Monkey Forest, Ubud, Waterfall and Rice Terrace

Ubud is one of those Bali bases where your day can swing from spiritual and photogenic to laid-back and scenic, and this private tour lets you steer it. You get a private vehicle with air-con, so you are not stuck juggling multiple transfers in traffic. I really like that you can work with the driver to shape the route, and that the day can include iconic stops like Monkey Forest and the Tegalalang terraces.

Two things I especially liked: the hands-on guidance from drivers who explain what you are seeing, like Mr Wayan Wijana and Gusti in the same-day success stories, and the way the day is paced like a real itinerary instead of a rush through door after door. One consideration is that Bali traffic can add friction, so you need to think of this as a 7 to 8 hour experience, not a precise clockwork schedule.

Key things I’d plan around

• Private group up to 5 means you can move at your pace without waiting on other strangers
• Air-conditioned, fuel-included transport makes the longer drive days more comfortable
• Flexible route with your driver so you can prioritize Monkey Forest, rice terraces, waterfall, or swaps
• Tegalalang terraced rice views plus a timed meal stop helps you avoid decision fatigue
• Hands-on culture stops like Celuk gold and silver village and Ubud art market for easy souvenir shopping
• Photo-friendly bonus options like Tegenungan waterfall time and the Happy Swing, with a harness required

What this private Ubud day is really good at

This tour works best when you want structure, but not rigidity. You start with hotel or port pickup, then your driver becomes the traffic-friendly planner for the day. The itinerary has a clear backbone, but it is customizable based on your interests and how long you want to stay at each stop. That is the big advantage over fixed group tours: you are not stuck with someone else’s idea of the day.

The price also makes sense if you are traveling as a small group. It is $65 per group (up to 5 people) for a private ride. Entrance fees are not included, but transport, parking, fuel surcharge, and a driver speaking English or Japanese are included. In practice, that often means you are paying mostly for the car and guidance, then budgeting separately for entry tickets, food, and any optional activities.

I also like that you get a mobile ticket and confirmation at booking. It is one less thing to manage the day of.

Price and what you should budget for

Let’s turn the pricing into something you can actually plan with.

• Included in your tour cost: air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, fuel surcharge, parking fees, and an English or Japanese speaking driver.
• Not included: entrance fees for the places you visit, other personal expenses, and meals.

That separation matters. Places like Monkey Forest Sanctuary and the rice terraces area often have tickets or fees, and those add up if you are doing multiple attractions. If you want Happy Swing Bali, think of it as another pay-on-site style add-on because its admission is listed as not included.

If you are budgeting for value, the key is this: you are buying convenience and time. The tour is priced per group, not per person in a way that forces you into bigger crowds to make it work.

Pickup, timing, and how to set your route fast

You will be picked up from your hotel lobby if you are in Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, or Ubud, or from the port if you are coming from there. The operator also notes pickup in a way that your driver holds a sign with your name, which is helpful because Ubud pickup spots can be a little chaotic.

Timing is listed as 7 to 8 hours total, and the day is broken into activity blocks. What matters for you is that this is not a “quick hit” tour. It is a full sightseeing day that blends nature, culture, and a couple of photo-ready stops.

My practical tip: before the tour starts, decide your must-haves in a simple priority list. For example:

1) Monkey Forest

2) Tegalalang rice terraces

3) Waterfall time

Then decide what is flexible, like whether you add the agro coffee stop or the swing stop that day.

In the real world, your driver will help you shape the flow, including when to move on versus staying longer.

Stop 1: Bali Charm Day Tours pickup

This is the “you’re on your way” stage. You meet at the pickup area (or the port), and the driver handles the handoff. The tour summary notes that pickup is included and the day starts with a quick confirmation step.

Why it matters: with private tours, the quality of the day often comes down to whether pickup is smooth. In the feedback, punctuality is a repeated theme, and that sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Stop 2: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (with real time to see it)

Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a major Ubud draw, and here it is given a full block of time: about 1 hour at the site. Admission is not included, so plan to pay the entrance ticket when you arrive.

What I like about including it on this route is the placement. It comes early enough that you are not dragging through your day already tired. It also sets up the rest of the itinerary well because the next stops are cultural and scenic, so you get variety rather than repeating the same type of experience back to back.

One more practical note: allow yourself some buffer for site rules and walking time. Even if you only have an hour on paper, you still need a little extra breathing room to handle entry lines and photo moments.

Stop 3: Ubud Art Market for easy souvenirs

Next comes the Ubud Art Market, about 1 hour, and it is listed as free to enter. This is where you can browse Balinese handicrafts across traditional and contemporary styles.

I like this stop because it is low stakes. You do not have to buy anything, but you can get a sense of what is available and compare prices with a calm pace. It is also a good moment to decide whether you want small gifts, handmade items, or just a quick browse before you move on to the rice terraces.

If you care about shopping time, tell your driver if you want a faster walk-through or a slower one with time to compare.

Stops 4 and 5: Tegalalang Rice Terrace, including a timed lunch moment

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the star of the day’s scenic segment. You will spend time at the area in two blocks:

• A visit window of about 1 hour that includes a lunch option at a restaurant in the valley area.
• A second stop around 30 minutes focused on the terraced views.

The description specifically mentions a traditional Balinese irrigation system known as subak, and it highlights the terraced layout and valley positioning for scenic lookouts over the rice fields.

Here is the practical truth: Tegalalang is beautiful, but it can also feel like you are weaving through crowd energy. The “two block” structure helps you balance it. You can do lunch without losing the main views, and then come back for the shorter second viewing period.

Important budget note: lunch is not included as part of the tour cost. The timing is there to give you a comfortable place to eat, but you will pay for your meal separately at the restaurant.

Admission fees are listed as not included for the rice terrace stop where noted, so build that into your day budget too.

Stop 6: Uma Pakel Agro Tourism and kopi Luwak education

After the big views, you switch gears to Uma Pakel Agro Tourism, about 1 hour. This is presented as a newer tourism stop aimed at introducing kopi Luwak (civet coffee) and educating locals and tourists about it.

Admission is listed as free for this stop in the itinerary. That is a nice bonus if you want an add-on that does not add cost on top of your other paid admissions.

How to think about this stop: even if you are not sure about the coffee topic, it is a structured break from outside walking. You get an additional cultural or educational layer to the day, which helps if you are the type who likes to learn a bit while sightseeing.

Stop 7: Celuk Village for gold and silver craft

Next is Celuk Village, about 1 hour. The description explains that it used to be a traditional Balinese village near the entrance gate of Gianyar Regency, and it now functions as a tourist attraction with its trademark: gold and silver.

Admission is listed as free here. If you like craftsmanship and want to see how the local style shows up in everyday items, this is one of the better “culture without tickets” stops on the route.

Also, Celuk tends to fit well after Ubud Art Market. One stop is for general handicrafts, and the other is for a specific craft identity. You can compare what you see, and then decide if you want to buy something from the category you liked most.

Stop 8: Tegenungan Waterfall, plus time to cool off

Then the route heads to Tegenungan Waterfall, about 1 hour. Admission is listed as not included. The description notes an amazing scenery and a cool atmosphere, and it even says you can take a bath here.

I would treat that as a “if it works for you” moment. The tour gives time for the experience, but what you do once you arrive can vary based on your comfort and conditions that day.

In the feedback, there is strong praise for drivers who patiently waited while people swam at the waterfall. That matters because it is easy for a tour to turn into a quick stop. This itinerary design supports a longer, more relaxed experience.

Stop 9: Happy Swing Bali for harness-required photo thrills

Finally, the day can include Happy Swing Bali, around 30 minutes. Admission is not included. The description says this swing is known for higher views for photos, and it also states that users must wear a harness.

If you want the swing, this is a nice closing act because it is short but memorable. If you do not want it, your driver can steer you toward other time at the earlier stops since the tour is customizable.

Practical note: because a harness is required, plan your clothing accordingly and be ready for staff instructions when you arrive.

The driver is the secret ingredient (and the reviews back it up)

The standout theme here is the driver quality. People highlighted punctual pickup, polite behavior, and clear communication. Names that came up include Mr Wayan Wijana, Gusti, Oko, and Oka Budiana, and several mentioned the same practical things: the driver explained what you were seeing in detail, and many also helped with photos throughout the day.

That “photo help” is more important than it sounds. When you are at viewpoint-heavy places like the rice terraces and waterfall area, you either:

• hope someone with a steady hand is around, or
• rely on a guide who understands angles and timing.

In this kind of private day tour, a driver who takes photos for your group can save you time, frustration, and awkward line waiting.

And yes, traffic is real. One consistent consideration is simply that you should expect it. The good news is that a driver who knows how to manage the day makes traffic feel less like a problem and more like part of the Bali experience.

How long this day really feels, and how to pace yourself

On paper, you have a lot of stops. In practice, the day is designed as a mix of walking, sitting, and photos.

Here is the rhythm:

• Monkey Forest Sanctuary for about an hour
• Ubud Art Market for about an hour
• Tegalalang for a longer scenic block plus a shorter second look
• Uma Pakel Agro Tourism for an hour
• Celuk Village for an hour
• Tegenungan Waterfall for an hour
• Happy Swing for about 30 minutes if you choose it

If you are the type who hates feeling rushed, keep one slot flexible. For example, either shorten the market browsing time or skip one of the craft or agro stops. That gives you enough air for the rice terraces and waterfall, which are usually the places you remember most.

Who this tour fits best

This is a strong match if:

• you want a private Ubud day without the stress of driving and parking
• you care about balancing nature, culture, and photogenic stops
• you are traveling as a small group up to 5 people and want better value than per-person tours
• you like having a driver suggest options while still getting input on the final route

It may be less ideal if:

• you only want one or two sights and hate spending time in transit
• you have very limited time in Ubud and need a shorter tour window
• you know you do not want any paid admissions, since several stops list admission as not included

Should you book this Monkey Forest and Rice Terrace private tour?

I would book it if you want a single day that covers the Ubud hits with a flexible driver, without squeezing multiple tour groups into one chaotic schedule. The private ride, air-conditioned comfort, and included parking and fuel make it feel like a straightforward deal, not a puzzle.

I would pause if you are planning only one must-see and you already know you will skip paid attractions like Monkey Forest, rice terrace entry, or the waterfall. In that case, you might be better off designing a smaller private day around fewer stops to keep costs under control.

If you do book, do this one thing: decide your top 2 to 3 priorities before pickup. Then tell your driver what you care about. Based on how drivers like Wayan Wijana, Gusti, Oko, and Oka Budiana were praised for managing the day, that simple conversation is what turns a good itinerary into a great one.

FAQ

How much does the Monkey Forest, Waterfall and Rice Terrace tour cost?

The price is $65.00 per group, up to 5 people.

How long is the tour?

It runs about 7 to 8 hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is available from your hotel lobby in Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusadua, Tanjung benoa, and Ubud, or from the port.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.

What kind of vehicle and driver do I get?

You get an air-conditioned vehicle and a private transportation service. The driver can speak English or Japanese.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Entrance fees for the sites visited are not included, so you should budget for tickets on your own.

Is a meal included?

No. Meals are not included, even though the schedule allows time for lunch around the Tegalalang rice terrace area.

How many people fit in one booking?

The maximum is 5 people per booking for one regular car. Bigger cars can be arranged for up to 12 people with an additional cost.

What is included if I book with a mobile ticket?

You will receive confirmation at booking and the tour includes a mobile ticket feature, but the specific phone process details are not listed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, it is not refunded.