Full Day Kintamani Volcano View and Ubud Village Tour

Bali packs a lot into one long day. This private 10-hour trip links Ubud’s temples, rice terraces, monkeys, crafts, and the cool highlands of Kintamani, making it a useful choice if you want to cover several major sights without arranging transport yourself. I like the private car and driver, and I like the mix of cultural stops and mountain views. The main drawback is the schedule: seven stops can feel busy, especially with Bali’s narrow, winding roads.

The tour costs $65 per person and includes hotel pickup in most of south Bali and Ubud, entrance fees, lunch, water, fuel, and an English-speaking driver. I also like that the day is private, so your group can ask for help, photos, or small adjustments. Just remember that shopping in Celuk and personal expenses are not included, and lunch is a set buffet experience rather than a free choice of restaurants.

Key details before you book

• A 10-hour private route connects Ubud, Kintamani, Tirta Empul, Celuk, and several major sights in one day.
• The Kintamani lunch stop includes an Indonesian buffet, water, and a view toward Mount Batur volcano.
• A Barong and Keris performance introduces a Balinese story about the struggle between good and evil.
• Tirta Empul’s sacred springs offer one of the day’s most meaningful cultural stops, though respectful temple behavior matters.
• Celuk village is a good place to browse gold and silver handicrafts, but purchases are your responsibility.
• Drivers such as Teddy, Arsa, Dirga, Naya, Ayu, Putu Lencong, Koming, Heri, and Oka have been praised for safe driving, patience, explanations, and help with photos.

Why this route works for a first Bali day

Bali’s best inland sights are spread across roads that can be awkward to manage without a car. Public transport does not make this particular route easy, and the journey between Ubud and Kintamani can involve narrow, curving roads. A private driver turns a complicated sightseeing day into one continuous plan.

The route also gives you more than one version of Bali. You begin with performance and mythology, then move through forest, farming country, mountain scenery, a Hindu temple, and a craft village. That variety is the real value here. You are not spending ten hours looking at similar temples or taking the same type of photo again and again.

The trade-off is time. Each scheduled stop lasts about 30 minutes to one hour, so this is a sampler rather than a slow study of Ubud. If you prefer long walks, extended photography, or quiet time at one temple, the packed schedule may feel rushed.

Barong and Keris: a lively start to the morning

The first stop is a one-hour Barong and Keris Dance performance at Sila Culture. Admission is included, and the show presents a traditional Balinese story about the fight between good and evil. Barong, a central figure in Balinese mythology, represents the force of good in the tale.

This is a useful introduction because the story gives you a key to some of Bali’s religious and artistic traditions before you visit the temples. The performance is also described as humorous and informative, not simply solemn. That matters if you are new to Balinese dance and want some cultural context without beginning the day with a long lecture.

Still, you should know what kind of stop this is. It is a staged cultural performance, not a private village ceremony. I would treat it as an accessible introduction to Balinese storytelling, then pay attention to how religion and mythology appear in the later temple visits.

Ubud Monkey Forest and the Padangtegal sanctuary

You get about an hour at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, formally known as the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. It is both a nature reserve and a temple complex in Ubud, so the visit combines shaded paths, old religious buildings, and free-moving monkeys.

The appeal is easy to understand. This stop feels different from the open rice fields and highland viewpoints later in the day. You can see how forest, temple space, and daily tourism exist side by side in central Ubud.

Keep your attention on your belongings and follow the sanctuary’s instructions. The supplied details do not specify particular animal rules, so I would not assume that every interaction is safe or encouraged. An hour gives you enough time to see the main area, but not necessarily to wander every path at a leisurely pace.

This is one of the stops where your driver can add value. Several praised drivers, including Heri and Dirga, were noted for explaining local culture and places in detail. Ask questions as you go. The ride between stops is part of the experience, not merely dead time.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the limits of one hour

The Tegalalang Rice Terrace is scheduled for another hour. Its stepped fields are among the most recognizable sights near Ubud, and the changing levels make the area especially photogenic. The stop gives you a look at Bali’s farming traditions as well as its famous scenery.

I would use this hour for a focused visit rather than expecting a long countryside walk. The information provided does not specify a particular trail, swing, or extra activity, so do not count on those being part of the tour. Your included admission covers the listed tour stops, while personal purchases and extras remain yours to pay for.

The terrace can also be a reminder of the day’s pace. You will have enough time to appreciate the view and take photographs, but the schedule may not suit you if you want to sit quietly and study the irrigation channels or walk far into the fields.

Kintamani brings the big mountain view

Kintamani is the visual high point of the day. The village sits at roughly 1,500 meters, giving it cooler daytime air and colder conditions at night than the southern resorts. The tour allows 30 minutes at the highland stop, followed by a one-hour lunch at The Amora Bali.

The main reward is the view toward Mount Batur volcano. The lunch setting also looks across the volcano and the surrounding valley, giving you scenery while you eat rather than asking you to fit another viewpoint into an already crowded schedule.

The supplied details describe an Indonesian buffet with water, and vegetarian food is available on request. That makes the meal practical for a wide range of diets, though you should request vegetarian food rather than assume it will be prepared automatically.

Weather will affect this part of the day. On a clear day, the volcano view can be the tour’s defining image. Clouds may soften or block it. That is not a fault in the tour, but it is worth keeping your expectations flexible. The highland setting is still a change from hot coastal Bali, even when the mountain hides.

Tirta Empul, where water has a religious role

At Tirta Empul Temple in Tampak Siring, you have about an hour to see one of Bali’s best-known holy spring temples. Balinese worshippers have come here for more than a thousand years to use the sacred water for purification.

This stop has more spiritual weight than a simple scenic visit. The temple helps explain why water matters so much in Balinese Hindu practice. You can look at the spring pools and temple grounds, but you should act as if you are entering a working religious place, not a themed attraction.

Dress and behavior are important at any Balinese temple. The supplied tour details do not list specific clothing requirements or bathing arrangements, so ask your driver what is appropriate before entering. Do not assume that you can take part in purification rituals simply because you see other people doing so.

An hour is enough for a meaningful introduction, but the visit may feel short if you want to observe the ceremony and architecture in detail. Of all the stops, this is the one I would approach most patiently.

Celuk village and the shopping question

The final listed stop is Celuk Village, known for gold and silver handicrafts. Admission is free, and you can browse local workshops and displays without paying another entrance fee.

Celuk adds a useful look at Balinese craft work. It also changes the rhythm of the day from viewing temples and scenery to considering what local artisans make and sell. If jewelry interests you, this may be one of the most useful stops.

You are not required to buy anything, and personal expenses are not included. Keep that distinction clear. The tour price covers the transport and listed inclusions, not jewelry or other purchases. If you do shop, compare items and prices calmly rather than treating the stop as part of the admission cost.

The shopping visit may not appeal to everyone. Some people will enjoy seeing the craft village, while others may feel ready to return to their hotel after a full day. Since the route is private, you can ask your driver about the timing, but the published plan includes Celuk as a scheduled stop.

The driver can make or break the day

The most consistent strength of this experience is the driver. The tour includes an English-speaking driver, a private air-conditioned car, petrol, and hotel pickup and drop-off at most south Bali and Ubud hotels. Those inclusions matter because the route covers a lot of ground.

Specific drivers praised for their service include Teddy, Arsa, Dirga, Naya, Ayu, Putu Lencong, Koming, Heri, and Oka. The descriptions of their work are unusually practical: safe driving, clear explanations, patience with additional wishes, help at the right places, and taking good photographs.

That does not mean you are guaranteed a particular driver. Still, it tells you what to look for on the day. A good driver on this route should do more than operate the car. You will benefit most when the driver explains Balinese customs, helps you understand what you are seeing, and handles the road with care.

The private format is especially useful for families, couples, and small groups. You are not sharing the vehicle with strangers, and only your group participates. Group discounts are also offered, although the details of those discounts are not specified.

Is $65 good value for a full day?

At $65 per person, the price is reasonable if you plan to visit several of these sights anyway. It includes a private car with air-conditioning, an English-speaking driver, fuel, entrance fees, a buffet lunch, one bottle of mineral water per person, tax, and service charges.

The value improves as your group grows because the vehicle and driver serve only your party. You are paying for convenience as much as for sightseeing. Booking separate taxis, arranging several rides, and buying entrance tickets one by one could take more effort, especially around Kintamani and Tirta Empul.

The price is less attractive if you want a slow, deeply focused day. You are paying for breadth. The schedule gives you a taste of seven places, but not a full afternoon at any one of them.

There are also two costs to remember. Personal expenses are excluded, including purchases in Celuk, and any optional spending at the stops is yours. Vegetarian food can be requested, which is helpful, but the meal remains the included buffet rather than an independently chosen restaurant.

The experience has a 5.0 rating based on 183 ratings and a 99 percent recommendation rate. Those figures point to strong overall satisfaction, with the driver service receiving the clearest praise. I would give that factor real weight when comparing this tour with a cheaper transport-only option.

Who should choose this private Bali tour?

I would recommend it to you if you are staying in south Bali or Ubud and want a single organized day covering the inland highlights. It suits first-time visitors who want a broad introduction, families who value private transport, and small groups that want to split the cost of a car and driver.

It also suits you if cultural variety matters. The Barong and Keris performance, Tirta Empul, Celuk, and the rice terrace each show a different side of Bali. The Kintamani lunch adds a scenic pause instead of another rushed photo stop.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you dislike shopping stops, prefer independent meals, or want long stretches of quiet time. I would also think twice if your main goal is a serious hike around Mount Batur. This tour offers a volcano view from Kintamani, not a mountain climb.

The start time is 8:00 a.m., and the day lasts about ten hours. That is a full schedule, so wear comfortable clothing, bring any temple-appropriate items your driver advises, and keep some personal spending money for Celuk or other purchases.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum sightseeing with minimum transport planning. At $65, it gives you a private vehicle, driver, admissions, lunch, and a useful route through Ubud and the Kintamani highlands.

Skip it if you want to linger. Seven stops in ten hours leave little room for an unplanned long walk or extended temple visit. For most first-time visitors, though, the combination of Mount Batur views, Tirta Empul, Tegalalang, Monkey Forest, Barong dance, and Celuk makes this a practical and well-priced overview of inland Bali.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 8:00 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

How long is the Kintamani and Ubud tour?

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

Is this a private tour?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are offered at most hotels in south Bali and Ubud.

What is included in the $65 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?

Yes. Vegetarian food is available on request at the buffet lunch in Kintamani.

Are shopping expenses included?

No. Personal expenses are not included, so jewelry or other purchases at Celuk Village must be paid for separately.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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