Cooking Class in Ubud with Visit to Monkey Forest and Rice Terrace

Ubud’s best day out here starts with ingredients, not a photo stop: you visit a local market, then learn to prepare Balinese dishes in a hands-on cooking class. After lunch, the outing takes you to Tegalalang Rice Terrace and Ubud Monkey Forest, linking everyday food culture with two of the area’s best-known sights.

I like two things in particular: the market-to-table format makes the cooking lesson feel rooted in local life, and included hotel transfers spare you the work of arranging transport between scattered stops. Drivers such as Putu, Darma and Wayan have been praised for safe driving, cultural explanations and help with photos.

One consideration: this is a packed outing, and the stops may suit some visitors better than others. The activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible, young children may need help reaching the cooking surface, and paid extras such as rice-terrace swings can add to the cost.

At a glance

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• Shop before you cook: Visit a traditional market and see where ingredients for the class come from.
• Make several dishes: The class is hands-on, and the meal you prepare is included.
• See rice-growing country: At Tegalalang, guides may explain rice varieties and the water channels used in cultivation.
• Walk through a forest sanctuary: Ubud Monkey Forest combines shaded paths, monkeys and temple grounds.
• Get door-to-door transport: Hotel transfers are available from Ubud and several other Bali areas.
• Ask about your needs early: Dietary requirements can be accommodated, but mobility access is limited.

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

From a Balinese market to your cooking bench

The market visit gives the day a useful start. Instead of meeting Balinese food only as a finished meal, you get a look at the produce and ingredients that go into it. The tour also includes an introduction to local farming, with a chance to meet farmers and learn how rice is grown.

That context helps when you move on to the cooking class. You are not just following a recipe; you have already seen some of the food culture behind it. If you enjoy asking questions, the market is a good time to do so. Your English- or Bahasa Indonesia-speaking guide can help explain the day, while the cooking teacher leads the class itself.

The exact pace and amount of explanation can vary. Some drivers take an active role in sharing local knowledge on the road and at sightseeing stops, while at least one participant described being dropped at the cooking school to continue with the teacher and other students. Think of the driver as your transport and local guide, but don’t assume they will stay beside you at every stop.

A hands-on class, then lunch

The cooking class is the heart of the outing. You work with the ingredients and prepare several Indonesian dishes, rather than simply watching a demonstration. The session is described as educational and practical, with the meal afterward giving you a chance to taste what you made.

The setting can add to the pleasure. One class location was surrounded by rice paddies, and a ginger drink was served on arrival. Those details are not guaranteed at every session, but they give a sense of the relaxed, local feel the class can offer.

You may be in a group with people from different countries, which can make the lesson sociable without requiring you to arrive with a travel companion. Solo participants have found the class easy to join, and families have enjoyed cooking together. Still, the cooking stations may not be set up for small children. One family with children aged six and eight found that the younger child sometimes needed to be lifted to see the work surface. If your child is short, ask the operator whether a step stool is available.

The activity can accommodate dietary needs, including allergies, gluten intolerance and vegetarian diets. Tell the operator about your requirements in advance rather than waiting until you arrive. A class that can adjust recipes is especially useful if you avoid seafood, mushrooms or other ingredients commonly used in local cooking.

Lunch is included, along with the ingredients and bottled water. That makes the class more than a brief lesson: you prepare food, eat it, and have time to understand how the dishes come together. The tour does not promise specific recipes, so if you have a particular dish in mind, check before booking.

Tegalalang’s terraces and the price of a swing photo

The rice terrace stop offers a sharp change of pace after the kitchen. Tegalalang’s stepped fields are the sort of place where you will want to pause, look across the slopes and take photos. A guide may explain the types of rice and how the water channels work, details that turn a scenic stop into a short lesson in the farming system.

Expect some walking and uneven ground. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable clothes and bring sun protection. The activity is not recommended for people with impaired mobility or certain medical conditions, and it is not accessible by wheelchair or stroller.

At the terraces, you may see swings set up for photographs. They can produce a dramatic picture, but they are an optional paid extra, not part of the listed inclusions. If you are keeping to a budget, enjoy the views from the paths and ask about any extra charge before agreeing to a photo or activity.

The rice terrace is a popular attraction, so it may feel more visitor-focused than the market or cooking class. That is the trade-off: you get an iconic Ubud view, but the swing photo experience can be commercial and expensive. I would treat the scenery as the main event and the swing as an optional add-on, not a must.

Monkey Forest: shaded paths and close-up wildlife

Ubud Monkey Forest brings the day into a shady, wooded setting. You can walk among the trees and see monkeys moving through the grounds, alongside temple structures. It is a memorable contrast to the open rice fields, and a welcome break from the heat if the paths are shaded.

The monkeys are wild animals, so keep your belongings secure and follow the site’s rules. One driver explained that the monkeys in Ubud are fed regularly by wardens, and described them as better behaved than those at Uluwatu. That is a useful local perspective, not a promise that every monkey encounter will be predictable. Give the animals room and don’t approach or feed them unless the site explicitly permits it.

How much help you have inside the forest may depend on the day’s arrangement. Some drivers have walked with families, explained the temple grounds and helped take photos; others have dropped participants off to explore independently. If you want a guide to accompany you, clarify that before the trip. Families with nervous children may value a reassuring adult nearby, while confident walkers may be happy to explore on their own.

The driver can make the day feel local

The transport is more than a ride between attractions. The listed drivers cover long routes from places such as Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu and Nusa Dua, and several have been praised for safe driving, clear communication and stories about Balinese culture. Names that have come up include Putu, Darma, Wayan, Nyoman, Otto and Riko, but you should expect a different driver unless the operator confirms otherwise.

Good driving matters on a day that starts early and covers multiple stops. The listed pick-up window is 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., and the operator reconfirms your time in advance. Be in the hotel lobby 10 minutes early. The driver waits up to 10 minutes, after which the vehicle may leave without a refund.

Hotel pick-up and drop-off are offered in Ubud, Gianyar, Legian, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Uluwatu. Enter your hotel name and address when booking. If you are staying outside these areas, check directly whether a pick-up can be arranged before you pay.

The transport package includes fuel, tolls and parking, which makes the quoted price easier to assess. It also saves you from hiring separate transport for the market, class and sightseeing stops. The schedule can be flexible in some cases: one driver allowed a market stop beyond the planned route, while another family skipped the rice terrace because they had already seen it. Don’t count on changing the itinerary, but ask your driver politely if you have a good reason.

Is the price good value?

The headline price is listed from US$44.65, while the package option is also shown from US$40.59. Since those figures differ, check the final price and selected package before booking. Price applies to all ages, though children aged zero to two can join free.

For the cost, you get a market tour, cooking instruction, ingredients, lunch, bottled water, an English- or Bahasa Indonesia-speaking guide, and round-trip hotel transport with fuel, tolls and parking. That is a solid bundle if you want to see several parts of Ubud in one day without arranging separate drivers and activities.

The value is strongest if you want both an activity and sightseeing. The cooking class is the most distinctive part; the terraces and Monkey Forest add familiar highlights and help fill out the day. If you have already visited those sights, ask whether the route can be adjusted or choose a cooking class on its own. Also check whether any site admission is included, as the listed inclusions do not clearly spell out entrance fees. Budget separately for optional terrace swings and personal purchases.

Practical details before you go

Wear light, comfortable clothes, preferably quick-drying fabric, and bring a hat, sunscreen, cash and a camera. Bali’s weather can shift, so dress for the forecast and consider carrying a rain layer. Water is included, but bringing a refillable bottle can still be useful between stops.

The activity is not recommended for people with impaired physical mobility or certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure and epilepsy. It is also not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible. If you have a health concern, contact the operator before booking rather than relying on a decision at pick-up.

You receive a mobile voucher and must use it on the date specified. Changes are generally allowed until 24 hours before the activity, with exceptions for bookings made through certain passes, presales, freebies or designated points programs. For a cancellation at least 24 hours before the activity date, a full refund is available; redeemed vouchers cannot be refunded. The operator may cancel for extreme weather or unforeseen events, in which case you can reschedule or request a full refund.

Should you book this Ubud outing?

Book it if you want a practical mix of Balinese food, local context and Ubud’s headline sights, especially if hotel transport would otherwise be a hassle. The hands-on class, meal and chance to talk with a local driver give the day more substance than a string of photo stops.

Skip it, or choose a cooking class alone, if you have already seen the Monkey Forest and Tegalalang or prefer a slower day with fewer transfers. Families with very young children should ask about the cooking station, and anyone with mobility or health concerns should check suitability first. Before paying, confirm the final package price, whether site entry is covered, and how much time you will have at each stop.

FAQ

What is included in the tour?

The package includes an English- or Bahasa Indonesia-speaking guide, lunch, bottled drinking water, cooking ingredients, a market tour and round-trip hotel transfers. Fuel, toll and parking fees are also included.

Which areas have hotel pick-up?

Pick-up and drop-off are offered in Ubud, Gianyar, Legian, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Uluwatu. Enter your hotel name and address when booking, and the operator will reconfirm the pick-up time.

What time is pick-up?

The listed pick-up window is 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. Arrive in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your selected time. The driver waits up to 10 minutes.

Can the cooking class accommodate dietary requirements?

Yes. The activity can accommodate allergies, gluten intolerance, vegetarian diets and other dietary needs. Share your requirements with the operator in advance.

Can children join the activity?

Yes. Children aged zero to two can join free, while the same price applies to all other ages. The activity is not recommended for people with impaired mobility, and younger children may need help seeing the cooking surface.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date. Changes are generally allowed until 24 hours before the start, but some booking types are excluded. Redeemed vouchers cannot be refunded.