Bali · Indonesia
Ubud
Rice terraces, river gorges and a genuine arts town rather than a resort strip. Four nights here at the start of a Bali trip, then the coast — it's the split that makes the island work.
The short version
Everything good happens before nine
Ubud runs on early mornings. The terraces at Tegallalang are cool, empty and beautifully lit at seven, and by ten they're 32°C and full of coaches. The same is true of every waterfall and every temple. Get up for three days and you'll see a completely different town to the one most visitors describe.
Where to stay
The valley, or the town
Sayan and Payangan sit above the Ayung river gorge — dramatic views, infinity pools, and a taxi every time you want dinner. Central Ubud puts you within walking distance of the market, the palace and forty restaurants, at the cost of the view. First visit, we'd say central; second visit, the valley.
The one everyone comes for
Tegallalang, at seven in the morning
The terraces are twenty minutes north of town and they are genuinely as good as the photographs — provided you're there at opening. There's a small donation at each entrance and a series of swings and gates charging separately further in, which you can ignore. Walk the far side of the valley and you'll have it almost to yourself.
What's actually here
Four reasons to give it four nights
Tegallalang for the classic view, Jatiluwih for the vast one. Both better at dawn, both free to walk.
Tegenungan is closest and busiest. Kanto Lampo and Tibumana are twenty minutes further and far quieter.
Ubud's morning market is a working produce market until about nine, then turns into souvenirs. Go at seven.
Ubud is the cultural centre of Bali and something is nearly always on. Ask us and we'll check your dates against the calendar.
When to go
Dry season, and it's cooler up here
Ubud sits inland and slightly higher than the coast, so it's a few degrees cooler and noticeably greener. April to October is dry. November to March brings heavy afternoon rain, which in the valley means mud and mosquitoes rather than a quick shower.
May, June and September are the sweet spot — dry, green, and priced below the July–August peak. Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence in March, closes the entire island including the airport for 24 hours. We'll flag it if it falls in your dates.
Before you book
Three things worth knowing
Pair it with the coast. Ubud has no beach. Four nights here and the rest at Sanur, Seminyak or Nusa Dua is the standard shape, and it costs no more than staying in one place. See the full Bali page.
The traffic is the hidden cost. Ubud to Seminyak looks like forty minutes and takes ninety in the afternoon. We build transfers around that rather than pretending otherwise.
Book a driver by the day. A car and driver for a full day costs less than two airport taxis and turns the waterfalls, terraces and temples into one easy loop instead of three negotiations.
Next step
Tell us your dates and we'll split the trip
Ubud works best as half a Bali holiday. Send your dates and we'll build the inland and coastal halves together, with transfers timed around the traffic.
Ubud packages
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
7 nights in Ubud
- Return flights and private transfers
- All inclusive throughout
- Financial protection confirmed in writing before you pay
10 nights in Ubud
- Return flights and private transfers
- All inclusive throughout
- The extra nights cost proportionally less — fixed costs don't change
14 nights in Ubud
- Return flights and private transfers
- Half board throughout
- Best value per night, and worth it on a longer flight
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Packages that include Ubud
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
12 Night Singapore & Bali
12 nights · Apr–Oct · from £1,749pp
13 Night Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Krabi
13 nights · Nov–Mar · from £1,649pp
13 Night Vietnam & Cambodia
13 nights · Nov–Mar · from £2,099pp
13 Night KL, Langkawi & Penang
13 nights · Dec–Mar · from £1,599pp
14 Night Singapore, KL & Bali
14 nights · Apr–Oct · from £1,849pp
15 Night Thailand & Bali
15 nights · Apr–Oct · from £2,199pp
14 Night Japan & Singapore
14 nights · Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · from £2,999pp
12 Night Dubai & Thailand
12 nights · Nov–Mar · from £1,849pp
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