Outdoors · Ubud · Indonesia
8 best outdoor things to do in Ubud
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Merbabu, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegallalang Rice Terraces and Campuhan Ridge Walk. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 11–15 hours across 8 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 11–15 hours
- Areas
- Padangtegal, Tegallalang and Campuhan
Outdoors in Ubud
Nature · Padangtegal
1.Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Leave sunglasses, hats, food and loose bags in your room; the macaques grab anything that looks edible or shiny and will open zips.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Tegallalang
2.Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Arrive before 8am for soft light and empty paths; by mid-morning the rim car parks fill with tour minivans.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
Nature · Campuhan
3.Campuhan Ridge Walk
Start at sunrise to avoid the heat; continue to Karsa Kafe in Bangkiang Sidem for breakfast before walking back.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
- Couples
Nature · Central Ubud
4.Subak Sok Wayah rice-field walk
The path is a raised concrete strip with ditches either side; wear proper shoes and carry a torch if you return after dusk.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Food
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Historic site · Bedulu
5.Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
Sarongs are lent at the entrance; walk the steps down to the stream, which most groups skip.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Nature
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Tampaksiring
6.Gunung Kawi
Combine with Tirta Empul on the same morning; the steps are steep and slippery after rain.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Kemenuh
7.Tegenungan Waterfall
Go early on a weekday; swimming is unsafe after heavy rain, when the water turns brown and strong.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Zoo · Singapadu
8.Bali Bird Park
Visit in the morning when the birds are most active, and combine it with Tegenungan Waterfall on the same road.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Padangtegal | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | 1–1.5 hours |
| Tegallalang | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | 1.5–2 hours |
| Campuhan | Campuhan Ridge Walk | 1.5–2 hours return |
| Central Ubud | Subak Sok Wayah rice-field walk | 1–2 hours |
| Bedulu | Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) | 1 hour |
| Tampaksiring | Gunung Kawi | 1–1.5 hours |
| Kemenuh | Tegenungan Waterfall | 1.5 hours |
| Singapadu | Bali Bird Park | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 5 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Bali Bird Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Padangtegal and Tegallalang): Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary → Tegallalang Rice Terraces, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Campuhan, Central Ubud and Bedulu): Campuhan Ridge Walk → Subak Sok Wayah rice-field walk → Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Tampaksiring and Kemenuh): Gunung Kawi → Tegenungan Waterfall, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Singapadu): Bali Bird Park, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- August: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. The driest and busiest month, with European summer holidays filling hotels and cooking classes.
- July: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season, with the coolest nights of the year and heavy traffic around Tegallalang and the Monkey Forest; book rooms ahead.
- September: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 6 rainy days, busy crowds. Still dry, but crowds thin after August; one of the best months for walking and temple visits.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Central Ubud — Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road
- Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal — Shops, spas and cafés running down to the Monkey Forest
- Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan — Yoga studios, health cafés and the ARMA museum south-east of the centre
- Penestanan — Hilltop village of painters, rice fields and villas reached by a long stairway
- Campuhan and Sanggingan — River confluence, the ridge walk and fine-dining restaurants on the road west
- Sayan and Kedewatan — Resorts on the Ayung river gorge, about 4 km west of town
- Nyuh Kuning — Wood-carving village of quiet lanes just south of the Monkey Forest
More of Ubud
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Ubud?
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. About 12 hectares of rainforest at the bottom of Monkey Forest Road hold several hundred long-tailed macaques, mossy stone statues, a ravine with giant banyan roots and three temples including Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal.
+Which of these are free in Ubud?
Campuhan Ridge Walk and Subak Sok Wayah rice-field walk.