Ubud City Tour II: Monkey Forest, Palace, Art Market, and Rice Terrace

Ubud City Tour II is interesting because it compresses a lot of classic Ubud stops into one smooth, pickup-to-dropoff half-day: monkeys, a palace, an art market, and rice terraces. You get a real sense of the area without needing to plan every turn yourself.

I love the Ubud Monkey Forest portion for the up-close macaque experience in a temple setting, and I love the Tegalalang Rice Terrace stop because the viewpoints are made for photos, plus you have the option to hike if you want more time on foot.

One consideration: the palace stop is short, and it may feel less rewarding than the other highlights. Also, the experience can depend on how much your driver chooses to share along the way, so think of this as driver-led, not a deep historian-style guided lecture all day.

Key highlights worth getting excited about

• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and its temple complex vibe with about 340 crab-eating macaques
• Photo-friendly Tegalalang Rice Terrace viewpoints, with an optional trek
• Ubud Traditional Art Market for silver, stones, batiks, carvings, and cane work bags
• Happy Swing Bali for a cliff swing, with a full 1.5 hours built in
• All entrance tickets included, plus hotel pickup and drop-off in many Ubud and south Bali areas
• Small, private format so your group controls the pace more than on big buses

The smart format: a private Ubud route with half-day pacing

This tour is built for people who want Ubud highlights without spending your whole day on transportation and decision-making. It runs about 8 hours starting at 9:00 am, and it’s designed as a compact route through the key sights that most first-timers look for.

The big practical win is the private service with hotel pick-up and drop-off. That matters in Ubud because traffic, narrow roads, and parking can eat up your time. With pickup included, you skip the hassle of figuring out where to meet and how to get everyone together.

You also get entrance tickets included and an English-speaking driver. That’s a value point. Many half-day tours nickel and dime you with separate tickets at each stop. Here, the tour price covers what you need to enter the main sights, so your money goes toward the day itself.

Getting from stop to stop without wasting your day

Your driver handles the logistics and the drive time. The tour also lists mobile ticket use, which generally keeps things simple once you’re on-site.

Because it is private (your group only), you’re not stuck watching your schedule get dragged by other groups. And because it’s a driver-led experience rather than a full multi-language museum guide, you’ll get the most out of the day if you’re flexible about your pace. If you like quick check-in, photo stops, and then moving on, this fits well.

One small reality check: time is limited. You’ll spend a total of roughly 1 hour at Monkey Forest, 15 minutes at Ubud Palace, 1 hour in the art market, about 1 hour 30 minutes at Happy Swing Bali, and 1 hour at Tegalalang Rice Terrace. That’s enough to enjoy each place, but it’s not enough for slow wandering everywhere.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: temple setting plus macaque time

This is where the tour earns its reputation. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is both a nature reserve and a religious temple complex, and it’s known for about 340 crab-eating macaques.

Expect a focused visit of around 1 hour. That’s a good length for this kind of stop. Long enough to watch the macaques move through the area and to take photos. Short enough that you’re not fried by heat or crowds.

The temple part is also key. It changes Monkey Forest from a simple animal viewing stop into something more cultural and place-based. You’re not just seeing wildlife. You’re seeing how the local religious site and the monkeys share the same grounds.

Practical tip based on what people remember most: plan to spend some of your time lining up photos and selfies. At this stop, people tend to walk away with the strongest memories from the macaques themselves.

Ubud Palace: quick central stop, great for context, not always for a long linger

Next is Ubud Palace, a site connected to Puri Saren and located in the center of Ubud Village. You get about 15 minutes here, with an entrance ticket included.

This is the kind of stop that works best if you think of it as orientation. In a short visit, you can get a sense of Ubud’s traditional power center without going so deep that it dominates your day.

Still, this is also the stop that can disappoint if you want the palace to be a major highlight. One recurring sentiment is that Ubud Palace can feel like it could have been skipped compared with Monkey Forest and the rice terrace. If you’re the type who likes arts and atmosphere over architecture, you might feel the same. If you want history context in a tight schedule, it’s a fine brief stop.

Ubud Traditional Art Market: where to shop and what to expect

Then you head to the Ubud Traditional Art Market, a 1 hour stop that’s ideal if you want souvenirs you can actually browse. This market is described as offering basically everything from silver jewelry and precious stones to batiks, T-shirts, beach sarongs, wood carvings, and cane work bags.

This is one of those places where the tour time matters. A full day market crawl would be a different experience. Here, you’ll want to go in with a simple plan: decide what you’re hunting for before you step into the stalls. Otherwise it’s easy to get lost in decision-making, and then you end up leaving without what you came for.

Also, art markets are one of the easiest places to overspend. If you want value, treat the market like a browsing opportunity first. Look, compare, and decide what you truly want, not just what looks good in the moment.

The market is a good match for buyers and photographers who like handmade goods. If shopping is not your thing, you may enjoy this stop more if you focus on scanning the variety of materials and crafts, rather than expecting everything to be your style.

Happy Swing Bali: adrenaline and time that can change your mood

Next is Happy Swing Bali, with about 1 hour 30 minutes on the schedule. This is built around the experience of swinging from a cliff with views of the surrounding wilderness.

This is the stop that can make the day feel either energetic or stressful, depending on your comfort level. It’s longer than the palace stop and it’s clearly positioned as a main activity, not a quick photo opportunity. If you’re excited about heights, this is your payoff time.

If heights aren’t your thing, go in with eyes open. You’ll still have a solid chunk of the day dedicated to it, so it’s worth thinking about whether you want that amount of time spent on an activity that involves a cliff swing.

Either way, it’s the kind of stop that adds contrast to the more cultural sites. After Monkey Forest and the market, Happy Swing Bali breaks up the day and turns it into something more hands-on.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace: the best viewpoint and the optional hike

Finally, you reach the Tegalalang Rice Terrace. This is a 1 hour stop with an entrance ticket included. The rice terraces offer a scenic outlook that spreads down the valley, with viewpoints from a high roadside location that’s described as cool and breezy.

This is one of the easiest places to justify taking a breath and slowing down. Even if you only spend the full hour doing photos and viewpoint time, you’ll still leave with the classic Ubud image.

What makes it better is the optional hiking element. You have a chance to hike, and if you do, there’s a donation to the farmer at your own expense. That detail matters. It’s not included, so if hiking is part of your plan, keep a little extra cash or payment method ready.

If you’re short on energy, skip the trek and stick to the best viewpoints. If you want more movement and time outdoors, lean into the hike. Either way, this is the stop that tends to convert skeptical visitors into believers, because the terraced view is immediate and hard to fake.

Price and value: is $65 per person a fair deal?

At $65.00 per person for a tour that runs about 8 hours, the value mostly comes from what’s included, not what’s promised. You get:

• Private hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Entrance tickets for all stops
• An English-speaking driver
• Service and government tax
• Mobile ticket convenience
• A format that stays private to your group

That package can be a big deal if you’re paying separately for entry fees and local transport. If you’re already set up to hire a car or you’re paying ticket fees at each place, the math often gets less friendly.

The one thing that can affect your perceived value is how much you get out of the shortest stop. Ubud Palace is only 15 minutes and can feel like filler if you’re expecting it to be as memorable as the rice terraces or the macaques. If that’s you, then you’re paying for a set sequence, not choosing the best two stops only.

Overall, this is a good price for a structured Ubud sampler, especially if you want comfort, included tickets, and low planning stress.

Who this tour fits best

This Ubud City Tour II route makes the most sense if you:

• Want a half-day highlights plan without organizing tickets and transport
• Like a mix of nature plus culture, not just one theme
• Want to see Monkey Forest and Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the two heavy hitters
• Plan to shop at the traditional art market for items like batiks, carvings, and accessories

It may be less satisfying if you:

• Want a long, deep dive into palace grounds or a major temple-focused day
• Prefer a professional guide who constantly explains every sight in detail
• Dislike cliff-height adventure stops, since Happy Swing Bali takes meaningful time

One helpful nuance from real day-to-day experience is that drivers can change the vibe. On some runs, drivers like Mera, Wena, or Irwan have shared extra details about Balinese culture during the drive, which can make the trip feel more connected. Other days can feel more like efficient transport with courtesy and timing. Either way, the driving is handled by someone who knows the route.

Should you book Ubud City Tour II?

Book it if you want the classic Ubud checklist done in one go, especially Monkey Forest and Tegalalang Rice Terrace. The inclusion of entrance tickets plus private hotel pickup and drop-off makes it easier to treat as a real plan, not a loose idea.

Skip or reconsider if palace time is a dealbreaker for you, or if you strongly dislike an activity like Happy Swing Bali that takes a big block of the day. And if you want constant deep commentary, know this is primarily a driver-led route, not a full guide lecture for every stop.

If you’re trying to hit Ubud’s big visual moments with minimal stress, this tour is a practical, fairly priced way to do it.

FAQ

How long is the Ubud City Tour II?

The tour duration is listed as about 8 hours. It starts at 9:00 am.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, including pickup in Ubud and many south Bali addresses.

Are entrance tickets included in the price?

Yes. All entrance tickets are included.

What is not included?

Meals are not included. If you choose to trek/hike at the rice terrace, there is a donation to the farmer at your own expense.

Is this tour private or shared?

It is a private tour. Only your group participates.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes, free cancellation is offered. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellation within 24 hours of the start time is not refundable.