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One Day in Ubud: Luwak Coffee, Rice Terraces, Temples & Monkey Forest
- Corie Mazza
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
Ubud felt like stepping into another world. Surrounded by dense jungle and cascading rice terraces, it offered a peaceful, spiritual vibe that was completely different from Bali’s beach towns. On our fourth day, we traded waves for waterfalls and temples, wandered through emerald-green rice fields, and sipped rich luwak coffee at one of Ubud’s most scenic plantations. We ended the day at the Monkey Forest, tired, happy, and already reminiscing about how magical Ubud was. It was everything I hoped for, and more.
GETTING AROUND UBUD: WHY WE HIRED A PRIVATE DRIVER
To make the most of our day, we hired a private driver, and I genuinely think it’s the best way to explore Ubud. The roads can be winding, traffic unpredictable, and cell service spotty in some areas, so having someone local behind the wheel made everything effortless. Our driver not only knew the best order to visit each stop, but also helped us avoid crowds, shared local insights along the way, and even doubled as our personal photographer, all while catering to our customized itinerary. If you’re planning a full day in Ubud, booking a private driver makes all the difference.
STOP 1: KUMULILIR COFFEE PLANTATION
A coffee plantation wasn’t even on our original itinerary, but when we asked our driver if he knew a good spot for a morning pick-me-up, he suggested a place he thought we’d love and wow, did he deliver. We pulled up to Kumulilir Luwak Coffee Plantation, a lush hideaway tucked into the jungle, and were instantly taken in by the scenery.
We were greeted by a friendly guide who gave us a quick walk-through of how luwak coffee is made, from the foraging civet cats to the drying and roasting process. Then we were seated at a table overlooking the treetops and brought a full flight of local teas and coffees to sample, completely free with the purchase of a cup of luwak coffee.
Each cup of luwak coffee cost 70,000 IDR (around $4.70 USD), so we only ordered one to share, just in case we didn’t like it (spoiler: it was good or maybe it was the ambiance). We sipped, snacked on the little cookies that came with the tasting, and soaked in the view. I honestly felt like I was robbing them, such a beautiful experience for less than five bucks.
It’s worth noting that we visited in 2019, and prices have since changed. As of 2025, the coffee tasting flight now costs 50,000 IDR, and a cup of luwak coffee is also 50,000 IDR. So the full experience today would be around 100,000 IDR (~$6–$7 USD). Still, a great value for the setting and experience.
Of course, there’s a small gift shop on-site where you can buy bagged coffee and tea to take home, but we didn’t end up purchasing anything. The best part? There was zero pressure to buy, which we really appreciated.
Kumulilir also has several scenic photo spots that are free to use, including the bird’s nest and rope bridge, which had no lines when we visited. The only thing you’ll pay extra for is the iconic Bali swing: it’s 250,000 IDR ($15 USD) for the single swing and 350,000 IDR ($22 USD) for the couple swing. We didn’t think it was worth the wait, but it definitely makes for a killer picture. Our driver took our photos at the free spots, which ended up being just as fun and a lot more relaxed.
WHAT'S THE ENTRANCE FEE FOR KUMULILIR COFFEE PLANTATION IN UBUD?
There’s no official entrance fee to visit Kumulilir Coffee Plantation, and the short guided tour of how luwak coffee is made is completely free. You’re welcome to walk the grounds, enjoy the jungle views, and take photos at scenic spots like the bird’s nest and rope bridge all at no cost.
If you’d like to sample the coffee and tea, the tasting flight now costs 50,000 IDR, and a cup of luwak coffee is also 50,000 IDR. For the full experience, expect to spend around 100,000 IDR (~$6–$7 USD), depending on the current exchange rate.
STOP 2: TEGALALANG RICE TERRACESS
The rice fields are absolutely gorgeous and a must-see while in Bali! So lush, vibrant, and surreal in person. We visited on a particularly hot day and were sweating our booties off with all the walking and stairs, but it was still 100% worth it. The narrow dirt paths wind through the terraces and give you a close-up view of the layered landscape, with palm trees towering overhead.
We got some great photos here, including one with a local man stationed in the fields wearing a traditional hat. He clearly wasn’t farming, but was there for photo ops and it’s expected to give a small donation if you stop to take a picture with him. It’s a bit touristy, but fun if you’re in the mood.
That said, the heat was intense, and it definitely cut our visit short. We didn’t explore too deeply into the terraces, but even a short walk was enough to appreciate the beauty of the place. It’s absolutely worth seeing, just try to go early or bring plenty of water if you're visiting midday.
The area is lined with small cafés and souvenir stands, but it didn’t feel overly pushy. We grabbed a cold drink and cooled off in the shade before heading to our next stop.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT TEGALALANG RICE TERRACES?
As of 2025, the entrance fee is 25,000 IDR per person ($1.50 USD), with an additional 10,000 IDR ($0.65 USD) for parking. Some photo ops may also require a small tip or donation, especially if someone is posing for pictures.
STOP 3: GOA GAJAH (THE ELEPHANT CAVE)
Goa Gajah is one of the oldest temples in Bali, and that’s exactly why it appealed to us. The temple grounds feel ancient and spiritual, surrounded by moss-covered stone, tropical greenery, and the soft scent of incense drifting through the air.
The entrance fee is 50,000 IDR per person (~$3.15 USD) as of 2025. Like most temples in Bali, sarongs are required to enter. You’ll likely be approached by women selling them outside, but the temple provides them for free at the entrance, so there’s no need to buy one unless you want to take it home as a souvenir.
We wandered the grounds, snacked on fresh coconut, and entered the small, candle-lit cave at the heart of the temple. There’s only one way in and one way out. Inside, it’s quiet and intimate, with just a few alcoves carved into the stone, where delicate offerings of flowers, incense, and gifts laid by worshippers sat in stillness.
The most meaningful part of this visit was receiving a blessing from the temple’s Pemangku (priest). He ran holy water through our hair, prayed over us, and placed grains of rice on our foreheads and tucked a flower behind our ear to complete the prayer. In Balinese Hinduism, rice on the forehead symbolizes the third eye, a gesture of gratitude to the gods for life and nourishment. It was a special moment, and we felt nothing but peace, joy, and deep respect.
We never would have known to ask for this experience if it weren’t for Edy, our driver. He took this temple seriously, and we could tell how proud he was of his culture and beliefs. Thanks to him, we didn’t just visit the temple—we felt it.
STOP 4: THE SACRED MONKEY FOREST
Edy dropped us off at the Sacred Monkey Forest, our final stop of the day. The setting itself is beautiful: lush jungle paths, mossy stone statues, and ancient temples hidden beneath towering banyan trees. It almost feels like you’ve stepped into an Indiana Jones movie.
Monkeys are absolutely everywhere. They swing from trees, lounge on statues, and dart past tourists along the paths. While they’re undeniably cute, they’re also bold and incredibly smart. We saw a few people get a little too close, either trying to pet them or snap a selfie—and they ended up getting bitten. Fortunately, the park has staff stationed throughout the forest who are trained in basic first aid and do a good job keeping an eye on things.
Do not bring any outside food, and keep your belongings close. These monkeys will unzip bags, swipe phones, sunglasses, and basically anything shiny or snackable. I had my phone out for pictures and videos the whole time, but I made sure to keep my distance.
Honestly, while it was fun to see the monkeys up close, the crowds and chaos made it feel a little too touristy for my liking. If you’re short on time or deciding between this and another activity, I’d consider skipping it. That said, if you’ve never been around wild monkeys before, it’s definitely an entertaining experience.
IS ONE DAY IN UBUD ENOUGH?
One day in Ubud is just enough to get a taste of what makes this inland town so special, offering jungle views, rice terraces, temples and some of Bali’s cultural heart. But if you have the time, it’s absolutely worth stretching it out.
The day before, we were actually making the drive from Kuta (about 1.5 hours) to our accommodation in Ubud, so we figured—why backtrack later? Since we were already passing a few waterfalls along the way, we made a few scenic stops to break up the drive. It was the perfect way to see more of Bali’s nature without carving out another full day.
👉 Want to see the waterfalls we visited? Check out my Bali waterfalls post
👉 Need help planning your full trip? Here’s my Complete Bali itinerary