BALI :Sanctuary Monkey forest, rice terrace Water temple

Gunung Kawi Sebatu’s spring-fed pools, lotus flowers and ancient shrines offer a peaceful pause on a day otherwise filled with Ubud’s famous sights. This nine-hour tour pairs that quiet temple with the Sacred Monkey Forest and Tegalalang Rice Terrace, giving you a broad taste of central Bali in one outing.

I like the contrast between the stops: one moment you’re among macaques in a wooded sanctuary, the next you’re looking over patterned rice fields or standing near a village waterfall. I also like that the coffee plantation adds a hands-on look at how coffee is made, not just another photo stop.

The main thing to check before booking is the price detail. The tour costs $19 per person, but entrance tickets are listed as not included, even though the included items also mention the Monkey Forest entrance. Confirm which admissions are covered, and budget separately for lunch and any swing activity.

Key points to know before you go

• A full Ubud sampler: The day combines a forest sanctuary, rice terraces, a waterfall, a water temple and a coffee plantation.
• A calm temple stop: Gunung Kawi Sebatu has spring-fed pools, lotus ponds, carp and old shrines.
• A village waterfall: Ulu Petanu is described as roughly 15 metres high, with clear water.
• Coffee with a process: The plantation visit covers the journey from picking beans to drinking coffee, with about 15 coffee and tea varieties to try.
• Guides can shape the day: Past guides named Kadek, Kadek Tonik, Nano, Ari and Wayan have been praised for kindness, patience and flexibility. Your assigned guide may be different.
• Check the extra costs: Entrance tickets, lunch and the swing are listed as not included. Pickup from Nusa Dua and Uluwatu also carries an additional cost.

A day built around Ubud’s variety

This tour is a practical way to connect several well-known Ubud sights without arranging separate rides between them. Over nine hours, you visit the Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ulu Petanu Waterfall, Gunung Kawi Sebatu and a coffee plantation, with an Ubud village visit included as well.

The value is less about spending a long time at any one place and more about seeing how varied the area can be in a single day. You get a wildlife sanctuary, cultivated countryside, flowing water, a temple and a local agricultural stop. If you have only one day for Ubud, that range can make the outing worthwhile.

The order and time spent at each stop are not specified, so don’t assume you can linger as long as you like everywhere. The guide may adapt the day to your preferences, according to one account of a guide adjusting the pace, but it’s sensible to say what matters most to you early on.

Monkeys among 12.5 hectares of forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest is one of Ubud’s signature sights. The sanctuary covers 12.5 hectares and is home to 186 species of plants and trees, so it offers more than a quick look at the monkeys. The forest setting is part of the appeal.

You should treat the macaques as wildlife, not as pets or photo props. Feeding animals is prohibited, and you should avoid littering. The tour information also says people with animal allergies are not suited to this activity, a useful point to consider before booking.

The stop is likely to be busy compared with the quieter temple later in the day, since the Monkey Forest is a famous Ubud attraction. Keep your belongings close and follow the sanctuary’s rules. A camera is worth bringing, but give the animals space rather than trying to stage a close-up.

One practical wrinkle: the tour details include the Monkey Forest sanctuary entrance among the inclusions, but separately say entrance tickets are not included. Ask the operator what that means for this particular booking. It is better to settle the question before you arrive than to discover an extra charge at the gate.

Reading the patterns at Tegalalang

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is included for its distinctive terraced fields, among Ubud’s most visited sights. The stepped pattern is the draw: it shows how rice cultivation has shaped the surrounding countryside and gives you a very different view from the forest paths.

This is a scenic stop, but it is also a popular one. If your ideal visit means a quiet walk without other people around, a famous rice terrace may not deliver that. The tour does not give a specific amount of time at the fields, so ask your guide if you have a particular walk or viewpoint in mind.

A swing is not included. If you see one offered at the rice terrace and want to try it, expect to pay separately. The tour information doesn’t state the swing price or whether you’ll have time for it, so don’t build it into your plan without checking.

Comfortable shoes help here, as they do at the other outdoor stops. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, especially if you prefer to stay outside rather than hurry from one viewpoint to the next.

A village waterfall at Ulu Petanu

Ulu Petanu is described as a village waterfall about 15 metres high, with clear water. Its setting makes it a useful change of pace after the forest and rice fields: instead of looking across a cultivated hillside, you’re near moving water in a local village.

The tour description doesn’t spell out the walking route, ground conditions or time available at the falls. Wear shoes you’re comfortable walking in, and be careful around wet surfaces. If you hope to swim, bring that up with the operator before the trip. One visitor specifically wished the tour information had mentioned bringing items for a swim, but swimming arrangements are not stated as a tour feature.

This stop may appeal most if you enjoy natural places and don’t mind a little uncertainty about the facilities. You get a chance to see a waterfall that is described as being in the middle of the village, rather than a large, highly developed attraction. Just don’t assume that bathing or changing facilities are provided.

Quiet water and shrines at Gunung Kawi Sebatu

Gunung Kawi Sebatu, also known locally as Pura Tirta Dawa Gunung Kawi Sebatu, is described as one of Bali’s less-visited temples. Its ancient shrines sit among gardens and natural spring-fed pools, with lotus flowers and carp in the ponds. It sounds like the calmest stop on a full day of sightseeing.

The setting is a good reason to slow down and look closely. The pools and ponds bring water into the temple complex, while the shrines give the place its sacred character. Follow local customs and behave respectfully; this is a place of worship, not simply a scenic backdrop.

If you prefer quieter cultural stops to a day made only of headline attractions, this temple may be the part of the tour you remember most. The available information doesn’t specify a formal explanation or ceremony, so ask your guide what context they can provide. Guides have been praised for explaining the sights clearly, but the depth of commentary can depend on who leads your day.

Coffee tasting, from beans to cup

The plantation stop adds a different kind of interest. You can see how coffee is made, from picking the beans through to drinking it, and sample about 15 types of coffee and tea. That makes this more than a quick rest break, particularly if you’re curious about local coffee production.

Civet coffee is highlighted as a variety to try. It is often the most talked-about cup at a tasting, but you don’t have to order or drink it. If you’re interested, ask what the tasting includes and whether any samples come with an added charge, since the tour information does not spell out tasting costs.

There is also time to relax with coffee or tea, though the schedule is not specified. Treat the plantation as both a tasting and a demonstration rather than a guaranteed long café stop. If you have dietary needs or simply don’t drink coffee, the listed tea choices give you another option.

Guides, pickup and the real cost

The tour is offered for $19 per person and lasts nine hours. For that price, the appeal is having transport and several Ubud-area stops brought together in one day, rather than arranging a separate ride for each place. Pickup is included from hotels in the covered areas, and a small group is available.

Guides named in accounts of the tour include Kadek, Kadek Tonik, Nano, Ari and Wayan. Their approach has been described as patient, kind and attentive, with some guides adapting the day to personal preferences and helping with photos. Those names are useful context, not a promise that a particular person will lead your trip.

The listed exclusions matter when you compare the price with other tours. Lunch and swing tickets are not included, and entrance tickets are also listed as excluded. Because the Monkey Forest entrance is separately presented as included, clarify that point with Bali Wayan Tour before paying. Your actual day’s cost may be higher than $19 once admissions, food and optional activities are counted.

Hotel pickup is included, but Nusa Dua and Uluwatu pickups cost extra. You’re asked to wait in the lobby from 10 minutes before the pickup time. Starting times depend on availability, so check the options offered for your date.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms can help if your plans are still taking shape. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and comfortable shoes are recommended for the walking.

Packing and local etiquette

Keep your day bag simple. Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, a camera and water. Those basics suit the outdoor stops and help you stay comfortable across a full day.

Smoking, littering and feeding animals are not allowed. At the Monkey Forest in particular, follow the wildlife rules and don’t encourage the macaques to approach you. At the temple, be respectful of local customs and the religious setting.

If a waterfall swim is important to you, ask ahead whether it is possible and what to bring. The tour details don’t promise swimming, so it’s best to treat it as a question rather than a sure thing.

Who should book this Ubud day?

I’d consider this tour if you want a broad first look at Ubud’s main sights and prefer a guide and pickup to managing the transport yourself. It suits people who like a mix of nature, cultural stops and a light tasting, and who are comfortable with a busy schedule and some walking.

It may not suit you if you have limited mobility, an animal allergy, or want a slow visit focused on just one or two places. The nine-hour format is designed to cover several stops, and exact time at each one isn’t provided. If you want a deep visit to a temple or a long walk among rice fields, ask about pacing before booking.

Should you book?

Book if you want a convenient sampler of Ubud and the listed $19 price fits your budget, with room for extra admission and meal costs. The mix of monkey forest, rice terraces, village waterfall, water temple and coffee gives the day a clear range, while guide accounts suggest the personal service can be a real plus.

Before you commit, confirm entrance fees, the Nusa Dua or Uluwatu pickup surcharge if relevant, and whether there will be time for the activities you care about most. If those details suit you, this is a straightforward way to see several sides of Ubud in one day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts nine hours. Available starting times depend on the date, so check availability when booking.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $19 per person. Entrance tickets, lunch and the swing are listed as not included, so check the admission costs before you book.

Which places does the tour visit?

The stops include Sacred Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ulu Petanu Waterfall, Gunung Kawi Sebatu water temple and a coffee plantation. A visit to Ubud village is also included.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included from hotels in the covered areas. Pickup from Nusa Dua and Uluwatu carries an additional cost.

How early should I wait for pickup?

Wait in your hotel lobby from 10 minutes before the pickup time.

Are entrance tickets included?

The tour details are inconsistent: they list the Sacred Monkey Forest entrance as included, but also list entrance tickets as not included. Confirm which tickets are covered with Bali Wayan Tour before booking.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is listed as not included.

Is the swing included?

No. The swing is listed as not included.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, a camera, sunscreen and water. If you hope to swim at the waterfall, ask the operator first, since swimming is not confirmed in the tour details.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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