Part of Ubud’s appeal is that it is Bali‘s artistic, cultural, and spiritual heart. But Ubud’s central geographical location is equally appealing, making it the ideal home base from which to explore many of central Bali’s attractions, including several iconic temples, stunning waterfalls, and expansive rice terraces. To help you plan excursions and get the most out of your time in the area, we put together this Bali travel guide on the Best Day Trips from Ubud. We will present several day trip options, each of which will try to best combine attractions based on their geographical location relative to Ubud to minimize the amount spent backtracking on the road.

Disclosure: This page (Best Day Trips from Ubud – A Bali Travel Guide) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.

Planning a Trip to Bali?

You might be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Ubud
Best Things to See and Do in Gili T
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Best Things to See and Do in East Bali

We also highly recommend these travel guidebooks:
Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara
Bali: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide
Rough Guides: Bali and Lombok

Ubud Day Trip Planning and Logistiscs

We won’t cover the full extent of possible day trips from Ubud within this guide, as there are far too many, so we will try to limit ourselves to destinations that are at most 1h30 from Ubud. As such, we won’t suggest many destinations from East Bali, particularly some of the best temples in the area, which are covered in greater detail in our travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in East Bali. This Day Trips From Ubud travel guide won’t cover any destinations located within South Bali or West Bali either. Rather, we will primarily focus on what could be considered “central Bali”, which, in our opinion, is where most of the best temples, waterfalls, and rice terraces are located.

This guide won’t cover attractions that are specifically located in Ubud either, such as the various rice field and Campuhan Ridge walks, Ubud temples and the Ubud Monkey Forest, which are covered in our Best Things to See and Do in Ubud travel guide.

In this guide, we will organize the day trips geographically, but if you would prefer to see all the options within a similar attraction category, we have the following travel guides that are also available:

–Best Temples to Visit Near Ubud
–Best Waterfalls to Visit Near Ubud

One important consideration when planning a day trip from Ubud is that Bali has many more North-South roads than East-West roads due to its geographical features, including its mountainous terrain and many rivers. So, to minimize the amount of time spent driving, it’s best to think about combining attractions in terms of their proximity to specific North-South routes to minimize the amount of back-tracking required.

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Transport Options

In our opinion, the three best transport options for day trips from Ubud are: renting a scooter (moped), joining a group tour that hits several nearby attractions within a day or a half-day, or hiring a car and driver (which really isn’t as expensive as it sounds).

You can also use Bali ride-hailing apps such as Gojek or Grab, and make use of local taxis, but these options will typically cost more, especially if you plan on visiting several sites and attractions on the same day. Also, Gojek or Grab are not authorized to pick up people in certain locations where local taxi unions limit their services, including Canggu, Sanur, and Ubud. For more information on getting around the island and the different available options, check out our guide on How to Best Get Around Bali.

Getting to Ubud by Scooter: Once you get to Bali, you’ll quickly realize that scooter rental operators are everywhere. Although most street-side vendors will regularly be the cheapest option, they come short in several other aspects compared with more reliable and established vendors. For instance, most won’t offer roadside assistance or insurance that covers theft, nor do they regularly sanitize the helmets or have their scooters undergo regular maintenance. For this reason, we highly recommend using Bikago for your scooter rentals. Renting from them might be slightly more expensive (but still can be rented for as low as 12-15 US$/€ per day), but you get great peace of mind, as among many other perks, all scooters undergo extensive quality checks.

What you get with your Bikago rental:
-Helmets
-Full tank of petrol and unlimited mileage
-Free Delivery and Collection at your Hotel
-24/7 Roadside Assistance and First Aid Medical Kit
-Charging Mobile Phone Holder

By Car and Driver hire: Hiring a car and driver to explore Bali can be a practical and cost-efficient way to experience a full day of sightseeing. Although this option is more expensive than renting a scooter (typically 40-60 US$/€ per day), you don’t have to worry about navigating the Bali roads and traffic. Also, most cars are modern and air-conditioned, which is welcome in Bali’s humid heat, and the local drivers always know the best routes to take and can optimize your ideal itinerary. Here are some of the best options to choose from:

By Group Tour: Group tours can be a great option to lower costs and reduce the hassle of having to plan an efficient itinerary. Their main downside is that they might not exactly be tailored to your specific interests and preferences. But if you are mostly interested in hitting the main sights and attractions, there are several great tours to choose from. These are some of the most popular that depart from Ubud:

Day Trip Option 1: Northern Temples and Rice Terraces

Primary Attractions: Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Pura Luhur Batukaru (temple), Pura Ulun Danu Beratan (temple), Coffee Plantation Visit
Drive Time: 3h30
Visit, Exploring, and Walking Time: 4h – 6h
Potential Add-Ons Along the Way: Boat Tour on Danau Beratan lake (next to Pura Ulun Danu Beratan), Bali Botanical Garden (link to Google Maps), Leke Leke Waterfall (link to Google Maps), Sangeh Monkey Forest, Banyan Ancient Tree (link to Google Maps).

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Part of Bali’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for its traditional subak irrigation system, the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are some of the most scenic and expansive rice terraces in Bali. Set in the foothills of the towering Mount Batukaru, Bali’s second most prominent peak, Jatiluwih is one of our favorite places to visit on the island, along with the Sidemen Rice Fields.

For more information on what to expect during your visit, be sure to check out our Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Hiking Guide.

Pura Luhur Batukaru

Originally built in the 11th Century, Pura Luhur Batukaru is one of Bali’s oldest and most significant temples (although it was left in ruins for centuries until it was restored in the mid-20th century). It’s one of our favorite hidden gems in Bali – an important Hindu temple built on the slopes of the giant Mount Batukaru (a currently inactive volcano). It’s a beautiful temple complex to visit for nature lovers, with verdant trees and lush vegetation growing all over and around the complex, a great example of how Balinese architecture can often harmoniously blend with its natural surroundings.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Pura Luhur Batukaru Temple Guide.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Set on the tranquil shores of beautiful Lake Beratan and known as Bali’s floating temple, Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is one of Bali’s most popular and scenic Hindu temples. Dating from the 17th century, Ulun Danu Beratan temple is one of the island’s nine directional temples and was built to honour the Balinese water goddess Dewi Danu, due to the importance of Lake Beratan as a main source of Bali’s UNESCO-recognized Subak irrigation system.

The architecture of Ulun Danu Beratan is an impressive blend of Hindu and Buddhist elements, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of both religions in Bali. The temple complex consists of several shrines and pagodas, each with its unique style and purpose. The most iconic structure is the 11-tiered Meru, Tower dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Ulun Danu Beratan Temple.

Lastly, your final stop on this day trip is Kopi Luwak Baturiti (link to Google Maps), a unique and fun coffee plantation to visit. You can experience a free tasting, see (and even participate in) how the coffee beans are roasted and ground by hand. The outdoor tasting area also has a viewing platform from which you can admire expansive views of the surrounding plantations.

Day Trip Option 2: Central Bali Temples & Rice Terrace

Primary Attractions: Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring, Pura Mengening, Pura Tirta Empul, Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu, Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Drive Time: 1h30
Visit, Exploring, Walking Time: 4h – 6h

Pura Tirta Empul

Pura Tirta Empul is one of Bali‘s most popular temple complexes, a sanctuary revered for its sacred springs and spiritual significance. One of the main draws to this temple is the opportunity to take part in a water purification ritual (Melukat purification ceremony), where you will enter the bathing pools.

The temple is also quite large and has several courtyards, meaning there’s lots to explore here even if you are not interested in the purification ceremony. There are several impressive shrines, open squares, and koi ponds filled with unique water fountains.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Pura Tirta Empul Temple Guide.

Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu

Although Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu isn’t an overly large temple complex, it seems to be jam-packed with things to see. In particular, it is filled with several relaxing koi ponds, fountains and bathing pools designated for purification rituals, in addition to several photogenic shrines. The temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the protector and preserver in Hindu tradition, and was constructed as a tribute to Bali’s water deities, symbolizing the island’s close ties with natural elements, especially water.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple Guide.

Pura Mengening

Often overlooked by tourists, Pura Mengening is one of Bali’s Bali‘s best-kept secrets and a true hidden gem. The temple is a beautiful oasis surrounded by lush vegetation on all sides. Also, much like in Tirta Empul, its popular neighbour temple from down the street, you can take part in a water purification ritual, albeit in a much more relaxed atmosphere with fewer other tourists. It’s a great place to enjoy several temple water features (ponds, fountains and bathing pools) in a relaxed atmosphere and relative solitude.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Pura Mengening Temple Guide.

Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring

Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring is easily one of our favorite temples in Bali, as its several attractions rolled into one: a beautiful temple complex, and huge archeological site that includes royal tombs, and a series of stunning rice terraces, all of which are surrounded by lush green vegetation and crisscrossed by the scenic Pakerisan River. Gunung Kawi Temple, also often referred to as the Valley of The Balinese Kings, was built in the 11th-century temple and served as a funerary complex that is spread across both sides of the Pakerisan River. Some of its notable features are the 10 rock-cut shrines that are carved into some 7-metre-high (23 feet) sheltered niches into the cliff face.

Beyond the temple, there’s also a short but scenic walking trail that takes you through beautiful rice terraces.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring Temple Guide.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace

Also known as the Ceking Rice Terrace, Tegalalang is also included in Bali’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for its traditional subak irrigation system. Of the scenic hiking trails outside of Ubud, those of the Tegalalang Rice Terrace are the closest to the town, only 15 km away. This proximity to Ubud also means that it’s one of the busiest places among those listed in this guide – so much so that part of the area around the rice terraces has turned into a large tourist trap, with all sorts of giant swings and various staged photo-op stations, zip lines and aerial “floating” bike rides (Sky Bike). Fortunately, you can leave most of these attractions behind by simply heading deeper into the rice terraces.

The rice terraces themselves are quite beautiful and have some of the sharpest slopes that you will see in Bali. For more information on what to expect during your visit, be sure to check out our Tegalalang Rice Terrace Hiking Guide.

Day Trip Option 3: Central Bali Waterfalls & Monkeys

Primary Attractions: Kanto Tempo Waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall, Suwat Waterfall, Taman Sari Waterfall, Goa Gajah Temple, Ubud Monkey Forest
Drive Time: 1h30
Visit, Exploring, Walking Time: 4h – 6h
Potential Add-Ons Along the Way: Temesi Waterfall (link to Google Maps), Pura Samuan Tiga (link to Google Maps), Pura Penataran Sasih (link to Google Maps), Ubud Monkey Forest

Tibumana Waterfall

Tibumana Waterfall is without a doubt one of Bali‘s most photogenic waterfalls. Hidden in a jungle valley, a 5-meter-high thin curtain of falls gently cascades into an idyllic natural pool from which you can enjoy a relaxing swim. The walk to the falls is also quite beautiful and scenic as you go through a verdant jungle and cross over the river via small bamboo bridges.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Tibumana Waterfall Guide.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Although Kanto Lampo is one of Bali’s most popular and busiest waterfalls, it is one of the most visually impressive due to its remarkable size. Though not one of Bali’s tallest waterfalls (it has a height of 15 meters), Kanto Lampo is unique in its width and the number of streams that cascade down the large natural rock formation. Exploring the canyon away from the falls can be a lot of fun too, where you’ll have to wade across a shallow river (the use of water shoes is recommended here).

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Kanto Lampo Waterfall Guide.

Taman Sari Waterfall

Taman Sari is also a very unique waterfall in Bali. It’s a stunning two-tiered waterfall, with the first portion being a single curtain that drops into a small natural pool, from which several cascades fall into a much larger natural pool. Of all the falls in Bali, Taman Sari is one of the best ones for enjoying a swim due to the size and depth of its bottom natural pool.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Taman Sari Waterfall Guide.

Suwat Waterfall

Suwat Waterfall is one of Bali‘s best-kept secrets – a true hidden gem that was only made accessible to tourists in 2019. Much like its quasi-neighbour, Tibumana Waterfall, but slightly more expensive to visit, Suwat Waterfall is a narrow photogenic cascade that falls into an idyllic natural pool that’s great for swimming. It is a beautiful, secluded waterfall where you can rent a bamboo raft to take pictures within the natural pool below the falls.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Suwat Waterfall Guide.

Goa Gajah

Located just outside Ubud, Goa Gajah is a popular destination due to its famous “Elephant Cave”, whose impressive and ornate doorway is a unique attraction in Bali. The exact origins of the cave are uncertain, but it is believed to have been built as a sanctuary for meditation and spiritual reflection. Archeological and historical experts believe Goa Gajah dates from the 11th-century Bali Kingdom.

Our favorite part of Goa Gajah wasn’t the elephant cave or any of the other temple shrines, but rather a lush jungle garden with a cascading river, beautiful stone bridges and a scenic waterfall.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Goa Gajah Temple Guide.

Ubud Monkey Forest

Although you can easily visit the Monkey Forest from Ubud, it’s also easy to tack on to a day-trip due to its location at the south end of town, where you can stop on your way in or out of town. Officially named the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve that is home to over 1200 long-tailed macaques. It is also still used by the local community for worship as there are three temples within the forest grounds, including the impressive 14th-century Pura Dalem Agung. The walking paths are well-maintained and they scenically wind through the lush and dense forest. It’s definitely a nice change of pace from the noise of Ubud’s busy streets.

For more information on visiting the forest, be sure to check out our separate guide for Bali’s Ubud Monkey Forest.

Day Trip Option 4: More Waterfalls and Some Temples

Primary Attractions: Yeh Bulan Waterfall, Goa Raja Waterfall, Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Penglipuran Village, Pura Kehen
Drive Time: 2h30
Visit, Exploring, Walking Time: 3h-5h
Potential Add-Ons Along the Way: Ubud Monkey Forest, Goa Rajah Temple, Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Goa Raja Waterfall

Goa Raja was definitely one of our favorite falls to visit in Bali. A tall curtain of water cascades into a large cavern, which becomes even more beautiful in the late morning when sunbeams come crashing down into the cavern. We also really enjoyed the trail that leads to the waterfalls, where you walk through a scenic narrow canyon following a gentle river with lush jungle vegetation all around.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Goa Raja Waterfall Guide.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Much like Goa Raja, Tukad Cepung is a waterfall located in a deep cavern where morning sunbeams can create a unique magical atmosphere. The main difference between the two is that Tukad Cepung is no longer a hidden gem and is one of Bali’s busiest waterfalls. However, the trail to reach the falls is quite fun, particularly the final section where you’ll have to wade in shallow ankle-deep water within a tall and narrow canyon.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Tukad Cepung Waterfall Guide.

Yeh Bulan Waterfall

This is probably our favorite waterfall in Bali. The location features not one but two stunning waterfalls in the middle of the jungle, and can only be accessed by walking through a very shallow and scenic stream that makes its way through a narrow canyon surrounded by lush vegetation. Another reason why we love this waterfall so much is that it gets a fraction of the crowds that other nearby waterfalls get since it only opened to the public in 2023 – in fact, we had the place to ourselves during our visit!

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Yeh Bulan Waterfall Guide.

Pura Kehen

Pura Kehen, although a rather small temple complex, is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Bali. It sits atop a long, ornate staircase with intricate stone carvings and statues. Although not off the beaten path nor in a far remote location, the temple doesn’t seem to be part of the main tourist circuit yet, meaning that you might find yourself alone (or almost) when visiting. The temple’s outer courtyard is home to a huge banyan tree, which is believed to be over 400 years old, whereas the inner courtyard’s main attraction is an impressive 11-tiered Meru Tower.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Pura Kehen Temple Guide.

Penglipuran Village

Penglipuran Village is Bali‘s most famous “traditional village”, renowned for its pristine beauty and steadfast preservation of traditional Balinese customs. It is also a place where the community has graciously opened its doors to the public to help promote and celebrate Balinese culture. Often described as the cleanest village in the world, it strongly adheres to the Balinese philosophy, promoting harmony between humans, nature, and the divine. If you have some extra time, be sure to explore the scenic bamboo forest trail next to the village.

For more information on the village and what to expect during your visit, check out our travel guide for Bali’s Penglipuran Village.

Day Trip Option 5: Sunrise Hike on Mount Batur

This is a different type of day trip, as it takes place during the very early morning hours of the day, but a wonderful experience nonetheless. The Mount Batur Sunrise Trek, an organized expedition that takes you to the summit of an active volcano to watch one of the most stunning sunrises you’ll ever see. It was one of our favorite activities during our time in Ubud.

The main drawback to this hiking activity is that you need to get up and leave Ubud around 2 am. The good news, however, is that a hired driver will take care of the transport and drop you off at the base of the summit, where a hiking guide will lead a small group of five people up to the summit in the darkness, just in time to watch the sunrise. Headlamps, walking sticks and breakfast are provided and included in the organized hiking tour:

For more information on what to expect during your hike, be sure to check out our Mount Batur Sunrise Hiking Guide.

Day Trip Option 6: Nusa Islands

A short boat ride from Bali lies three small but stunningly beautiful islands. Collectively known as the Nusa islands, the two most popular among visitors are Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. While there are many fun things to do on each island, two of their main draws are their collection of spectacular beaches and the great snorkelling opportunities. Nusa Lembongan is the smallest of the two islands, the most developed, and the closest to Bali.

If you plan on spending several days on the islands, you can check out our specific guides to help plan your time on the islands:

Best Things to See and Do in Nusa Lembongan
Perfect Day Trip to Nusa Penida From Bali
Best Beaches on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida

If you can only allow a day to visit the islands, the simplest way to go about it is to join an organized group tour that will handle all of the transport logistics of the day trip, including hotel pick-up and drop-off from most locations in Bali, including Ubud. These are some of the best tours that depart from Bali:

1) This tour combines the best of Penida West attractions with some snorkelling adventures, including a stop at Manta Point to (hopefully) see some Manta Rays:

2) This tour primarily focuses on snorkelling activities in both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida:

3) This tour is ideal for those who aren’t keen to spend so much time in the water and want to focus on the site and attractions on land. This tour will hit the main attractions in both East and West Nusa Penida:

4) Finally, this tour focuses solely on Nusa Lembongan attractions:

Ubud – How Long Do You Need?

Ubud itself deserves at least 2-3 days to fully enjoy everything it has to offer. As you saw above, there are many different day trips you can take from Ubud, meaning that you can easily plan to spend a week in Ubud, depending on how many day trips you want to make and on the other home bases you have planned in your Bali itinerary. Our preferred Bali itinerary skips south Bali and focuses on Ubud and east Bali (based on Sidemen), along with the Nusa Islands (Lembongan & Penida) and the Gili Islands.

Best Time to Visit Ubud

The best time to visit Ubud is during the dry season, which typically runs from late April to late October. This period offers the most favorable weather with less rain and lower humidity.  The rainy season also comes with an increased risk of mosquitoes, particularly around the rice terraces and in more rural areas.

You may also want to consider off-peak months like May-June or September-October for a more personal experience with fewer crowds.

Where to Stay in Ubud

All of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations located within walking distance from Ubud center:

Komaneka at Rasa Sayang Ubud Hotel

Ubud Village Hotel

Adiwana Resort Jembawan

Kajane Mua Villas

Alaya Resort Ubud

Planning a Trip to Bali?

You might be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in Ubud
Best Things to See and Do in Gili T
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Best Things to See and Do in East Bali

We also highly recommend these travel guidebooks:
Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara
Bali: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide
Rough Guides: Bali and Lombok

Photography Gear

If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.

Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug

Other Travel Essentials

Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.

e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.

Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.

Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).

Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).

Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)

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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Bali travel guide on the Best Day Trips from Ubud and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.

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