Bali Full-Day Car Charter: Ubud and Kintamani Volcano Trip

Bali packs a lot into one long day. This private drive from Seminyak links Tegenungan Waterfall, Tirta Empul Temple, Kintamani, Tegalalang, the Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, and the traditional market in roughly eight to ten hours. I like the private air-conditioned car, since you travel only with your own group, and I like the broad mix of nature, religion, scenery, wildlife, and local shopping.

The route also gives you an English-speaking driver who acts as a guide, plus hotel or villa pickup and drop-off from Seminyak and many other parts of southern Bali. The main caution is time. Seven stops can feel rushed, especially if traffic is heavy or you want lunch at Kintamani. Also check which booking option you choose, because the car charter price of $40 per person does not include entrance tickets or lunch, while the all-inclusive option does.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven major stops in one day: Waterfall, holy spring, volcano views, rice terraces, monkey sanctuary, palace, and market.
• Private transport: Only your group joins the activity, with an air-conditioned vehicle and hotel or villa pickup.
• Kintamani is the scenic high point: You can look across the Mount Batur caldera and Lake Batur, weather permitting.
• Entrance fees depend on the package: The car charter excludes admission tickets and lunch, while the all-inclusive version includes both.
• The schedule is flexible: You can request timing changes, and lunch at Kintamani can be arranged with the driver.
• Guide service matters: A guide named Nengah is described as helpful, kind, and courteous, qualities that can make a long day much easier.

What the $40 Bali car charter really gives you

At $40 per person, this tour can be good value if you want to cover several far-flung sights without arranging separate taxis. You get a private vehicle, petrol, parking, taxes, services, an English-speaking driver, and pickup and drop-off at your accommodation.

The important detail is the difference between the two package types. The car charter only option excludes entrance tickets and lunch. The all-inclusive tour includes those items. Confirm the exact option at booking, since the headline price may not tell you which version you are selecting.

A private car is especially useful here because the route moves from southern Bali into central and northern areas, then back toward Ubud and your hotel. You do not need to keep up with a large group or wait for strangers at every stop. You can also ask for a flexible arrangement, though the number of planned stops means flexibility has practical limits.

The tour lasts about eight to ten hours. That is a full day in the car as well as at the attractions. If you want leisurely time at the waterfall, lunch at Kintamani, shopping in Ubud, and a slow walk through the Monkey Forest, you may need to accept a later return or skip one stop.

Tegenungan Waterfall starts the day with a short walk and a big view

The first stop is Tegenungan Waterfall, in the village of Kemenuh. Water drops about 20 meters into the Petanu River, with green rock walls and palm trees around the site.

You can see the falls from an initial viewpoint near local food and drink stalls. If you want to get closer, allow for walking and stairs, and wear shoes that can handle wet ground. The planned visit is about one hour, which gives you time for photos and a look around, but not necessarily a long swim or a slow morning.

Admission is not included in the car charter option. That is a small cost compared with the overall trip, but it is one of several separate expenses to remember.

I like this first stop because it gives the day an immediate change of scenery. You leave the hotel behind and reach a natural site surrounded by tropical greenery. The drawback is that a waterfall can be busy and the area includes stalls, so this is not a quiet wilderness outing.

Tirta Empul offers a look at living Balinese Hindu practice

Tirta Empul Temple is more than an old stone complex. Its holy spring is used by Balinese Hindus for purification, and the site remains an important religious place in the village of Manukaya.

The temple complex dates to 960 AD and is linked to a traditional story about good and evil. It is also a national cultural heritage site. The spring pools, shrines, and temple courtyards give you a chance to see religion as part of daily Balinese life rather than as a museum display.

Plan on about an hour here. A guide who can explain the customs is useful, especially since this is a sacred place and not simply another photo stop. The stated dress code is smart casual. Bring clothing that is respectful for a temple visit, and follow any instructions given at the entrance.

Admission is excluded from the car charter package but included in the all-inclusive version. If you want to take part in purification, ask the driver about the proper arrangements rather than assuming the standard sightseeing visit includes it.

Nearby, on a hill, is Istana Tampaksiring, a presidential palace built during the time of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. The tour description places it in the area, but it does not promise a separate palace visit, so treat it as nearby context rather than a guaranteed stop.

Kintamani and Mount Batur provide the day’s grandest view

Kintamani is the scenic centerpiece. From the highland area, you may see Mount Batur and Lake Batur filling much of the volcano’s large caldera. The crater is estimated at about 13 square kilometers, giving the view a broad, open scale after the tighter temple and waterfall stops.

The planned visit lasts about an hour. That is enough for a look across the caldera and photographs, but it may feel short if you want a proper meal or time along the lake shore. The route can also continue toward places such as Toya Bungkah, Pura Ulun Danu Batur, or the hot springs, but these are mentioned as possible sights in the area, not guaranteed stops on this tour.

Weather matters here. Clouds can cover Mount Batur, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund under the cancellation terms. Even on a clear day, visibility can change. Keep your expectations focused on the setting rather than a guaranteed perfect volcano photograph.

Lunch is available only according to the option you book. You can tell the driver if you want to eat at Kintamani. The all-inclusive package includes lunch, while the car charter option does not. This is a good point to settle before the day begins, since a meal stop affects the schedule.

Tegalalang shows how Balinese rice farming shapes the hills

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is one of Ubud’s best-known scenic areas. Its stepped paddies reflect the subak irrigation system, a traditional cooperative method associated with Balinese farming. Local history connects the system to the holy man Rsi Markandeya in the eighth century.

You have about an hour here. That gives you time to admire the layered fields and take photographs, but not a long walk through every section. The terraces are an agricultural working area, so stay aware of where you step and follow local access rules.

The view is the main reason to come. Tegalalang forms one of three notable terraced areas near Ubud, along with Pejeng and Campuhan. The visit adds useful context to the rest of the day: Bali’s scenery is not only forest and volcanoes, but also carefully managed farmland shaped by community traditions.

Admission is not included with the basic car charter. If you are watching the budget, ask which terrace access fees apply before entering.

The Monkey Forest combines animals, temples, and jungle paths

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary occupies 27 acres at the lower end of Jalan Monkey Forest in Padangtegal. More than 400 long-tailed macaques live here in four groups, and the grounds include Hindu temples, trees, and a gorge.

You get about an hour to walk through the sanctuary. That is enough for a compact visit, but the area rewards careful attention rather than a rushed march. Watch the macaques from a respectful distance and keep your belongings secure. The tour information specifically asks you to bring sunscreen and a camera, though you should use the camera without distracting the animals.

This is also a cultural site managed by the village of Padangtegal. That local connection gives the sanctuary a purpose beyond animal viewing. It is a place where spiritual buildings, forest, and macaque habitat share the same space.

The main drawback is timing. After the waterfall, temple, volcano, and rice terraces, you may be ready for a rest. If the Monkey Forest is a priority, protect the full hour rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

Ubud Palace and the market finish the day in town

Puri Saren Palace, also called Ubud Royal Palace, sits at the intersection of Ubud’s main Jalan Raya road. The palace dates to the rule of Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, who governed from 1800 to 1823, and later heirs have maintained its Balinese architecture and gardens.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes and admission is free. You will not have a long palace tour, but you can see the setting and its importance as a central Ubud landmark. The palace is also known for evening dance performances, although an evening show is not part of this daytime itinerary.

The final stop is Ubud Traditional Art Market, also free to enter, with about 30 minutes allotted. Shops sell wood and rattan handicrafts, paintings, silver items, art tools, and small souvenirs.

Half an hour is enough to browse, but short for serious shopping. If you plan to buy anything, compare several stalls before paying. The shops carry different goods, so a quick walk through the market helps you see the range before you choose.

Ending in Ubud makes sense. You finish with culture and shopping rather than another long outdoor stop. Still, market time is one area where the schedule can feel tight, especially if you enjoy browsing slowly or want to negotiate purchases.

The driver and private format shape the whole experience

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. That gives you more control than a shared coach tour and lets you ask the driver to adjust the timing. Pickup and drop-off are offered from hotels or villas in Seminyak, Ubud, Sanur, Denpasar, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Tuban, Kuta, Legian, Kerobokan, and Canggu.

The English-speaking driver also serves as a tour guide. That matters because several stops, especially Tirta Empul, benefit from explanation. One guide named Nengah is described as helpful, kind, and an absolute gentleman, which is exactly the sort of personal service you want during an eight to ten-hour outing.

You should still ask about the day’s order and expected return time. Pickup location affects how much driving is involved, and traffic can change the rhythm. The flexible schedule is helpful, but it does not remove the distance between southern Bali, Kintamani, and Ubud.

What to bring and how to prepare

Keep your packing simple:

• Sunscreen
• Camera or phone
• Comfortable clothing
• Temple-appropriate clothing that fits the smart-casual dress code
• Money for personal purchases, food, and any tickets not included in your package

Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses are not included. Petrol, parking, tax, and service charges are included, so you should not need to budget separately for those basic transport costs.

Because the tour requires good weather, keep your plans flexible. If conditions cancel the experience, you can receive a full refund or choose another date. For a normal cancellation, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this Ubud and Kintamani day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want to see many of Bali’s major central sights in one day and prefer a private car to public transport or a large group. It suits first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to waterfalls, temples, rice farming, volcano scenery, wildlife, royal architecture, and shopping.

It is less suitable if you prefer slow travel. Seven stops leave little room for lingering, and the drive between regions takes time. You may also want a different plan if your main goal is hiking Mount Batur, spending a full day at the Monkey Forest, or exploring Ubud’s galleries at an easy pace.

The best value comes from choosing the package carefully. If you want predictable costs, the all-inclusive option covers admission and lunch. If you prefer to choose your own meals and keep control of spending, the basic car charter gives you that freedom, but you must pay entrance fees yourself.

Should you book it?

Book this Bali day trip if convenience and variety matter most. The private air-conditioned car, wide pickup area, flexible timing, and kind guide service make a demanding route easier to manage.

Skip it if you want one or two places explored in depth. For everyone else, $40 per person can be a sensible starting price, provided you confirm whether tickets and lunch are included and accept that this is a full, active day rather than a relaxed village outing.

FAQ

How long does the Bali Ubud and Kintamani tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight to ten hours, including transportation and visits to the scheduled stops.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are provided from hotels or villas in areas including Seminyak, Ubud, Sanur, Denpasar, Nusa Dua, Kuta, Legian, Canggu, and several other parts of southern Bali.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

Does the $40 price include entrance tickets?

The car charter option does not include entrance tickets. The all-inclusive option does include entrance tickets, so confirm the package type when booking.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included with the all-inclusive option but excluded from the car charter-only option. You can ask the driver about having lunch at Kintamani.

What should I wear?

The stated dress code is smart casual. Since the route includes Tirta Empul Temple, bring respectful clothing suitable for a sacred site.

Does the driver speak English?

Yes. The package includes a professional English-speaking driver who also acts as a tour guide.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If bad weather causes the tour to be canceled, you can receive a different date or a full refund.