Things to Do in Ubud: Temples, Rice Terraces & Healing Ceremonies

Ubud rewards the curious traveller. The cultural heart of Bali packs an extraordinary range of experiences into a compact area — sacred temples, working rice terraces, traditional healing practices, and some of the island’s best cooking schools. Below are ten activities that represent Ubud at its most authentic.

1. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The Mandala Suci Wenara Wana — more commonly called Monkey Forest — is home to over 1,000 long-tailed macaques spread across 12 hectares of ancient forest. Three Hindu temples sit within the grounds, some dating to the 14th century.

Entry: IDR 80,000 (adults) | Hours: 9am–6pm daily

Go early to avoid the midday crowds. Don’t carry food visibly — the monkeys are opportunistic and fast. Secure bags and loose jewellery before entering.

2. Tegallalang Rice Terraces at Sunrise

The UNESCO-listed subak irrigation system turns the hillside into a rippling green amphitheatre. Sunrise (around 6am) brings soft light and mist before the tour buses arrive at 9am.

Entry: Small local donation requested at entrance, approximately IDR 10,000–20,000 | Best time: 6–8am

The road-side viewpoints are busy; walk down into the terraces themselves for the better perspective. Several warung restaurants on the ridge offer breakfast with paddy views.

3. Campuhan Ridge Walk

A free, easy 2-kilometre trail running along a forested ridge between two river valleys. The walk begins near Pura Gunung Lebah temple and ends (or loops back) near the main road.

Entry: Free | Best time: 6–8am before heat and haze

The path is straightforward but get an early start — by 9am it becomes genuinely hot. Wear sunscreen. The grassy ridge section offers clear views toward Ubud’s surrounding hills.

4. Tirta Empul Holy Springs

One of Bali’s most important water temples, Tirta Empul is a working site of active Hindu pilgrimage. Devotees purify themselves in the natural spring pools fed by a sacred spring. Respectful visitors may participate in the melukat cleansing ritual with a guide.

Entry: IDR 50,000 | Hours: 9am–5pm daily

Rent a sarong at the gate if you don’t have one (usually included in the entry fee). Photography of worshippers requires discretion — ask before pointing a camera at anyone in mid-ritual.

5. Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)

An 11th-century rock-cut sanctuary 4 kilometres east of Ubud centre. The carved cave mouth is impressively sinister; inside, a meditation chamber leads to a Shiva lingam. The bathing pools outside date to the same era and were only rediscovered in 1954.

Entry: IDR 50,000 | Hours: 8am–5pm daily

The site is smaller than it looks in photos and can be seen in an hour. Combine it with Yeh Pulu (carved rock reliefs, 15 minutes’ walk south) for a half-day excursion.

6. Ubud Palace Gamelan Performance

The Puri Saren Agung — the old royal palace at the centre of Ubud — stages traditional Balinese dance and gamelan performances most evenings. Kecak fire dance, legong, barong, and gender wayang puppet performances rotate across venues in and around the palace.

Entry: Approximately IDR 100,000 | Hours: Performances typically 7:30–9pm

Buy tickets on the day at the palace gate. The schedule is posted on a board at the entrance. Arrive 20 minutes early for a good seat.

7. Batukaru Temple Day Trip

Pura Luhur Batukaru sits on the slopes of Gunung Batukaru, 1.5 hours west of Ubud at approximately 1,000 metres elevation. The setting — dense cloud forest, relative quiet, moss-covered shrines — is unlike any temple in southern Bali.

Entry: IDR 30,000 + sarong rental if needed | Hours: 9am–4pm

Hire a car or scooter for the day and combine with Jatiluwih rice terraces (UNESCO-listed, IDR 50,000) en route. Mornings are clear; cloud and mist often roll in by early afternoon.

8. Cooking Classes

Ubud’s cooking schools are among the best in Southeast Asia. A typical class begins with a market visit to source ingredients, then moves to an outdoor kitchen to prepare four to five dishes. You eat everything you cook.

Price: Approximately IDR 350,000–500,000 for a 3–4 hour class, including market visit and full meal

Recommended operators include Casa Luna Cooking School (long-established, central location), Paon Bali Cooking Class (village setting in Pejeng), and Lobong Culinary Experience (traditional family home). Book 24–48 hours ahead, especially in high season.

9. Sacred Healing with a Balian

Ubud is Bali’s centre for traditional Balinese healing. A Balian (traditional healer or medium) offers treatments that may include massage, herbal medicine, prayer, and energy work. These are sincere spiritual practitioners within the Balinese Hindu tradition — not tourist entertainment.

Cost: Donations typically IDR 100,000–300,000; some practitioners have fixed fees

Approach with genuine respect. Your accommodation host can usually recommend a reputable practitioner. The interaction depicted in Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing was real; the scene today is commercially noisier — ask locals, not touts.

10. Batur Sunrise Hike

Mount Batur (1,717 metres) is a two-hour drive northeast of Ubud. The sunrise hike leaves the trailhead around 4am, reaching the rim in 1.5–2 hours for views over the caldera lake and, on clear mornings, across to Agung and Rinjani.

Guide fee: IDR 300,000–500,000 per person including guide (guides are compulsory; solo hiking is not permitted by local regulation)

The hike itself is not technically demanding — mostly loose volcanic ash on a steep path. Bring a head torch, warm layer for the summit, and water. The Batur Trekking Association coordinates guides from the base village of Toya Bungkah. You can also book a Batur sunrise trek with transport from Ubud — most packages include hotel pickup at 2am, the guided hike, and breakfast cooked in volcanic steam at the summit.

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Practical Notes

• Getting around Ubud: The town centre is walkable; outlying temples require a hired scooter (approximately IDR 70,000–100,000/day) or car with driver (IDR 400,000–600,000/day for a full day, multiple stops)
• Best time to visit: April–October for dry season; November–March brings afternoon rain but fewer crowds
• Temple dress: Sarong and sash required at all Hindu temples; many gates provide rentals if you arrive without one