Ubud City Tour II: Monkey Forest, Palace, Art Market, and Rice Terrace

Ubud’s appeal comes into focus when you combine its temple grounds, macaques, market stalls, and rice terraces in one outing. This private tour also adds Happy Swing Bali, giving you a scenic stop with an optional-feeling shot of adrenaline built into the schedule.

I like the door-to-door transport, especially if you are staying outside central Ubud, and the mix of culture and countryside. You get time at the Monkey Forest and rice terraces, plus a full hour at the market if browsing and bargaining are part of your plan.

One consideration: your included companion is an English-speaking driver, not necessarily a dedicated cultural guide. Some drivers, including Mera and Irwan, have shared useful details along the way; another may focus on getting you from stop to stop. The palace visit is also brief, so this works better as an overview than a deep cultural tour.

• Monkey Forest gets a full hour: Visit a temple complex and nature reserve that is home to about 340 crab-eating macaques.
• The palace stop lasts 15 minutes: See central Ubud’s best-known royal residence, but do not expect a long visit.
• The market has room for a proper browse: You have an hour among stalls selling items such as batik, silver jewelry, wood carvings, and sarongs.
• Happy Swing Bali is part of the route: The stop takes about 90 minutes and pairs a cliff swing with views of the surrounding countryside.
• Tegalalang gives you a choice: Spend an hour taking photos or walk among the rice paddies; a farmer donation is extra if you trek.
• Your group has the vehicle to itself: Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance tickets, and an English-speaking driver are included in the $65 price.

A practical way to connect Ubud’s main sights

This is a private, multi-stop tour built for visitors who want a broad introduction without arranging transport themselves. You start at 9 a.m., and the advertised duration is about eight hours. One account of the day described leaving at 9 and returning around 3, so your actual timing may be shorter or longer depending on the day and the route.

The order moves from Ubud’s town center and sacred forest toward the swing and rice terraces. That makes for a useful contrast: temple grounds and macaques first, then shops and royal architecture, followed by the more open countryside.

You are not sharing the vehicle with other tour groups. That gives you more control over the pace than a large coach tour, though the listed time at each stop still sets the basic rhythm. Ask your driver early if you want to spend more time at one place and less at another; the tour description does not promise that the schedule can be changed, but a private outing makes it sensible to clarify your priorities.

The tour costs $65 per person. That price includes private transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance tickets, an English-speaking driver, and service and government tax. Meals are not included, nor is a donation to the farmer if you walk through the rice terrace. For a day that links several widely spaced stops, the included vehicle and admissions are the main value.

Meeting the macaques at Sacred Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is more than a place to spot monkeys. It is a nature reserve and religious temple complex with importance to local Balinese people, and it is home to about 340 crab-eating macaques. The hour-long visit gives you time to see the setting as well as the animals.

The forest’s temple structures and trees create the dramatic, old-world mood that makes this stop memorable. The macaques are the obvious draw, and you may find yourself watching their behavior as closely as the architecture. It is the tour’s strongest mix of natural and cultural interest.

A practical point: treat the sanctuary as a sacred place, not simply a backdrop for photos. The tour information does not spell out specific rules for interacting with the monkeys, so follow posted instructions and staff guidance while you are there. You have an included admission ticket, which saves you from arranging entry separately.

If you are choosing which stop deserves your attention, I would give the Monkey Forest its full hour. It is one of the day’s most distinctive visits, and it offers more to look at than a quick photo stop.

Ubud Palace: a short look at the royal center

Ubud Palace, locally called Puri Saren, sits in the center of Ubud Village. Its location makes it an easy stop to pair with the traditional market, but the scheduled visit is only 15 minutes.

That is enough for a brief look at the palace and a sense of its place in the town. It is not enough for a long, guided exploration. If you are especially interested in Balinese architecture or royal history, you may wish the tour allowed more time, or you may want to ask your driver what can be seen during the visit.

The palace is one of the less essential stops for some visitors. Several people who enjoyed the Monkey Forest and rice terraces found the palace underwhelming, so keep expectations measured. Think of it as a quick central-Ubud introduction rather than the main event.

An hour among Ubud market stalls

Ubud Traditional Art Market is the tour’s best stop if you enjoy browsing local goods. The hour gives you more than a hurried walk through a row of shops. Stalls offer souvenirs ranging from silver jewelry and precious stones to batik, T-shirts, beach sarongs, wood carvings, and woven or cane-work bags.

You can use the time to shop, compare prices, or simply see the variety of items sold in central Ubud. The market is a commercial place, not a museum, so the experience depends on whether you like looking through stalls and deciding what is worth taking home.

If you do want to buy something, take your time before settling on an item. The tour description does not include shopping costs, and the driver’s role is not defined as a shopping guide. If you are not interested in souvenirs, ask how the schedule works and whether you can use some of that time differently.

Happy Swing Bali adds a change of pace

Happy Swing Bali takes about an hour and a half, making it a substantial stop rather than a quick photo break. The attraction centers on swinging from a cliff, with views over the surrounding natural scenery. Its appeal is straightforward: a chance to try an adrenaline activity and take photos in a dramatic setting.

This stop changes the tone of the day. The Monkey Forest and palace are tied to Ubud’s cultural side, while the market is about local commerce; the swing is a purpose-built attraction. If you enjoy scenic photo stops and are comfortable with the idea of a cliff swing, it adds variety.

If that activity is not for you, check what options are available at the site before booking. The tour information confirms the stop and its duration, but does not detail alternative activities or whether you can skip the swing and use the time elsewhere. The entrance ticket is included, so you are not paying a separate admission fee for the scheduled visit.

Tegalalang’s rice terraces: photos or a walk

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the day’s clearest countryside stop. The terraces spread across slopes on either side of a valley, and the roadside viewpoint is described as cool and breezy. You have about an hour to take in the views, capture photos, or walk among the rice paddies.

That choice matters. A quick viewpoint visit is easier on a tight schedule, while trekking gives you a closer look at the fields and their contours. If you do trek, a donation to the farmer is at your own expense. It is not part of the tour price, so bring some money if you plan to walk.

The stop is one of the highlights for visitors who want to see Bali beyond town streets and shop stalls. Still, this is a popular scenic destination, and the tour details do not promise solitude or a private route through the fields. Go for the views and the chance to stretch your legs, not for an empty countryside setting.

The driver can shape the day

The tour provides an English-speaking driver, and that distinction is worth understanding before you book. A driver handles the transport and can keep the day moving; a cultural guide is a different role, and the tour does not promise one.

The difference has mattered to people on this route. Mera and Irwan have been praised for sharing details about Balinese culture and places along the drive. Wena was described as attentive and professional, though one visitor had hoped for more commentary. Your experience can depend in part on who is driving and how much conversation develops.

If cultural context is important to you, say so at the start of the day and ask questions as you travel. That is not a guarantee of a guided tour, but it gives your driver a chance to understand what you want. If you want a formal, in-depth explanation at each site, this may not be the right format unless you confirm that service before booking.

Is $65 a good value for this route?

At $65 per person, the price is easiest to judge by what it bundles. You get private transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, entrance tickets, and tax. For a route that includes five stops, transport is not a small convenience: it is what makes the day manageable without organizing separate rides.

The value is strongest if you plan to visit most of the listed stops and appreciate private transport. It is less compelling if you only want the Monkey Forest and rice terraces, or if you would rather spend a day with a dedicated guide. Meals are extra, and a rice-field donation is also extra if you choose to trek.

The tour is recommended by 94 percent of the 17 people who rated it, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. That is a positive signal, though the small number of ratings means I would use it alongside the practical details: the Monkey Forest and rice terraces are the dependable highlights, the palace is brief, and the driver’s commentary can vary.

Who should book this Ubud outing?

I would choose this tour if you have limited time, want a private vehicle, and like combining cultural sights with a countryside stop. It suits couples, families, or small groups who prefer to travel together rather than join a larger group. Group discounts are available, though the amount is not specified.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in Ubud or at one of the many south Bali addresses covered by pickup. The tour starts at 9 a.m. and includes direct hotel pickup and drop-off, which cuts down on the work of connecting the stops yourself.

I would think twice if you want a slow day, a long palace visit, or a guaranteed expert guide. The schedule covers a lot, and its strongest moments are the macaques, rice terraces, and the variety of stops. Book it for an efficient introduction to Ubud, not for a deep lesson at every site.

FAQ

How long does the Ubud City Tour II take?

The tour is listed as approximately eight hours. One reported outing ran from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., so the actual day can be shorter.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9 a.m.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Does the tour offer hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered at hotels in Ubud and many addresses in south Bali.

What is included in the $65 price?

The price includes private tour service, hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, all entrance tickets, and service and government tax.

Are meals included?

No. Meals are not included.

Do I need to pay extra to walk in the rice terraces?

A donation to the farmer is at your own expense if you trek in the rice terrace.

How long do you spend at each stop?

The schedule allows one hour at the Monkey Forest, 15 minutes at Ubud Palace, one hour at the art market, 90 minutes at Happy Swing Bali, and one hour at Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

Is the driver also a tour guide?

The included service is an English-speaking driver. The tour does not promise a separate cultural guide.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refundable.