Bali Ubud Palace & Tirta Empul Private Full-Day Tour

This tour packs temples, rice terraces and Ubud’s best-known sights into one long day. You’ll have your own car and an English-speaking driver-guide, so the day is less about working out transport and more about choosing where to linger.

I like two things in particular: admissions and hotel transfers are included, and the private format gives you some say in how long to spend at each stop. Guides named in past tour experiences include Putu, Alit, Suni, Made and Nyoman, with strong praise for cultural explanations, considerate driving and flexible planning.

The trade-off is the pace. Six stops between morning pickup and evening return make for a full day, and traffic or weather can shift the schedule. Lunch, drinks and the optional jungle swing cost extra.

What makes this Ubud day tour useful

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• A private car and hotel pickup save you from arranging transport between widely spaced sights.
• Goa Gajah and Tirta Empul bring Balinese temple architecture and sacred spring water into the same day.
• Tegalalang’s rice terraces offer a scenic pause, with a jungle swing available at extra cost.
• The Monkey Forest and Ubud Palace add two distinct sides of Ubud: a wooded sanctuary and a royal landmark.
• Admission, parking and tax are included, but lunch, drinks, tips and personal purchases are not.
• Your driver-guide can help shape the day, though traffic, weather and the time available may limit how much you can change.

👉 See our pick of the 25 Best Guided Tours In Ubud

A full day from your hotel to Ubud

Pickup is scheduled for 8:00 a.m., with return planned for about 7:30 p.m. That gives you roughly eleven and a half hours for the drive, six stops and lunch. You enter your hotel name and address when booking, then the operator confirms the pickup time. Be ready in the lobby five minutes early.

The listed pickup area covers Nusa Dua, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, Denpasar, Jimbaran and Uluwatu. Transfers are not available from Lovina, Amed, Negara, Pemuteran, Munduk or Tembok. Pickup or drop-off in Tabanan or Candidasa carries a surcharge of IDR 100,000 per car, payable in cash to the driver.

Private transport is the practical heart of this outing. Bali traffic can make a simple-looking route take longer than expected, and you avoid arranging a fresh ride at every stop. Several past tour accounts describe drivers adapting the order of visits to traffic or helping guests spend more time where they wanted. That flexibility is a plus, but it is not a promise that every stop can be extended without affecting the rest of the day.

Goa Gajah: start with a temple visit

At about 9:30 a.m., the first stop is Goa Gajah, also called Elephant Cave. It is a strong opener because it introduces Balinese religious architecture before the day moves on to the countryside. The site is known for its detailed architectural features, and the tour includes admission.

Treat this as a cultural visit, not just a quick photo stop. Take time to look closely at the stonework and notice how the setting feels different from the open views at the rice terraces later on. Your driver-guide may be able to explain local customs and the purpose of what you’re seeing. The level of explanation can depend on the guide, so ask questions as you go.

The visit is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., but the day’s timing can shift. If you have a particular interest in temples, tell your guide early. The private format may make it easier to discuss a stop, but it does not add extra hours to the day.

Tirta Empul: sacred springs and temple details

The next planned stop, at about 11:30 a.m., is Pura Tirta Empul. Its holy spring waters are a central part of the visit, and you can choose whether to try them. If you plan to enter the water, bring a change of clothes. That small bit of preparation can save you from spending the rest of the day damp.

Tirta Empul is a place of worship as well as a sightseeing stop. Move respectfully, follow posted guidance and give yourself time to take in the temple’s details rather than treating the spring as a quick activity. Admission is included. The tour information does not specify what clothing is provided, so do not count on a sarong being supplied; ask your operator if you need to confirm what to wear.

Past tour experiences describe guides explaining Balinese religious practice and local culture along the route. Names that appear include Nyoman, Putu and Alit. A good driver-guide can add useful context between attractions, too, turning travel time into part of the day rather than dead time.

Lunch is your own choice, and your own bill

Lunch is planned for around 1:00 p.m. and is not included. You pay for your own meal and drinks. This gives you room to choose what suits your appetite and budget, but it means you should carry enough spending money and allow time for a proper break.

Some guides have helped arrange a restaurant or suggested local dishes, including dirty duck. That sort of help can be useful, but it is not a set meal or a guaranteed restaurant booking. Tell your driver-guide what you’re hoping to eat, and be clear if you would rather keep lunch simple or skip a longer stop.

The tour also excludes personal expenses and tips. The supplied details do not give a standard meal budget, so plan according to the restaurant you choose.

Tegalalang: rice terraces from the viewpoint

At about 2:30 p.m., the schedule moves to the Tegalalang Rice Terrace viewpoint. This is the day’s main landscape stop: a chance to take in Bali’s cultivated hillsides after the temples. The viewpoint gives you a scenic change of pace, though it is not the same as a long walk through the terraces.

An optional jungle swing is available at your own expense. If it appeals, check the price before you commit and keep in mind that it uses time as well as money. It is an add-on, not part of the included tour admission.

Some past tour experiences describe drivers helping with photos at scenic stops. You can ask for help, but do not assume your driver will act as a dedicated photographer. The private car does make it easier to store belongings between stops and return to a cool vehicle after time outdoors.

Monkey Forest and Ubud Palace: two sides of town

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is scheduled for about 4:00 p.m. It brings a different mood to the day, with a forested setting within Ubud and monkeys as the main attraction. Keep a close eye on your belongings and follow the sanctuary’s rules. The tour includes admission, but the time available may be short if earlier stops or traffic run late.

At roughly 5:00 p.m., the plan is to visit Ubud Palace. This is a compact final cultural stop after the greenery of the sanctuary. The schedule does not set aside a long visit, so think of it as a chance to see the palace rather than an extended exploration.

The Ubud Art Market is mentioned as one of the area’s attractions, but it is not a timed stop in the provided schedule. If the market matters to you, ask the driver-guide whether it can fit into the day. Do not assume it is included as a dedicated visit, especially with six scheduled stops already in the plan.

What the private format changes

This is a private trip, not a shared coach outing. You ride with your own party, and the vehicle is arranged around your booking. A past group of ten described having a clean, spacious van, while other accounts mention comfortable cars with air conditioning and bottled water. Vehicle type and extras can vary, so confirm capacity and any needs when booking.

The most valuable part of the private setup is control over the conversation and small decisions. You can ask questions, request suggestions and tell your guide if a stop matters more to you. Guides including Suni, Made and Putu have been singled out for being accommodating, helping guests optimize time, and explaining local culture. That does not guarantee a particular guide or English level, however. One past account described communication difficulties, so if language is important to you, confirm the guide arrangement with the operator.

Some drivers have helped with small practical requests, such as finding a supermarket, recommending a restaurant or adjusting the order to avoid crowds. These are examples of the format’s potential, not fixed inclusions. Keep requests reasonable and be ready to prioritize if the day is running late.

Is the price good value?

The tour is advertised from $39.95, while the private-trip package information also gives a starting price of US$34.75. Prices can vary, so check the total shown for your date and party before paying. The key point is what the cost covers: private round-trip hotel transport, admissions, parking, tax and an English-speaking professional driver-guide.

For a day that visits several areas, those inclusions can make the price worthwhile, particularly if you would otherwise need to arrange separate transport and entrance tickets. The value improves if you want a driver who can help with route choices and keep your group together. It is less all-inclusive than the headline might suggest: lunch, beverages, the optional swing, tips, personal expenses and insurance are excluded.

A private tour is also not automatically a slow tour. The schedule is full, and a long lunch or extended temple visit may mean less time elsewhere. If you prefer to explore each site at length, consider dropping a stop or choosing a slower day rather than trying to see everything at once.

Practical details before you book

The departure time is 8:00 a.m., and the planned return is 7:30 p.m. The operator may adjust the order or timing for traffic and weather. You’ll present a mobile voucher, and booking changes are generally allowed until 24 hours before the activity, subject to stated exceptions. Cancellation at least 24 hours before the activity date qualifies for a full refund, using destination local time.

Wear clothes suited to temple visits and walking between sights. If you intend to enter Tirta Empul’s spring water, pack dry clothes. Bring money for lunch, drinks, the swing if you want it, tips and other personal costs. A little planning makes the day easier, especially when the schedule is already full.

The tour is operated by Bali Tubing & Rafting (BTR). The operator has a broad activity portfolio, but this particular day is focused on Ubud-area temples, scenery and cultural stops, not tubing or rafting.

Who should book this tour?

Book it if you have limited time in Bali and want a broad first look at Ubud’s temples, scenery and central sights without organizing each ride yourself. It also suits couples, families and small groups who value a private vehicle and the chance to adjust the pace within reason.

Think twice if you want a slow, specialist temple tour, a long walk among rice fields or a guaranteed market visit. The six-stop schedule is a sampler, not a deep study of each place. If that trade-off suits you, the included transport and admissions make this a practical way to cover a lot in one day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

Pickup is scheduled for 8:00 a.m., with return planned for about 7:30 p.m. Traffic and weather may change the schedule.

Which locations are included in hotel pickup?

Pickup is available in Nusa Dua, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, Denpasar, Jimbaran and Uluwatu.

Are hotel transfers available from Lovina or Amed?

No. Round-trip hotel transfers are not available from Lovina, Amed, Negara, Pemuteran, Munduk or Tembok.

Are attraction admissions included?

Yes. Attraction admission, parking fees and tax are included.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch and beverages are at your own expense.

Does the tour include the jungle swing at Tegalalang?

No. The jungle swing is optional and costs extra.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using destination local time.