Full Day Kintamani Volcano View and Ubud Village Tour

The best part of this 10-hour private tour is the range. In one long day, you move from a Balinese dance about good and evil to monkey-filled forest, stepped rice fields, a volcano view, holy springs, and a silverwork village. It gives you a useful first look at central Bali without making you arrange separate cars for every stop.

I like the private driver and the included lunch most. Your driver can explain what you are seeing, adjust the pace within the day, and help with practical matters. The buffet meal includes Indonesian dishes, water, and a view toward Mt. Batur. The main drawback is the packed schedule: seven stops in roughly ten hours can feel hurried, especially when traffic slows the roads around Ubud.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven stops in about 10 hours: This is a broad introduction to Ubud and Kintamani, not a slow village day.
• A private air-conditioned car: Your group travels alone, with fuel, entrance fees, and an English-speaking driver included.
• Mt. Batur at lunchtime: The Kintamani meal gives you time to enjoy the volcano view instead of making only a quick roadside photo stop.
• Culture beyond scenery: The Barong and Keris dance and Tirta Empul add meaning to the rice terraces and forest.
• Shopping is part of the day: Celuk is useful if you want gold or silver handicrafts, but it may feel less appealing if you do not plan to buy anything.
• A strong driver can shape the day: Past drivers named Teddy, Arsa, Dirga, Naya, Ayu, Putu Lencong, Koming, Heri, and Oka have been praised for safe driving, explanations, flexibility, and help with photos. Your assigned driver may be different.

Why this private Ubud and Kintamani day works

Central Bali is not easy to cover by public transport. Roads can be narrow and winding, and major sights sit well apart from one another. A private car solves the basic problem: you can reach the highlands, return toward Ubud, and make several stops without negotiating a new ride at each turn.

The tour begins at 8:00 a.m. and runs for about ten hours. Pickup and drop-off are offered at most hotels in south Bali and Ubud. That makes it practical from areas such as Kuta, though the exact driving time depends on where you stay and the day’s traffic.

You pay $65 per person. For a private outing, that price covers the car, air conditioning, English-speaking driver, petrol, entrance fees, buffet lunch, one bottle of mineral water per person, tax, and service charges. Personal purchases are extra. I see the value here in the transport and time saved, especially for a small group that would otherwise need to hire a car and pay entrance fees separately.

The tradeoff is that this is a busy sightseeing day. You are not spending a full morning at the Monkey Forest or a quiet afternoon among the rice terraces. Think of it as a well-filled sampler of central Bali.

Barong and Keris dance: a lively cultural opening

Your first stop is the Barong and Keris dance at Sila Culture, with about an hour for the performance. This traditional Balinese story presents a fight between good and evil, with Barong as a central figure in Balinese mythology.

The performance gives the day some cultural context before the scenery begins. It is also a good choice for a first visit because the story is visual and theatrical rather than dependent on a long museum explanation. Expect music, costume, movement, and a performance style that may feel unfamiliar at first.

The stop is included, so you do not need to budget a separate admission fee. The practical question is timing. Since the entire day has seven stops, you should treat the dance as a set one-hour visit, not an open-ended cultural program. If you prefer quiet temples and village walks to stage shows, this may be the least natural fit in the schedule.

Still, I like its place at the beginning. It introduces a central Balinese idea, the struggle between opposing forces, before you see sacred sites and working rural areas.

Ubud Monkey Forest: shade, temples, and watchful animals

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is scheduled for about an hour. Its full name is the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, and it combines a nature reserve with temple grounds in Ubud.

The appeal is easy to understand. You get a green forest setting, temple structures, and macaques moving through the area. It is a more atmospheric stop than a simple animal attraction because the forest and religious buildings are part of the same visit.

An hour is enough for a first look, but it is not a long exploration. Keep your attention on your belongings and follow local instructions around the monkeys. The tour information does not promise special animal encounters, so come for the forest and temple setting as much as for the monkeys.

This stop also gives you a change of pace after the dance. You move from a seated performance into a shaded outdoor area, then return to the car for the trip toward the rice terraces.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace: the classic Bali view

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is given another hour. The stepped fields are one of the best-known sights near Ubud, with layered paddies rising and falling across the hillsides.

This is the place for photographs, but it is worth looking beyond the postcard view. The terraces show how farming and topography work together in Bali. From the paths and viewpoints, you can see the shape of the fields and the slopes that make the area so distinctive.

One hour lets you take in the view without turning the stop into a long walk. Conditions underfoot can vary, and the tour details do not promise a specific walking route or additional activities. Wear shoes that feel secure, especially if you plan to leave the main viewing area.

You should also expect commercial activity in and around popular viewpoints. That is part of the modern visitor experience, but it means the stop may feel less quiet than a rural road farther from Ubud. I would keep your expectations focused on the terraces themselves and use the hour well.

Kintamani and Mt. Batur: the day’s main panorama

The tour reaches Kintamani Highland for a 30-minute viewing stop, followed by an hour at The Amora Bali for lunch. Kintamani sits about 1,500 meters above sea level, so the air is cooler and can feel damp during the day. It can be cold at night.

The highland stop is brief, but the view is the reason for coming. You can look toward Mt. Batur and the surrounding valley, then continue to lunch with more time to enjoy the setting. Conditions can affect visibility, so the volcano may not always appear sharply. That is one reason the included meal is useful: even if clouds soften the view, you are not making a long trip for only a five-minute photo.

Lunch is a buffet of Indonesian specialties, with water included. Vegetarian food is available on request. The meal adds real value because it removes the need to find a restaurant during the busiest part of the day and gives you a proper break from the car.

The food is described as Indonesian buffet fare rather than a special tasting menu. If your main goal is fine dining, this will not be the highlight. If you want a convenient meal with Mt. Batur in view, it fits the tour well.

Tirta Empul: a sacred spring with real religious meaning

After Kintamani, the route continues to Tirta Empul Temple in Tampak Siring. This is one of the most meaningful stops because it remains a place of worship, not just a scenic backdrop.

The temple is known as the Holy Spring Temple. Balinese worshippers have come here for more than a thousand years to use the holy water for purification. That detail changes how you should approach the visit. You are not simply looking at pools and stone gateways. You are entering a living religious place.

Allow the full hour to notice the temple layout and understand what happens around the springs. Dress and behave respectfully, and follow any instructions given on site. The supplied tour details do not specify whether bathing equipment or special clothing is provided, so do not assume that a purification ritual is included in your booking.

For me, Tirta Empul gives the day its strongest sense of place. The rice terraces show daily work, while Tirta Empul shows spiritual practice. Together they offer more than a string of attractive photo stops.

Celuk Village: gold and silver work, with a shopping decision

The final listed stop is Celuk Village, known for gold and silver handicrafts. You have about an hour here, and admission is free.

Celuk is worth your time if you want jewelry or small metal crafts made in Bali. It is also a chance to see a village economy built around skilled handicraft work. You can browse before deciding if anything deserves space in your suitcase.

The key point is that shopping is built into the itinerary. If you enjoy looking at local craftwork, this is a useful stop. If you dislike sales-oriented visits or have no interest in jewelry, the hour may feel long after an already full day.

Personal expenses are not included, so purchases are your responsibility. Ask about prices and payment details before committing, and remember that the low-price claim in the tour description does not tell you the cost of any particular item.

The driver matters more than the route on a long day

This experience is private, but it is not described as a separate specialist guide plus chauffeur. Your English-speaking driver handles the transport and provides local explanations. That arrangement can work very well in Bali, where a safe driver and a flexible local contact are often more useful than a formal lecture.

The strongest praise has gone to drivers who explained local culture, knew the roads, helped with photographs, and handled extra requests. Teddy was described as friendly, helpful, and professional. Arsa was praised for making the dance, rice fields, and volcano lunch especially enjoyable. Dirga was noted for explaining Balinese culture in detail.

Other named drivers include Naya, Ayu, Putu Lencong, Koming, Heri, and Oka. Ayu was praised for conversation and looking after practical needs. Putu Lencong was described as attentive and helpful with questions about culture. Koming was praised for driving skill and a problem-free day, while Heri was noted for safe, experienced driving and explanations about the volcano.

These names do not guarantee who will drive your group. They do show what to value when the driver arrives: clear communication, safe road handling, useful explanations, and willingness to help without pushing the day too hard.

What the $65 price really covers

At $65 per person, the tour is easier to judge as a package than as a ticket to one attraction. You receive private transport, petrol, the driver, entrance fees, lunch, water, and service charges. That removes several small costs that can quickly add up on a self-arranged day.

The private format matters most for two or more people. Your group travels alone, so you are not waiting for strangers at every stop. The driver can also help with the practical rhythm of the day, though the fixed list of stops means you should not expect unlimited customization.

The price does not include personal spending. That covers shopping in Celuk and any other costs not specifically listed. The tour is also priced for a long day, so it may not suit you if you would rather pay less for a single destination and spend more time there.

The tour has a 5 out of 5 rating from 183 reviews and a 99 percent recommendation figure. Those numbers support the idea that the basic package works well, but your experience will still depend on traffic, weather, the assigned driver, and your interest in each stop.

Who should book this full-day route

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Kuta or Ubud and want one organized day that covers the area’s main sights. It suits first-time visitors who want culture, nature, food, a volcano view, and shopping in one outing.

It is also a good match for couples, families, and small private groups that value a car of their own. The air conditioning matters in Bali’s heat, while the cool Kintamani highlands provide a welcome change later in the day.

You should think twice if your priority is a slow pace. Seven stops leave little room for lingering, and the drive between areas takes up part of the ten-hour day. You may also prefer a different tour if you want a serious hike, an extended temple visit, or a full cooking or craft workshop.

Pickup is offered at most south Bali and Ubud hotels. Confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can participate. Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum variety with minimum transport planning. The Barong dance, Monkey Forest, Tegalalang, Mt. Batur, Tirta Empul, and Celuk make a broad and useful introduction to central Bali, while lunch and entrance fees keep the cost clear.

Skip it if you want depth rather than range. The schedule is full, Celuk is shopping-focused, and the volcano view depends on weather. For most first visits, though, $65 is a fair price for a private car, driver, included admissions, lunch, and a full day of central Bali sights.

FAQ

How long does the Kintamani and Ubud tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours and starts at 8:00 a.m.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Private pickup and drop-off are offered at most hotels in south Bali and Ubud.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the tour uses a private car.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a private air-conditioned car, an English-speaking driver, petrol, entrance fees, an Indonesian buffet lunch, one bottle of mineral water per person, tax, and service charges.

Is vegetarian food available at lunch?

Yes. Vegetarian food is available on request.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.