Private Full Day-Tour: Ubud Waterfall and Kintamani Volcano Trip

Bali packs a lot into one long day. This private tour links Tegenungan Waterfall and Tirta Empul Temple with the mountain views of Kintamani, then continues through Ubud’s rice terraces, monkey forest, palace, and art market. I like the flexibility of having your own vehicle and driver, and I like that lunch and entrance tickets can be included in the full package. The main drawback is the pace: seven one-hour stops, plus long drives from the southern beach areas, can make for a very full 8 to 10 hours.

The strongest praise goes to the English-speaking driver-guide. One guest specifically described the driver as a good driver, accommodating, and always smiling. That matters on Bali’s roads, where a calm driver and clear communication can make a long day much easier. I would also confirm at booking which package you are selecting, since the full tour includes tickets and lunch, while the car-charter option does not.

Key points to know before booking

• Tegenungan Waterfall reaches about 20 meters, with a viewing area, food stalls, and a short visit planned.
• Tirta Empul is a working Hindu temple and holy spring, not simply a photo stop.
• Kintamani provides the day’s big view, with Mount Batur’s caldera and Lake Batur spread below.
• Your private vehicle includes hotel or villa pickup and drop-off from many southern Bali areas.
• Lunch and entrance tickets are included in the all-inclusive version, but not in the car-charter-only option.
• The schedule is flexible, yet fitting seven main stops into one day requires sensible time management.

Why this full-day Bali tour works

The appeal here is simple: you see several of central Bali’s best-known sights without changing hotels or arranging separate drivers. From Seminyak, the route heads inland to waterfalls, temples, mountain scenery, rice terraces, and Ubud’s cultural center.

I like the private format because you are not tied to a large group. The vehicle is for you and your party only, with air conditioning and an English-speaking driver who also acts as your guide. You can request a flexible time arrangement, which gives the day a little breathing room.

Still, private does not mean short. The tour lasts about 8 to 10 hours, and the southern pickup areas include Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Tuban, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Uluwatu, Sanur, Denpasar, Kerobokan, Canggu, and Ubud. Road time is part of the experience, so do not expect a leisurely afternoon with only two or three stops.

The price is listed at $40 per person. That is appealing if you choose the all-inclusive version, since the package includes the vehicle, driver-guide, hotel or villa transfers, tax and services, lunch, and entrance tickets. If you choose the car-charter-only option, entrance fees and lunch are extra, so compare the two choices before paying.

Tegenungan Waterfall: Bali scenery with a busy edge

Tegenungan is a strong first stop because it gives you an immediate taste of Bali’s tropical interior. The waterfall is part of the Petanu River near Kemenuh village and drops about 20 meters between green, rocky walls. Even from the first viewing point, you can hear the water and see the fall framed by the surrounding forest.

You have about an hour here. That allows time to look from the viewing area and possibly walk closer, depending on conditions and your comfort with the route. Local stalls sell food and drinks, which can be handy at the start of a long day.

The stop is not completely quiet or remote. Local people also visit, and the stalls add a commercial touch. I see that as a fair trade for easy access and a good first photo stop. Bring sunscreen, and take care around wet surfaces if you go nearer the water.

The listed stop details say the admission ticket is not included, while the tour inclusions say all entrance tickets are included in the all-inclusive package. This is one of the details I would clarify before departure. The difference may depend on the option you book.

Tirta Empul: a sacred spring, not just another temple

Tirta Empul gives the day more cultural weight. This temple complex and holy mountain spring sit in Manukaya village in central Bali. The site is linked to a traditional story about good and evil and is recognized as a national cultural heritage site.

The temple dates to 960 AD and is associated with the Warmadewa Dynasty. You will also hear about the nearby presidential palace, Istana Tampaksiring, built during the years of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. The combination of old temple traditions and modern Indonesian history makes this more than a quick architectural stop.

Plan on about an hour. Your driver-guide is especially useful here because the meaning of the complex is not always obvious from the carved gates and bathing pools alone. Dress in smart casual clothing, as requested for the tour, and treat the setting with respect. This is a holy place, not a theme park.

The stop information also lists admission as not included, while the all-inclusive description says tickets are covered. Again, confirm the exact package. If you want a smoother visit, ask the driver how much time to reserve for the temple and what areas are appropriate to enter.

Kintamani and Lake Batur: the day’s best wide view

Kintamani is the scenic center of the tour. From the highland area, you look across Mount Batur’s caldera, with Lake Batur filling much of the broad volcanic basin. The crater area is described as about 13 square kilometers, which helps explain why the view feels so open after the tighter roads and village stops.

Lunch is served with a view of Kintamani Volcano and Lake Batur in the all-inclusive package. This is one of the tour’s best practical features. Rather than treating lunch as an interruption, the meal becomes part of the main sightseeing stop.

You have about an hour here, so expectations matter. This is a viewpoint and lunch stop, not a Mount Batur hike or an extended lakeside excursion. The description notes other possible places in the caldera, including the winding road along the lake, Toya Bungkah, Pura Ulun Danu Batur, and hot springs, but they are not listed as separate visits in this day tour.

Weather will affect this stop more than any other. Clouds can reduce the volcano view, which is why the experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the tour, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the subak tradition

Tegalalang is one of the most recognizable sights near Ubud. Its stepped rice paddies show the subak irrigation system, a traditional cooperative method associated with Balinese farming. The local history connects the system with Rsi Markandeya, a revered holy man from the eighth century.

You receive about an hour here. That is enough to take in the layered terraces and understand the basic shape of the area, but not enough for an unhurried exploration of every path. I would use the time to look closely at how the paddies follow the contours of the hills rather than simply taking one quick photograph.

Tegalalang forms one of three notable terraced areas in the Ubud region, alongside Pejeng and Campuhan. The visit helps balance the temple and city stops with a working agricultural setting.

Admission is listed as not included in the individual stop details, although the all-inclusive tour description says all tickets are covered. Ask your driver to confirm what is included before you arrive. This small check avoids confusion at the entrance.

Sacred Monkey Forest: a shaded Ubud stop

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary sits in the heart of Ubud. It is a small rainforest habitat for monkeys and other tropical animals, and it has an important role in protecting this part of the island’s monkey environment.

You have an hour here. The shaded forest can provide a welcome change after the open mountain viewpoint and sunny rice terraces. It also gives you a look at how a natural area fits into the center of Ubud rather than sitting far outside town.

Keep your belongings secure and follow the sanctuary’s rules around the animals. The supplied information does not specify particular animal guidelines, so your driver is the right person to ask for current instructions. Do not treat the monkeys as pets, and do not assume every close encounter is harmless.

This stop may feel rushed if you want a long walk through the forest. On the other hand, an hour is useful if your main aim is to see the sanctuary and keep enough time for the palace and market.

Ubud Palace and the traditional art market

Puri Saren Palace, also called Ubud Royal Palace, sits on Jalan Raya Ubud and is one of the town’s main landmarks. The complex was built during the rule of Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, from 1800 to 1823, and has been maintained by his heirs.

The palace is known for its Balinese architecture, gardens, and evening dance performances. This tour allows about an hour, though the schedule does not say that an evening performance is included. If you want to see a dance show, ask whether the timing works before counting on it.

The nearby Ubud Traditional Art Market is another one-hour stop. You can browse wood and rattan handicrafts, paintings, silver items, and small souvenirs. Shops sell different goods, so walking through more than one section is worthwhile before buying.

Treat the market as a place to browse rather than a guaranteed bargain. The tour includes time there, but it does not state that shopping is required. I would wait until you have seen several stalls, compare prices, and remember that personal expenses are not included.

The extra sights passed on the road

The route may pass several additional cultural sites, including a famous temple, a wood-carving village, and a gold and silversmith village. The information does not name each place or promise a stop, so think of these as passing sights rather than fixed attractions.

That distinction is useful. A private driver may be able to point them out, but you should not assume you will have time to get out, shop, or take a full tour. The main schedule already includes seven substantial stops.

The driver-guide and private vehicle

The driver is central to the quality of this experience. One published guest account praised the driver’s English, driving, helpful attitude, and constant smile. There is no driver name provided, but the praise is specific enough to show what the operator values: safe driving, communication, and a pleasant manner.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters on an all-day route through Bali’s warm lowlands and mountain roads. Pickup and drop-off are available at hotels or villas across a wide group of areas, including Seminyak, where the tour is based.

A private car also lets you ask for small timing changes. You might spend less time at the art market and more at the waterfall, or move through the palace quickly if the mountain view took longer than expected. The overall duration still depends on traffic, weather, and road conditions.

What to bring and how to dress

The practical list is short:

• Sunscreen
• A camera
• Smart casual clothing
• A little patience for a full day on the road

A vegetarian lunch option is available if you request it when booking. Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses are not included.

Because the route includes a holy spring, a waterfall, a forest, and a mountain stop, comfortable clothing is more useful than dressy clothing. Smart casual is the stated dress code, so avoid treating this as a beach day.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to first-time Bali visitors who want a broad introduction to central Bali in one day. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value a private vehicle and do not want to coordinate several separate trips.

It is also a good fit if you want cultural context from an English-speaking driver rather than simply being dropped at each sight. The strongest praise focuses on the driver’s accommodating manner, and that personal service is a major part of the value.

I would hesitate if you prefer slow travel. Seven main stops at roughly one hour each leave little room for long walks, extended meals, or unexpected delays. You should also think carefully about the long return drive if you are staying in a southern beach area.

The tour requires good weather. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and cancellations caused by poor weather lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book the $40 private tour?

Book it if you want many of Bali’s major inland sights in one organized day, especially if lunch, tickets, pickup, and a private vehicle are included in your selected package. At $40 per person, the value is strong for a small group that can share the vehicle while keeping the convenience of a personal driver-guide.

Before confirming, ask one direct question: does your chosen rate include both entrance tickets and lunch? The tour information gives different details for the full package and the car-charter-only option, so this check matters.

If you want an easy overview of Ubud, Kintamani, and the surrounding countryside, I would book it. If you want long temple visits, quiet walks, or time to linger at Lake Batur, choose fewer stops or arrange a more tailored private day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 to 10 hours.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour, and there are no other participants in your vehicle.

Is hotel pickup available from Seminyak?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels or villas in Seminyak, as well as many other areas in southern Bali and Ubud.

Are lunch and entrance tickets included?

They are included with the all-inclusive tour option. The car-charter-only option excludes entrance tickets and lunch, so confirm which option you are booking.

Is a vegetarian lunch available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you advise the operator at the time of booking.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen and a camera. Smart casual clothing is the stated dress code.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.