REVIEW · UBUD
Bali Eco & Educational Cycling Tour
Book on Viator →Operated by Bali Eco Tours (PT Darma Sari Tresna) · Bookable on Viator
Bali by bike beats Bali by bus. This Bali Eco & Educational Cycling Tour turns a classic Ubud-area trip into a day of real rural scenery, Balinese daily life, and big volcano views, with transport and meals handled for you. I love the Mt. Batur backdrop at breakfast (Penelokan/Kintamani is a smart starting point) and I love that the riding follows nontourist roads through villages and rice paddies instead of the usual tourist grid. One thing to consider: it’s an active cycling day that runs long, so if you’re hoping for a slow, sit-down sightseeing tour, this may feel too energetic.
The vibe here is family-friendly and practical. You’ll get safety-first attention (including baby bike seats if you need them), plus a guide-led day that blends biking with cultural learning. The upside is you’ll spend real time on the island, not just passing through it in a car—though the length means you should plan your morning well.
In This Review
- Key things that make this tour work well
- Why This Bali Eco Cycling Tour Starts in Kintamani (Penelokan)
- The Ride: Downhill Bikes, Real Villages, and Rice Paddies
- Breakfast at Mt. Batur: The View That Sets the Tone
- Lunch, Snacks, and Coffee: Why the Food Inclusion Matters
- Safety and Baby Seats: Comfort for Families
- Timing and Duration: How Long You’re Really Out
- Getting to the Start: Pickup from South Bali
- Group Size and the Feeling of the Day
- Price and Value: What $48.87 Gets You
- Who This Tour Fits Best
- A Balanced Take: The Main Trade-Offs
- Should You Book This Bali Eco Cycling Tour?
- FAQ
- What time does the Bali Eco & Educational Cycling Tour start, and how long is it?
- Is hotel pickup included?
- What’s included in the price?
- Do they offer a vegetarian option?
- Are baby bike seats available?
- Can I cancel for a full refund?
Key things that make this tour work well
- Breakfast with views of Mt. Batur and the crater lake in Penelokan/Kintamani, before you start riding
- Downhill mountain biking on nontourist, back-road routes through small villages and rice paddies
- Meals built into the day: breakfast, lunch, snacks, and coffee/tea, plus bottled water
- Family-friendly safety setup with Australian-standard safety equipment for baby seats
- Small group size (max 15 travelers) for a more relaxed, manageable pace
Why This Bali Eco Cycling Tour Starts in Kintamani (Penelokan)

This tour is built around one smart idea: start with the best morning view, then ride through the rural heart of Bali. After pickup, you’ll ride in an air-conditioned vehicle toward Penelokan (Kintamani) and begin with breakfast overlooking Mt. Batur and its crater lake. That early-time setting matters because you’re not just eating—you’re getting an immediate sense of why this part of Bali feels different from the coast.
From there, you don’t waste the trip by waiting around. A short drive puts you at the start of the cycling, and the route drops you into “daily life” territory: small villages, rice paddy scenery, and back roads that help you avoid the crowd-heavy feel you can get elsewhere.
If you care about value, this ordering is a win. You’re paying for a full day of transport, two meals plus snacks, drinks, and a guided riding experience—all tied together by one location-based story. You’re not paying to be shuffled from one random stop to another.
You can also read our reviews of more cycling tours in Ubud
The Ride: Downhill Bikes, Real Villages, and Rice Paddies

The cycling portion is designed around downhill riding and scenic, low-traffic routes—nontourist, “secret back roads” through the heartland. Translation: you’ll be on mountain bikes going downhill, with the focus on places most visitors don’t see as closely.
Here’s what that usually means for your comfort and expectations:
- You’ll spend time passing through villages rather than just looking at Bali from a viewpoint.
- You’ll see rice paddy panoramas, which are visually stunning and also make the culture lesson feel grounded.
- You’ll be moving during the day, so good energy and a basic willingness to ride helps.
Even though the tour is educational, it isn’t just lectures. The format is set up so you learn what daily life looks like in this part of Bali while you ride past it. That’s where the tour earns its “eco & educational” name: it’s not about checking boxes; it’s about making the scenery mean something.
And because the ride is downhill, it’s a helpful detail if you’re worried about turning the day into a workout competition. Still, it’s a full-day outing, so treat it like an active morning-to-afternoon plan.
Breakfast at Mt. Batur: The View That Sets the Tone

Breakfast is included, and it’s not a minor add-on. You’re eating with a view of the active Mt. Batur and the crater lake. That’s the kind of first step that changes your whole attitude: you start with awe, then you earn it again by actually riding through the countryside connected to that landscape.
If you like photo-worthy moments but also want something more useful than just standing still, this works. You get the big natural spectacle up front, then the tour transitions into human-scale life—villages and farm scenery.
Practical tip: since the tour starts at 7:00 am, plan to be ready for an early pickup and treat breakfast as part of the schedule, not something you can delay. This is one of those tours where timing is a feature.
Lunch, Snacks, and Coffee: Why the Food Inclusion Matters

This tour includes lunch, snacks, and coffee and/or tea during the day, plus bottled water. For $48.87 per person, that’s a meaningful value piece. In Bali, meal costs add up fast if you have to plan them yourself between stops.
What I like about this setup is that it keeps the day from feeling like a sprint:
- You don’t need to hunt for a place to eat mid-ride.
- You get a Balinese cuisine lunch as part of the experience, not a random restaurant choice.
- Coffee/tea breaks help you reset before the next stretch of riding and learning.
There’s also a vegetarian option available if you advise during booking, which is always worth checking in advance.
One small consideration: soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not included. If you’re trying to budget, treat water and coffee/tea as covered, and plan anything else separately.
Safety and Baby Seats: Comfort for Families

The tour is suitable for all ages, and the safety details are spelled out clearly. There’s safety equipment for baby seats that are Australian-standard, and baby bike seats are available if needed. That’s the kind of information that makes a difference when you’re traveling with kids or carrying a stroller plan.
If you’re bringing a young child, this is one of those tours that seems designed for you instead of forcing you to guess. Still, because the tour includes actual cycling and a full-day rhythm, you’ll want to confirm the baby seat arrangement at booking and be realistic about the length of the day (more on that next).
Timing and Duration: How Long You’re Really Out

The tour runs about 8 to 10 hours total. The key detail: the time list includes travel, because the remaining hours are allotted for travel from pickup until drop-off.
The cycling portion is listed as roughly 6 hours, which suggests the day is structured like this:
- Morning pickup and drive to Penelokan/Kintamani
- Breakfast with volcano views
- Short transfer to the start of the ride
- Cycling through villages and rice paddies
- Lunch, snacks, and a coffee/tea break during the route
- Return transport back to the drop-off areas
Start time is 7:00 am, which means you’ll want a simple morning routine and early access to your hotel pickup. If you’re the type who hates being “stuck in the schedule,” this is one of those tours where you can’t wing it—so set expectations up front.
Getting to the Start: Pickup from South Bali
Transport is part of the deal. Pickup is offered, and transport is provided from select areas of southern Bali. The tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water is included.
For most visitors, this is a major convenience factor. You don’t have to figure out how to get to Penelokan/Kintamani on your own, deal with route timing, or coordinate a return.
One consideration: because pickup is only from select areas, you’ll want to double-check whether your location is included. If you’re staying outside those areas, it may affect how smooth your morning starts.
Group Size and the Feeling of the Day

The maximum group size is 15 travelers, and that matters more than people think. Smaller groups tend to mean:
- You spend less time waiting on logistics.
- The guide can move at a pace that fits the group.
- The ride feels less like a parade.
The overall tone from top ratings emphasizes that the guide makes the day fun and balanced, and that the route helps you get away from crowded streets. That’s exactly what a small group supports: a smoother experience with fewer interruptions.
Price and Value: What $48.87 Gets You

At $48.87 per person, this tour is priced like a budget-friendly “real Bali day” instead of a premium private experience. The value comes from stacking inclusions:
- Pickup/transport by air-conditioned vehicle (from select southern Bali areas)
- Breakfast with Mt. Batur views
- Mountain biking on guided back roads
- Lunch featuring Balinese cuisine
- Snacks plus coffee/tea break
- Bottled water
- Safety equipment for baby seats if needed
When you add it up, the money isn’t just paying for riding—it’s paying for an entire morning-to-afternoon structure. That’s what makes it a strong option if you want a different side of Bali without spending a lot of time organizing details.
The only “cost” is time and effort. You’re out for most of the day, and it’s a cycling experience—so if your ideal Bali day is 60 minutes of walking and a beach lunch, you’ll probably be happier with a lighter tour.
Who This Tour Fits Best
This Bali Eco & Educational Cycling Tour suits you if you want:
- A change from beach-and-temple circuits
- A real countryside view of Bali through villages and rice paddies
- Volcano scenery paired with an activity, not just a photo stop
- A family-friendly biking option with baby seat safety support
- A guide-led day with meals handled
It also makes sense if you’re staying near Ubud and want to see more of the island than the immediate “tourist radius.” The tour’s focus on off-the-beach life and back roads is exactly the kind of contrast that helps your Bali trip feel fuller.
A Balanced Take: The Main Trade-Offs
I’d call the trade-offs pretty clear:
- It’s long (8 to 10 hours total), so don’t schedule tight plans right after.
- It involves cycling and a downhill ride, so you should be comfortable with an active day.
- Alcohol and soft drinks aren’t included, so plan on water/coffee/tea being your default.
On the plus side, the day is structured well: early mountain breakfast, then riding, then meals and breaks built into the flow.
Should You Book This Bali Eco Cycling Tour?
Yes, if you want a hands-on Bali day that includes real rural scenery, Balinese food, and volcano views—without the hassle of transport planning. The price-to-inclusions ratio is strong, and the small group size plus emphasis on guide quality makes it feel like a thoughtful experience rather than a cattle-car tour.
If you’re unsure, here’s a quick decision rule: book it when you’re excited to ride and you want to see Bali beyond the usual lanes. Skip it if you want a mostly seated sightseeing day or you know you’ll struggle with the length of an 8 to 10-hour outing.
FAQ
What time does the Bali Eco & Educational Cycling Tour start, and how long is it?
The tour starts at 7:00 am and runs about 8 to 10 hours. The schedule note also says the remaining hours are allotted for travel from pickup until drop-off.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Pickup is offered, and transport is provided from select areas of southern Bali. The transfer is done in an air-conditioned vehicle.
What’s included in the price?
The tour includes breakfast, bottled water, lunch, and coffee and/or tea, plus an air-conditioned vehicle. Snacks are also mentioned as included.
Do they offer a vegetarian option?
Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you advise at the time of booking.
Are baby bike seats available?
Yes. Baby bike seats are available if needed, and the safety equipment for baby seats is listed as Australian-standard.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.






























