Need flexibility at each location for long wandering time
  • Are avoiding temple visits due to the Batuan Temple rule

Should you book this Ubud Monkey Forest, waterfall, and rice terrace day?

If your goal is a high-impact Ubud day with tickets and lunch included plus private transport, I’d say this is a solid booking. The itinerary is built around big-name sites, but the timing gives you real chunks of time at key places like 2 hours for Tegalalang and 2 hours for Tegenungan.

Before you click confirm, decide how you feel about the long day and the temple rule. If that’s workable for your group, this tour is the kind of plan that keeps you in motion without feeling like you’re constantly waiting or negotiating logistics.

FAQ

What time does the Bali Ubud tour start?

The tour start time is 8:30 am.

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 9 to 10 hours.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the meeting point is described as near public transportation.

What does the price include?

The price includes lunch, all fees and taxes, air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, and bottled water. Admission tickets are included for the listed stops.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group participates. It also mentions a mobile ticket.

Can women visit the temple?

The tour info states that women in a period are not allowed to visit the temple.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

If you want, tell me your travel dates and who’s in your group (ages, any temple constraints), and I’ll help you decide which art village option—Celuk, Mas, or Batuan—fits your interests best.

More tours in Ubud we've reviewed

Planning a Bali trip?

Start with the cornerstones — when to go, where to base, and what's actually worth doing.

35 things to do Where to stay