Crafts, monkeys, and palaces in one day. This private Ubud Highlights Tour (Private All-Inclusive) strings together Bali’s art villages, a royal-area palace visit, and the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in one smooth loop with hotel pickup.

I love how you get hands-on access to local making, not just photo stops, with time in places like Tohpati for batik and Celuk for gold and silver craft. I also like the mix of everyday Balinese life and sacred architecture, especially when you pause at a traditional residence compound and then move to Batuan Temple.

One thing to plan for: the Monkey Forest entrance fee is not included, and it’s listed as $10 per person. If you hate being on a schedule, the 5 to 7 hour pace may feel full.

Key points before you go

• Private driver and guide for a no-rush route through Ubud’s art and temple areas
• Hotel pickup and drop-off plus private air-conditioned transport
• Art villages with free entry for Tohpati, Celuk, Mas, and Batuan time
• Batuan Temple and Tirta Empul are built into the day, with Tirta Empul admission included
• Monkey Forest entrance is extra at $10 per person

Price and logistics: what you really pay for

At $65 per person, you’re buying time with a private guide and a car that handles the driving, timing, and route hopping. That matters in Ubud, where moving between craft villages and temple sites can be its own half-day project.

This is listed as a 5 to 7 hour tour, starting at 9:00 am. With private transport and pick-up, you skip the guesswork of where to meet, and you start the day with fewer moving parts.

One more practical note: meals and drinks are not included. If you’ll get hungry, plan to eat near the end of the loop or bring small snacks to tide you over during the temple and art stops.

A 9:00 am start that keeps the day from slipping away

The tour begins at 9:00 am with hotel pickup by your private guide. You’ll use a mobile ticket, and you should receive confirmation at booking time.

Because this day is structured, it helps to be ready before pickup. Think: water in your bag, sunscreen on, and a phone charged for the photo-heavy art and palace stops.

The “private” part is also real, not marketing fluff. This is described as a private tour/activity, meaning only your group participates.

Tohpati craft time: batik where you can slow down

Your first major stop is Tohpati Village, known for batik. You’ll get about 40 minutes there, and admission is listed as free.

Why this stop is worth your time: batik is not just a product, it’s a process. Even if you’re not buying, you get a feel for how Ubud’s creative identity shows up in everyday making.

A good way to use this time is to ask your guide what to look for when comparing batik styles. You’ll usually get smarter results from short questions than from wandering with no plan.

Celuk, Mas, and Batuan: the craft belt of Ubud

From there, the tour moves through another set of art villages tied to specific crafts. Celuk is the gold and silver stop, Mas is wood carving, and Batuan is known for painting. Your time in this cluster is about 30 minutes, with free admission listed.

This is where the tour earns its “highlights” name. In one morning stretch, you’re seeing different craft worlds instead of repeating the same type of shop.

The trade-off: you won’t have a long, slow morning in any single village. If you’re the type who loves to watch artisans at work for an hour, you might feel the schedule is tight. Still, for a first Ubud day, it’s efficient.

Ubud Palace (Puri Saren): royals, traditional houses, and a quick reset

Next, you visit Ubud Palace, where the King of Ubud’s royal family area is described as living. Your stop here is about 30 minutes, and admission is listed as free.

This is a good palate cleanser after craft shopping. Palace areas tend to feel more formal, with a calmer rhythm than markets and workshops. It’s also a chance to notice traditional architecture and how the space is used.

If you’re short on time in Ubud, the palace stop helps you connect the creative culture you’ve been seeing with the local power and tradition that shaped it.

Batuan: traditional residence compounds and temple gate details

Before heading toward central Ubud, the route includes Batuan and a temple visit there. You’ll have a chance to see a Balinese house compound, described as a traditional way families live on the island.

I like this part because it grounds the day. After craft villages and shopping, you see the structure of daily living, not just souvenirs.

Then you move to Desa Batuan Temple, where you can admire typical Balinese architecture and ornamentation on the entrance gate and inside the structure. The main benefit is focus. You’re not just walking into a temple, you’re pausing at the specific design elements your guide points out.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: classic Ubud nature plus extra planning

Central Ubud is where you head next, and that includes the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. You’ll observe the local monkeys during your visit.

Important budget point: Monkey Forest entrance is not included in the tour price. The tour lists $10 per person for the entrance fee.

How to handle this well: keep some cash or a payment method ready for the entrance, so you don’t spend your arrival moment hunting for a way to pay. Also, if you know you’re sensitive to animal encounters, treat this stop as an active watch-and-observe moment rather than a walk-through you can ignore.

Puri Saren Palace and Ubud’s central rhythm

Along with the Monkey Forest visit, your route includes Puri Saren Palace, described as where the royal family of Ubud lives. This fits naturally after the sacred forest, because you’re still in the Ubud center zone where you can walk and browse between key points.

If you want a practical takeaway: pairing forest and palace makes sense. You get nature and tradition in the same region, instead of zigzagging across Bali for totally separate days.

Ubud art market browsing: optional, but handy for last-minute gifts

After you finish the major sights in central Ubud, you have an opportunity to browse gifts and souvenirs at an art market. This part is optional, so you can keep it short if you’re temple-weary.

Since souvenirs aren’t included, your best value move is to treat the market as a place to compare. Look for pieces tied to the village crafts you already saw, like batik textiles, gold and silver items, wood carvings, and painted art.

Even if you do not buy, this market time helps you understand what Ubud is selling, and why some items cost more than others.

Tirta Empul: the spring holy temple experience you should not rush

The itinerary also includes Tirta Empul Temple (Spring Holy Temple), located in the village of Manukaya. Your stop is about 45 minutes, and admission is listed as included.

Tirta Empul is tied to a water source within the temple, where Balinese people go to bathe in sacred waters. This is one of the most meaningful moments in the day because water is not just scenery here, it’s part of the ritual and local practice.

The value of this stop is timing and context. If you do it in the middle or later part of your loop, you shift from crafts and buildings to something sensory and ceremonial. It tends to be the moment where the day stops feeling like a shopping route.

If you’re planning your day around photos, I’d still prioritize a calm look over a fast snap. The point is the setting and the ritual focus, not just pictures.

A note on guides: friendly, local, and focused

Your provider is listed as Putu Bali Driver. One review specifically highlights a guide named Ngurah, describing him as friendly and well informed, and recommending him for a Bali visit.

Here’s what that means for you as a practical traveler: with a good guide, the difference is how you use time. In an art village, a guide can point you to what’s actually meaningful. In a temple stop, they can help you notice ornamentation and architecture instead of treating it like background.

If you want to get the most out of the private setup, ask one simple question per stop. For example: what is this village known for, and how should I look at the details?

Air-conditioned transport and private pacing: small comfort, big payoff

The tour includes private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, plus hotel pickup and drop-off. That matters more than it sounds in Ubud, where midday heat and short distances between stops can still drain your energy.

This is especially useful if you’re doing a full day and want to avoid the fatigue that comes from planning and switching transport options. Your time stays where it should be: in the places that matter.

Is $65 per person good value?

For a private tour, $65 per person can be a fair deal, mainly because you’re getting:

• a private driver/guide
• hotel pickup and drop-off
• air-conditioned private transport
• multiple art villages
• a palace visit
• a temple visit where Tirta Empul admission is included

The cost you still need to budget: Monkey Forest entrance at $10 per person, plus meals and drinks, since those are not included. Souvenirs are also extra.

So the value equation is simple. If you want a guided, planned day without coordinating rides or timing yourself, this price makes sense. If you only want one or two stops and you don’t care about a guide, you might be able to do it cheaper on your own. But you would lose the efficiency of having a route built for a single day.

Who this tour fits best, and who should reconsider

This works well if you want a structured introduction to Ubud’s art and cultural highlights. It also fits people who prefer a private car and guide rather than group bus tours.

It’s less ideal if you crave long stays at one village or you want a slow, unstructured day. The craft stops are short by design, which is great for highlights, not for deep study.

Also keep in mind that the day includes temple visits. If you want a strictly beach-and-bakery itinerary, this might feel too focused on culture and ritual.

Should you book this Ubud Highlights Tour?

Book it if you want a one-day plan that hits art villages, royal palace areas, sacred temple sites, and Ubud’s Monkey Forest area without you doing the logistics. It’s a solid way to get your bearings in Ubud fast, while still seeing more than just one neighborhood.

I’d pause before booking if you already know you’ll skip the Monkey Forest stop. The entrance fee is an extra cost, and because it’s an “included” tour only in the sense of being part of the route, you may feel the money squeeze if you skip it.

If you book, do yourself a favor: bring a little extra time for questions with your guide. The private format is where you win, especially when your day includes Tohpati batik, Celuk gold and silver, Mas wood carving, Batuan painting, palace architecture, and Tirta Empul’s spring ritual.

FAQ

How long is the Ubud Highlights Tour?

The tour is listed as lasting about 5 to 7 hours.

What is included in the tour price?

It includes a private driver/guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What is not included?

Meals and drinks are not included, and souvenirs are available to purchase but not included. Monkey Forest entrance fee is also not included, and it is listed as $10 per person.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes, it is a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.