Private Tour – Ubud Kintamani Tours

Bali’s Ubud and Kintamani circuit packs Balinese performance, village crafts, rice terraces, monkeys, and volcano views into one private day. At its best, it gives you a useful first look at central Bali without forcing you into a fixed group schedule. Driver-guide Ketut Legawa is associated with the service, and the strongest praise centers on his punctuality, kindness, flexibility, and help with wider Bali plans.

I like the private car and adjustable pace, especially if your group wants to spend more time at a painting workshop or less time shopping. I also like the range: this is not just a scenic drive, since it connects living arts and religious culture with major sights. The catch is traffic. The six listed stops are an ambitious wish list, and the day may realistically include only about four destinations.

Key points to know before booking

• A private day with an English-speaking driver: Your group travels alone in an air-conditioned car or bus, with fuel and taxes included.
• Six possible stops, but not six guaranteed stops: Traffic determines how much you can fit in, with four places being a more usual outcome over 10 hours.
• Ketut Legawa may be your driver: His service is praised for punctuality, polite help, local suggestions, and flexible planning.
• Culture comes before scenery: The Barong and Kris dance, Celuk metalwork, and Batuan painting give the day more substance than a simple photo tour.
• Kintamani is the grand finish: You get a one-hour highland stop with views toward Mount Batur and Lake Batur.
• The price covers transport, fuel, and fees, not meals: At $70 per person, value improves with two or more people sharing the private vehicle.

Why this private Bali route works

This is a long central Bali day, lasting up to 10 hours. You are not buying a single attraction. You are paying for a vehicle, an English-speaking driver, fuel, taxes, and the freedom to move between several parts of the island without arranging each ride yourself.

That freedom matters in Bali. The sights are spread across villages, Ubud, and the Kintamani highlands. A private vehicle saves you from piecing together separate transport, and your driver can help adjust the plan when roads slow you down.

The service has earned its strongest praise for the human side of the experience. Ketut Legawa is repeatedly described as prompt, polite, friendly, professional, and willing to suggest places when a guest is unsure what to see. He has also helped with boat tickets and broader travel planning. That makes this more useful than a simple driver who only follows a route.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. The advertised list contains six stops, but the actual number depends on traffic. The tour details say you may reach up to four places during a 10-hour day. I would treat the stops as a menu, not a promise that every site will receive a proper visit.

The Barong and Kris dance sets the cultural tone

The first stop is a roughly 40-minute Barong and Kris dance performance, with admission included. This is one of Bali’s best-known traditional shows, built around the struggle between good and evil.

The value here is context. You are not only looking at temples or scenery. You are seeing a Balinese way of telling a sacred and mythic story through costume, movement, music, and acting. The show offers a quick introduction to the island’s religious imagination before you move on to its art villages.

Forty minutes is enough for a taste, but not a full study of Balinese performance. Timing may also affect how the rest of the day unfolds, since performances operate on their own schedule. Your driver can handle the transport, but you should not assume you can linger here and still reach every later stop.

Celuk shows Bali’s gold and silver craft

Celuk Village is planned as a 30-minute stop focused on gold and silver art. The village is known for local makers who produce jewelry and other metalwork, and the visit gives you a look at craft as a working part of village life.

This stop suits you if you enjoy seeing how objects are made and want the option to purchase a piece of Balinese metalwork. It also adds a useful contrast to the performance. The Barong dance expresses belief through movement, while Celuk expresses skill through material and design.

The short visit has a clear tradeoff. Thirty minutes can introduce the craft, but it does not leave much time for a careful comparison of pieces or a relaxed purchase. If shopping is important to you, tell the driver early. Since the day can be adjusted, your private format may give you more control than a large coach tour, though traffic still limits what is possible.

Batuan connects painting with Balinese ideas

Batuan Village is another 30-minute art stop, this time centered on painting. Ubud’s painting traditions have long been tied to religious and mythological subjects, and the village offers a chance to see how those ideas appear on canvas.

I would approach this stop with curiosity rather than a shopping target. Look at the subjects, repeated figures, and fine details. Even a short visit can help you understand that Balinese art is often connected to stories and belief, not simply decoration for a hotel wall.

Admission is listed as free, but the stop may naturally lead toward viewing or buying artwork. You are not required to purchase anything based on the tour details. If you prefer scenery to galleries, this is one of the places you might shorten when traffic makes the schedule tight.

Tegallalang offers the classic rice terrace view

Tegallalang Rice Terrace is the day’s most recognizable countryside stop. The terraces lie on the road between Ubud and Kintamani, making them a practical link between the southern and northern parts of the route.

You can expect a 30-minute visit, enough for a look at the stepped fields and photographs. The area is also associated with woodcarving in the village and nearby communities, so the stop may include opportunities to see carved flowers, animals, and other designs.

The main limitation is time. Half an hour gives you a viewpoint stop, not a long walk through the terraces. The tour description does not promise a particular walking route, meal, or additional activity. Wear footwear you can manage comfortably if you are invited to walk, but do not plan the day around an extended trek.

Tegallalang is also a good example of why the private arrangement helps. You can ask for a little more time here if the roads are moving well. If traffic is heavy, the driver may need to keep the visit brief to preserve the Kintamani stop.

Ubud Monkey Forest brings you back into town

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary sits in central Ubud, close to other attractions. The planned visit lasts about 30 minutes and admission is included.

This stop gives you a very different setting from Tegallalang. Instead of open rice fields and distant mountain views, you get a wooded sanctuary in the heart of Ubud, with macaques as the main draw. The location makes it easy to pair with other Ubud sights, although this tour does not promise extra time for them.

Thirty minutes is a quick visit. You can get an impression of the sanctuary, but you should not expect to cover every path. Monkeys are wild animals, so use ordinary care with food and belongings. The supplied details do not specify sanctuary rules, so follow posted instructions and your driver’s advice rather than treating the stop like a petting zoo.

For families, the attraction can be memorable, but the combination of monkeys, a long vehicle day, and several short stops may feel tiring for very young children. Children under two enter free, according to the tour information.

Kintamani provides the biggest view

Kintamani Highland is scheduled for about one hour and is the scenic high point of the day. From the highlands, you can look across toward active Mount Batur and broad Lake Batur.

This is where the route changes scale. After village workshops and a compact Ubud attraction, you get open mountain views and a sense of Bali’s volcanic interior. I would protect this stop if scenery matters most to you. A short visit here can be more satisfying than trying to force every art stop into the schedule.

The information does not include a meal, and food and drinks are not part of the price. Plan to pay separately if you want lunch or refreshments during the day. The tour also does not state that a particular viewpoint, restaurant, or walking route is guaranteed, so ask your driver what is practical on the day.

Kintamani can be cooler than lower parts of Bali, but no specific weather or clothing details are provided. Bring what you normally need for a full day out, and allow for changing conditions without expecting the operator to supply equipment.

The real schedule is shaped by Bali traffic

The advertised duration is up to 10 hours, but that does not mean 10 hours of sightseeing. You will spend part of the day on the road between the performance venue, craft villages, Ubud, and Kintamani.

Traffic determines the final mix of stops. The operator says the total number of destinations depends on conditions and is usually up to four places within 10 hours. That wording is important. If you want all six locations, you may spend only a short time at each, and even then the plan may not be possible.

I would choose your priorities before pickup. For example:

• Choose Barong, Monkey Forest, and Kintamani if you want culture, Ubud, and scenery.
• Choose Celuk, Batuan, Tegallalang, and Kintamani if art and countryside matter most.
• Choose fewer stops if you prefer a calm day rather than a checklist.

The private format gives you a better chance of making those choices. The driver can offer suggestions, and past service descriptions credit Ketut with helping shape flexible outings. It does not remove traffic, but it gives you a person to discuss the tradeoffs with.

If you stay beyond the included period, extra hours cost 10 percent of the full-day tour price. The exact monetary amount is not stated, so confirm the calculation before extending the day.

What the $70 price really covers

At $70 per person, the tour includes an air-conditioned car or bus, an English-speaking driver, gasoline, all fees, and taxes. It is a private activity, so only your group participates.

That can be solid value for couples, families, or friends who want one vehicle and a full day of transport. The more people in your group, the more useful the private arrangement can become, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for several rides. Group discounts are offered, though the amount is not specified.

The price does not include food or drinks. It also does not promise unlimited time at each stop. Compare it with what you really need: if you want a relaxed visit to just one or two Ubud sights, a shorter private transfer may suit you better. If you want a broad first look at central Bali, the combination of transport and local help is the main value.

All fees and taxes are included, and admission is stated as included for the Barong performance, Tegallalang, Monkey Forest, and Kintamani. Batuan has no admission charge listed. Celuk also lists admission as included.

Who will get the most from this day

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want an overview of central Bali without managing several transfers. It also suits families and small groups that value privacy, air conditioning, and the ability to discuss changes with a driver.

It is a good match for you if you want a blend of culture and scenery. The Barong performance and two art villages add meaning, while Tegallalang, Ubud Monkey Forest, and Kintamani provide the visual variety many people seek on a first Bali visit.

You may want another option if you dislike shopping-oriented stops or prefer long, unhurried visits. Celuk and Batuan are short, and a six-stop plan can feel rushed. The tour is also not ideal if your main goal is a serious hike around Mount Batur, since Kintamani is a one-hour viewpoint stop rather than a volcano trek.

Confirmation arrives at booking. The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Since pickup is offered, confirm the pickup area and preferred start time when arranging the day.

Should you book the Ubud and Kintamani private tour?

Book it if you want a flexible central Bali sampler, especially with a small group that can share the $70-per-person cost. The best reasons are the private vehicle, fuel and fees included, the cultural mix, and the chance of having a helpful driver such as Ketut Legawa.

Before paying, decide which four places matter most. That one step will make the day feel far less rushed. If the operator can fit more, treat those extra stops as a bonus.

I would pass if you need a guaranteed visit to all six destinations, dislike art and craft stops, or want a slow day built around one major attraction. For everyone else, this is a practical first-day introduction to Ubud and Bali’s volcanic interior, with enough flexibility to make the route your own.

Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

How long does the private Ubud and Kintamani tour last?

The tour lasts up to 10 hours. Extra hours are charged at 10 percent of the full-day tour price, although the exact added amount is not provided.

How many destinations will the tour visit?

The route lists six possible destinations, but traffic affects the schedule. The tour information says the day usually reaches up to four places within 10 hours.

Is transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned car or bus, an English-speaking driver, and gasoline are included. All fees and taxes are also included.

Are meals and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

Is this a shared group tour?

No. This is a private activity, so only your group participates. Group discounts are available, but the discount amount is not specified.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Yes. Most travelers can participate, and children under two years old enter free.