Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch

REVIEW · UBUD

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch

  • 5.09 reviews
  • From $78
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Operated by Bali Excursion · Bookable on Viator

Traveller rating 5.0 (9)Price from$78Operated byBali ExcursionBook viaViator

Rice, temples, and a bamboo hike in one day. You’ll move from Ubud into Bali’s rural Hindu roots, then tackle a moderate bamboo-forest trek before finishing at Tirta Empul for holy-water rituals and blessings. The day mixes walk-and-see moments with a sit-down Balinese lunch and a fun coffee-plantation stop with swing options over rice.

Two things I especially like: first, the way the walking ties into real village life, not just photo stops. Second, you get a full cultural payoff with Taro village history, time at Tirta Empul, and a meal overlooking rice fields. The guides also matter here, and names like Wayan and Baru show up in the feedback for being personal and accommodating.

One possible drawback: the hike is described as moderate and not recommended if you have serious back or heart issues. Also, some key add-ons (like the swing ticket) and a few admissions may cost extra.

Key highlights to know before you go

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Key highlights to know before you go

  • 4 hours of moderate hiking through bamboo forest and countryside paths
  • Taro/Delodsema village time that focuses on real daily life, not just viewpoints
  • Tirta Empul holy-water experience with an option for purification and blessings
  • Tegalalang rice-terrace photo stops plus time near the coffee plantation area
  • Swing over rice terraces and a river view, but your ticket is not included
  • Round-trip Ubud transport + lunch + bottled water, so the day feels complete

From Ubud pickup to a full day outdoors

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - From Ubud pickup to a full day outdoors
This is the kind of Ubud tour that actually feels like a full day, not a rushed hit list. You start with a meet-up and round-trip hotel pickup/drop-off from Ubud, which helps you spend your energy on the trekking instead of figuring out transport. The total time is about 7.5 hours, with the longest block of effort coming from a roughly 4-hour walk.

What’s nice is that the pacing is built for variety. You get a long nature stretch, then a few culturally focused pauses (village and temple), and then lighter stops for views and photos. Even if you don’t plan to do every optional activity, the core experience still covers multiple sides of Bali: rural life, sacred ritual, and rice-terrace scenery.

One practical note: you’ll be outside for much of the day. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring layers you can adjust if the weather turns warm or breezy. Bottled water is included, but you’ll still want to pace yourself during the longer hike.

You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Ubud.

Delodsema and Taro village: where the day gets its Bali flavor

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Delodsema and Taro village: where the day gets its Bali flavor
Your first major stop centers on a traditional area connected to Taro village. You’ll drive roughly 30 minutes north of Ubud, then spend about 4 hours exploring Delodsema Traditional Village, which is described as part of the broader Taro area.

This is valuable because it’s not only about scenery. You’re there to see village life and the older Hindu settlement setting that shaped Taro over thousands of years. The tour framing emphasizes the feel of day-to-day Bali—walking through the surroundings, noticing how the landscape links to living culture, and taking in the slow rhythm that’s hard to experience when you only do short, temple-only visits.

There’s also a nature-and-fruit element to this part of the day. The trek route is described as passing plants that include tropical fruits like mangoes and mandarins. So even when you’re in village and countryside spaces, you’re still moving through a lived-in environment, not just a curated route.

The potential drawback here is time. Four hours in one area is not a quick stop, and it can feel long if you prefer constant sightseeing variety. But if you want the real slower Bali side, this block is a big reason this tour gets strong marks.

The bamboo-forest trek: your “moderate” reality check

The core workout is a moderate hike that lasts about 4 hours. You’ll walk through bamboo forest and green countryside paths, and the description calls out the atmosphere of the area as part of the appeal, not only the destination points.

“Moderate” is doing a lot of work in that word. Based on the length alone, you should expect steady walking time, uneven ground in places, and moments where the sun and humidity feel more intense than you expected. If you’ve got knee or back limitations, this is exactly the kind of tour you should be careful about, since it’s not recommended for people with back problems or serious medical conditions.

Still, the trek is often where the day becomes memorable. Long enough to feel like you’re traveling through Bali, but not so long that you’re exhausted before you reach the cultural highlights. And the bamboo setting tends to make the walk feel special even when you’re just focusing on the next step.

If you want to get the most out of it, plan for a steady pace. Don’t race early. Use the guide’s rhythm to keep your energy for later stops—especially since Tirta Empul and rice-terrace areas involve walking too, just not at trekking intensity.

Balinese lunch with rice paddy views: the smart reset

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Balinese lunch with rice paddy views: the smart reset
After you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll have lunch—described as a delicious Balinese meal with views over rice paddy fields. This matters more than it sounds. A lot of trekking days in Bali fail because there’s no good reset, and people end up hungry, cranky, and rushing through the sacred spots.

Here, lunch is included, and that’s a big value point for a $78 day, because it’s one less cost and one less decision you have to make while you’re already busy. Bottled water is included too, which helps you stay comfortable during the rest of the day.

What to do with this time: treat it as your energy reset. Eat at a comfortable pace, then take a few minutes afterward to cool down and set yourself up for temple time. If you’re the kind of person who gets sleepy after meals, bring a little patience and plan to hydrate before you start walking again.

Tirta Empul Temple: holy water, purification, and respectful time

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Tirta Empul Temple: holy water, purification, and respectful time
Next comes Tirta Empul Temple, a holy-water temple where you can experience the spiritual ambiance of Bali. The tour includes about 1 hour at the temple, and importantly, it mentions that you may do purification on the holy water and receive blessings if you want.

Admission for Tirta Empul is not included, so budget for that. But the hour you have there is generally the right length for a calm visit: enough time to understand what you’re seeing, watch how people participate, and decide whether you want to join the purification ritual.

A practical thought: because this is a sacred place and the focus is spiritual practice, be ready to slow down your camera habits. You’ll get better experiences when you’re paying attention to how people move and what the ritual areas mean. Even if you don’t do purification yourself, you still get the atmosphere.

The other consideration is comfort. Temples often involve walking on uneven areas and spending time in a setting with water-based rituals. Wear shoes that feel stable, and keep your possessions secure. (This is general advice, but it’s the kind of day where it really helps.)

Tegalalang rice terrace: photos, views, and a quick breath

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Tegalalang rice terrace: photos, views, and a quick breath
After the temple, the day shifts into scenery mode with a stop at Tegalalang Rice Terrace. You’ll have about 30 minutes here, mainly to take great pictures and enjoy the views.

This is a good pacing choice. Rice terraces are one of Bali’s most recognizable sights, and a short window can be enough if you’re not trying to walk every ridge and every viewpoint. If you’ve already spent hours trekking, this shorter stop feels like a breather rather than another workout.

Tickets here are not included, so if you want to be inside a specific viewing zone, you may need to pay separately. Either way, the goal is simple: enjoy the terraces and come away with photos that look like Bali, not just like a generic hillside.

If you hate rushed photo stops, this is the time to manage expectations. Thirty minutes is not a full wandering session. But it does give you a break before the coffee plantation area where activity ramps up again.

Coffee plantation and swing over the rice: fun, with extra costs

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Coffee plantation and swing over the rice: fun, with extra costs
The final major experience adds a playful twist: you’ll visit the coffee plantation area, then go for the terrace river pool swing over rice terraces. This part is described as offering different swing options, with a view over the river and rice landscape.

You have about 2 hours allocated to this phase, and it’s also where the day’s “optional fun” lives. The swing ticket is not included, so you’ll pay for that separately if you want to do it. There’s also a note that shopping expenses are not included, which matters in this kind of stop where coffee and souvenirs often sit right in your path.

My advice: decide early whether you’re swinging. If you don’t, use the time for the plantation experience and enjoy the views without trying to cram everything. If you do swing, listen carefully to instructions, because this is a height-and-motion activity layered onto a long day of walking. Save your energy.

Either way, this stop is a strong closer. It turns the day from “culture and walking” into “fun and memories,” and it gives you something different than temples and terraces alone.

Price and value: what $78 really covers

Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch - Price and value: what $78 really covers
For $78, the tour includes a lot that adds up on your own: professional guide, lunch, bottled water, and hotel pickup/drop-off, plus parking fees. You also get access to at least one admission ticket: the Delodsema village time includes an admission ticket.

What’s not included is where the small surprises can happen:

  • Tirta Empul Temple admission is not included
  • Tegalalang Rice Terrace admission is not included
  • Swing ticket is not included
  • Shopping expenses aren’t included

So the value depends on your style. If you mainly want the trekking, temple, and lunch, you still likely feel the price is fair because transport and guide time are included. If you also want to pay for the temple entrance and do the swing, you should expect some extra costs on top.

The real reason I think it’s good value is that it’s built like a full day circuit, not a half-tour. A lot of “Ubud adventure” deals are really just a few stops with long waits. Here, the time allocation is clear, and the included lunch helps keep the day smooth.

Guides make the experience: Wayan and Baru’s personal touch

One of the best parts of this tour, according to the feedback, is the guide experience. Names like Wayan and Baru show up in the standout comments, with praise for being experienced and for adding a personal touch that makes Bali feel more complete.

Baru is also mentioned as meeting guests in the lobby at the start, and there’s feedback that this tour could be customized to requests. That customization matters when you’re doing a full-day trek, because everyone has different comfort levels with hiking pace, photo priorities, and whether they want to slow down at village or temple.

If you want the day tailored rather than follow-the-leader, this is exactly where a good guide adds value. Ask questions. Tell them what you care about—views, culture, pacing, or photo time—and you’re more likely to get a plan that fits you.

Who this tour suits best (and who should skip it)

This tour is best for you if you want a day that blends walking in nature with meaningful cultural stops. It fits well if you like:

  • a moderate hike (not just a short stroll)
  • seeing Taro village and a major temple like Tirta Empul
  • rice terrace views and a playful finale at the coffee plantation area

It’s not a great fit if you have back problems, serious heart complaints, or other serious medical conditions. It also has a minimum age of 7. Kids under 7 have to be carried by a parent, so if you’re traveling with very young children, this may not feel practical.

If you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with friends in your own private group, it can work well because the activity is described as private for your group only. That usually means less hassle and fewer awkward pacing mismatches.

Should you book this Ubud trekking day?

Book it if you want a complete Ubud day: village time, a real chunk of hiking, a sit-down lunch with rice paddy views, and a temple experience at Tirta Empul—then a fun coffee-and-swing ending. The included transport, lunch, and bottled water are the kind of cost-savers that make a day like this feel worth it.

Skip or rethink it if you’re sensitive to longer walking, have any back or heart concerns, or you don’t want to deal with extra admissions and swing fees. Also keep in mind that the experience requires good weather, so rain can change plans.

If you’re a first-timer in Ubud and want one well-rounded outing that doesn’t feel like a checklist, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the trekking and sightseeing tour?

It runs about 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included in the tour price.

Do I get hotel pickup and drop-off from Ubud?

Yes, round-trip transport from your Ubud hotel is included.

What about admission tickets during the day?

Admission for Delodsema Traditional Village is included, but Tirta Empul Temple and Tegalalang Rice Terrace admission are not included. Swing ticket is also not included.

Is the hike suitable for everyone?

It’s described as moderate and requires a moderate physical fitness level. It’s not recommended for people with back problems, heart complaints, or other serious medical conditions.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 7. Kids under 7 must be carried by a parent.

Is the swing activity included?

No, the swing ticket is not included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes, it’s private for your group only.

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