Best Day Trips from Ubud: Explore Bali’s Green Heart & Hidden Gems

💰 Click here to see Indonesia Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: June, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = Rp17,794.64

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: Rp427,000 – Rp925,000 ($24.00 – $51.98)

Mid-range: Rp1,174,000 – Rp2,847,000 ($65.97 – $159.99)

Comfortable: Rp3,594,000 – Rp7,118,000 ($201.97 – $400.01)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: Rp35,000 – Rp355,000 ($1.97 – $19.95)

Mid-range hotel: Rp480,000 – Rp1,779,000 ($26.97 – $99.97)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: Rp30,000.00 ($1.69)

Mid-range meal: Rp100,000.00 ($5.62)

Upscale meal: Rp710,000.00 ($39.90)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: Rp4,000.00 ($0.22)

Monthly transport pass: Rp0.00 ($0.00)

Ubud in 2026 is simultaneously more beautiful and more crowded than ever. The Monkey Forest road clogs up by 9 a.m., the Instagram lines at Campuhan Ridge form before sunrise, and finding a quiet warung for breakfast feels like a small victory. The good news: the villages, temples, and landscapes within 90 kilometres of Ubud are still genuinely extraordinary — and most of them see a fraction of the foot traffic. The trick is knowing which trips are worth the effort, how to time them, and how not to overpay getting there.

Tegallalang & the Northern Rice Terrace Circuit

Tegallalang is only 9 kilometres north of central Ubud, which makes it the most-visited day trip on this list — and the most likely to disappoint if you arrive at the wrong time. The terraces themselves are genuinely stunning: cascading green paddies shaped by the Ancient Subak irrigation system, dropping steeply into a river gorge. The smoky-sweet smell of clove cigarettes drifts from the warungs perched along the ridge, and roosters call across the valley every few minutes. That sensory experience is real. The problem is that from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the main viewpoint on Jalan Raya Tegallalang is packed with swing operators, café touts, and tour coaches.

Arrive before 7:30 a.m. and the terraces look entirely different. The light is soft, the farmers are already working the paddies, and you can walk the narrow dirt paths between the rice rows without stepping around selfie sticks. There is a IDR 30,000 conservation fee at the main entrance — pay it, skip the argument, and walk down into the gorge rather than staying on the road.

From Tegallalang, extend the trip north by continuing 12 kilometres to Ceking and then another 8 kilometres to Jatiluwih’s satellite viewpoints near Pupuan. This northern loop is paved but narrow in sections. Most tourists turn around at Tegallalang, so the further north you go, the quieter it gets.

Kintamani & Mount Batur: Volcano Hiking Without the Chaos

Mount Batur sits 37 kilometres north of Ubud at roughly 1,717 metres. It is an active volcano and one of the best sunrise hikes in all of Indonesia — but the experience in 2026 depends almost entirely on how you handle the logistics.

The official guide association (PPPGB) still requires all hikers to use a licensed guide. Prices have settled at IDR 450,000–600,000 per person for a sunrise hike including a basic breakfast at the summit. Solo hiking without a guide is technically prohibited and rangers do check. That said, the guides are genuinely useful on the upper section where the trail crosses loose volcanic scree in the dark.

Sunrise hikers depart from Toya Bungkah village at 4:00–4:30 a.m. The hike takes approximately 2 hours to the summit. You arrive in time to watch orange light spill across the Batur caldera lake below while the Agung silhouette appears to the east — one of those views that earns every early alarm. The summit can be cold (12–15°C before sunrise), so bring a light jacket even in dry season.

If an early start is not appealing, the daytime hike to Batur’s secondary peak offers good caldera views without the crowd. Depart by 7 a.m. to be off the mountain before midday heat.

The village of Kintamani itself sits above the caldera and is worth 30 minutes even if you skip the hike. The view from the rim across to the volcanic lake is one of Bali’s great panoramas. Lunch at one of the warung along the rim road costs IDR 40,000–80,000 for nasi campur and is far better value than the tourist restaurants that have dominated this strip for years.

Tirta Empul & Gunung Kawi: Two Sacred Sites, One Logical Route

These two temples are 12 kilometres apart and are almost always visited together, which makes sense logistically. What most visitors miss is that they are entirely different experiences requiring different amounts of time and energy.

Gunung Kawi, near the village of Tampaksiring, is reached by descending 315 stone steps into a river canyon. The 11th-century rock-cut shrines carved directly into the canyon walls are genuinely dramatic — tall, dark with moss, and surrounded by the constant sound of the Pakerisan River below. Budget at least 45 minutes here. The entrance fee is IDR 50,000 per person plus a sarong rental if you didn’t bring your own (IDR 15,000). Go here first, before Tirta Empul, because the steps back up are steep and you’ll want energy for it.

Tirta Empul is Bali’s most important purification temple. The pools inside the inner courtyard contain spring water that Balinese Hindus believe emerged from the earth by the god Indra. On busy days, the ritual bathing queue can stretch 45 minutes. On quiet mornings — typically Tuesday and Wednesday — the pools are calmer and the ceremony feels more authentic. Visitors are welcome to participate in the purification ritual, though you should observe proper etiquette: wear the sarong provided at entrance, do not film individuals during active prayer, and do not enter the pools without understanding the sequence of the 13 ritual spouts. Guides at the gate can explain the process for IDR 50,000–100,000 and it’s genuinely worth it at this site.

Entrance fee at Tirta Empul is IDR 50,000. The two temples sit along the same road heading north from Ubud toward Kintamani, so a combined day — Gunung Kawi, then Tirta Empul, then lunch in Kintamani — works cleanly as a single route.

East Bali Escape: Sidemen Valley and the Road to Besakih

East Bali remains the quietest corner of the island for day-trippers from Ubud. The road east from Ubud through Klungkung and up into the hills toward Sidemen takes about 75 minutes and drops you into a valley that looks like central Bali did before mass tourism arrived. Terraced rice fields rise steeply on both sides of a river gorge, weaving looms operate from open-walled family compounds, and Mount Agung — Indonesia’s most sacred volcano — fills the northern horizon so completely it seems impossible.

Sidemen is not a single attraction but a valley to explore slowly. Walk the village paths in the morning, visit a traditional ikat weaving workshop (most welcome visitors; spending IDR 150,000 on a small textile is a decent exchange for the access), and eat lunch at one of the handful of small warungs near the market. The grilled fish with sambal matah here has a sharp, citrusy bite from the raw lemongrass and shallots — nothing like the diluted versions served in Ubud’s tourist restaurants.

Besakih Temple, on the slopes of Agung about 30 kilometres north of Sidemen, is Bali’s largest and most sacred temple complex. The 2026 situation at Besakih is improved compared to the notorious guide-touting of previous years. A centralised ticketing system introduced in 2024 and fully operational by 2025 means you purchase an IDR 150,000 entrance ticket that includes a mandatory guide — you no longer need to negotiate or fend off freelancers. The guide quality is variable, but having one is genuinely useful in a complex of over 80 temples spread across multiple terraced levels.

Combine Sidemen and Besakih only if you have a full day. The drive from Ubud to Sidemen, then to Besakih, then back to Ubud covers roughly 120 kilometres and takes 4–5 hours of total driving. Start by 7 a.m.

Penglipuran & Bangli: Bali’s Best-Preserved Traditional Village

Penglipuran sits 45 kilometres northeast of Ubud in the cool hills above Bangli town. It is consistently listed among Indonesia’s cleanest and most intact traditional villages — not as a marketing phrase, but as a measurable fact. The main street is a single straight avenue of identical bamboo-gated family compounds built according to a centuries-old spatial plan. Motorbikes are prohibited from entering. The result is a village that operates at walking pace.

What makes Penglipuran worth a half-day is the detail: intricate sanggah (family shrine) gates crafted from split bamboo, small stalls selling traditional Balinese loloh (herbal drink made from bitter melon and palm sugar), and community life that continues despite the tourism. Entrance is IDR 50,000. Go before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid tour bus groups.

Pair Penglipuran with a stop in Bangli town, 5 kilometres south. The Pura Kehen temple here is one of Bali’s finest state temples — a steep-stepped complex with a vast banyan tree in the outer courtyard and 11-tiered meru towering above. It receives perhaps 5% of the visitors that comparable temples near Ubud attract. Entrance is IDR 30,000.

The Bangli regency is also gateway to the cooler highland roads toward Kintamani, so this route connects naturally to the Batur day trip if you want a two-day loop.

Tanah Lot, Jatiluwih & the UNESCO Subak Loop

This is the longest day trip from Ubud on this list — roughly 150 kilometres as a loop — and it covers Bali’s southwest coast and central highlands in a single route. It works best done west-to-east: leave Ubud early heading toward Tanah Lot, then drive inland and uphill to Jatiluwih, and return to Ubud through the highland road via Baturiti.

Tanah Lot is Bali’s most photographed sea temple — a pagoda-topped rock stack rising from the ocean 500 metres offshore. The temple itself is accessible only at low tide and entry into the inner shrine is restricted to worshippers. The visit is about the landscape: dramatic coastal cliffs, the sound of waves crashing against black volcanic rock, and the temple silhouette at dusk. Arrive by 4:30 p.m. for the late afternoon light if your loop allows. Entrance is IDR 60,000.

Jatiluwih is the centrepiece of Bali’s UNESCO-listed Subak cultural landscape, recognised for the traditional cooperative irrigation system that has organised Balinese rice farming for over 1,000 years. The rice terraces here are larger, older, and wilder-looking than Tegallalang — fewer swings, more actual agriculture. The entrance fee is IDR 40,000 per person plus IDR 5,000 per vehicle. Walking tracks through the terraces range from 1.5 km to 5 km.

The loop back through Baturiti and Bedugul passes the highland lake temples of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan — worth a 20-minute stop if you haven’t been, or a calm drive through strawberry farms and mountain fog if you have.

2026 Budget Reality: What Day Trips Actually Cost

Prices across Bali’s day trip circuit have risen noticeably since 2024, driven by post-pandemic inflation, the introduction of Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourism levy (implemented in 2024 and now fully collected at most major sites), and rising fuel costs affecting drivers.

Transport Costs (per day, from Ubud)

• Scooter rental: IDR 80,000–120,000 per day, plus fuel (approximately IDR 15,000–20,000 per litre). Suitable for confident riders on straightforward routes. Not recommended for Kintamani or Besakih roads in wet season.
• Private car + driver: IDR 500,000–800,000 for an 8-hour day, depending on route and negotiation. This is the standard for comfort and group value when split across 2–4 people.



• Ojek (motorcycle taxi via Gojek/Grab): Reliable for Tegallalang and shorter routes. Estimate IDR 50,000–100,000 each way depending on distance.

Entrance Fees (per person)

• Tegallalang Rice Terraces: IDR 30,000
• Gunung Kawi: IDR 50,000
• Tirta Empul: IDR 50,000
• Besakih: IDR 150,000 (includes guide)
• Penglipuran Village: IDR 50,000
• Pura Kehen, Bangli: IDR 30,000
• Tanah Lot: IDR 60,000
• Jatiluwih: IDR 40,000 + IDR 5,000 vehicle
• Mount Batur sunrise hike: IDR 450,000–600,000 (guide inclusive)

Daily Budget Tiers

• Budget: IDR 250,000–400,000 per person (scooter rental, warung meals, 2–3 entrance fees)
• Mid-range: IDR 600,000–900,000 per person (shared car/driver split 2–3 ways, restaurant lunch, 3–4 sites)
• Comfortable: IDR 1,200,000–2,000,000 per person (private driver, guided experiences, good meals)

Getting Around: Transport, Timing & 2026 Road Conditions

The road network around Ubud is largely the same as it has been for a decade, but two things have changed in 2026. First, the Shortcut Road via Lodtunduh connecting southern Ubud to the Kintamani road has been fully resurfaced and is now the fastest route north, shaving 15 minutes off the old route through Tegallalang village. Ask your driver specifically about this route. Second, the Bali Smart Traffic system, which began pilot operations in Denpasar in 2025, now pushes real-time congestion data to Google Maps and Waze for the Ubud–Kintamani corridor. Use navigation apps — they reflect current conditions reasonably well by 2026.

Departure timing matters more than route for most trips. Leave Ubud before 7:30 a.m. for any destination north or east, and you avoid the wave of tour coaches that departs from Seminyak and Kuta between 8:00–9:30 a.m. Those coaches hit Tegallalang, Tirta Empul, and Kintamani between 10 a.m. and noon. Being there before them is the single most effective strategy for a better experience.

For drivers, check with your guesthouse or use local Ubud driver apps like Tukad Driver or Grab’s charter service. Negotiating the night before rather than morning-of typically saves IDR 50,000–100,000 and guarantees an early pickup.

Wet season (October–March) affects some trips significantly. The Batur hike is frequently cancelled due to cloud cover blocking the sunrise — confirm weather the night before with your guide. Roads to Sidemen and Besakih can become slippery during heavy rain. Jatiluwih and Penglipuran are viable year-round and actually look particularly lush in wet season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single best day trip from Ubud for first-time visitors?

The combined Gunung Kawi and Tirta Empul route is the most rewarding for first-timers. It covers two dramatically different sacred sites, takes about 4–5 hours including travel, and gives a genuine introduction to Balinese Hindu culture without requiring a full day or early start. Easily combined with a Kintamani lunch stop on the way back to Ubud.

Do I need a guide for Mount Batur?

Yes. The official guide requirement at Batur is enforced and genuinely serves a purpose — the upper trail crosses active volcanic terrain in darkness. Guides are arranged through the PPPGB association in Toya Bungkah. Book the night before during peak season (July–August). Expect to pay IDR 450,000–600,000 per person including a basic summit breakfast in 2026.

Can I do multiple day trips on a scooter?

For routes like Tegallalang and Penglipuran, yes — roads are manageable and distances reasonable. For Kintamani, Besakih, or the Sidemen valley, the roads include steep inclines, tight corners, and stretches that become hazardous in rain. A private car with driver is the safer and more practical choice for those routes, especially if you’re not experienced riding in Bali traffic.

How far in advance should I book a private driver?

For standard day trips, booking the previous evening is usually sufficient outside peak season. During July, August, and the Christmas–New Year period, book 2–3 days ahead. Your guesthouse or hotel can arrange this, or use apps like Grab’s charter service. Confirm the pickup time, route, and price in writing — even just a WhatsApp message — to avoid misunderstandings.

Is the Bali tourism levy IDR 150,000 charged separately at each site?

No. The IDR 150,000 Bali Tourism Levy is a one-time arrival fee charged when entering Bali, typically collected at the airport or via the Love Bali online portal before arrival. It is separate from individual site entrance fees, which you pay at each attraction. Most visitors pay it once per trip, not per day or per site visited.

Explore more
Beyond Bali: Your Ultimate Guide to Indonesia’s Regional Wonders
Ubud Food Guide: Best Local Restaurants & Warungs for Authentic Balinese Eats
What Are the Must-Buy Souvenirs from Indonesia? Your Ultimate List

---

📷 Featured image by Mahmud Ahsan on Unsplash.