Three days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Ubud. This plan keeps the town for the first day, when you are still adjusting, puts the countryside on day two with an early start to beat the crowds, and leaves day three for either the Mount Batur sunrise or a gentler adventure.
Timings are a guide: traffic, ceremonies and weather all affect Bali days. Swap days two and three if the weather forecast suggests it.
Ubud town: forest, palace and dance
Everything today is walkable from the centre.
- Early morning
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Start at Pura Gunung Lebah and walk the ridge before the heat, then have breakfast at a café in Bangkiang Sidem.
- Late morning
Sacred Monkey Forest
An hour among the temples and macaques. Leave food, sunglasses and loose items behind.
- Afternoon
Palace, Saraswati Temple and the Art Market
Walk up Monkey Forest Road to the palace, see the lotus ponds at Saraswati, and browse the market. Take a long lunch at a warung.
- Evening
Kecak or Legong
End with a dance performance in the centre — Kecak for spectacle, Legong at the palace for elegance.
Book the dance for the first night — it is the perfect introduction to Ubud.
Ticket & guided walk from US$17 Ubud: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Ticket and Guided Tour
Entry to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary with a guided walk past its temples and troops of long-tailed macaques — plus an explanation of Tri Hita Karana, the Balinese idea of harmony that shapes how the forest is cared for.
- Entry ticket to the sanctuary
- A guide who knows how to behave around the monkeys
- The temples and the Tri Hita Karana philosophy explained
Show ticket from US$6 Bali: Ubud Kecak and Fire Dance Show Tickets
A ticket to one of Ubud’s evening Kecak performances: dozens of men chanting “cak-cak-cak” in a circle while dancers act out the Ramayana, followed by a fire dance. Short, hypnotic and easy to fit in after dinner.
- A circle of chanting men tells the Ramayana
- Fire dance finale
- An evening in central Ubud
Show ticket from US$6 Bali: Ubud Palace Legong Dance Show Entry Ticket
Bali’s most refined classical dance, performed at Ubud’s royal palace with a live gamelan orchestra. Arrive early for a seat with a clear view of the stage.
- Legong dance at the royal palace
- Live gamelan orchestra
- Gold-leaf costumes and carved gateways
Terraces, holy springs and waterfalls
Today needs a car: book a day tour or hire a driver, and start early.
- 7:30
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Arrive before the crowds, walk down into the valley and have a coffee on the rim.
- Mid-morning
Tirta Empul (and Gunung Kawi)
See or join the purification ritual at the holy springs. Add the rock-cut shrines of Gunung Kawi if you have the energy for the steps.
- Afternoon
A waterfall
Cool off at Tibumana or Tegenungan, or visit Goa Gajah on the way back to town.
- Evening
Dinner in Ubud
Try babi guling or a Balinese tasting menu, or eat vegetarian in one of Ubud’s many excellent cafés.
A full-day tour covers all of today’s stops with pickup and drop-off.
Full-day tour from US$21 Bali: Ubud Full-Day All-Inclusive Highlights Tour
The classic Ubud day with every headline stop: the Sacred Monkey Forest, the Tegallalang rice terraces, the holy springs of Tirta Empul, Ubud Palace and the Art Market, finishing at Tegenungan Waterfall. With more than 6,000 reviews it is one of the most-booked days out in Bali.
- Monkey Forest, Tegallalang and Tirta Empul in one day
- Ubud Palace, the Art Market and Tegenungan Waterfall
- Hotel pickup; optional lunch
Private day tour from US$14 Ubud: Full-Day Rice Terrace, Monkey Forest & Waterfall
A private car and driver-guide for the day, following the route most visitors want: the Monkey Forest, the Tegallalang terraces, the water temple at Tirta Empul, a coffee plantation and the jungle pool at Tibumana Waterfall. Rated 5.0 from 6,000+ reviews.
- Monkey Forest, Tegallalang and Tirta Empul
- Coffee and tea tasting at a plantation
- Tibumana Waterfall, hotel transfer included
Temple & ritual from US$15 Bali: Holy Spring Temple Tour with Purification Ritual
Visit the holy spring temple of Tirta Empul with a guide and take part in a traditional purification ritual in its pools, learning the history of the temple and the legend of its sacred spring.
- Guided visit to Tirta Empul
- Take part in a traditional purification ritual
- The temple’s history and legend explained
Volcano sunrise or river adventure
Choose your adventure — then slow down for the afternoon.
- 2:00–10:00
Option A: Mount Batur sunrise
Night pickup, a two-hour climb, sunrise from the summit and a hot spring on the way back. Back in Ubud by late morning.
- Morning
Option B: Ayung River rafting
A relaxed start, two hours of rafting through the jungle gorge, and lunch by the river.
- Afternoon
Cooking class or spa
Learn to cook Balinese dishes, or recover with a massage. Both are an Ubud speciality.
- Evening
A last walk
Walk the rice-field paths behind Jalan Kajeng at sunset, or catch a performance you missed on day one.
Book the Mount Batur trek or rafting a few days ahead in high season.
Sunrise hike from US$27 Bali: Sunrise Mount Batur Guided Hike with Breakfast
Bali’s most-booked experience: a pre-dawn pickup, a guided climb in the dark and sunrise from the summit of Mount Batur, with a light breakfast at the top before you walk down. More than 11,000 reviews.
- Summit for sunrise over the volcanic landscape
- Light breakfast at the top
- Local guide, pre-dawn pickup
Rafting from US$26 Bali: Guided Ayung River Rafting with Class 2 Rapids & Lunch
The classic Ayung River run: class II rapids through a steep green gorge close to Ubud, with guides in every raft and a Balinese lunch at the end. Gentle enough for first-timers.
- Class II rapids — fine for beginners
- Jungle gorge scenery
- Balinese lunch after the run
Cooking class from US$20 Ubud: Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit
A hands-on Balinese cooking workshop in Ubud with transfers, local chefs and an optional walk through a morning market before you cook. Rated 4.9 by more than 1,400 guests.
- Optional morning market visit
- Cook traditional Balinese dishes with local chefs
- Eat everything you make
Got more time?
With a fourth or fifth day, add one or two of these:
- Jatiluwih and Ulun Danu Beratan: a full-day trip west to the UNESCO-listed terraces and the lake temple.
- A waterfall day: Tukad Cepung, Tibumana and Kanto Lampo on one tour.
- Crafts: a silver-jewellery or batik workshop, and the woodcarving shops of Mas.
- Wellness: a yoga class, a spa morning and a slow lunch in Penestanan.
- Cycling: an e-bike or downhill tour through villages and rice fields.
What three days cost
A rough per-person guide, excluding accommodation and flights:
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey Forest | about IDR 80,000–100,000 | Adult entry; check the current price. |
| Dance performance | about IDR 100,000–150,000 | Paid at the door or online. |
| Full-day tour | about US$20–100 | Shared to private; depends on group size. |
| Temple entry fees | about IDR 50,000 each | Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi, Goa Gajah. |
| Mount Batur trek | about US$25–70 | Depends on pickup, jeep and hot-spring options. |
| Meals | about US$3–30 | From a warung to a smart restaurant. |
Prices are indicative and change; add the one-off Bali tourism levy for foreign visitors.
