Ubud Art, Monkey Forest and Rice Terrace Tour

Ubud’s best-known sights are spread across town and the surrounding countryside, so this private tour gives you a useful way to connect them in one day. You’ll move from paintings and Balinese architecture to monkeys, royal courtyards, handicrafts, and rice fields without arranging separate rides.

I especially like the private car and guide, since you can keep your group together and ask questions as you go. I also like the mix of stops: the art museum and royal palace give cultural context, while the Monkey Forest and Tegallalang Rice Terrace add fresh air and open space.

The main drawback is the pace. Seven stops and about 7 to 10 hours make for a full day, and lunch is not included. If you want long, unhurried time at each place, you may find this schedule a little tight.

Key points to know before booking

• Five major Ubud stops in one private day: You visit ARMA, the Monkey Forest, Puri Saren Palace, Ubud Traditional Art Market, and Tegallalang Rice Terrace.
• Named guides praised for personal service: Yos, Didi, and Adi are each singled out for being friendly, helpful, and good at explaining Bali’s culture.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off are included: Your private air-conditioned vehicle takes care of transport for the day.
• The Monkey Forest is more than a wildlife stop: It includes about 600 long-tailed monkeys, 115 tree species, and three sacred Balinese temples.
• The $59 price covers the main costs: Private transport, guide, bottled water, and admission fees are included, but lunch is extra.
• The day is accessible to most people: The tour is listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible, and most people can participate.

Starting at ARMA, where Ubud’s art gets a proper setting

The Agung Rai Museum of Art, usually called ARMA, is a strong opening stop because it gives you a cultural frame for the rest of the day. You have about two hours here, with admission included.

The collection includes traditional and contemporary works from Ubud and from artists outside Bali. That range matters. You are not seeing only one narrow version of Balinese art, and you get a chance to compare local artistic traditions with broader influences.

I also like that ARMA is part museum and part cultural setting. Balinese architecture adds to the visit, and the site hosts cultural workshops. The building and grounds help make the art feel connected to local life rather than displayed in a plain gallery box.

Two hours is a sensible amount of time for this stop, though your own interest in art will shape how quickly you move. If you like paintings and visual details, you may want every minute. If museums are not your main reason for visiting Ubud, the guide can help you focus on the most meaningful pieces before moving on.

A private guide can be especially useful here. Yos, one of the guides praised for this experience, was noted for explaining history and culture while keeping the day enjoyable. That kind of help can turn a quick museum visit into something easier to understand.

Meeting monkeys and temples in the Sacred Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary receives roughly two hours, and it changes the mood of the day. Instead of indoor galleries, you enter a wooded nature reserve with about 600 long-tailed monkeys and 115 different tree species.

The monkeys are the obvious attraction, but the sanctuary also has a strong cultural side. Three sacred Balinese temples are located inside the reserve. That combination of wildlife, trees, and temples gives you a better sense of why the Monkey Forest is a major Ubud sight rather than just a place to take animal photos.

You should treat this as a real visit, not a quick photo stop. Two hours gives you time to walk through the reserve, look at the temple areas, and observe the monkeys without racing from entrance to exit.

At the same time, monkeys are wild animals, and the atmosphere may feel less controlled than a museum or palace. Keep your attention on your belongings and follow the sanctuary’s rules. The tour description calls the monkeys friendly, but you should still give them space and avoid treating them like pets.

The guide’s role here is useful for orientation. A local host can explain the religious setting and help you see more than the animals. The best part of this stop is the contrast between the green reserve and the formal cultural sites later in the day.

Seeing Puri Saren Palace in the center of Ubud

Puri Saren Agung, commonly called Ubud Royal Palace, gets about one hour. It sits in central Ubud on the town’s main street, making it an easy link between the Monkey Forest and the traditional market.

This is a compact stop, but it gives you a look at Balinese royal architecture. Expect grand gates, traditional pavilions, and garden areas that are easy to photograph. The palace is less about spending half a day indoors and more about seeing the design details in a short, focused visit.

I like the way this stop connects Ubud’s present-day center with its royal past. You are not only visiting a pretty building. You are seeing a place that helps explain the town’s cultural identity and its long connection with dance, art, ceremony, and palace life.

One hour should work well for most people. If you take photos slowly or want your guide to explain each architectural feature, the time may pass quickly. Still, the palace is a good fit for a full-day tour because it offers a clear cultural pause without requiring a long visit.

Browsing the Ubud Traditional Art Market

The traditional art market is directly in front of the palace, so there is little wasted time getting there. You have about one hour to look around and shop.

The market carries handicrafts, paintings, sculptures, and other Bali souvenirs. It is a practical place to see the commercial side of Ubud’s art culture, and it gives you a chance to browse local activity in the town center.

You should use this hour with a plan. If you already know you want a painting, carving, or small gift, the time may be enough for a focused search. If you enjoy comparing prices and styles, you may want longer than the schedule allows.

Shopping is also where a private tour has an advantage. Your guide can help you understand what you are looking at and point out the location of the market without making you find it alone. The tour is not described as including shopping assistance or negotiated prices, so treat any purchase as your own responsibility.

Because the market follows the palace, you can visit both without another transfer. That simple arrangement makes the middle of the day efficient, especially if you are trying to see a lot during a single visit to Ubud.

Finishing among the Tegallalang rice terraces

The final stop is Ceking Tegallalang, one of Bali’s most famous rice terrace areas. You have about one hour here, with admission included.

This is the tour’s big outdoor finish. After the museum, forest, palace, and market, the terraces give you a chance to look across the stepped fields and take photographs. The changing shapes of the rice plots are the main attraction, and the setting offers a very different view of Bali from the town sights.

An hour is enough for a taste of the area, but do not expect a long countryside walk. The tour provides a stop at the terraces rather than a separate trek or farming activity. If you want a more extended visit, ask the operator about the schedule before booking, since the listed duration is approximate.

The final location also shows why transport is important. Tegallalang is outside central Ubud, and having a private car means you do not need to arrange a separate ride after spending the day in town. Bottled water is included, which is a small but useful touch during a long day of sightseeing.

What the private transport adds to the day

The tour begins at 9:00 am and includes private pickup and drop-off with air conditioning. You receive a private vehicle, private guide, and driver, so only your group participates.

That setup is the heart of the experience. Ubud’s attractions are not all beside one another, and a driver lets you cover more ground than you could comfortably manage on foot. You also avoid spending your day arranging separate transfers between the museum, sanctuary, palace, market, and rice terraces.

A private tour can be more relaxed in small ways. You can ask your guide to explain a detail again, keep your group together, and discuss how much time to spend taking photos. The schedule is still fairly full, but it is not a fixed large-group outing where everyone must follow the same pace.

The stated duration is approximately 7 to 10 hours. That range allows for the sightseeing stops and the driving time, but the exact length may depend on conditions and how your day unfolds. I would keep the rest of your evening flexible rather than booking another major activity immediately afterward.

The tour is listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible, and most people can participate. Since the day includes a nature reserve, palace grounds, market paths, and rice terraces, you should still confirm any specific mobility needs with the provider before booking.

Is $59 a fair price for this Ubud day?

At $59 per person, the value depends partly on the size of your group. This is a private experience, so the price buys more than admission to five sights. It also covers private transportation, an air-conditioned car, a guide and driver, bottled water, hotel pickup, hotel drop-off, and entrance fees.

That can be a good deal if you are traveling with family or friends and want one person to manage the driving and route. It is also useful for a first visit, when you may prefer to see the main Ubud sights in one organized day.

Lunch is not included, so budget separately for a midday meal. The provided schedule does not name a lunch stop or specify where you will eat, so ask your guide about the day’s meal plan if that matters to you.

The private format is less valuable if you prefer to explore slowly and choose only one or two sights. You could spend a whole morning on art or a full afternoon in the market and terraces, but this tour is designed for coverage. You pay for convenience and variety rather than a deep focus on one place.

The guides can shape the whole experience

The strongest personal detail attached to this tour is the praise for its guides. Yos was recognized for explaining history and culture while keeping the day fun. Didi hosted a private day for one guest, and Adi was described as friendly and able to add extra enjoyment to the outing.

You are not guaranteed one of these three guides, since guide assignment is not specified. Still, their role shows what to value when you meet your host: clear explanations, good timing, and a willingness to make the day fit your interests.

A private guide is most helpful at the places where context matters. At ARMA, you can ask about the art. At the Monkey Forest, you can ask about the temples. At the palace and market, you can connect architecture and local culture with what you see around you.

The car and route handle the practical side, but the guide can make the difference between simply checking off stops and understanding why they matter.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have one full day in Ubud and want a broad introduction to the area. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value a private vehicle and do not want to organize several rides.

It also fits first-time visitors who want art, nature, architecture, shopping, and rice terraces in one day. The wheelchair and stroller accessibility listing is helpful for families and people who need an easier organized option, though you should confirm the details for your own needs.

I would hesitate if your priority is a slow, quiet day. The schedule gives you about one to two hours at each stop, and the tour covers a lot. You should also think twice if you do not want to pay for sights you may only visit briefly.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 am start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book the Ubud Art, Monkey Forest and Rice Terrace Tour?

Book it if you want an efficient private introduction to Ubud, especially if transport, admission fees, and a local guide are worth more to you than setting your own slow pace. The mix of ARMA, the Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, the market, and Tegallalang gives you a useful first look at the town and its surroundings.

Skip it if you want long museum visits, extended shopping, or a full rice terrace walk. For most people with only one full day, though, the $59 package offers a practical way to see Ubud’s main cultural and outdoor sights without the stress of arranging each transfer yourself.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes private transportation, bottled water, entrance tickets and admission fees, a private guide and driver, and private air-conditioned pickup and drop-off.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 9:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 to 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.