Full day · Ubud, central Bali
The Ubud day for people who want to understand what they're looking at: inside a Balinese family compound, the carved temple at Batuan, the silver and painting villages, and a waterfall to finish.
Start in a working family compound — the shrines, the kitchen, the pavilion where grandparents sleep — with someone who lives there to explain it. Then Pura Puseh Batuan, the most richly carved village temple near Ubud, and the craft villages of Celuk (silver) and Batuan (painting) where you watch people work rather than shop. Lunch in Ubud, and Tegenungan waterfall in the afternoon. About eight hours with your own driver.
Most Ubud tours drive past the culture on the way to the photo stops. This one stops at it: a real house, a temple that isn't on the coach circuit, and workshops where the silversmith is 60 and has done it since he was 12.
It's an easy day physically — short walks, plenty of shade — and it changes how the rest of your trip looks. After this you'll know what the offerings on the pavement are for.
A typical day. Times shift with traffic and how long you want at each stop.
Covered shoulders and a sarong for the compound and the temple — spares in the car.
A home in a village near Ubud: the layout by the compass, the family temple, the daily offerings, and who sleeps where. Questions welcome.
A 10th-century village temple with some of the finest stone carving in Bali, and usually no queue.
Silver being worked by hand in Celuk; the Batuan school of painting in a family studio. Watch, ask, buy only if you want to.
A warung your driver likes, or somewhere you've read about — we drop you and wait.
Steps down to a wide fall and a pool; a swim if you want one before the drive home.
About 8 hours after pickup.
Sarong and sash (in the car), covered shoulders, comfortable shoes, swimwear if you'll swim at Tegenungan, and some cash for any silver you can't resist.
From your hotel or villa in the south and centre of Bali, included. Far-away areas carry a surcharge we tell you before you confirm.
A family in a village between Ubud and Batuan that welcomes small groups. It's their home, not a museum — you may meet grandparents, chickens and a ceremony in preparation.
No. The silversmiths and painters make a living from visitors, and buying directly is the best way to support them, but a look and a thank-you is fine.
Yes — the Ubud Monkey Forest, the Campuhan ridge walk or Goa Gajah are all close. Tell your driver at lunch.
Only after we confirm the date — by bank transfer, within 48 hours of our confirmation. Sending a request costs nothing.
Tell us as early as you can — we'd rather move a date than lose it. Refunds follow the tiers in our terms.
Guest reviews
first name, country and the month they travelled, published with permission.
Putu was at the hotel right on time. We had Banyumala with very few people around, then the twin lakes and a slow lunch looking over Jatiluwih. He read the weather and swapped two stops so the walk stayed dry. Exactly the day the page describes.
The solo price was explained clearly before I booked — no surprises. Ketut stopped whenever I asked for photos and knew which warung to pick for lunch. The ATV and rafting were booked through him so I only paid once.
Afternoon rain in the highlands, so our driver reordered the route and we did the temple first. Sarongs were in the car. Nothing felt rushed and we were back at the villa at the time he said.
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Guests who stay with us skip the pickup logistics: the car is outside the bungalow in the morning. Tick what you need in the booking form and we quote everything together.
Send a date and the number of guests. If you have questions about ceremonies or festival dates, ask — we check the calendar.
