Full-Day Ubud Tour: Temples, Rice Terraces & Monkey Forest
Ten hours tracing Bali's spiritual landscape, from rock-cut temples to working rice fields
A full-day private tour of Ubud covers four distinct stops: the 11th-century Gunung Kawi temple carved into a 23-foot cliff face, the spring-fed Tirta Empul Temple where you can witness local blessing rituals, a trek through Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and the sacred monkey forest with around 700 Balinese macaques. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch at a local restaurant, and an English-speaking guide are included. The itinerary spans 10 hours and involves some stairs at Gunung Kawi.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore temples, rice terraces, and forest
- Drive to Ubud village
- Visit Ubud monkey forest
- Explore Gunung Kawi temple
- Join ritual at Tirta Empul Temple
- Trek through rice terraces
- Lunch at jungle restaurant
- Tirta Empul Temple Entry included 1h
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace Entry included 35m
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- private air-conditioned vehicle with driver.
- English-speaking guide.
- lunch at a local restaurant.
- bottled water.
- all taxes and fees.
Times
- Every day 08:00 08:30 09:00
Before you book
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The experience
Your driver picks you up from your hotel and heads into central Ubud, where the day's first stop is the sacred monkey forest: a 12.5-hectare sanctuary holding around 700 long-tailed macaques. You walk the forest paths past three temples nestled inside, where the monkeys move freely alongside the shrines. The terrain is open and the monkeys are accustomed to visitors, though the forest itself is the main draw rather than a quick photo stop.
From there you drive to Gunung Kawi, an 11th-century funerary complex spread across both sides of the Pakerisan River. Ten rock-cut shrines (called candi) are carved into the sheer cliff face in 7-metre-high sheltered niches: the scale and age of the carving become clear as you approach. There are stairs to descend and climb, and the site sits on the river level, so expect some physical effort to reach the temple itself. Your guide explains the history and the ritual significance as you move through the complex.
Lunch happens at a jungle restaurant where you eat surrounded by natural forest setting, then you head to Tegalalang Rice Terrace for a short trek through the working rice fields. This is where you see how Balinese farmers actually work the land: the terraces step down the hillside in neat green layers, and the walk gives you a sense of the scale and the labor involved. After the trek, you return to the monkey forest for a final visit before your driver takes you back to your hotel.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private guide steering you through four sacred sites and working landscapes in one day, with lunch included and transport handled between each stop.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.
What exactly is Gunung Kawi and why are there stairs involved?
Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple and funerary complex with ten rock-cut shrines carved into a 23-foot cliff face on either side of the Pakerisan River. You descend and climb stairs to reach the temple level where the carved niches sit, so the site requires moderate physical effort to navigate.
Can I actually participate in the rituals at Tirta Empul Temple?
Yes. At Tirta Empul Temple you can witness locals performing the ritual of holy blessing in the crystal-clear spring fountain, and your guide will invite you to join the ritual if you wish to participate.
How much time do I spend actually walking through the rice terraces?
Tegalalang Rice Terrace includes a short trek through the working rice fields where you walk among the stepped terraces and see how Balinese farmers cultivate the land. It is not a long hike, but it gives you direct contact with the landscape rather than a viewing-point stop.
Will I see the monkeys up close in the sacred forest?
The sacred monkey forest holds around 700 Balinese long-tailed macaques living wild across 12.5 hectares with three temples inside. You walk the forest paths where the monkeys move freely, so close encounters are common, though the monkeys are accustomed to visitors and generally calm.
What is included in the lunch, and where do I eat?
Lunch is at a local jungle restaurant where you eat surrounded by natural forest setting. The meal is included in the tour price. The restaurant is chosen for its local character and natural environment rather than a specific cuisine type.
How does hotel pickup work, and what time does the tour start?
Your hotel pickup is included. Your driver collects you from your accommodation and returns you there at the end of the day. The tour runs for 10 hours total, though the exact start time is arranged when you book.
Full-Day Ubud Tour: Temples, Rice Terraces & Monkey Forest
10h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 59.90 per person
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