REVIEW · UBUD
Bali Ubud Tour Monkey Forest, Waterfall, Temple & Rice Terrace
Book on Viator →Operated by My Travel Bali Trip · Bookable on Viator
Monkeys, temples, and waterfalls in one day can work surprisingly well. This full-day Ubud private tour strings together four of the area’s most popular experiences, then helps you move between them with hotel pickup and an A/C driver. It also pays off in the small moments, like having a guide who can explain what you’re seeing as you go.
My favorite parts are the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and the Kanto Lampo Waterfall stops. The Monkey Forest is lively and photogenic, and it’s easier when you’re with a guide who knows how to keep things safe and calm. The waterfall visit is timed for the morning/late-morning rhythm, so you get that jungle feel without feeling rushed.
One consideration: this tour is not recommended for women on their period, and the day is weather-dependent. If the conditions are poor, expect schedule changes or cancellation options.
In This Review
- Key highlights at a glance
- A Day That Links Monkeys, Water, Temples, and Rice
- Getting There: Hotel Pickup and A/C Private Ride
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Up Close with Long-Tailed Macaques
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall: Jungle Photos Without the Full-Day Hike
- Tirta Empul Temple: Seeing Balinese Spiritual Traditions in Action
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace: The Views and the Walk
- Afternoon Tea at Abian Kusuma Sari Agrowisata
- Timing That Works: How the 8–9 Hours Feels on the Ground
- Price and Value: Why $27.51 Can Actually Make Sense
- Guide Quality: The Human Part That Makes It Feel Worth It
- Who This Tour Suits (and Who Should Skip It)
- Should You Book This Ubud Monkey Forest, Waterfall, Temple & Rice Terrace Tour?
- FAQ
- FAQ
- How long is the Bali Ubud Monkey Forest, Waterfall, Temple & Rice Terrace tour?
- Does the tour include hotel pickup?
- Is this a private tour?
- What main places do you visit?
- Are entrance tickets included?
- Is lunch included in the price?
- Is bottled water included?
- Is afternoon tea included?
- Is the tour dependent on weather?
- What if I need to cancel last minute?
- Is it recommended for everyone?
Key highlights at a glance

- Private, only-your-group transportation with hotel pickup and bottled water
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary with long-tailed macaques and temple surroundings
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall for a 1-hour photo-focused stop in lush jungle
- Tirta Empul Temple to see Balinese spirituality in a real temple setting
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace for classic wide views with a 1-hour walk time
- Afternoon tea included at Abian Kusuma Sari Agrowisata (1 hour)
A Day That Links Monkeys, Water, Temples, and Rice

This is the kind of day you’d plan for if you want a greatest-hits tour without doing a frantic bus-hop. You start around 9:00 AM and you’ll be moving through four major zones in Ubud: the monkey sanctuary, Kanto Lampo Waterfall, a Balinese temple, and the Tegalalang Rice Terrace.
What makes it interesting is that the stops don’t feel random. The day goes from animals and heritage (Monkey Forest), to nature and photos (Waterfall), to local spirituality (Tirta Empul Temple), and then to the working landscape of rice (Tegalalang). Even if you’ve seen photos online, the order helps you understand how Ubud ties nature, worship, and daily life together.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Ubud.
Getting There: Hotel Pickup and A/C Private Ride

The tour includes pickup from your hotel and uses a private, air-conditioned vehicle. That matters more than it sounds, because Ubud traffic and road conditions can turn an otherwise simple outing into a long slog. With your own driver-guide, you spend more time at the sights and less time figuring out routes.
You’re also getting bottled water, which sounds basic, but in Bali heat it’s the difference between a comfortable day and a grumpy one. This is also listed as a private tour/activity, meaning it’s only your group, not a shared bus with strangers.
One more practical detail: the day runs about 8 to 9 hours. That’s long enough to feel like a real outing, but not so long that you’ll be completely cooked by late afternoon.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Up Close with Long-Tailed Macaques
You get a 1-hour stop at the Sacred Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary, starting around 09:00 AM. This is the classic Ubud scene: long-tailed macaques moving through a temple setting and dense greenery. It can feel playful, but it’s still a wildlife space, so your best experience comes from treating it like a place you share, not a place you control.
Two things I love about this stop:
- It’s more than a photo stop. You’re walking through temple grounds while macaques wander around, so the vibe feels alive.
- A good guide makes the difference. The tour descriptions emphasize a driver-guide, and reviews highlight guides who were patient and helpful—people like Ray and Komang Yus, who were praised for being informative and for taking lots of nice photos.
A drawback to keep in mind: monkey areas can get chaotic fast if you’re unprepared. The tour is not “adventure sports,” but it’s still a place where you’ll want to keep your belongings secure and stay alert around animals.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall: Jungle Photos Without the Full-Day Hike

Next up is Kanto Lampo Waterfall, with about 1 hour on-site. This stop is scheduled around 10:30 AM, which is nice because you’re not arriving at the waterfall at the end of the day when energy is low.
You’ll have admission included, and the tour description frames it as a stunning photo opportunity in lush jungle surroundings. That means you should expect the visit to be focused on seeing and capturing the falls, not on a long trekking route.
What I’d watch out for: water spots can be slippery, and waterfall conditions can change quickly with weather. The tour also states it requires good weather. If Bali is in a rainy mood, your day could be adjusted—so keep your expectations flexible for the waterfall timing and visibility.
Tirta Empul Temple: Seeing Balinese Spiritual Traditions in Action

The temple stop is Tirta Empul Temple, listed for about 1 hour (around 01:30 PM in the sample schedule). This is where the tour shifts from nature and animals to local worship and tradition.
The biggest value here is context. A temple stop is more meaningful when someone can explain what you’re seeing and how locals think about it. The guides in the reviews were repeatedly described as informative and helpful—so you’re not just wandering and hoping you understand the rituals.
Practical note: temple visits usually require respectful behavior (dress and conduct), and it’s smart to go in prepared. This tour includes entrance tickets, so you don’t have to manage fees on the spot.
Tegalalang Rice Terrace: The Views and the Walk

Then you head to the famous Tegalalang Rice Terrace for another 1 hour. The schedule places this around 03:00 PM, which can be a good time for photos because the light changes in the late afternoon.
This stop is classic for a reason: sweeping green views and a walk through the terrace areas. Even if you’ve seen images before, seeing it in person gives scale. You’ll also notice how the terraces shape movement through the area, which makes it more than a flat viewpoint.
If you’re the type who likes to wander slowly, this is a good match because you’re given dedicated time rather than a quick drive-by. If you’re expecting a theme-park style experience, it’s not that. This is a living agricultural landscape, and your experience is tied to how you walk and how the weather looks.
Afternoon Tea at Abian Kusuma Sari Agrowisata

One standout in this tour is that it includes an afternoon tea stop at Abian Kusuma Sari Agrowisata for about 1 hour, with admission marked free in the itinerary.
This is a smart break in the middle or later part of the day. After Monkey Forest, a waterfall, and a temple, you’ll likely appreciate a slower pace and a place to sit down. It also helps you avoid the common “rush, rush, rush” feeling of big sightseeing days.
You’re still responsible for lunch (more on that next), so this tea stop gives you something extra without turning the day into a food festival.
Timing That Works: How the 8–9 Hours Feels on the Ground

Here’s the planned flow you should expect:
- 08:00 AM pickup from your hotel
- 09:00 AM Monkey Forest Sanctuary (about 1 hour)
- 10:30 AM drive to and visit Kanto Lampo Waterfall (about 1 hour)
- 12:00 PM lunch break at a local restaurant (own expense)
- 01:30 PM Tirta Empul Temple (about 1 hour)
- 03:00 PM Tegalalang Rice Terrace (about 1 hour)
- 05:00 PM return transfer to your hotel
That pace is why the tour can deliver. You’re not sitting in the car for endless stretches; you’re getting real blocks of time at each highlight.
Also pay attention to the lunch setup: lunch is not included, but you do get a planned break. If you’re picky about food, it’s worth planning what kind of place you’ll be happy with before you go.
Price and Value: Why $27.51 Can Actually Make Sense
At $27.51 per person, this tour looks cheap compared to what you might pay when you add up transport, guide time, and entrance fees in Bali. The key is what’s bundled:
- Private transportation in an A/C vehicle
- Driver and guide
- Bottled water
- Entrance tickets included for the main sights
- Mobile ticket (you may find this easier for entry management)
What’s not included:
- Lunch
- Tips/gratuities
- Other personal expenses
So the real value question is simple: you’re paying for a day built around paid entry sites, plus a guide. If you plan to do Monkey Forest, Kanto Lampo, Tirta Empul, and Tegalalang anyway, this pricing can feel like good sense.
One more note: the experience info mentions group discounts, but it’s also described as private. That usually means the operator might offer better rates if multiple people book together, but your tour time is still just for your group.
Guide Quality: The Human Part That Makes It Feel Worth It
This tour lives or dies on the guide experience. The reviews you provided highlight guide names again and again: Komang Yus, Ray, Laden, and Mertha.
Here’s what that tells me about what you can expect to matter on the day:
- Guides who are patient and willing to answer questions make temple and culture stops feel understandable, not confusing.
- Guides who help with photos reduce the awkward moments where you don’t know where to stand.
- A safe, comfortable drive matters on Bali roads. One review specifically praised a guide as a safe driver and made the ride feel comfortable.
If you want a day that runs smoothly and doesn’t feel like you’re just being transported, your best bet is to pick a tour like this where the driver-guide is a core part of the experience.
Who This Tour Suits (and Who Should Skip It)
This is listed as suitable for most travelers, with one specific caveat: it’s not recommended for women on their period. If that applies to you, skip it.
Beyond that, here’s who will likely enjoy it:
- You want a full-day highlights route without needing to plan transportation between far-flung sights.
- You like a mix of wildlife + culture + scenic views.
- You prefer private time with a guide, so you can ask questions and get help with pictures.
If you don’t like crowds or you’re uncomfortable around animals, the Monkey Forest portion may feel stressful. It’s still a structured tour, but it’s a lively wildlife environment.
Should You Book This Ubud Monkey Forest, Waterfall, Temple & Rice Terrace Tour?
If you’re doing Ubud for a first trip, I think this tour is a solid choice. You’ll hit the big four highlights in one day, you get entrance tickets included, and you’re not left to manage transport yourself. The private A/C ride and pickup make it feel easy, even when the day is full.
Book it if:
- You want a guided day that covers Monkey Forest, Kanto Lampo, Tirta Empul, and Tegalalang in one push.
- You care about photo help and clear explanations from a driver-guide (names like Ray, Laden, Mertha, and Komang Yus came up for a reason).
- You’re okay with lunch being on your own.
Skip it or reconsider if:
- Weather is a concern for your dates, since the tour requires good weather.
- You fall under the stated “not recommended” condition.
- You want a slower, fewer-stop day with lots of free time. This one is structured, with about an hour at each major highlight.
FAQ
FAQ
How long is the Bali Ubud Monkey Forest, Waterfall, Temple & Rice Terrace tour?
It runs about 8 to 9 hours.
Does the tour include hotel pickup?
Yes, pickup from your hotel is included.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, it’s described as private, so only your group participates.
What main places do you visit?
You visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Kanto Lampo Waterfall, Tirta Empul Temple, and Tegalalang Rice Terrace.
Are entrance tickets included?
Yes, entrance tickets are included for the listed stops.
Is lunch included in the price?
No. Lunch is not included, and there’s a lunch break at a local restaurant where you pay on your own.
Is bottled water included?
Yes, bottled water is included.
Is afternoon tea included?
Yes. Afternoon tea is included at Abian Kusuma Sari Agrowisata for about 1 hour.
Is the tour dependent on weather?
Yes. It requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What if I need to cancel last minute?
Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience starts, the amount paid will not be refunded.
Is it recommended for everyone?
Most travelers can participate, but it’s not recommended for women on their period.






















