Ubud Day Trip: Elephant Cave, Rice Terraces & Holy Water Temple

Four stops in Ubud, ten hours, one driver who knows where the light hits best

You start from your hotel and spend ten hours visiting four sites: Elephant Cave with its carved chambers, rice paddies where farmers work, a coffee farm with views, lunch of your choice, and Tirta Dasamala temple with its natural spring waters. The private format means the pace is yours, the driver knows the route, and you don't arrange transport or entry separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Start from hotel in morning
• Visit Elephant Cave for 1 hour
• See rice terraces and farmers
• Enjoy coffee break at farm
• Have lunch by request
• Visit Tirta Dasamala holy water temple

The Experience

Your hotel pickup happens in the morning—the exact time depends on where you're staying in Ubud, but the driver arrives and you're moving. The ten-hour day trip from Ubud covers four main stops, each one timed so you're not rushed but you're not sitting around either. First is Elephant Cave, which takes about an hour and a half to walk through and explore. It's a real cave carved into the hillside, not a museum version, and the air inside feels different—cooler, older, the kind of place that makes you understand why people built temples here.

After Elephant Cave you head to the rice terraces. This is where you see the actual work—farmers moving through the paddies, the water reflecting sky, the geometry of the fields laid out so precisely it looks almost accidental. You're standing on a ridge looking down at it, not walking through mud, so bring shoes that grip but don't need to be waterproof. Then there's a coffee farm stop where you sit with a cup and the view, and the farmer or host explains what you're drinking and where it came from. It's the kind of break that makes the day feel less like checking boxes and more like actually being somewhere.

Lunch comes next—you choose what you want beforehand, nothing forced. After that, the final stop is Tirta Dasamala, the holy water temple. It has ten different water sources, each one fed by a natural spring, and people come here to bathe or drink the water as part of a blessing ritual. You don't have to participate if that's not your thing, but the temple itself is quiet and built into the landscape in a way that feels intentional. Bring a sarong or wear something that covers your shoulders and knees; the temple has a dress code and it's respected. Mineral water is provided throughout the day, and the whole thing wraps up by late afternoon when the driver takes you back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private tour with hotel pickup.
• mineral water throughout the day.
• lunch at a stop of your choice.
• entry to Elephant Cave, rice terrace viewpoint, coffee farm, and Tirta Dasamala temple.
• ten hours of guided time with your driver.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Familly Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Ubud and want to see the main natural and cultural sites in one day without arranging separate transport, tickets, or timing—the private format and fixed itinerary handle all of that.

Top questions

What time does the day trip start?

Pickup is in the morning from your Ubud hotel. The exact time is arranged based on your location.

How long do we spend at each stop?

Elephant Cave takes about an hour and a half. The other stops—rice terraces, coffee farm, and temple—are shorter, designed to fit everything into the ten-hour day without feeling rushed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You choose what you'd like to eat beforehand, and lunch is provided during the tour.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera, sturdy shoes, money for any extras, and a sarong or clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the temple visit.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

Yes, it's suitable for all fitness levels. Most stops involve walking at a relaxed pace; there's no climbing or strenuous activity required.

Do I need to book lunch in advance?

You request your lunch preference when you book the tour, so the meal is ready when you arrive.