Explore Bali in 3 Days – Custom Itinerary – Private Tour
Three days, east Bali, zero guesswork. This private tour is built for people who want highlights without running around on their own. Starting from Ubud in an air-conditioned car, you’ll hit a strong mix: sacred sites, coffee culture, waterfalls, and classic coastal views.
I especially like the easy logistics: hotel pickup and return transfers, plus an English-speaking driver who keeps things moving. And I love how the day-to-day stops feel different—fire dance and chanting one day, then water palaces and white sand beach the next.
One thing to consider: the schedule is packed, and some entry fees are listed as not included, including Sacred Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and Lempuyang Temple.
In This Review
- Key things I’d plan around
- Private pickup from Ubud at 8:00 am keeps the island hopping realistic
- Day 1: Sahadewa Fire Dance, Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and a waterfall break
- Sahadewa Barong Dance & Kecak Fire Dance
- Teba Sari Bali Agrotourism: learn the traditional Luwak coffee process
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: art, temple details, and real monkey energy
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace: the photo-famous terraces, still worth your time
- Tegenungan Waterfall: a 20m (66 ft) cascade you can actually see well
- Puseh Batuan Temple: a shorter, local-feeling temple stop
- Day 2 from Taman Ayun to Tanah Lot: gardens, lake views, and the iconic coastline shrine
- Taman Ayun Temple: “beautiful garden” in real walking form
- Lake Beratan (Bedugul): the highland lake stop
- Handara Iconic Gate: the camera-friendly stop inside the resort
- Wanagiri Hidden Hills: the newer selfie hills
- Tanah Lot Temple: offshore setting and sunset-style backdrops
- Day 3 in Karangasem: Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga, Ujung Water Palace, and Virgin Beach
- Lempuyang Temple: an eastern-position sacred stop
- Tirta Gangga: the Water Palace with “breathtaking views”
- Ujung Water Palace: Dutch-era roots and a water-centered layout
- Virgin Beach (Perasi Beach): white sand and a scenic uphill view
- Price and value: what $105 per person gets you, plus likely extras
- Timing, weather, and pacing: the stuff that can make or break your 3 days
- Who should book this Bali private tour—and who should choose differently
- Should you book this 3-day Explore Bali private itinerary?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- Is this tour private?
- What’s included in the price?
- Which entrance fees are not included?
- How long is the tour?
- Do I need good weather for this tour?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key things I’d plan around

- Private car + hotel pickup/return means you spend time looking, not navigating.
- East Bali temples and water palaces give you a different Bali vibe than the usual beach-only plan.
- Tegenungan Waterfall (about 20m/66 ft) is a real wow moment in the middle of the day.
- Handara Iconic Gate and Wanagiri Hidden Hills are camera stops, not long hikes.
- Virgin Beach (Perasi Beach) is a calmer end to the route, with white sand and scenic viewpoints.
- Driver Gusti earned praise for safe driving and solid local suggestions.
Private pickup from Ubud at 8:00 am keeps the island hopping realistic

This tour runs from a straightforward start time: 8:00 am. That matters in Bali because the days can get long fast when you’re moving between inland sights and the coast. With pickup and return transfers included, you don’t have to figure out where your next ride is coming from—or waste time coordinating multiple stops.
The other practical win is having an English-speaking driver and a private vehicle. You’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all pace, and you can ask for guidance as you go. One review highlighted the driver by name—Gusti—for driving safely and offering lots of suggestions, which is exactly the kind of help that makes a schedule feel smoother.
Other private tours in Ubud
Day 1: Sahadewa Fire Dance, Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and a waterfall break

Day 1 is a great example of how this route balances culture, iconic scenery, and local temples. You’re out early, then you build momentum with stops that change the vibe every hour or so.
Sahadewa Barong Dance & Kecak Fire Dance
You’ll start with the Sahadewa Barong Dance & Fire Dance, a one-hour performance with powerful choreography and chanting. The point here isn’t quiet sightseeing—it’s to experience Balinese culture in motion, with dramatic fire elements and a strong theatrical feel.
Admission ticket isn’t included for this stop, so plan on paying at the venue.
Teba Sari Bali Agrotourism: learn the traditional Luwak coffee process
Next is Teba Sari Bali Agrotourism, where you’re guided through the plantation to learn how Luwak coffee is made traditionally. This isn’t just a quick roadside photo stop. It’s a short, structured introduction to a process that’s become famous worldwide, and it’s also a change of pace from temple and viewpoint days.
This stop also lists admission as not included, so factor that into your day.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: art, temple details, and real monkey energy
Then comes Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary for about an hour. The highlights described for this place are the carved artwork and sculptures, plus a temple area where the monkeys roam freely around you.
This is one of those stops where your mindset matters. You’re not there to keep your distance; you’re there to experience the setting with monkeys as part of the scene. Keep your attention on your belongings and follow your guide’s lead if anything feels too close.
Admission isn’t included.
A few more Ubud tours and experiences worth a look
Tegalalang Rice Terrace: the photo-famous terraces, still worth your time
After the sanctuary, you head to Tegalalang Rice Terrace. It’s famous for a reason, and yes, it’s touristy—most people come for the photo. But the terraces still deliver real visual payoff, especially if you take a few minutes to look beyond the camera angle.
A listed entrance fee is $2 per person for this stop.
Tegenungan Waterfall: a 20m (66 ft) cascade you can actually see well
Next is Tegenungan Waterfall (about 1 hour). It’s described as a white cascade over black stone cliffs, dropping around 20 meters (66 feet) into a quiet pool. The nice part is that this kind of waterfall view is instant—no complex hiking required.
Admission isn’t included here, so pay attention when you arrive.
Puseh Batuan Temple: a shorter, local-feeling temple stop
To finish Day 1, you visit Puseh Batuan Temple for about 30 minutes. This one feels more local and residential than the biggest tourist temples, with Balinese Hindu temple design and lots of ornament details. It’s a good way to end the day after the more spectacle-heavy stops.
Admission isn’t included.
Day 2 from Taman Ayun to Tanah Lot: gardens, lake views, and the iconic coastline shrine
Day 2 leans into temples and viewpoints, then closes with one of Bali’s most recognizable coastal landmarks.
Taman Ayun Temple: “beautiful garden” in real walking form
Start with Taman Ayun Temple, a temple set in a park with trees and ponds. It translates to beautiful garden, and the vibe matches. You’re given about an hour here, which is enough time to look at the temple setting without feeling rushed.
Admission isn’t included.
Lake Beratan (Bedugul): the highland lake stop
Then you head to Lake Beratan in Bedugul for about an hour. This is one of Bali’s well-known lake destinations on typical itineraries, and it’s included here because it breaks the day up with open-air views rather than only temple courtyards.
Admission isn’t included.
Handara Iconic Gate: the camera-friendly stop inside the resort
Next is Handara Iconic Gate (about 1 hour). It’s tied to Handara Golf and Resort, and the key value is simple: it’s full of spots that are very Instagram-worthy. If you like a clean, architectural photo moment, this is the time to do it.
Admission isn’t included.
Wanagiri Hidden Hills: the newer selfie hills
After Handara, you visit Wanagiri Hidden Hills for about an hour. This stop is described as a place people go to find newer selfie angles and photogenic viewpoints. It’s a good mid-day reset when you want scenery without it turning into a long hike.
Admission isn’t included.
Tanah Lot Temple: offshore setting and sunset-style backdrops
Finally, Tanah Lot Temple closes Day 2. It’s described as one of Bali’s most important landmarks, famous for a shrine setting out near the water—perched on an outcrop with waves crashing around it. Even if you’re not there solely for sunset, the temple’s setting is part of the experience.
Admission isn’t included.
Day 3 in Karangasem: Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga, Ujung Water Palace, and Virgin Beach

Day 3 is the Eastern Bali sweep. This is where the tour adds “stay on the road, then wow” moments: temple grandeur, water-palace views, and a white sand finish.
Lempuyang Temple: an eastern-position sacred stop
Your first stop is Lempuyang Temple (Pura Lempuyang / Pura Lempuyang Luhur Karangasem), around 1 hour. It’s noted as one of the Sad Kahyangan Temples and specifically in the eastern position of Bali. That matters: the route is designed to move you around the island in a way that makes the sacred geography feel intentional.
Admission isn’t included, and the listed entrance fee for this stop is $8 per person.
Tirta Gangga: the Water Palace with “breathtaking views”
Next is Tirta Gangga, the Water Palace in East Bali, for about an hour. The description focuses on its scenery and breathtaking views, with the palace-style setting making it feel more like a designed garden-and-water world than just another temple.
Admission isn’t included.
Ujung Water Palace: Dutch-era roots and a water-centered layout
Then you visit Ujung Water Palace (Taman Ujung Karangasem) for about 1 hour. It was built since the Dutch era, and it’s called a water palace because water plays a key role in the design. This stop gives you a historical layer without getting overly academic.
Admission isn’t included.
Virgin Beach (Perasi Beach): white sand and a scenic uphill view
To wrap up, you head to Virgin Beach (Perasi Beach) for about 30 minutes. It’s described as hidden in Karangasem, known for white sand, and reached by driving down after viewing from uphill. That “look first, then descend” detail is practical—it sets expectations so you’re not expecting a beach promenade right away.
Admission isn’t included.
Price and value: what $105 per person gets you, plus likely extras
At $105 per person for an approximate 3-day private tour, this is less about being the cheapest option and more about being a time-saver. You’re paying for a private, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and return transfers, an English-speaking driver, and bottled water.
It also includes “admission ticket to all attractions (Price A Only)” in the deal details, but the extra fees section clearly lists costs for some key stops. Based on the not-included amounts provided, plan for these entrance fees:
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: $8 per person
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace: $2 per person
- Lempuyang Temple: $8 per person
- (Also listed: Tirta Empul Temple: $6 per person—though it isn’t part of the listed three-day route you provided.)
So at minimum, the explicitly listed extras for this route add up to $18 per person. Since multiple stops are marked as admission ticket not included in the day-by-day descriptions, it’s smart to keep some cash or a card ready for additional entry payments at the venues.
One more value angle: it’s a private format. That usually means you can keep the schedule tight without sharing the experience with strangers, which is especially helpful on long driving days.
Timing, weather, and pacing: the stuff that can make or break your 3 days

This tour requires good weather. That’s not a throwaway line—when you’re stacking temples, terraces, and beach time, rain can affect both visibility and comfort. If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Pacing is the other factor. Day 1 alone includes a performance, an agrotourism stop, a monkey sanctuary, rice terraces, a waterfall, and a temple. It’s doable because each stop has a set time window, but your day still moves fast. If you love variety, that’s a strength. If you hate schedules, it could feel rushed.
Who should book this Bali private tour—and who should choose differently
This tour fits well if you:
- want to see East Bali without figuring out routes yourself from Ubud
- prefer a private car and an English-speaking driver
- like a mix of culture and scenery—dance, temples, water palaces, and a white sand beach
You might want to choose a slower or more specialized plan if you:
- dislike places that are described as touristy (Tegalalang Rice Terrace is explicitly noted this way)
- prefer fewer stops per day and more time to linger at each location
If you book, do yourself a favor and bring a camera mood. Between Handara Iconic Gate, Wanagiri Hidden Hills, the terraces, and the shoreline views at Tanah Lot and Virgin Beach, you’ll have plenty of moments that are meant to be photographed.
Should you book this 3-day Explore Bali private itinerary?
I’d book it if you want a practical, high-coverage East Bali sampler with the comfort of a private driver and a schedule that connects the dots. The strongest selling points are the private logistics and the way the route shifts from culture (fire dance and temple visits) to scenery (rice terraces, waterfalls, water palaces, and beach).
Before you commit, check the entrance fees that apply to your exact package (the deal lists specific extra costs for Monkey Forest, Tegalalang, and Lempuyang), and plan for a day that starts at 8:00 am and stays active across all three days.
If you want maximum Bali variety in a tight time window, this one is a solid bet.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 8:00 am.
Is this tour private?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group participates.
What’s included in the price?
Included are hotel pick up and return transfers, private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking driver, admission tickets to attractions (Price A Only), and bottled water.
Which entrance fees are not included?
The listed additional admission fees are Tirta Empul Temple ($6.00 per person), Tegalalang Rice Terrace ($2.00 per person), Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary ($8.00 per person), and Lempuyang Temple ($8.00 per person).
How long is the tour?
The duration is about 3 days.
Do I need good weather for this tour?
Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid is not refunded.
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