Electric Cycling Tour of Ubud with Free Hotel Transfer and Lunch

Ubud’s rice terraces are more rewarding when you can leave the car behind and follow small roads by bike. This guided e-bike ride pairs the views at Tegalalang with village scenery, and the motor assist helps you manage the hills without turning the outing into a fitness test.

I like two things in particular: you control how much effort you put in, and guides explain local customs and farming as you ride. The meal at the end adds welcome value, while the option of hotel transport saves you from sorting out a ride to the start.

One thing to consider: this is a road ride, not a protected bike path. You may encounter busy traffic and narrow, bumpy tracks beside rice paddies, so you should be comfortable riding a bicycle and paying attention to the road.

The ride, in a few useful points

• Electric assist makes the hills manageable: Pedal as much or as little as you like, but still be ready to steer and brake.
• Tegalalang is the main scenery stop: Plan on about 30 minutes at the famous rice terraces, with time for photos.
• The route mixes countryside with traffic: Guides help the group through intersections, but you will share some roads with cars and motorbikes.
• A coffee plantation and jungle swing add variety: The stop combines a local coffee experience with a large swing, though the details can vary.
• Lunch or dinner is included: Morning departures include lunch; afternoon departures include dinner.
• The advertised price is $41 per person: With a bike, helmet, guide, water, transport in the Ubud area and a meal included, it offers more than a simple bike rental.

Riding out from Ubud

The tour begins at eBikes Bali’s office on Jalan Tirta Tawar, in Petulu. The listed visit to the office takes about 15 minutes. Expect to get set up with a bicycle and helmet before setting off, and to receive a short introduction to the electric assist. The bikes still require basic cycling skills: the motor can reduce the effort, but it cannot steer for you.

The electric help is useful in Ubud’s heat and on hilly roads. You can choose how much to pedal, which makes the ride workable for people with different fitness levels. It is not a reason to book if you cannot ride a bicycle, though. The tour requires previous riding experience, and participants must be at least 150 centimetres tall and no more than 120 kilograms.

Guides lead and manage the group, with accounts of rides describing guides at the front and back and help at road crossings. Names used on past outings include Gusti, Putu, Wid, Gina, Anilya, Ketuk and Saur. Your assigned guide may be someone else, but the role matters: the local explanation gives the ride more substance than simply following a route and taking pictures.

The group can include up to 20 riders. That is large enough to create a little waiting at crossings, but the guide’s job is to keep everyone together. If you are nervous in traffic or have not ridden for years, tell the operator in advance and be candid with yourself about your comfort level.

Tegalalang’s terraces, seen from the saddle

The rice terrace stop lasts about 30 minutes. It is the visual centerpiece of the route, with stepped fields that make a striking subject for photographs. You will have a short window to look around and take pictures, rather than an extended walk through the area.

The scenery is only part of the point. Guides can explain how rice is grown and how the fields fit into village life, turning a photo stop into a more useful introduction to the countryside. Some routes also include a temple, a family compound or a community space. Those stops are not listed as guaranteed parts of every outing, so treat them as possible additions rather than a fixed itinerary.

The ride through the paddies can be narrow and uneven. That is one of the tour’s charms: you get closer to the countryside than you would from a minivan. It is also where riding confidence counts. Keep your attention on the track, not only on the view, and follow the guide’s pace instead of trying to rush past other riders.

The route is not entirely away from cars. Some sections use ordinary roads, and traffic can include motorbikes, cars and pedestrians. Guides may help the group cross intersections, but you still need to stay alert and leave room to react. Covered shoes and sunscreen are sensible choices; both are specifically recommended for the ride.

Coffee, a swing and a question worth asking

Another stop combines a coffee plantation with a large jungle swing. You can expect an explanation of local coffee and tea production, and some outings include tastings. The swing provides a memorable setting above the surrounding fields, though the tour information does not make clear whether a swing ride is included in the price. If that is important to you, confirm it before booking.

There is also an ethical question to consider at a kopi luwak stop. A report from one route describes civets kept in small cages at the plantation. If animal welfare matters to you, ask whether civets are held there and skip any tasting that makes you uncomfortable. Some outings offer a traditional Balinese house as an alternative to the coffee plantation, but you should check whether that choice is available on your departure.

The stop can be more than a tasting break when the guide explains how coffee and tea are made. It gives you a chance to ask about local agricultural practices and everyday life beyond the main sights. Still, expect a commercial element: plantation visits may include encouragement to buy coffee. You are under no obligation to purchase anything.

A meal at the end, not just a quick snack

A morning tour includes lunch, while an afternoon departure includes dinner. The meal is served after the ride at a venue associated with the jungle swing, and the food is described as a proper meal with a range of choices. It is a useful finish after several hours outdoors, especially if you want the cost of food built into your outing.

The schedule makes the departure time worth considering. Choose the morning if lunch fits your plans; choose the afternoon if dinner is more convenient. The meal also gives the group time to relax after cycling and talk with the guide before the return transfer.

The exact menu is not specified, so do not book expecting a particular dish. If you have dietary requirements, ask the operator directly rather than assuming they can be accommodated. The tour includes bottled water, but sunscreen and suitable shoes remain your responsibility.

The real value of $41

At $41 per person, the price covers the electric bicycle, helmet, local guide, bottled water, an air-conditioned minivan, pickup and drop-off in the Ubud area, and a meal. The value is strongest if you are staying in or near Ubud and want several elements bundled together: transport, cycling, countryside stops and food.

A bike rental alone would not provide the guide’s cultural explanations or group support on traffic crossings. Nor would it necessarily take you to the same mix of rice terraces and village roads. The e-bike is especially useful if you want to see more than you could comfortably reach under your own power in warm, hilly conditions.

The transfer can change the day’s total length. The ride itself is advertised at about three hours, but hotel transport adds time, and a long drive from outside Ubud can make the outing much longer. One account from Nusa Dua describes nearly six hours of round-trip travel. If you are based far from Ubud, check the pickup area and total transfer time before deciding that this is a half-day activity.

There are 10 or more bookings in a recent month, and the tour has a 4.9 rating from 1,397 reviews, with 99 percent recommending it. Those figures point to a well-liked experience, but they do not change the practical question: are you comfortable cycling where traffic and uneven paths are part of the route?

Who should book this ride

I would put this near the top of the list for a first or early day in Ubud if you can ride confidently. It gives you a feel for the countryside, introduces local culture and agriculture, and offers a change of pace from moving around by car. The e-bike keeps the physical effort flexible, which is helpful in Bali’s heat.

It can suit families with children, but children must be accompanied by an adult, and every rider still needs to meet the minimum height and weight requirements. One family described taking a 12-year-old who was nervous on a bike, while other accounts stress that road awareness and confidence matter. A cautious child may enjoy the views, but do not assume the motor assist removes the challenge of traffic or narrow tracks.

Solo riders can also join, though group size may vary. A departure can sometimes be very small, even just one person, so do not count on a large group for company. If riding alone with a guide would feel uncomfortable, ask the operator about the expected group size.

Choose another outing if you want a fully off-road ride, cannot ride a bicycle, or would rather avoid traffic altogether. This tour is a guided countryside ride that uses public roads, not a closed course. The guidance and electric assist help, but they do not remove the need to stay alert.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to see Ubud’s rice fields and villages at ground level, appreciate local explanations, and feel steady on a bicycle. The included meal, equipment and Ubud-area transport make $41 a fair package price, especially for a convenient introduction to the region.

Before you commit, check pickup details, ask whether a swing ride is included, and raise any concerns about the coffee stop. Most important, be honest about your comfort with traffic and uneven paths. If that sounds manageable, the combination of terraces, local culture and flexible e-bike effort makes this a practical way to spend part of a day outside central Ubud.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The cycling experience lasts about three hours. Hotel transfers can add time, particularly if you are staying far from Ubud.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included for the Ubud area. The tour also lists a meeting point at eBikes Bali’s office on Jalan Tirta Tawar.

What meal is included?

Morning departures include lunch. Afternoon departures include dinner.

Do I need to know how to ride a bicycle?

Yes. You must have bicycle riding experience. The electric assist helps with effort, but you still need to control the bike.

Are there minimum height or maximum weight requirements?

Yes. Riders must be at least 150 centimetres tall and weigh no more than 120 kilograms, or 260 pounds.

What should I wear or bring?

Covered shoes and sunscreen are highly recommended. Bottled water, a bicycle and a helmet are included.

How many people can join?

The maximum group size is 20 travelers.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.