REVIEW · MONKEY FOREST TOURS
Ubud Tour – Monkey Forest, Temple, Waterfall, and Rice Terrace
Book on Viator →Operated by Bali Natural Tours · Bookable on Viator
Monkey faces, temples, and a real waterfall in one run. This private Bali day is built for comfort and choice, with hotel or port pickup plus entrance fees included at each stop. If you want a break from the big-group chaos, this kind of route helps you move on your own schedule while still hitting top Ubud sights.
What I like most is the mix: you get natural time at Tegenungan Waterfall and Tegalalang Rice Terrace, then you switch to culture at Sacred Monkey Forest and Batuan Temple. There’s also room for browsing Balinese arts at Mas and Tohpati, so the day doesn’t feel like a photo sprint.
One consideration: the itinerary is full, and a few stops are extremely popular. If rain hits (it can), your waterfall timing and overall flow may feel more complicated, even though each attraction has its own set time.
In This Review
- Key highlights to know before you go
- How This Private Ubud Day Really Works
- Tegenungan Waterfall: What It’s Like and How to Use Your Hour
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Temples, Macaques, and Staying Aware
- Puseh Batuan Temple: Architecture You Can Actually Spend Time With
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace: When You Get Lucky, It’s the Best Kind of Quiet
- Mas Carving Center and Tohpati Village: Real Craft Stops (Not Just Souvenirs)
- Mas Carving Center (Mas Village)
- Tohpati Village
- Guide Quality Can Make or Break the Day
- Price and Value: Is $37 Worth It?
- Who This Tour Fits Best
- Should You Book This Ubud Tour?
- FAQ
- How long is the Ubud Tour?
- What time does the tour start?
- Is the tour private?
- Does the tour include pickup and drop-off?
- What attractions are included?
- Are entrance fees included?
- Is food included in the price?
- Can the itinerary be customized?
- Do I get a mobile ticket?
- Is there free cancellation?
Key highlights to know before you go

- Private transport, not a shuffle: You ride together in a private vehicle between stops, with petrol, parking, and a driver handled.
- Entrance fees are included: You don’t have to budget extra tickets for Monkey Forest, temples, and terraces.
- Tegenungan Waterfall with swim-when-clear options: You’re there long enough to enjoy views, and swimming depends on conditions.
- Batuan Temple’s black palm roof detail: You get time to focus on architecture and spiritual meaning, not just quick photos.
- Art-and-craft stops in Mas and Tohpati: Wood arts and handweaving batik give you something tangible to bring home.
- Guides who steer the day well: Past guests specifically praised guides like Jim Beam and Gusti for making the experience smoother, especially with kids and souvenir guidance.
How This Private Ubud Day Really Works
This is a private tour, meaning it’s just your group, not a shared bus full of strangers. You start around 8:30 am, and the full day runs about 8 hours, which is a sweet spot for Ubud: enough time to enjoy multiple icons, but not so long that you feel wiped out before dinner.
Pickup and drop-off are part of the package. Depending on where you’re staying, the tour can cover areas like Ubud and nearby belts, plus locations such as Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Seminyak, and Sanur. If you’re outside that covered zone, you’ll need an additional charge to extend the route.
You also get an English-speaking driver and all the practical extras: mineral water, petrol, parking, and transport by private vehicle. The tour is set up with a mobile ticket, and confirmation comes at booking time.
Two things this setup does for you:
First, you lose less time to logistics. Second, you can keep your day feeling personal. The tour also notes that you can customize your itinerary based on your interests, so if you care more about temples than waterfalls (or the reverse), you have some flexibility.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Ubud.
Tegenungan Waterfall: What It’s Like and How to Use Your Hour

Tegenungan Waterfall is your first stop, and it’s the kind of place where you can instantly tell why it’s popular. The waterfall is about 15–20 meters tall, and it’s visited often. The setting is described as having nearby urban areas and heavy water, which usually means lots of visitors, lots of activity, and a little less “quiet jungle” energy.
You get about 1 hour here, including admission. That timing matters. One hour is enough to take in the scale, change your mind if you want a slower pace, and (if water conditions allow) consider swimming. The tour specifically notes that swimming is possible when conditions are clear, so don’t assume you can jump in every day.
Practical take: treat the waterfall as both a viewpoint stop and a reset. Once you’re there, you can decide whether you want to focus on photos, time near the water, or just enjoy the sound and spray. If you’re traveling with kids, this is also a good early stop because you can settle into the day before you move deeper into Ubud’s temple-and-terrace circuit.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Temples, Macaques, and Staying Aware

Next up is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, where you’ll see gray macaques moving through a forest filled with Hindu temples. This stop is about 1 hour, with admission included.
The key value here is variety. You’re not only looking at animals; you’re seeing them weave into the temple setting. That gives the visit more texture than a zoo-style experience. You’ll likely notice how the space feels active—macaques roam, and temple structures sit around them like part of the same living system.
One drawback to consider: monkey locations can feel unpredictable. Even without any “rules” spelled out, you should be ready for macaques to get close enough that you’ll want to move carefully with your belongings and keep your attention on what’s around you. If you’re the type who hates surprises, this might feel stressful. If you’re okay with a lively environment, it’s a memorable Ubud signature.
Puseh Batuan Temple: Architecture You Can Actually Spend Time With
Batuan Temple (listed as Puseh Batuan) is where the day turns more reflective. You’ll spend about 45 minutes here, and admission is included.
This stop is highlighted for two reasons: you get the temple’s spiritual significance, and you can focus on architecture, especially the unique black palm roof. That detail matters because it’s not just another temple backdrop for photos. With a shorter, fixed time, you can still slow down and really look—at the roof lines, the layout, and the way the temple feels integrated into its setting.
A practical caution: 45 minutes can go fast if you’re spending lots of time on photos. If you want the best version of this stop, decide upfront what you care about most—views from key angles, or understanding the spiritual/architectural vibe. This is the point in the day where you’ll feel the contrast from the waterfall’s energy and the monkey forest’s movement.
Tegalalang Rice Terrace: When You Get Lucky, It’s the Best Kind of Quiet

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is a classic Ubud stop for a reason. You’ll see rice-level rice fields, and the timing can pay off if you catch farmers planting traditional paddy. The tour also points out the traditional irrigation system, which is part of what makes these terraces feel so organized and intentional.
You get about 45 minutes here with admission included. That’s a very workable chunk of time, especially because terraces aren’t one flat view. You’ll likely notice different angles as you walk around, and you’ll be able to choose between a longer look at the fields or a faster photo loop.
One key consideration: terraces can be busy. Even when you escape into quieter spots, it’s still a popular attraction, so keep expectations realistic. The upside is that if you’re lucky—if farmers are actually working and you happen to arrive when activity is visible—this becomes more than scenery. It turns into a living moment.
Mas Carving Center and Tohpati Village: Real Craft Stops (Not Just Souvenirs)
After temples and terraces, your route shifts to what you can take home: art and craft.
Mas Carving Center (Mas Village)
Mas Village is known for arts, especially wooden arts, and you’ll spend about 30 minutes at the carving center. Admission is included. This is a good stop if you like the idea of Balinese craftsmanship beyond generic tourist trinkets.
The practical value of only having 30 minutes: it keeps the day moving, and it prevents you from getting stuck in “shopping time” that stretches too long. You can browse, decide what you truly like, and then move on.
Tohpati Village
Tohpati Village is another short stop at about 30 minutes, also with admission included. This area is known for handicrafts and handweaving batik, and you’ll have time to enjoy the scenery and shop.
If you’re shopping, think like this: craft areas are where you learn what’s actually local, what’s made by hand, and what style you personally want. In particular, guides such as Jim Beam have been praised for steering people toward good souvenir choices and offering tips for bargaining. That kind of advice can save you money and help you avoid feeling pressured.
Guide Quality Can Make or Break the Day
A day like this runs smoothly only if someone else is driving the puzzle pieces into place. The tour includes an English-speaking driver, and past guests have highlighted two names for a reason: Gusti and Jim Beam.
Gusti has been praised for a fun, kid-friendly approach, including handling a day with two small kids. That matters because families often need a schedule that doesn’t fall apart after the first stop.
Jim Beam has been described as accommodating and safe-driver focused, plus particularly helpful with practical tips around souvenirs—especially guidance for bargaining—and an overall friendly approach to the route.
Even if you don’t have a named guide, the takeaway for you is clear: on a packed Ubud circuit, the best experience comes from a driver who doesn’t just drive, but helps you time stops, pick what fits your mood, and move confidently between attractions.
Price and Value: Is $37 Worth It?

At $37 per person, this tour prices in a range where you’re usually paying separately for either transport or entry tickets. Here, you get both transport and admission included, plus extras like mineral water and pickup/drop-off. That changes the math.
What you do pay for, in real life, is time and decision-making. You’re spending about 8 hours with multiple stops, including popular sites. So the question isn’t only whether the price is fair; it’s whether the format fits your style.
A few value clues from the inclusions:
- Entrance fees are included at each listed stop.
- Pickup and drop-off are included from your start point (hotel/port).
- The tour provides an English-speaking driver and private transportation.
- Petrol, parking, and mineral water are covered.
What’s not included:
- Food and drinks (you’ll need to budget for meals/snacks)
- Souvenir photos (sold separately)
- Donations
So if you like a day where someone else handles logistics and you focus on experiences, this can feel like good value. If you’d rather linger in one place for longer than 45 minutes or 1 hour, you might feel the pacing. This route is designed to check multiple icons off with comfort, not to slow-roll Ubud at the same spot all day.
One more reality check: rain can happen. One account mentioned the day turning into a downpour. If the weather is unstable, plan for wet walking and adjust your mood. The tour still keeps a structured route, which helps.
Who This Tour Fits Best
This private Ubud tour fits best if you want:
- A balanced day across nature, temples, and arts/craft shopping
- Comfortable private transport and included admission
- A simple way to cover Ubud highlights without building your own route from scratch
- Flexibility to shape the day somewhat based on what you care about
It’s especially suitable for families who want a guided, structured circuit, since guides have been praised for being comfortable around small kids. It’s also a good fit for couples and friend groups who want to move efficiently while still having freedom to enjoy each stop at your own pace.
Should You Book This Ubud Tour?
Yes, if you want an efficient, private way to hit Ubud’s biggest hits—Monkey Forest, Tegenungan Waterfall, Batuan Temple, and Tegalalang Rice Terrace—plus real craft stops in Mas and Tohpati. The $37 price works best when you value included entry fees and don’t want to waste time figuring out transport between sites.
Skip it (or at least adjust expectations) if you hate crowded attractions, or if you’re the type who needs long stays to truly enjoy places. This day moves. The trade-off is that you come home with a full spread of Ubud memories instead of just one or two stops.
If you’re traveling with kids or you want a guide who can keep the day feeling smooth, this is a strong candidate—especially given the praise for guides like Gusti and Jim Beam.
FAQ
How long is the Ubud Tour?
The tour runs about 8 hours.
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 8:30 am.
Is the tour private?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.
Does the tour include pickup and drop-off?
Yes. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included.
What attractions are included?
The tour includes Tegenungan Waterfall, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Puseh Batuan Temple, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Mas Carving Center, and Tohpati Village.
Are entrance fees included?
Yes. Admission tickets for the listed attractions are included.
Is food included in the price?
No. Food and drinks are not included.
Can the itinerary be customized?
The tour says you can contact the operator to customize your itinerary based on your interests.
Do I get a mobile ticket?
Yes. Mobile ticket is listed as a feature.
Is there free cancellation?
Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time.










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