Ubud -3/4/5 Days Itinerary - The Ultimate Guide
I will show you a daily itinerary first, where you can pick to do 3 to 5 days. Followed by this I will show you all the different sugestiona for transport, hotels, cafes and restaurants.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
- Start your day by heading to the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. I recommend going early in the morning to beat the heat. Lose yourself in the intricate maze of rice fields, where every turn reveals a new, stunning view. There are several entrances along the route; many are free, while others charge around $2 USD. Once inside, you can wander around and soak in the beauty of the place.
Don’t miss the chance to ride the Bali Swing. For less than $5 USD, you can enjoy the swing and even get a cool dress for photos. Expect to spend an hour or two exploring this picturesque spot.
- Next, head to Tirta Empul Temple, also known as The Water Temple. This temple is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of water.
The ticket to enter costs around $2 USD. You can visit the temple with a guide or on your own.
After the temple visit, you can take part in the Purification ceremony. The ceremony consists of a short meditation followed by getting under the cold water. It’s a very spiritual place to connect with your inner self.
You can hire a guide to help you through the ceremony. I did it and strongly recommend it to understand more about what's going on and to truly connect. The guide cost me $5 USD.
- After that,make your way to Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu. It's just a quick 10-15 minute drive away. This is anothermust-see water temple. If you're short on time, it’s not an absolute must, but if you've got some extra time,why not?This Hindu temple only takes around 15 minutes to explore, and the ticket costs just $2 USD. Easy peasy!
- By now, you'll probably be tired and hungry, so the next stop is Bali Pulina. This coffee plantation lets you try Luwak coffee, the most expensive coffee in the world, without breaking the bank. It’s a typical Balinese coffee. The experience includes a super interesting introduction to how the coffee is made, and at the end, you get to enjoy delicious coffee and a snack with an amazing view of the rice fields. I totally recommend this stop; it’s absolutely amazing!
Day 2
- Wake up and head to the center of Ubud, straight to theMonkey Forest. This is a sacred sanctuary teeming with monkeys in their natural habitat. Hold on to your belongingsbecause these cheeky creatures might just snatch your phone! The ticket costs around $5 USD, and visits last between 1 and 2 hours. The place is pretty big, so you can just sit andenjoy the monkey madness.
- After this,stroll over to the Ubud Art Marketand explore some of the local spots along the streets.Take a walk, do some shopping, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
- Next, walk the main street, grab some lunch, a smoothie bowl, or a coffee, and then head to the Campuhan Ridge Walk. This is the most famous hiking trail in Bali and a beautiful destination for all nature lovers. It’s a short hike with stunning views, about a kilometer long.
Once you reach the other side, you’ll find Kelusa, a charming small village. Karsa Kafe is highly recommended for a coffee break after the hike; it’s located right between rice fields and offers a perfect spot to relax.
- To finish the day, head back from the hike to where you started and then make your way to the Ubud Water Palace. The best time to go is at sunset when they start turning on the lights and there's a small water show. The ticket costs around $2 USD. It's absolutely beautiful, and you can even snap some cute photos.
Day 3
- This day starts early with the sunrise on Mount Batur.
Wake up and gear up for an adventure to Mount Batur. You’ll need to do this with a guide (I recommend mine below). It takes around 2 hours by car to get to the base of the mountain. Climb the active volcano Mt. Batur for an epic sunrise; the hike takes around 2 hours. Feeling ambitious? Hike the whole way or, if you’re feeling a bit lazy, take a jeep partway and then hike.
Once you reach the top, savor breakfast on the mountain with a nice hot drink to warm you up.
Then,make your way back downand pat yourself on the back for conquering the volcano!
- After this,soak your tired muscles at the Natural Hot Springs. I recommend the Batur Natural Hot Springs. If you get the whole guinde package, the entrance ticket is included. This stop is perfect after the long hike.
- To finish the day,visit another coffee plantation in your way back to Ubud.
Day 4
- Wake up and head to rafting. There are different rafting spots in Bali, but I recommend the one just 15 minutes away from Ubud, on the Ayung River. It’s close to most hotels and super fun. The rafting adventure lasts for 2 hours, where you’ll enjoy the views and have a blast.
- After that,have lunch at the rafting facility.
- In the afternoon, visit some waterfalls. I recommend going to the less touristy waterfalls so you can actually enjoy them without the crowds.
Here is the list of waterfalls:
- Kanto Lampo waterfall: This is the most turisty and instagrameable waterfall. If you are into great photos this can be your choice.
- Tibumana waterfall: One big tall waterfall. Reachable with a short hike (around 15 min) from the parking lot.
- Tamar Sari: This waterfall has also a natural pool, which is great to chill in the water for a while. It is also less touristy.
Here you can read more about waterfalls.
Day 5
For this day, I have different options for you:
- Chill day: Go to a day club and relax after 4 days of full activities. The most popular day clubs are Cretya Ubud (more packed) and Alas Harum Bali (more chill).
- Adventure day: If you still have some adventurous energy, go for anATV adventure.
- Cultural day: Visit the Lempuyang Temple.
Transportation
Transportation in Ubud is key.
For me there was a mix of things.
- Motorbike: Renting a bike is cheap, it costs between 6 to 10 USD. But, riding in Ubud can be really challenging. I rented a motorbike for some days, the ones where I did shorter distances.
- Private dirver: Other alternative is to hire a private driver to drive you all day to different points. I personally recommend this for longer distances. For me it cost 30 USD for the whole day.
- Grab: This is the app used to get cars such as Uber. I recommend this for shorter distances, like going around the city center or visiting things nearby.
Guide
- Here is the contact of my favorite guide, Ketut.
Food
Here is a list of my favorite and recommended places where to eat:
Hotel Alternatives
This are all hotels that are in good location, great reviews (8+ Booking.com), 3 or 4 stars and convinient price.
1- Kubu Bali Baik Villa & Resort - CHSE Certified
2- The apartments Ubud
3- The Satya Villa
4- Bumi Muwa Ubud
5- Bali Spirit Hotel and Spa
6- Uma Data Guesthouse
Other Links
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