Electric Cycling Tour of Ubud with Free Hotel Transfer and Lunch

Ubud’s best views often sit beyond the reach of a car, and this electric-bike tour gets you there with less sweat and more time to look around. You’ll pedal through rice fields, villages, plantations, and narrow paths before stopping at Tegalalang Rice Terrace and a jungle swing.

I like the friendly safety setup, with guides often riding at the front and back, and I like the mix of scenery and local life. You’ll also get a meal, bottled water, a helmet, and hotel transport for $41. The trade-off is real road traffic, plus some rough, narrow sections that demand confident bike handling.

At a glance: what makes this ride worth considering

• Rice fields beyond the main roads: The route lets you reach small paths and countryside that cars cannot use.
• Electric help on Ubud’s hills: You choose how much to pedal, which matters in Bali’s heat and rolling terrain.
• A culture-focused route: Stops can include a temple, traditional house, community areas, rice farming sites, and a coffee plantation.
• Tegalalang photo stop: You get time at one of Ubud’s most recognizable rice terrace areas.
• Lunch or dinner included: Morning departures finish with lunch, while afternoon departures finish with dinner.
• Central Ubud pickup: Transport is offered from hotels in the Ubud area, though a long transfer from elsewhere in Bali can eat into your day.

Why an e-bike is the right tool for Ubud

Ubud looks compact on a map, but its roads rise and fall quickly once you leave the center. Add humidity, traffic, and the occasional rough track, and a regular bicycle can turn a pleasant outing into a workout.

The electric bicycle gives you control. You still pedal, but the motor can take the strain when the road tilts upward. You can ride gently and let the bike do more of the work, or pedal harder when you want exercise. The bikes are described as easy to operate, even for people new to e-bikes, but you must already know how to ride a bicycle.

That last point matters. This is not a slow ride entirely on a protected cycle path. Part of the route uses public roads with cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, and occasional obstacles. Guides help the group stay together and manage crossings, but you remain responsible for steering, braking, and watching the road.

I would not book this as your first-ever bicycle experience. If you ride regularly, the trip should feel manageable. If you are rusty, practice before arriving and be honest with the guide during the bike fitting.

Leaving the Ubud office and getting comfortable

The tour starts at eBikes Bali on Jalan Tirta Tawar in Petulu, Ubud. Pickup and drop-off are offered within the Ubud area, and transport is by air-conditioned minivan.

At the start, you receive a bicycle and helmet, and the staff help you find a suitable size. The minimum height is 150 centimeters, and the maximum rider weight is 120 kilograms, or 260 pounds. Children must ride with an accompanying adult.

The early minutes are important. Use them to test the brakes, ask how the electric assistance works, and make sure the seat feels right. Guides have been praised for explaining the bicycles clearly and making sure the group stays together. Some groups have had a guide at the front and another behind, with a support vehicle available if someone gets tired or an unexpected problem comes up.

The group can reach 20 people. That is large enough to provide company, but not so small that you should expect a private outing. Smaller departures can happen, and solo riders may occasionally find themselves in a very small group, but you should book expecting a shared tour.

Riding through villages, temples, and rice country

The most rewarding part of the outing is the movement between ordinary Balinese places. You are not simply driven to a viewpoint, handed a photo stop, and returned to your hotel. You travel under your own power through village roads and working agricultural areas.

Guides explain local customs, rice production, offerings, temples, and family life along the way. Some departures include a temple visit, a traditional Balinese household compound, or a community center. These details give the ride more meaning than a string of scenic stops. You get a look at how religious practice and daily life sit side by side.

The countryside also changes under your wheels. One minute you may be on a paved road with motorcycles nearby. The next, you may turn toward rice paddies or plantations, where the pace slows and the view opens up.

You should expect a mixed surface. Main roads can feel intimidating, especially if you are concentrating on shifting your line and watching traffic. Paths between the paddies may be narrow, uneven, and bumpy. A guide can help you choose a more advanced route or keep to an easier line, but the tour still requires balance and attention.

Wear covered shoes rather than sandals. Bring sunscreen, since shade is not guaranteed, and use the bottled water provided. A small amount of clothing that dries quickly will also make the ride more comfortable in warm weather.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace: the big photo stop

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the visual centerpiece. The stepped fields provide the broad views most people hope to see around Ubud, and the stop gives you time to take photographs rather than just passing through on a bicycle.

The terrace area is beautiful, but do not imagine a completely quiet rural track. It is a popular sight, and the paths can be uneven. Keep your footing in mind while taking photos, especially if you are carrying a phone or camera.

The value here is that the rice terraces form part of a longer ride. You arrive after seeing villages and farming areas, so the terraces feel connected to real work and local routines rather than appearing as an isolated backdrop.

A guide can also add context about agriculture and the way rice fields function in Balinese life. That explanation is worth your attention. The view is easy to photograph, but understanding how the fields are maintained gives the stop more substance.

The jungle swing and coffee plantation stop

The route includes a stop at a local coffee plantation and a giant jungle swing. You can sample coffee and teas, and the swing provides a dramatic view over the surrounding fields and greenery.

For many people, this is the playful part of the trip. The swing creates the familiar high-in-the-air photo, while the coffee stop adds something to taste and discuss. The guides can explain how coffee and tea are produced, and some departures include a tasting of luwak coffee.

Here I would add one clear caution. A plantation visit is not the same as a simple coffee tasting. One detailed account raised serious concerns about the treatment of civets used for kopi luwak and described the plantation as a place that strongly encouraged purchases. If animal welfare matters to you, ask if you can choose a traditional house or another cultural stop instead. The tour route may offer that choice.

You also do not need to buy coffee. Enjoy the explanation and tasting, then decide for yourself. The plantation is not essential to the best part of the outing, which is the ride through the countryside and rice fields.

Lunch after the morning ride, dinner after the afternoon ride

The meal gives the tour a useful finish. Morning departures include lunch, while afternoon departures include dinner. The meal is served after the cycling portion, so you can sit down without worrying about riding immediately afterward.

The dining venue includes a jungle swing, and the food has been described as a good local meal with a range of choices. The exact menu is not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular dish or a formal restaurant experience.

The meal matters for practical reasons, too. Three hours of riding in Bali’s heat can leave you hungry, even with electric assistance. Having food included means you do not need to plan another stop or search for a restaurant after returning to Ubud.

You should still eat sensibly before the tour. The e-bike reduces exertion, but it does not remove it. You will be outdoors, handling traffic, and riding over uneven ground.

How safe does the road riding feel?

Safety is the main question to ask before booking. The strongest part of the setup is the guide organization. Guides work to keep the group together, help manage intersections, and stop traffic when the group needs to cross. The presence of a front and rear guide can make a real difference.

Still, no escort can remove the risks of public-road cycling. You will encounter vehicles and motorcycles, and some riders find this more daunting than expected. Narrow paths beside rice paddies add a different challenge because there may be little room to correct a wobble.

I would rate the tour as a good fit for a competent cyclist, not a complete beginner. You need to brake smoothly, hold a line, look ahead, and respond to changing surfaces. If you are comfortable doing that, the electric motor makes the hills far less tiring.

The tour has a maximum of 20 participants, and most people can take part if they meet the height, weight, and cycling requirements. Service animals are allowed. Covered shoes and sunscreen are strongly recommended.

What $41 buys you

At $41 per person, the price covers more than bicycle use. You receive:

• An electric bicycle and helmet
• A local guide
• Bottled water
• Air-conditioned transport
• Pickup and drop-off in the Ubud area
• Tegalalang Rice Terrace
• The coffee plantation and jungle swing stop
• Lunch after a morning departure or dinner after an afternoon departure

That is good value if you are staying in central Ubud and want several pieces of the region combined into one half-day outing. A private driver, bicycle rental, meal, and separate visits to the rice terraces would quickly require more planning, and you would lose the guide’s local explanations.

The value drops if you are staying far from Ubud. A pickup from Nusa Dua, for example, can turn a short cycling experience into a much longer day because of transfer time. This tour is best when your hotel is in Ubud or nearby.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 1,397 reviews and is recommended by 99 percent of participants. Those numbers suggest a strong, reliable product, but they should not hide the road conditions. The same experience can feel easy and relaxing to a regular cyclist, yet stressful to someone who rarely rides.

Morning or afternoon departure?

Choose the morning if you want lunch afterward and prefer to start outdoor activity earlier. This may also suit you if you want the rest of the day free for Ubud’s galleries, markets, or another meal.

Choose the afternoon if dinner fits your plans better. The later ride can create a different feel in the countryside, but weather is always a factor. The activity requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a change of date or a full refund.

The tour lasts about three hours, but hotel pickup and drop-off add time. The listed end point is back at the meeting point, with transport provided for the Ubud pickup area.

For cancellations, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted or refunded.

Who should book this Ubud cycling tour?

I would choose this for someone who wants scenery and local context in one outing. It works especially well early in a Ubud stay because it helps you understand the area’s villages, rice farming, temples, and roads before you spend more time exploring independently.

Families with older children can also find it suitable, provided the child meets the minimum height and can ride confidently. The electric assistance helps in the heat, and the guides can provide reassurance, but this is not a ride for a nervous beginner who cannot control a bicycle in traffic.

Solo visitors may enjoy the social side of a shared group. You may also end up with a very small group, but there is no guarantee of a private tour.

I would look elsewhere if you want a fully traffic-free ride, a long technical mountain route, or a purely ethical coffee experience with no concern about civet welfare. I would also think twice if your hotel is well outside Ubud, since the transfers can take much longer than the ride itself.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you can ride a bicycle with confidence and want to see Ubud’s countryside without spending the day climbing hills. The best parts are the rice fields, village roads, cultural explanations, and the easy pace created by the e-bike.

Before booking, confirm that your hotel is in the Ubud pickup area, wear covered shoes, and decide how you feel about the coffee plantation stop. If animal welfare is a concern, ask about the traditional-house option. For a competent cyclist seeking a practical half-day introduction to Ubud beyond the center, $41 is a fair price.

FAQ

How long does the electric cycling tour last?

The cycling experience lasts approximately three hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off can make the total outing longer.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is eBikes Bali, Ubud Cycling Tours, on Jalan Tirta Tawar in Petulu, Ubud, Bali.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in the Ubud area. Transport is provided by air-conditioned minivan.

What is included with the bicycle?

The tour includes use of an electric bicycle, a helmet, bottled water, and a local guide.

Is lunch included?

Morning tours include lunch after the ride. Afternoon tours include dinner instead.

Do I need bicycle experience?

Yes. You must have bicycle riding experience. The tour includes road riding and narrow, uneven paths, so you need to control the bicycle confidently.

Is there a rider height or weight limit?

The minimum rider height is 150 centimeters. The maximum rider weight is 120 kilograms, or 260 pounds.

Can children join the tour?

Yes, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum height requirement also applies.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.