Things to Do in Ubud: A Pre-Departure Plan

Visit the palace and market together#

In Korean travelers’ accounts, many viewed Ubud Palace less as a major attraction than as a brief stop while walking around central Ubud. We can visit the Ubud Art Market opposite the palace at the same time, without making a separate trip.

Reviews repeatedly say that the price quoted for the same item can vary at the market. Rather than buying immediately at the first shop, we will look around once, and if bargaining feels uncomfortable, choose a fixed-price shop. It makes more sense to include the palace and market on a day we walk from Komaneka than to take a long car ride just to see them.

If we plan to see a traditional performance in the evening, we will check the venue, start time, and seating for that day on site. We will leave time to rest at the hotel between the daytime walk and evening performance.

Do not treat the Monkey Forest like a zoo#

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary · Official information

According to the official description, this is a temple and nature reserve where long-tailed macaques live in a semi-wild state. They are not tame pets, so the official rules of conduct come before photographs: do not take food out or display it, touch or tease the monkeys, or lure them for a selfie. Keep track of loose items and small belongings, and follow staff instructions.

If being close to monkeys makes us uncomfortable, we will not force it into the itinerary. We will choose it only when the purpose is to walk through the forest and temples.

Walk Campuhan Ridge before the heat#

Campuhan Ridge Walk

This is a free walking trail along a ridge. Sunlight and humidity matter more than photographs, so we will consider it early in the morning or as the sun weakens. Travelers often say that there may be little shade at midday and that popular times can be crowded.

We will not add another long walk on a day when we walk from Komaneka to the palace and market. If we plan to get enough walking in at Maya Ubud, this route is not essential either.

One museum for a rainy day: Agung Rai Museum of Art · Official information#

ARMA says on its official page that it operates six hectares of gardens together with art and cultural spaces. Rather than visiting several museums in Ubud, we are keeping it as a candidate for seeing one place slowly.

We view it as a half-day alternative for a rainy day or a day when it is too hot to walk, using the café and garden together. We will not assume performances and events run all the time, and will check the date again on the official page.

Choose one yoga class, outside or at the hotel: The Yoga Barn · Class schedule#

There are many types of classes, making it a good place to experience Ubud’s yoga scene, but community discussions also say that the popular center can be crowded. We will check the difficulty, language, and arrival time on the schedule for our travel week.

If we also plan to take a class at Maya Ubud, we will not pay for both in advance. If a range of classes at an outside center matters more, we will choose Yoga Barn; if minimizing travel matters more, we will choose the hotel program.

A slow walk to see birds and plants: Bali Bird Walks · Official information#

Bali Bird Walks offers nature walks to observe not only birds but also butterflies, trees, and medicinal plants. The official page says there are regular walks on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and that other schedules are possible by prior arrangement.

It is the opposite of an itinerary that rushes through photo spots. We will include it if we want a day of observing nature slowly, and will not book it on the same day as rafting.

Ayung River rafting if we want to be active: Ayung River Rafting · Mason Adventures official information#

Rafting takes more than half a day once travel, registration, equipment, stairs, and a shower are included. Rather than rely on an operator’s advertising language, we will check insurance and cancellation terms; life jackets, helmets, and the safety briefing; the operating policy in rain or when the water level changes; hotel pickup coverage; the stairs down to and back up from the river; and shower and changing facilities.

Mason Adventures states on its official page that the Ayung River section is class II–III and describes safety equipment and insurance. That does not mean we are unconditionally recommending a particular operator; we will compare other operators using the same criteria.

We will not choose a combo that includes elephant rides or contact with animals. On a day when we only want to raft, we will look only at rafting-only options.

For a cooking class, look at the class itself rather than just the market visit: Ubud Cooking Class#

This is an experience that is often mentioned alongside rafting by Korean travelers. Rather than choosing a class just because a market visit is included, we will look at how much hands-on cooking is included and what menu it actually offers.

We will check whether there is enough hands-on cooking for both of us, whether vegetarian diets and allergies can be accommodated, what language the class is in and how large the group is, whether the pickup location works with our hotel, and whether we can get the recipes.

If we book a half-day class, we will not add rafting or a long northern tour on the same day.