Ridge walks, rice terraces, water temples, cooking classes and a volcano sunrise: the best things to do in and around Ubud.
Ubud is where Bali slows down. The town sits in the green hills of Gianyar, surrounded by river gorges and rice terraces, and it has been the island’s centre of art, dance and healing for generations. You could spend a week here and still leave with a list. These are the experiences we think are worth your time.
Mornings are for walking
Ubud is at its best before the traffic wakes up. Start with a sunrise stroll, then head north to the rice terraces before the tour buses arrive.
01Nature & Rice Terraces · Ubud
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Ubud's easy ridge-top nature walk
A free, paved path that starts in central Ubud and runs along a grassy ridge between two river valleys. Go at sunrise or in the last hour before sunset, and finish with coffee at one of the cafes among the rice fields.
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02Nature & Rice Terraces · Ubud
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Ubud's classic emerald terrace valley
The most famous rice terraces in Bali, carved into a steep valley north of town. Small entrance or donation fees are collected at the access points; the swings and some trails cost extra.
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03Nature & Rice Terraces · Ubud
Ubud Monkey Forest (Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary)
Sacred forest of temples and macaques
A sacred forest sanctuary with ancient temples and a large troop of long-tailed macaques. Hide your sunglasses and snacks, and do not feed or touch the monkeys.
View detailsTemples and holy water
A morning of temples
Combine two of the area’s oldest sites in one morning. Tirta Empul, a water temple in Tampaksiring, has been drawing pilgrims to its sacred spring for more than a thousand years. On the way back, stop at Goa Gajah, an 11th-century sanctuary with a demon-mouthed cave and forest paths down to the river.
04Temple · Gianyar
Tirta Empul (Tampaksiring)
Bali's holy spring purification temple
A thousand-year-old water temple in Tampaksiring where Balinese and visitors bathe beneath carved spouts fed by a sacred spring.
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05Temple · Ubud
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
Ancient cave sanctuary near Ubud
An 11th-century sanctuary with a demon-mouthed cave, holy bathing pools and forest paths down to the Petanu River, just outside Ubud.
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06Culture & Heritage · Ubud
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren)
The royal heart of Ubud
The royal palace sits at the heart of town. Admire the carved gateways by day, then come back after dark for a Legong or Barong performance in the courtyard.
View detailsYou could spend a week in Ubud and still leave with a list.
Learn something
07Activity · Ubud
Paon Bali Cooking Class
Cook Balinese food in a family compound
Shop at the morning market, walk through the rice fields, then cook around nine Balinese dishes in a real family compound in Laplapan village. You go home with a recipe book.
Good for: Food lovers, families, couples
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08Activity · Ubud
Threads of Life
Natural-dye textile workshops in Ubud
A fair-trade textile organisation working with more than 1,200 weavers across Indonesia. Take a natural-dye batik or indigo class at its garden studio, or browse the gallery in town.
Good for: Makers, textile lovers, ethical shoppers
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09Activity · Ubud
The Yoga Barn
Ubud's landmark yoga and healing campus
Ubud’s landmark yoga campus, with eight studios and more than 180 classes a week, plus ecstatic dance and sound healing. A drop-in class is IDR 180.000.
Good for: Yogis of all levels, solo travellers, wellness retreats
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10Activity · Ubud
Mason Adventures – Ayung River Rafting
Bali's longest Ayung rafting run
White-water rafting on the Ayung River through the jungle gorges north of Ubud, with the outfit that pioneered Bali’s adventure industry in 1989.
Good for: Groups, families with older kids, first-time rafters
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11Activity · Ubud
Bali Eco Cycling
Downhill ride from Batur to Ubud
Ride downhill from the Kintamani highlands through villages, rice fields and plantations towards Ubud with a guide who stops to explain what you are seeing.
Good for: Families, active travellers, culture seekers
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12Volcano & Lake · Kintamani
Mount Batur
Sunrise hike on an active volcano
The classic sunrise trek. Guides pick you up in the small hours, and you reach the rim of the active volcano in time to watch the sun rise over Lake Batur and Mount Agung. A licensed guide is mandatory.
View detailsUbud tips
- Central Ubud is walkable, but the pavements are narrow and uneven. Wear proper shoes.
- Traffic on the main road is slow in the afternoon; plan day trips for the morning.
- Many temples and sights are cash only. Carry small notes for entry fees and parking.
- Bring a light layer: evenings in the hills are cooler than on the coast.
