Ubud : Monkey Forest, Rice Terrace, Waterfall, Swing

Ubud’s best-known sights are spread well beyond the town center, and this private day tour links them by car in one long, scenic loop. I like the mix of rice terraces and forest waterfalls, and I like having a driver who can adjust the day rather than forcing every group into the same rigid schedule.

The main catch is time in the vehicle. Seven stops in roughly eight hours can feel brisk, and traffic may eat up a good part of the day. The Bali Swing costs extra, and lunch is also on your own.

Key points at a glance

• Two waterfalls in one day: Tibumana offers a forest setting, while Kanto Lampo is known for its broad, tiered cascade.
• A private vehicle and flexible schedule: Jero Andi, also referred to as Jero, can make changes and add stops when timing allows.
• Tegalalang Rice Terrace included: Your admission is covered, with time to see the famous stepped fields and traditional irrigation.
• The swing is optional and extra: You can pay separately for the Ubud Jungle Swing, or skip it without losing the rest of the tour.
• Coffee tasting in Kintamani: The plantation stop adds a local agricultural angle to a day otherwise focused on scenery.
• Good value for small groups: At $26 per person, the package includes transport, entrance fees for listed included stops, parking, and hotel transfers.

A full day built around Ubud’s countryside

This is not mainly a walking tour of Ubud town. Instead, it takes you into the forest, farming areas, and countryside around the town, with a private car connecting each stop.

That distinction matters. If your main goal is Ubud Palace, the market, temples, and town streets, this is not the most direct choice. If you want a full day of major outdoor sights without arranging separate taxis, it makes more sense.

The tour lasts about eight hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off. Your group travels in an air-conditioned vehicle, and no unrelated passengers join the private activity. That gives you some control over the pace, though the number of stops means you should not expect long, leisurely visits everywhere.

The guide and driver associated with this experience is Jero Andi, also called Jero in the available details. He is described as punctual, safe, polite, and willing to adjust the plan. That flexibility is useful in Bali, where road conditions can change the feel of an otherwise tidy schedule.

Entering the Sacred Monkey Forest

The first stop is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Padangtegal, Ubud. The sanctuary covers about 12.5 hectares and combines forest paths, old trees, and Balinese cultural sites with a large population of long-tailed macaques.

You receive admission here, and the planned visit lasts about an hour. That is enough time to get a taste of the forest and watch the monkeys, though it may feel short if you want to explore every path.

Keep your belongings secure around the macaques. The animals are the main attraction, but they are still wild animals, not trained performers. Glasses, loose items, and food can attract unwanted attention, so follow the sanctuary’s instructions and keep your hands free when possible.

One practical point deserves attention. One account of the day described a monkey forest rather than the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary named in the planned route. I would confirm the exact entrance before departure, especially if this particular site is a high priority for you.

The stop works well early in the day because it gives you a shaded forest walk before the waterfalls and other outdoor activities. It also provides a clear sense of how Ubud blends nature and religious culture, though the visit is more about atmosphere and wildlife than a guided cultural lesson.

Seeing Tegalalang’s stepped rice fields

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is one of the most recognizable countryside sights near Ubud. The fields are shaped into terraces and supported by traditional Balinese irrigation, creating the layered green views that make this area so popular.

Your visit is scheduled for about an hour, with admission included. I like this stop because it adds working agriculture to a day otherwise filled with attractions. You are not just looking at scenery. You are seeing farmland arranged around the slopes and maintained through a long-standing irrigation system.

The word terrace can make the area sound like one single viewpoint, but your exact experience depends on where the vehicle stops and how much walking you choose to do. Paths can involve uneven ground and slopes, so wear shoes that you can use comfortably outdoors.

Tegalalang can also be busy. The tour does not promise a quiet, private view of the fields, and the short visit may leave little time for extended walks. Still, the stop is worthwhile for first-time visitors who want a quick look at one of the most recognizable rural scenes around Ubud.

Deciding if the Ubud Jungle Swing is worth the extra cost

The Ubud Jungle Swing is scheduled for about 45 minutes, but the swing ticket is not included in the $26 price. This is an important difference between the advertised tour cost and the amount you may spend during the day.

The attraction offers the familiar Bali swing experience, with a high seat and open views over the surrounding area. For many people, the appeal is the photograph as much as the ride itself. If you enjoy short, dramatic outdoor attractions and want the classic swing image, this stop gives you that option.

If you are watching your budget, you can skip it. The swing is separate from the included forest, rice terrace, coffee plantation, and waterfall admissions. Ask about the current price before committing, since no swing fee is supplied here.

The 45-minute slot also includes the practical time involved in arriving, waiting, and taking photos. Do not think of it as 45 uninterrupted minutes in the air. It is best treated as an optional add-on rather than the heart of the day.

A short stop at Agro Santi Coffee Plantation

The coffee plantation stop lasts about 30 minutes and takes place in the Kintamani highland area, known for Bali coffee. Admission is included.

This is a brief visit, but it gives the schedule some variety. You can learn about traditional coffee cultivation and processing rather than spending the entire day moving from one scenic attraction to another. For anyone curious about local farming, this is one of the more useful stops.

Thirty minutes is not enough for a long plantation walk or a detailed agricultural tour. Think of it as a compact introduction. It may also include tasting or learning about coffee products, but the supplied details do not specify exactly what is served or sold, so ask your guide what the visit includes that day.

The stop is particularly helpful if you want to bring home a food-related memory of Bali, not just photographs. It also gives you a pause between the more active sightseeing stops.

Lunch at Warung Dewa Malen

Lunch is not included, but the route includes a stop at Warung Dewa Malen or another food stall agreed on with your guide. The planned meal stop lasts about 45 minutes.

This arrangement gives you some choice, which I prefer to a forced meal bundled into the tour price. You can discuss the timing and location with Jero, and one account of the experience specifically valued the lunch stop.

Still, plan for the meal to be an extra expense. The tour price covers transport and listed entrance fees, not food or personal spending. If you have strict dietary needs or want a particular kind of restaurant, discuss that before the day begins.

The lunch stop is also one of the places where flexibility matters. If traffic delays the morning, your guide may need to adjust the timing. A private tour makes that conversation easier than a large group excursion.

Tibumana Waterfall and its forest setting

Tibumana Waterfall is in Apuan Village, Bangli Regency. The route allows about an hour here, and admission is included.

The setting is one of the reasons to choose this tour. Tibumana sits among forested surroundings, giving the visit a cooler, greener feel after time on the roads and in open rice fields. The waterfall itself is the focus, with time for photographs and enjoying the natural setting.

Do not assume that the hour means a long swim or a full forest hike. The supplied information does not confirm swimming conditions, changing areas, or the exact walking distance from the vehicle. Treat this as a scenic waterfall stop and ask locally about water access and conditions on the day.

The forest location can also mean uneven paths and damp ground. Good walking shoes will help, particularly if rain has fallen. The tour requires reasonable weather, so the order or availability of outdoor stops may change if conditions are poor.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall’s broad, tiered cascade

Kanto Lampo Waterfall is the second waterfall of the day, with about an hour allocated and admission included. It is described as a tiered waterfall rising about 15 meters, with water running over rock shelves.

This stop differs from Tibumana enough to justify including both. Tibumana gives you a forest waterfall setting, while Kanto Lampo is known for its stepped cascade and refreshing atmosphere. Seeing the pair lets you compare two natural sites rather than repeating exactly the same experience.

As with Tibumana, the details do not promise swimming, changing facilities, or a particular level of trail difficulty. You should be ready for wet or uneven surfaces and bring sensible footwear. If you hope to get into the water, ask your guide about conditions and local rules before doing so.

The two waterfalls also explain why this tour can feel full. Each hour sounds generous, but driving between rural stops takes time. You will see a lot, but you will not linger at every place for half a day.

What the $26 price really covers

At $26 per person, the value is strongest for a small private group that wants transport and several admissions handled together. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, parking, and entrance fees for the included attractions.

That removes several common planning chores. You do not need to arrange separate rides to the forest, rice terrace, plantation, and waterfalls, and you do not pay each included entrance fee separately at the gate.

The price does not cover the swing, lunch, or personal expenses. Those extras are not surprising, but they can change your final budget. If you add the swing and buy meals or drinks, the day will cost more than the headline figure.

Group discounts are offered, though the exact discount is not specified. Because this is a private tour, it may offer better value for families or friends sharing the experience than for one person traveling alone.

The eight-hour length also has value. You can cover several parts of the Ubud area in one day, but the tradeoff is time spent sitting in traffic. One account of the day specifically warned that road congestion took up a substantial portion of the schedule. Build that into your expectations.

Flexibility is the tour’s strongest feature

Jero Andi’s flexibility is important here. The route is ambitious, and a strict schedule could become frustrating if traffic, weather, or your group’s energy changes the plan.

You can discuss the timing of lunch, ask for an extra stop when there is room, or skip the swing if it does not appeal to you. Past outings also included added stops such as Ubud Water Palace, Abian Desa Rice Terrace, Bali Bird Park, a local market, and a temple, but these should not be treated as guaranteed parts of this route.

The guide is also described as taking photos and videos for guests who wanted that help. That can be useful when you are traveling as a couple or family and want pictures of everyone together. It is a personal service rather than a formal feature with a guaranteed number of photos, so ask politely at the start.

The strongest praise centers on punctuality, safe driving, kindness, English communication, and local suggestions. Those qualities matter more than a polished script on a day that involves long road transfers and several changes of scenery.

Who should book this Ubud day tour

I would choose this tour if you want a broad introduction to Ubud’s outdoor sights in a single day. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families, and small groups who value a private car and the ability to make modest changes.

It is especially useful if you are staying outside central Ubud or do not want to negotiate separate transport to rural attractions. Hotel pickup and drop-off simplify the day.

I would hesitate if your main interest is Ubud town itself. The route focuses on the Monkey Forest, fields, coffee, waterfalls, and swing rather than a full town walking tour.

I would also hesitate if you dislike long drives or prefer to spend several hours at one place. The number of stops is the attraction, but it is also the limitation.

For the best experience, wear practical shoes, secure loose belongings at the monkey forest, keep money aside for lunch and the swing, and ask Jero at the beginning how traffic and weather may affect the order.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want variety, private transport, and a low starting price for a full day around Ubud. The combination of two waterfalls, rice terraces, forest, coffee, and an optional swing gives you a useful first look at the area.

Skip it if you want a slow day, a detailed visit to Ubud town, or a tour with every cost included. The $26 price is good value, but only after you remember that lunch, the swing, and personal expenses are separate. For a small group willing to spend much of the day on the road, the flexibility and included transport make this a sensible choice.

FAQ

How long does the Ubud tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

What transportation is provided?

The tour provides private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is the Sacred Monkey Forest entrance fee included?

Yes. The planned admission fee for the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is included.

Is the Tegalalang Rice Terrace admission included?

Yes. Admission to Tegalalang Rice Terrace is included.

Is the Ubud Jungle Swing included in the price?

No. The swing ticket is not included and must be paid separately.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The route includes a possible meal stop at Warung Dewa Malen or another agreed food stall.

Are the waterfall entrance fees included?

Yes. Entrance fees for Tibumana Waterfall and Kanto Lampo Waterfall are included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded. If poor weather or the minimum number of participants causes cancellation, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.