Private Ubud tour: rice terraces, monkey forest, waterfall

Gray macaques roam among Hindu temples while you walk the forest paths.

A private tour of Ubud visits four major sites—Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), and Tegenungan Waterfall—over roughly 10 hours with an English-speaking local driver, hotel pickup and all entrance fees included. The driver navigates the route and timing, so you move between sites without arranging transport or tickets yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ubud's nature and culture

• Visit Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest
• Explore Tegalalang Rice Terrace
• See Tegenungan Waterfall
• Visit Elephant Cave temple
• Pass Ubud Art Market

The Experience

The day starts at your hotel with pickup by a local driver who knows Ubud's layout and culture. You head first to Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, where gray macaques move through the forest canopy and rest near Hindu temples carved into the stone. The sanctuary sits within walking paths that let you move at your own pace among the animals and the temple grounds. From there the route takes you to Tegalalang village, where the rice terraces rise in stepped layers across the hillside—the most photographed view in Ubud. You can walk down into the paddies or stay on the ridge; the driver waits while you explore.

Tegenungan Waterfall comes next, set in lush green surroundings with a short walk down to the base or a view from the upper level, depending on how close you want to get. The final major stop is Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave temple, a large carved cave with a temple courtyard, rock-wall carvings, bathing pools and relics. You'll also pass the Ubud Art Market during the route. Throughout the day the driver shares knowledge of Balinese culture and the traditional Subak irrigation system that has shaped these rice paddies for centuries.

The full loop takes around 10 hours from pickup to drop-off, though timing shifts based on your hotel location and how long you linger at each site. Entrance fees to all four attractions are included, as is the private vehicle and driver. You bring only yourself; the logistics are settled before you leave the hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an English-speaking local driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees to Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Goa Gajah and Tegenungan Waterfall.
• insurance coverage.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bali SUN Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Ubud without your own transport—a driver picks you up and manages the four-site route, so you move between Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Sacred Monkey Forest, Goa Gajah, and Tegenungan Waterfall as one continuous loop.

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Top questions

What will I actually see at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary?

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a forested area where gray macaques live among Hindu temples and stone carvings. You walk the paths on foot and encounter the monkeys in their natural habitat around the temple grounds.

Can I walk down to Tegenungan Waterfall or do I just see it from above?

Tegenungan Waterfall has both options. You can take a short walk down to the base of the waterfall or view it from the upper level and take pictures from there—the choice is yours when you arrive.

What is Goa Gajah and why is it called Elephant Cave?

Goa Gajah is a temple complex built around a large cave carved into the rock, with a temple courtyard, rock-wall carvings, bathing pools and relics inside. The name comes from the cave itself, which is the main feature of the site.

Does the driver stay with me the whole time or just drop me off at each stop?

Your English-speaking driver stays with you throughout the tour and handles the route between sites. At each attraction you explore at your own pace while the driver waits, then you return to the vehicle and move to the next stop.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, all entrance fees to the four main sites, and the English-speaking driver. Food, drinks and personal expenses are not included, so bring cash or a card if you want to eat or buy anything along the way.

How long is the full tour and does it work if I'm staying outside Ubud?

The tour runs roughly 10 hours from pickup to drop-off. Pickup happens at your hotel, so it works from any Ubud accommodation. If you're staying elsewhere in Bali, confirm your location when booking, as the total time shifts based on how far the driver needs to travel to reach you.