Ubud Private Driver: Bali Custom Tour & Hotel Pickup

Summary

Ubud day tour with private driver for temples rice fields waterfalls

You’ll ride with a local Ubud driver who lets you set the pace—temples, rice terraces, waterfalls or markets are all on the table. Expect friendly chats, flexible stops, and small moments like sharing fruit or learning about daily rituals. This isn’t about rushing; it’s about soaking up Bali’s rhythm with someone who knows every turn.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Custom Ubud area sightseeing tour

• Meet driver at hotel lobby
• Discuss preferred places to visit
• Visit Monkey Forest
• Explore Tegallalang Rice Terrace
• See Tirta Empul Temple
• Drive to Kintamani
• Visit Gunung Kawi Temple
• Explore Goa Gajah Temple
• Visit Penglipuran Village
• See Tegenungan Waterfall
• Visit Kanto Lampo Waterfall
• Explore Tibumana Waterfall
• Shop at Ubud Market
• Visit Ubud Palace
• See Saraswati Temple

Top questions

How long does the Ubud private driver tour last?

The private car hire lasts 8-10 hours for a full day tour.

Is hotel pickup included for this Bali custom tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Ubud, Sanur, and Benoa port.

Can I choose which places to visit during the day?

Yes, you can customize your itinerary with your driver when you meet—temples, waterfalls, markets and more.

Are entrance tickets included in the price?

No, entrance fees at sites are not included in the price of the private car hire.

Is this tour suitable for infants or young children?

Infants can ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult’s lap during the tour.

Are there any health restrictions for joining?

This tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

Is an English-speaking driver provided?

Yes, your private driver speaks English and will guide you throughout the day.

Can women enter all temples during menstruation?

No, women who are menstruating are not allowed to enter certain temples and holy springs.

What’s included

Your day includes flexible private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking local driver-guide. Pickup and drop-off are provided for Ubud hotels as well as Sanur and Benoa port locations. All petrol and parking fees are covered so you can focus on exploring at your own pace—with plenty of room for spontaneous stops along the way.

What’s the experience like?

“You don’t have to rush here,” our driver Wayan said as we pulled up near the Monkey Forest in Ubud. He was right — it felt like the kind of day where nobody’s checking their watch, not even him. The air smelled faintly of clove cigarettes and frangipani, and I swear every time we stopped, someone nearby was laughing or calling out in Balinese. Wayan asked if we wanted to see Tirta Empul temple first or go straight to the Tegallalang rice terraces. I hesitated (I’m terrible at decisions), but he just grinned and said, “We can do both — this is your day.”

The road between stops was its own little adventure. Sometimes the windows fogged up from the humidity, sometimes we’d catch a whiff of incense from a roadside shrine. I tried saying “thank you” in Bahasa Indonesia — Wayan nodded politely but I could tell my pronunciation was off (he didn’t laugh though). At Gunung Kawi temple, he explained how locals leave offerings at sunrise; it made me notice all those tiny woven baskets everywhere after that. We wandered through Penglipuran village too, where an old woman waved us inside her courtyard just to show off her dog — she didn’t speak English but somehow it didn’t matter.

I still think about the lunch stop near Kintamani — just fried noodles and sweet tea, but the view over Mount Batur was hazy and perfect. If you want to skip a waterfall or add in a market stop, Wayan seems completely unfazed. The only thing he insisted on was that we try some snake fruit from a roadside stall (tastes better than it sounds). By afternoon, I’d lost track of which temple was which — not because they’re forgettable, but because everything started blending into this slow rhythm of Bali days: sunlight flickering through palm leaves, motorbikes zipping past shrines, us just drifting from place to place.