Ubud Half-Day Tour: Rice Terrace, Temple Ritual & Massage

Walk the rice terraces, cleanse at the temple, then lie down for a massage

A half-day guided tour in Ubud that moves through three stops: the Tegalalang Rice Terrace for photos and a walk through the irrigation steps, Tirta Empul Temple for a purification ritual at the holy spring, and a one-hour Balinese massage with a professional therapist. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included; you choose whether to add temple admission and massage at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Temple visit, rice terrace, and massage

• Visit Tirta Empul Temple
• Perform purification ritual
• Walk and photograph Tegalalang Rice Terrace
• Enjoy one hour Balinese massage

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Ubud hotel and a drive to Tegalalang Rice Terrace, where the guide walks you through the stepped landscape and explains how the irrigation system works. You'll have time to photograph the terraces and move through the steps themselves—the guide frames the shots and points out how water flows from one level to the next. It's a working farm, not a museum, so you're seeing the system in use.

From there you head to Tirta Empul Temple, a water temple built around a holy spring. The ritual here is called Melukat, a purification practice where you move through the spring water to release negative energy. The guide explains what each pool represents and how the blessing works, so you understand the purpose before you step in. Bring a change of clothes or wear something you don't mind getting wet.

The tour ends with an hour of massage near Ubud with a professional therapist trained in Balinese techniques. The massage focuses on relaxation and circulation—it's not a spa experience with music and dimmed lights, but a straightforward therapeutic session. You're back at your hotel by early afternoon, which leaves the rest of the day open.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full tour.
• bottled water.
• the one-hour Balinese massage with a professional therapist (if you choose to include it at checkout).
• Tirta Empul Temple admission (if you choose to include it at checkout).

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CV MyBali Explore

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want three separate experiences—rice terraces, temple purification ritual, and massage—in one afternoon with a guide who drives and paces the stops for you.

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Top questions

What exactly happens at Tirta Empul Temple during this tour?

Tirta Empul Temple is a water temple built around a holy spring, and the tour includes the Melukat purification ritual. You move through the spring water pools as a blessing practice meant to release negative energy; the guide explains the meaning of each pool before you enter the water.

Do I need to bring anything special for the rice terrace walk?

Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet or muddy, since you'll be walking through the stepped terraces of Tegalalang. Bring a change of clothes if you plan to do the temple ritual afterward, as the holy spring water will soak what you're wearing.

Is the massage included in the price, or do I pay extra?

The one-hour Balinese massage is optional—you choose at checkout whether to include it. If you add it, the massage with a professional therapist is part of the tour price and happens at the end of the day near Ubud.

How long is the walk through the rice terraces?

The tour includes a leisurely walk through the Tegalalang Rice Terrace steps, but the exact time depends on how long you spend photographing and exploring. The whole tour runs five to six hours from pickup to drop-off.

Does the tour include temple admission, or is that separate?

Temple admission to Tirta Empul is optional—you select it at checkout along with the massage. If you include it, the ticket is covered in the tour price; if you exclude it, you skip the temple stop.