Ubud City Tour II: Monkey Forest, Palace, Art Market, and Rice Terrace

Ubud’s best-known sights are spread across town and the surrounding hills, so this private eight-hour tour is a useful way to connect them without arranging several taxis. The day brings you close to macaques at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, then on to the palace, art market, Happy Swing Bali, and Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

I like the hotel pickup and drop-off, especially if you are staying outside central Ubud, and I like the mix of culture, shopping, nature, and photo stops. Drivers such as Mera and Irwan have added helpful comments about Balinese culture, though you should know that the person driving may not provide the same depth of explanation as a trained sightseeing guide.

The main drawback is that some stops are brief. The palace receives only 15 minutes, and the art market can feel more like a shopping stop than a cultural visit. The day is also a busy one, with several paid attractions packed into a single route.

Key points at a glance

• Monkey Forest comes first: Allow about an hour to see macaques, temple buildings, and wooded paths.
• The palace stop is short: You get 15 minutes, enough for a quick look but not a detailed visit.
• The art market is best for shopping: Expect silver jewelry, batik, sarongs, carvings, and woven bags.
• Happy Swing adds a modern photo stop: You have about 90 minutes at the attraction.
• Tegalalang is the scenic finish: You can take photos or walk among the rice terraces, with a farmer donation extra for trekking.
• Private transport simplifies the day: Pickup, drop-off, tickets, taxes, and an English-speaking driver are included.

Why this Ubud tour works for a busy day

At $65 per person, this experience makes sense if you value a private car and want several major Ubud sights handled in one outing. The price includes entrance tickets, hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, service charges, and government tax. Meals are not included, and you pay separately if you make the optional donation for a rice-terrace walk.

You are not paying only for admission. You are also paying for transport between stops, which matters in Bali because sights around Ubud are not arranged in one compact sightseeing zone. The private format means only your own group rides together, with no strangers added to the car.

The tour begins at 9 a.m. and lasts about eight hours. In practice, that gives you a full day away from your hotel, though the actual sightseeing time is divided among five stops. If you want long walks, extended shopping, or detailed temple explanations, this schedule may feel tight.

I see this as a practical first look at Ubud rather than a slow, highly focused cultural tour. It introduces you to several different sides of the area in one day: sacred forest, royal architecture, handmade goods, a popular swing attraction, and working rice fields.

Meeting the macaques at Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is the strongest part of the day for many visitors. It combines a nature reserve with a religious temple complex, so you are not simply entering an animal park. The setting includes temple structures and wooded paths, with about 340 crab-eating macaques living in the area.

You have one hour here. That is enough time to walk through part of the sanctuary, watch the monkeys, and take photographs, but you should not expect to see every corner at a leisurely pace. The macaques are the main draw, and their behavior can make this the most memorable stop.

Keep your attention on your belongings and follow the sanctuary’s instructions. The tour information promises close encounters, not a controlled animal presentation, so the experience is best approached with care. You are entering a religious site as well as a monkey habitat.

This stop also gives the day some needed depth. The monkeys attract attention, but the temple setting explains why the forest matters to Ubud beyond photography. Ask your driver what he knows about the site. Some drivers offer useful cultural context, while others focus mainly on transport and timing.

A quick look at Ubud Palace

Ubud Palace, also known as Puri Saren, sits in the center of Ubud Village. Its location makes it an easy stop while moving between other central sights, but the visit is scheduled for only 15 minutes.

That short time tells you how to approach it. Think of the palace as a quick architectural and historical pause, not a full guided tour. You can look around, take photographs, and get a sense of its place in Ubud’s royal tradition, but you will not have much time for extended interpretation.

This is the least convincing part of the schedule for anyone who prefers depth. The palace may appeal to visitors who enjoy seeing important buildings, yet the stop can feel underdeveloped if you have already seen major Balinese palace complexes elsewhere.

Still, its central location and included admission make it easy to add. You do not have to plan a separate visit, and the brief stop leaves more time for the Monkey Forest and rice terraces, which are likely to be more visually rewarding.

Shopping at the traditional art market

The Ubud Traditional Art Market gives you one hour to browse stalls filled with goods associated with Bali. You might find silver jewelry, precious stones, batik, T-shirts, beach sarongs, wood carvings, and cane-work bags.

This is the stop to choose if you want souvenirs. I would not treat it as a quiet craft museum or a carefully arranged gallery. The value is in seeing the range of handmade and tourist-oriented goods in one place, then deciding if something deserves space in your luggage.

You will need to manage your own shopping time. The tour does not include a meal or a special shopping allowance beyond the scheduled hour, so avoid getting so involved in bargaining that you lose track of the departure time. If shopping is not important to you, this may feel like time that could have gone to another cultural site.

For many people, though, the market makes the day more useful. You can compare jewelry, textiles, bags, and carvings without asking the driver to make a separate stop. It is also a simple way to bring home something connected to Balinese design.

The photo stop at Happy Swing Bali

Happy Swing Bali receives about 90 minutes, making it one of the longer stops. The attraction centers on swinging from a cliff with wide views over the surrounding countryside. It is a modern attraction built around the familiar Bali swing photograph.

This stop will suit you if you want posed photos and an activity with a little adrenaline. It gives the day a change of pace after the forest, palace, and market. The ticket is included, so you do not need to budget another admission fee at the site.

The trade-off is that this is not an old temple, village visit, or traditional Balinese activity. If you are choosing this tour for culture and local life, Happy Swing may feel less essential. If your priority is a varied day with strong photographs, it earns its place.

The 90-minute allocation should give you time to enjoy the attraction without rushing through immediately. Exact conditions at a photo attraction can vary, so I would see the stop as a scheduled experience rather than a promise of a specific number of swings or photographs.

Walking above the Tegalalang rice terraces

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the day’s other major highlight. From the high roadside position, you can look down over stepped rice paddies and across the valley. The area is known for its scenic views, and the cooler, breezier setting can be a welcome change after central Ubud.

You have about one hour here. You can focus on photography from the viewpoint, or take a walk among the terraces. If you choose to trek, a donation to the farmer is not included in the tour price, so carry some local cash or ask your driver about the practical arrangements.

The distinction matters. A viewpoint visit is simple and fits the schedule. A walk gives you a closer look at the farming area but may involve uneven ground and take more of your allotted time. You should choose based on your footwear, comfort, and interest in walking rather than trying to force both a long trek and extensive photographs into one hour.

Tegalalang is also a good place to remember that these are working rice fields, not just a scenic backdrop. Treat the terraces respectfully and follow any local requests about access or donations. The view is the reward, but the farming community is part of what gives the area meaning.

What the driver adds to the day

The included English-speaking driver is central to the experience. You receive private transportation and direct hotel service, but the exact level of commentary can vary. Some drivers act like informal cultural interpreters, while others concentrate on safe driving, timing, and the route.

Mera has been especially good at sharing details about the sights along the way. Irwan has also been described as friendly and helpful with Balinese culture during the drive. Wena is noted for being professional, attentive, punctual, and respectful, with a clean car, though not every driver should be assumed to function as a full guide.

That difference is worth understanding before you book. If you want explanations about temples, customs, and village life at every stop, ask for a guide-led service or confirm what the driver’s role will be. If you mainly want reliable private transport with some conversation and local insight, this setup can work well.

Because the tour is private, you can ask questions, keep the group together, and avoid waiting for strangers. The vehicle also picks up and drops off at Ubud hotels and many addresses in south Bali, which can save considerable effort.

Is $65 a fair price?

For a private day with five stops, included admissions, an English-speaking driver, and hotel transfers, $65 per person is a reasonable package price. The value improves when two or more people share the car, since the experience remains private rather than becoming a large group outing.

The price is less attractive if you plan to skip the market, palace, or swing attraction. You are paying for the full combination, not only for Monkey Forest and Tegalalang. Meals are extra, and the farmer donation is extra if you trek.

I would compare the cost with arranging your own driver and paying separate entrance fees. The tour removes that planning work and gives you a fixed route, which is useful on a first visit. The compromise is a set schedule and limited time at the palace and rice terraces.

The experience is rated 4.6 out of 5, with 94 percent recommending it. Those numbers suggest a strong overall result, but the details matter more than the score: the forest, rice terraces, clean vehicle, punctual service, and friendly drivers receive the clearest praise, while the palace and limited guiding are the weak points.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour to a first-time Ubud visitor who wants to cover the headline sights in one private day. It also suits couples, families, and small groups who value pickup service and do not want to arrange separate transport.

It is a good match if you want:

• A private vehicle rather than a shared group bus
• A mix of animals, culture, shopping, photos, and countryside
• A driver who may provide local information during the journey
• Included admissions at the main stops
• Direct pickup and drop-off from Ubud or many south Bali addresses

I would choose a different style of tour if you want long temple visits, serious hiking, detailed historical commentary, or an entirely traditional experience without commercial photo attractions. The Happy Swing and market make the day broader, but less focused.

Book at least a day ahead if your plans are fixed, since this experience is commonly reserved well in advance. You can cancel without penalty up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Ubud City Tour II?

Book it if you want a convenient introduction to Ubud with the strongest emphasis on Monkey Forest, Tegalalang, private transport, and easy scheduling. The day’s best moments are likely to come from the macaques, the rice-terrace views, and the driver’s personal explanations.

Go in with realistic expectations about the palace and guiding. The 15-minute palace stop is more of a quick look, and your English-speaking driver may not be a trained guide. With that understood, the tour offers solid value for a busy day and gives you a useful first taste of Ubud’s natural and cultural highlights.

FAQ

How long does the Ubud City Tour II last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and starts at 9 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from Ubud and many addresses in south Bali.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the private tour or activity.

What entrance tickets are included?

Entrance tickets for the scheduled attractions are included, along with service and government tax.

Is a meal included?

No. Meals are not included in the price.

Is the rice-terrace trekking donation included?

No. If you trek at Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the donation to the farmer is paid separately.

Will an English-speaking guide accompany the group?

An English-speaking driver is included. The amount of sightseeing commentary can vary, and the driver may not be a trained guide.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.