Reviewed · UBUD, MONKEY FOREST & CAMPUHAN

Ubud Kintamani Tour

5.0 · 32 reviews From $60 Operated by Excellent Bali Tour - Private Day Tours · Bookable on Viator
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Ubud and Kintamani in one packed day. This tour strings together photo-ready highlights and a cultural performance, from Barong & Kris storytelling to Mt. Batur scenery. I also like that lunch, water, and entrance fees are handled, so you spend the day looking at Bali instead of counting tickets.

One thing to consider: the central highlands roads can be slow and a bit bumpy, and the schedule is tight enough that you’ll want comfortable shoes and patience.

Key Highlights at a Glance

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Key Highlights at a Glance

  • Barong & Kris dance: Balinese sacred performance with a myth-style fight between good and evil
  • Tegenungan Waterfall: a popular, accessible waterfall stop without a big detour
  • Mount Batur / Kintamani: crater-lake viewpoints in Bali’s central highlands
  • Tegalalang Rice Terrace: classic Ubud paddies tied to traditional irrigation (subak)
  • Ubud Monkey Forest: close-up time with grey macaques near Ubud Palace

How Ubud and Kintamani Fit Into One Long, Photo-Focused Day

This is a private day tour built around five major stops, with transfers connecting Ubud to Kintamani and back toward the Seminyak area. The tour runs about 10 hours, and the time at each place is intentionally short-to-moderate: the longest stop is the dance performance (about 1 hour), while the rice terrace is around 30 minutes and the waterfall is about 45 minutes.

That pacing is the trade-off. You get to hit the big-name places without planning a full day on your own, but you won’t linger for long. If you love slow travel and hate rushing through attractions, you may feel the clock. If you’re okay with efficient touring—especially for sightseeing that’s mostly about views and photos—this format works well.

The payoff is a well-rounded mix. You get culture (Barong & Kris), a nature hit (Tegenungan Waterfall), a highland wow moment (Mount Batur and the crater-lake area), a signature Ubud photo scene (Tegalalang Rice Terrace), and wildlife time (Ubud Monkey Forest). It’s a classic Bali “greatest hits” route, but still organized in a way that feels practical for a single day.

More around Ubud, from the Monkey Forest to the Campuhan ridge

Price and What You Actually Get for $60

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Price and What You Actually Get for $60
At $60 for roughly 10 hours, the biggest value isn’t just the sights—it’s the friction removal. This tour includes 2-way transfers, lunch, bottled mineral water, entrance fees at each stop, and a Bali map. When a day trip covers entrance charges and transport, your budget becomes simpler. You’re not stuck doing math mid-trip or paying extra on-site for every location.

You’ll also appreciate the private setup for logistics. You’re not negotiating group timing at each stop. And because it’s private, you can keep the pace aligned with what you want to do during photo moments or walking time.

What’s not included is listed as personal expenses—so think snacks beyond lunch, souvenirs, or anything you add on your own. If you come prepared, this price can feel like a solid deal compared to paying separately for transportation and admissions across a long route.

Barong & Kris Dance: Seeing the Good vs. Evil Story in Bali

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Barong & Kris Dance: Seeing the Good vs. Evil Story in Bali
Your day starts with Barong & Kris Dance, a traditional Balinese sacred dance that tells a mythological story of conflict between good and bad. The Barong is described as a strange, four-legged creature (often associated with lion or tiger imagery) performed by two men like a living character, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes this performance memorable beyond the choreography.

What makes this stop worth your time is that it’s not just background culture. The performance is a story—good battling evil—so even if you don’t catch every word, you can follow the drama through movement and costuming. It’s also one of the most “Bali-only” moments on the itinerary. Waterfalls and views are great, but this is the kind of cultural performance you can’t replicate back home.

Practical note: the tour gives you about 1 hour, including ticket time. That’s enough for the full performance and a chance to settle in. If you’re the type who likes to arrive early for good sightlines, arrive with a little buffer when your guide tells you to.

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Tegenungan Waterfall: Fast Access to a Popular Gorge Scene
After the dance, you head to Tegenungan Waterfall. The stop is about 45 minutes, which means you get time to enjoy it without losing half your day to transit and waiting. Tegenungan is described as a waterfall that’s close to Ubud’s artist village area and is known as a popular attraction even though it’s described as somewhat isolated.

What you can expect is a classic waterfall photo setup: getting close enough to feel the scale, plus opportunities for different angles depending on where you stand. This is the sort of stop where timing matters. If the day is humid or rainy, the water and surrounding greenery will look great—but the ground can get slick. Bring shoes you trust on wet surfaces.

The “consideration” here is simple: 45 minutes goes fast. If you want long swims, hours of hanging out, or serious hiking, this isn’t that kind of outing. But for a one-day circuit, it’s a strong nature interlude that balances the morning’s culture.

Mount Batur and Kintamani: Crater Views With Lunch Included

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Mount Batur and Kintamani: Crater Views With Lunch Included
Next up is Kintamani, centered around Mount Batur and the crater-lake area. This is Bali’s central highlands, and the scenery here is one of the reasons people do the longer day trips in the first place.

The tour gives about 45 minutes for this stop, and it’s paired with lunch as part of the experience (with lunch described as overlooking the Mount Batur volcano area). That matters more than it sounds. In a route this long, eating somewhere scenic beats eating “anywhere,” and it keeps you from losing time hunting food after you arrive.

What to know before you go: the highlands roads can be challenging, and that can affect how you feel by the time you reach viewpoint time. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take it seriously. If you’re not, just go in expecting a winding ride and plan to settle in when you arrive.

Also keep your expectations realistic. In 45 minutes, you’re mostly soaking up the crater and lake views, not doing a deep trek. If you want a sunrise hike or more hiking time, this isn’t that. But if your goal is the iconic Kintamani look, this stop does the job.

More sunrise treks and hot springs around Mount Batur

Tegalalang Rice Terrace: How to Make Those 30 Minutes Count

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Tegalalang Rice Terrace: How to Make Those 30 Minutes Count
Then comes one of the most famous Ubud scenes: Tegalalang Rice Terrace. You get about 30 minutes, so the smart move is to treat this as a photo-and-stroll stop rather than a long exploration.

Why it’s special is the connection to how rice is grown here. The terraces are tied to subak, the traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system. Even if you just watch the view without learning every term, you can sense that this isn’t random landscaping. It’s a working system shaped by generations of rice farmers.

How to make those 30 minutes more enjoyable:

  • Go in with a simple plan for photos first, then walk for one “discovery lap.”
  • Expect some crowds around the most photogenic corners.
  • If you’re visiting in strong daylight, you may find your best photos happen early or late in the day.

The short time is the drawback, but it’s also why this tour stays around 10 hours total. You get the iconic terrace without turning your day into a slow grind.

Ubud Monkey Forest: Meeting Grey Macaques Up Close

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Ubud Monkey Forest: Meeting Grey Macaques Up Close
Your final sightseeing stop is Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary near Ubud Palace. You get about 45 minutes, which is a decent window to do a loop and enjoy the vibe without feeling rushed.

The attraction here is that you’re not just seeing monkeys from far away. The tour description highlights getting up close with grey macaques, and that’s the reality of Monkey Forest: they’re part of the experience. This is also where you’ll want to stay alert. The more confident you act with wildlife, the more likely problems can happen—so keep belongings secure and avoid anything that looks like food.

What I like about this stop in a one-day itinerary is the balance. You’ve already done the “big view” and “water” moments. Monkey Forest adds a living, chaotic energy that feels uniquely Ubud. And because it’s near central Ubud sights, it also helps your last part of the day feel less like transit and more like a real wrap-up.

Private-Guide Comfort: Transfers, Entrance Fees, and Lunch Handling

Ubud Kintamani Tour - Private-Guide Comfort: Transfers, Entrance Fees, and Lunch Handling
A big part of why I think this tour is good value is the amount of day-management it removes. Entrance fees are included for each listed object. Lunch is included. Water is included. Even a Bali map is part of the package.

That means you can focus on the experiences themselves: watch the story at the dance, feel the waterfall, look out toward Mount Batur’s crater-lake region, admire the rice terraces, then spend time with the monkeys. Less time at ticket counters, less time arguing with signage, fewer “where do we go next?” moments.

The private angle is also key. This is not a shared group shuffle. It’s described as private, so it’s only your group that participates. That usually makes it easier to keep the day calm and on-track—especially when you’re moving across different Ubud and Kintamani zones in one go.

One more practical note: because the tour requires good weather, you’ll want flexibility in your expectations. Bad weather can affect visibility around Mount Batur and the comfort of waterfall time. If weather turns poor, the tour notes that you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What to Pack for a 10-Hour Ubud–Kintamani Circuit

For a day like this, pack for mixed conditions: cultural spaces, outdoor viewpoints, and waterfall terrain.

Bring:

  • Comfortable shoes for uneven and possibly wet ground (waterfall stop)
  • Sun protection (hat and sunscreen), because Tegalalang photos can be bright
  • A light layer if it’s cooler in the highlands (roads can climb and open up the air)
  • A small day bag to keep your stuff secure around the grey macaques

If you’re the type who likes to take your time at every stop, you might be tempted to overpack with extras. Don’t. This schedule is already built to move. Travel light so you stay mobile.

Also, accept that the highlands roads can slow things down. This tour is designed to handle transit for you, but it can’t change mountain driving physics. A calm mindset helps a lot.

Should You Book This Ubud Kintamani Tour?

Book it if you want a single-day, private route that hits the best-known Ubud and Kintamani sights without the stress of planning, paying multiple admissions, or figuring out long-distance transfers. The big winners for most people are the Barong & Kris dance, the Mt. Batur / Kintamani viewpoint time (with lunch included), and the way the tour strings everything together with transfers and entrance fees handled.

Skip it or think twice if:

  • You hate time limits and want to linger for hours at each site
  • You get motion sick easily on winding roads
  • Weather isn’t likely to cooperate during your travel window, since the tour requires good weather for best results

If you’re aiming for a “great Bali highlights” day—balanced between culture and nature—this tour is a strong match, especially for first-time visitors to Ubud and anyone who wants Kintamani without turning it into a logistics project.

FAQ

How long is the Ubud Kintamani Tour?

It’s about 10 hours (approx.).

Is pickup included?

Pickup is offered.

Is this tour private?

Yes, it’s private, so only your group participates.

What does the tour price include?

It includes entrance fees, lunch, bottled mineral water, and a Bali map.

Is a mobile ticket provided?

Yes, mobile ticket is included.

What’s not included in the price?

Personal expenses are not included.

How long do you spend at each stop?

Barong & Kris Dance is about 1 hour, Tegenungan Waterfall about 45 minutes, Mount Batur about 45 minutes, Tegalalang Rice Terrace about 30 minutes, and Sacred Monkey Forest about 45 minutes.

Does the tour require good weather?

Yes, it requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience’s start time.