Most people who stay in Ubud spend their days in the same few streets: the palace, the market, the monkey forest, a café with a rice field view. It is lovely, and it is busy. The Bali that drew people here in the first place, with its water temples, carved cliffs, highland villages and volcano views, mostly sits a short drive north and east of town. That is where the best day trips from Ubud go.
This guide covers the places our team sends guests to most often from The Pala Ubud in Pejeng: Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi, Goa Gajah, Tegallalang, Penglipuran, Mount Batur and Tirta Gangga. For each one you will find how far it is from the estate, how long to stay, when to arrive and what it costs to get in, so you can plan a day that feels easy instead of rushed.
Why Pejeng Is a Good Base for Day Trips from Ubud
The Pala Ubud sits in Pejeng, about 15 minutes east of central Ubud, on the road toward Tampaksiring. That small shift matters more than it sounds. Many of the places to visit near Ubud lie north and east of town, so starting from Pejeng means you skip the slowest stretch of Ubud traffic and arrive at temples before the tour buses do.
It also means some of the most interesting history is right on the doorstep. Pejeng was once the seat of an old Balinese kingdom, and the Pakerisan valley below the estate is one of the sites in Bali’s UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. Several of the temples in this guide sit along the same sacred river.
Travel Times from The Pala Ubud
Here is a quick overview to help you plan. Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic, ceremonies and the time of day, so your driver will confirm them on the morning you go. Ticket prices are for foreign adults and were checked in November 2026. They change often, so bring a little extra cash.
| Destination | Area | Drive from The Pala | Time to spend | Entry (adult) |
| Goa Gajah | Bedulu | About 10 minutes | 45 minutes to 1 hour | IDR 50,000 |
| Tirta Empul | Tampaksiring | About 20 to 25 minutes | 1 to 2 hours | IDR 75,000 |
| Gunung Kawi | Tampaksiring | About 20 minutes | About 1 hour | IDR 75,000 |
| Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Tegallalang | About 30 minutes | 1 to 1.5 hours | IDR 25,000 |
| Penglipuran Village | Bangli | About 40 minutes | 1 to 1.5 hours | IDR 50,000 |
| Mount Batur trek start | Kintamani | About 1 hour | 4 to 5 hours on the mountain | Paid with your guide |
| Tirta Gangga | Karangasem | About 1.5 to 2 hours | 1 to 2 hours | IDR 90,000 |
Temples Within 30 Minutes of the Estate
If you only have a morning, stay close. Three of the most important temples in central Bali are less than half an hour away, and you can see all of them before lunch.
Tirta Empul: The Holy Spring Temple
Tirta Empul in Tampaksiring is built around a natural spring that feeds a long row of stone spouts, where Balinese Hindus come to bathe in a purification ritual called melukat. Visitors can take part too, as long as they follow the sequence and wear the proper sarong and sash. Tickets are IDR 75,000 for adults and IDR 50,000 for children, and the temple is open daily from about 8 am to 6 pm.
Timing makes a huge difference here. Tour groups from Ubud tend to arrive between 10 am and 2 pm, so aim to be at the gate when it opens or come back after 4 pm. Because the estate is so close, an 8 am arrival is easy.
Gunung Kawi: Shrines Carved into the Cliff
Just 1.5 km from Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi is one of the oldest monuments in Bali. Ten large shrines, dating back to the 11th century, are carved straight into the cliff walls on both sides of the Pakerisan River, surrounded by rice terraces. Getting there means walking down roughly 300 stone steps, and back up again, so wear good shoes and go early while the air is cool.
Recent guides list the ticket at anywhere from 75,000, with a sarong included. Because it sits so close to Tirta Empul, most people visit the two together. We cover that pairing in more detail in our guide to visiting Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi in one morning.
Goa Gajah: The Elephant Cave
Goa Gajah in Bedulu is only about ten minutes from the estate. The site centres on an 11th century cave sanctuary with a carved entrance, ancient bathing pools and a path that drops into a quiet ravine. Entry is IDR 50,000 for adults and IDR 25,000 for children, including sarong rental, and the site is open from 8 am to 6 pm. It is small, so it works best as a first stop at opening time.
Goa Garba: The Temple Next Door
One of the quietest sites in the area needs no car at all. Goa Garba, a 12th century meditation site carved into the cliffs above the Pakerisan, is a short walk from your villa. Our team leads a guided walk there, followed by a gentle melukat ritual with our resident priest. Few travellers ever find it, which is exactly the point.
Rice Terraces: Tegallalang and the Fields Around Pejeng
No list of things to do near Ubud is complete without rice terraces. Tegallalang is the famous one, a valley of stepped paddies about 30 minutes from the estate. The main gate charges IDR 25,000 per person, and you may meet a few small donation points inside where farmers ask a little to cross their land. Swings and photo nests cost extra.
Go early. Between 7 and 9 am the light is soft, the paths are cool and the crowds have not arrived. By late morning it gets hot and busy, and the valley loses much of its charm.
If you would rather see rice growing than photograph it, stay closer to home. The fields around Pejeng are still farmed using Bali’s centuries old subak irrigation system, and during the planting season our gardening team runs a rice field experience right beside the estate. Expect mud, real farming and a lot of laughter, especially from children.
Penglipuran Village: A Quiet Highland Village in Bangli
Penglipuran is a traditional village in the Bangli highlands, about 40 minutes from the estate. Its single stone lane is lined with family compounds built to the same ancestral layout, each with a matching carved gate, and a bamboo forest sits just behind the houses. At around 600 metres above sea level, it is noticeably cooler than Ubud.
The official village website lists opening hours of 8:00 am to 6:30 pm daily, and the entrance fee is IDR 50,000 for foreign adults and IDR 30,000 for children. Allow about an hour, or longer if you want to walk through the bamboo forest. Arrive before 10 am, when the village is still quiet and the morning light falls along the lane.
Penglipuran pairs naturally with the Kintamani highlands further north, where you can stop for lunch with a view across the Batur caldera before heading back.
Mount Batur Sunrise Trek, Then a Slow Afternoon
For many travellers, watching the sun rise from the summit of Mount Batur is the highlight of a north and east Bali itinerary. The volcano stands at 1,717 metres, and the climb from Toya Bungkah takes about 1.5 to 2 hours on rocky volcanic trails. Most groups start walking between 3:30 and 4:00 am so they reach the top before the sky begins to glow over Lake Batur.
A licensed local guide is required, so you cannot hike Batur on your own. Our butlers can book a registered guide and arrange the transfer for you. From the estate, the drive to the trailhead takes around an hour, which means leaving at roughly 2:30 am. Bring warm layers, because the summit can drop to around 10 to 15°C before dawn, and plan for the dry season, roughly April to October, when clear skies are most likely.
Recover at the Estate
Most trekkers are back by late morning with tired legs and a camera full of sunrise photos. This is where staying somewhere quiet pays off. Instead of heading straight into another busy afternoon, have a long breakfast, sleep for an hour, and then let your body recover properly.
The estate is set up for exactly that kind of afternoon. A gentle yoga or stretching session outdoors by the river helps loosen tight hamstrings and calves after the descent, and you can follow it with a massage in the privacy of your villa or a sound healing session as the light fades. Ask our team to book these the day before your trek, so everything is ready when you return.
Tirta Gangga: The Water Palace of East Bali
Tirta Gangga is the longest trip in this guide and worth a full day. The royal water garden in Karangasem was built in 1946 by the King of Karangasem, almost destroyed by the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963, and later restored. Today it is a calm maze of pools, fountains, koi ponds and stepping stones set against green hills.
The palace is open every day from 6 am to 7 pm, and the entrance fee is IDR 90,000 for adults and IDR 45,000 for children. From the estate, allow 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Leaving after breakfast puts you there mid morning, before the midday crowds gather around the stepping stones.
Sample Day Trip Plans
Here are a few simple ways to put these places together, depending on how much energy you have.
- The temple morning: Goa Gajah at 8:00 am, Tirta Empul at 9:00 am, Gunung Kawi at 11:00 am, then back to the estate for a late lunch at Hura Restaurant.
- The highland day: Penglipuran at 8:30 am, lunch with a view of the Batur caldera in Kintamani, and home by mid afternoon.
- The sunrise and recovery: Leave at about 2:30 am for Mount Batur, watch the sunrise from the summit, return by late morning, then spend the afternoon with yoga by the river and a massage in your villa.
- The east Bali day: Tirta Gangga in the morning, a long lunch along the way, and back before sunset.
- The stay at home day: A walk to Goa Garba, a Balinese cooking class and an evening by the river.
Practical Tips for Day Trips Around Ubud
- Dress for temples. Cover your shoulders and knees. Most temples include a sarong and sash with your ticket, but bringing your own saves time.
- Carry cash. Entrance fees, parking and donations are usually paid in rupiah, and card machines are rare.
- Start early. Almost every site on this list is calmer, cooler and more beautiful before 10 am.
- Check the ceremony calendar. Temple ceremonies can close certain areas, and on Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, the whole island stops.
- Use a private driver. Distances are short, but roads are narrow and parking is limited. A driver who waits for you makes the day far more relaxed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best day trips from Ubud?
For culture, Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah are all within 30 minutes of The Pala Ubud. For landscapes, Tegallalang, Penglipuran and the Mount Batur sunrise trek are the favourites. For a full day out, Tirta Gangga in east Bali is worth the drive.
Can I visit Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi on the same day?
Yes. The two temples are only about 1.5 km apart in Tampaksiring, and both are around 20 minutes from the estate, so it is easy to see them in one morning.
Do I need a guide to climb Mount Batur?
Yes. A licensed local guide is required for the Mount Batur trek. Our butlers can arrange the guide, the transfer and the early start for you, as well as a yoga session or massage for when you get back.
How far is Tirta Gangga from Ubud?
From The Pala Ubud, allow about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, depending on traffic. It is best planned as a full day trip.
What should I wear to Balinese temples?
Clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, plus a sarong and sash. Most temples provide these with your ticket, and comfortable shoes help with the steps at sites like Gunung Kawi.
Plan Your Day Trips from The Pala Ubud
You do not need to book tours in advance or work out routes on your own. Our butlers arrange transport, timing and local guides for every trip in this guide, and they know which temple has a ceremony on which day. See everything we offer on our Experiences page, read our guide on where to stay in Ubud, or message our team on WhatsApp to start planning your days.
