Ubud can feel like a blur. This day tour slows it down by stacking the big sights with time to look, not just pose. I really like the hotel pickup plus comfortable AC transport with bottled water, because it turns a long route into an easier one. I also like the mix: stage show culture, a famous temple, a volcano viewpoint, and Ubud’s rice and monkey forest areas. One thing to consider: it’s a full 8 to 10 hours, and the stops that have separate entry tickets are not included in the base price.

The best part is how the day tells a story as you travel north and back. You start with Barong and Kris dance tied to sacred Mahabharata themes, then move into practical Balinese life with a silver-gold jewelry process stop. Later you get the Mount Batur panorama from Kintamani, then end with the classic Ubud rhythm: art market walk and the Sacred Monkey Forest sanctuary. If you’re hoping for a slow, no-rush day, this schedule may feel tight at a couple stops.

Key Highlights to Know Before You Go

• Private, only-your-group touring: You’re not sharing a coach lineup with strangers.
• AC vehicle + bottled water included: Helpful for an 8 to 10 hour day in Bali heat.
• Barong & Kris Dance (1 hour): A cultural performance tied to sacred Mahabharata themes.
• Kintamani viewpoint for Mount Batur views: A clear break in the day with panoramic scenery.
• Tegalallang Rice Terrace (30 minutes): Time for photos and the swing option.

Why This Ubud + Kintamani Day Route Works

This tour strings together Ubud’s spiritual and cultural side, then pushes into the cooler highland air around Kintamani for volcano views. That matters because it’s not just “temples and temples.” You get a real change of pace: show and myth, craftsmanship and everyday Bali, then big natural scenery, and finally Ubud’s walking areas.

You also get a strong sense of geography. You’ll be moving from Ubud village and temple stops toward the Kintamani highlands, and then returning down to Tegalallang rice terraces and central Ubud. If you only have one day and you still want both nature and culture, this kind of loop saves you from spending your limited time piecing things together yourself.

Pickup, Timing, and How to Plan Your Day

The day runs about 8 to 10 hours, and it starts with pickup at your hotel or a pickup point you choose. That convenience is a big part of the value. Instead of coordinating rides between scattered areas, you’re in one comfortable AC vehicle guided by an experience driver.

Your schedule is built around short blocks of time at each stop:

• Barong & Kris Dance: about 1 hour
• Jewelry process stop: 45 minutes
• Goa Gajah: 45 minutes
• Kintamani highlands viewpoint: 45 minutes
• Tegalallang rice terrace: 30 minutes
• Ubud traditional art market walk: 45 minutes
• Sacred Monkey Forest sanctuary: 45 minutes

That tight structure is great if you like seeing a lot. It can feel rushed if you want to linger for waterfalls, extra coffee breaks, or long temple wandering. The good news is that the tour is private, so your driver/guide can often help you manage the flow without the stress of a big group.

Practical tip: wear shoes you’re comfortable walking in. Temple areas, markets, and terraces mean plenty of uneven surfaces and stairs.

Barong & Kris Dance: Mahabharata on Stage

You start with the Barong & Kris Dance, about 1 hour long. This isn’t positioned as a random performance. The focus here is the sacred history and storytelling connected to the Mahabharata, using the dance to show Balinese ideas of duality—good and evil, order and chaos, forces that balance each other.

Why I like starting here: it sets context for the day. When you later visit a temple site and see how Balinese Hindu beliefs show up in daily life, you’re not going in cold. You already have a theme in your head: myth as lived tradition.

Important detail: the admission ticket is not included for this stop. So budget extra for the show if you want to attend without surprises.

UC Silver Gold Jewelry Stop: More Than a Sales Room

Next comes UC Silver Gold, a 45-minute visit described as a place where one of the best Balinese jewelry crafts—silver and gold work—is processed by hand. This stop is often where people decide whether the tour is tourist-friendly or meaningful.

Here, it can be both. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s a practical look at how Bali craft traditions turn raw materials into wearable art. It’s also one of the “controlled time” stops in the itinerary, which helps keep the day moving smoothly.

Good news: this stop is listed as admission free. So you can treat it as a cultural learning pause rather than another ticket expense.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave): Temple, Carvings, and Quiet Atmosphere

After the jewelry stop, you’ll visit Goa Gajah, also called Elephant Cave, for about 45 minutes. This is one of those sites that feels like it existed long before the roads were convenient.

The description emphasizes it as a historic and cultural archaeological site, built around an ancient cave complex. The tour info also connects it with the god Ganesha, which gives you a clearer spiritual lens for what you’re seeing as you move around the grounds.

A key logistics point: admission is not included here. Also, cave and temple sites often mean you’ll be walking and taking in details—so if you’re short on time or prone to rushing, set expectations for Goa Gajah as a “meaningful but time-boxed” stop.

Kintamani Highlands and the Mount Batur Viewpoint Break

Then you head to Kintamani Highland, about 45 minutes, with a focus on views from the area around Mount Batur. This part of the day is a real reset: panoramic scenery, cooler highland air compared with lowland heat, and a break from the dense temple-and-market rhythm.

The tour description frames Kintamani as a village surrounded by a lake, giving the viewpoint a sense of water and volcanic terrain at the same time. It’s also listed as a time when you can take a rest while enjoying the overview to Mount Batur.

One reason this stop feels valuable: it’s the moment where your photos and your memories can’t just be “another temple.” You’re capturing the scale of Bali’s geography. The tour doesn’t claim unlimited time here, so don’t plan on a long hike—plan on enjoying the view and soaking in the pause.

Tegalallang Rice Terrace: Photos, Green Views, and the Swing Option

From Kintamani you move to Tegalallang Rice Terrace for about 30 minutes. This is one of Bali’s best-known rice terrace areas, and you’ll see green plantation rows that make for easy, dramatic photos—especially if the light is kind.

Two practical notes:

1. The tour gives you a short window, so you’ll want to decide quickly whether you’re focused on photos, walking the viewpoint edges, or getting the swing experience.
2. The swing option is available, but it’s also listed as an added activity rather than included admission.

The tour’s listing says admission tickets are not included for this stop. So again: bring a little extra budget for entry.

Ubud Traditional Art Market Walk + Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

You finish in Ubud with two classic stops: a traditional art market area and then the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Ubud Traditional Art Market (45 minutes)

This is your 45-minute walk-around time. The idea is simple: get a feel for Ubud village life and browse the handmade goods atmosphere. Since it’s listed as admission free, it’s a lower-pressure stop where you can just wander, look, and decide what feels worth your money.

If you’re the type who likes gifts that aren’t generic, market time is usually worth it. It’s also a nice counterweight to the earlier structured stops.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (45 minutes)

Next is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary for about 45 minutes. The info is specific here: it’s a natural habitat of the Balinese long-tailed monkey (Macaca fascicularis), and the sanctuary is home to about 749 monkeys.

This is one of those places that works best when you treat it like a sanctuary, not a theme park. Give yourself time to watch from a distance and keep things respectful. Since the listing says admission is not included, plan for separate ticket costs so you’re not scrambling at the entrance.

Price and Value: What You’re Actually Paying For

At $36.78 per person, this is priced like a value-heavy day. The key is what’s included versus what you’ll pay separately.

Included in the price

• Transportation (private tour) in an AC vehicle
• Experience driver
• Bottled water for each traveler
• Fees for fuel surcharge and parking
• Mobile ticket

Not included (where extra money usually goes)

• Entrance fees for several major stops, including:
• Barong & Kris Dance
• Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
• Tegalallang Rice Terrace
• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
• Meals and beverage
• Any additional activities (like the swing option)

So does the price make sense? If you want a day that covers Ubud highlights plus Kintamani views without coordinating separate tickets and rides, yes. Even if you pay additional entrance fees, you’re still buying a lot of “getting there and getting it done” for the money.

Also, the booking info mentions group discounts. If you’re traveling with friends or family, it’s worth checking how pricing changes with group size.

Driver Quality: The Human Part That Makes or Breaks the Day

The itinerary is fixed, but the experience often depends on your driver/guide. And based on the people who have been praised by name, this company seems to take driver friendliness seriously.

You may be assigned drivers/partners described as:

• Ambo, praised as amazing and friendly
• Oka, introduced as a driver for multiple days in Bali
• Cema, described as able to speak English and Spanish
• Krisna, noted for patience when answering questions and for handling traffic smoothly

That matters because the day is long and timeboxed. A good driver can help you avoid stress, keep you moving efficiently, and—when possible—adjust small details so you can enjoy each stop rather than just race through.

There’s also an option for a tour guide with extra languages (English, French, Spanish, China, etc.) with additional cost. If language is important for you, consider paying for a guide rather than relying only on the driver.

Practical Tips to Make This Tour Feel Easier

This is a “see a lot” day, so a few simple choices help a lot.

• Bring cash or cards for separate entrance tickets at multiple stops.
• Plan for meals not included. If you skip lunch, you’ll likely feel it halfway through the volcano-view section.
• Bring a light layer if you get chilly around the highlands viewpoint.
• Keep your camera charged. The Kintamani Mount Batur overview is the kind of view you’ll want more than one attempt at.

If coffee is your thing, one of the positive experiences shared around this tour involved a local coffee stop and even luwak coffee. That’s not guaranteed in the core schedule, so if it matters to you, ask your driver whether there’s a realistic window.

Who Should Book This Tour

This fits best if you:

• Have one day (or limited time) and want the big Ubud + Kintamani highlights
• Like culture plus scenery in the same day
• Prefer the simplicity of pickup and private transportation
• Are comfortable with a busy itinerary and short stops

It might not fit you if you want:

• A slow, flexible day with lots of downtime
• Only nature, only temples, or only Ubud wandering
• A tour where everything is covered end-to-end with no extra ticket costs

Should You Book This Ubud Day Tour?

If your goal is a smart, efficient Bali day—Ubud culture plus Mount Batur views plus rice terrace scenery—this is a strong option. The price feels fair given the included private AC transport, bottled water, and the number of major stops in one loop.

The main “no” reason would be if you hate ticket budgeting and you dislike rushing. Because several stops require separate admission, you’ll want to plan a little extra money and keep your expectations realistic about time at each location.

If you book, go in with the right mindset: treat it as a highlight reel with enough breathing room to actually enjoy the key moments.

FAQ

How long is the Ubud tour?

It runs about 8 to 10 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $36.78 per person.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered from your hotel or your selected pickup point.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group participates.

What’s included in the tour price?

Transportation in a comfortable AC vehicle, an English-speaking driver, bottled water for each traveler, and fees for fuel surcharge and parking are included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance tickets are listed as not included for Barong & Kris Dance, Goa Gajah, Kintamani Highland (tickets not listed as included), Tegalallang Rice Terrace, and Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. UC Silver Gold and the Ubud Traditional Art Market are listed as free.

Will there be a guide, and what languages are available?

An English-speaking driver is included. A tour guide with other languages (English, French, Spanish, China, etc.) is available with an additional cost.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.