Where History Meets Adventure
Ubud’s allure lies in its seamless blend of history, nature, and adrenaline. This tour is perfect for travelers who want to experience Bali’s most iconic sites while adding a dash of adventure. Here’s your day mapped out:
1. Morning: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary – Into the Wild
Highlights: Over 700 monkeys, ancient temples, jungle trails
Start your day at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a 27-acre jungle teeming with grey long-tailed macaques. Wander moss-covered pathways past three Hindu temples, including the 14th-century Pura Dalem Agung, while monkeys swing overhead. Watch them bathe in streams or playfully snatch bananas (keep your belongings secure!). Don’t miss the haunting stone statues at the forest’s heart—guardians of this sacred space.
2. Mid-Morning: Ubud Palace – Royal Grandeur
Highlights: Traditional architecture, evening dance performances, photo ops
A short stroll brings you to Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung), the 19th-century home of Ubud’s royal family. Admire its carved stone gates, lotus ponds, and pavilions adorned with gold leaf. While the royal family still resides here, parts of the palace are open to visitors. Return in the evening for a Legong dance performance under the stars.
3. Afternoon: Tegalalang Rice Terrace – Bali’s Green Staircase
Highlights: UNESCO-listed landscapes, photo swings, coconut drinks
No Ubud trip is complete without visiting the Tegalalang Rice Terrace. These emerald-green paddies, carved into hillsides like staircases, showcase Bali’s ancient subak irrigation system. Walk along narrow ridges, sip fresh coconut water at a hillside café, or swing over the valley for a viral Instagram moment. For a deeper cultural insight, chat with local farmers tending their crops.
4. Late Afternoon: Goa Gajah – The Elephant Cave’s Secrets
Highlights: 9th-century relics, meditation caves, bathing pools
Uncover Bali’s spiritual past at Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), a mystical archaeological site. Enter through a carved demon mouth into a meditation chamber once used by Hindu monks. Outside, explore ancient bathing pools fed by sacred springs and stone shrines cloaked in moss. The site’s name is misleading—no elephants here, but its aura of mystery is undeniable.
5. Optional Add-On: Jungle Swing – Soar Above the Canopy
Highlights: Adrenaline rush, panoramic valley views, photography packages
For thrill-seekers, end your day with a jungle swing experience. Strapped into a harness, you’ll soar 30 meters above the Ayung River Valley, surrounded by rainforest and rice fields. Many operators offer photography packages, so you can take home a memory of your heart-pounding flight.
Why This Tour Stands Out
- Flexibility: Add a swing for adrenaline or keep it serene.
- Iconic Sights: Monkey Forest, Tegalalang, and Goa Gajah in one day.
- Wildlife Encounters: Interact with Bali’s playful macaques.
