One More Day in
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The green half of the island, and which of it is worth the drive.
Waterfalls, rice & jungle
The waterfalls near Ubud sit close enough together that you can do two or three in a morning, and that is the sensible way to do them. Sekumpul is the exception and the best one, and it is in the north — a full day, not an add-on. The rice terraces are the other half of inland Bali and Jatiluwih is the one that still looks like farmland.
A single clean drop into a pool with a short, easy walk in. The most forgiving of the Ubud waterfalls and the one to pick if you only want one, or if steps are a problem.
Inside a cave, with the light coming down through the opening above — which is the whole point and only works in the middle of the day when the sun is high enough. You wade through the stream to get in, so wear something you do not mind soaking.
It only does the light beam near midday, and after heavy rain the way in through the stream is closed. Both worth checking on the day.
Wide and low, running down a stepped rock face rather than dropping off it, which makes it the one you can stand in. Close to Ubud and easy to pair with Tibumana in the same morning.
The best waterfall on the island and the hardest to get to — a long drive north and then a genuine walk down and back up, with a lot of steps. Do not treat this as one of the Ubud three; it is its own day and it earns it.
A long drive and a long climb back up. Not one to bolt onto the end of an Ubud morning.
The UNESCO-listed terraces in the centre of the island, and the ones that still look like working farmland rather than a viewpoint. Much bigger and much quieter than Tegalalang, with proper walking routes through them.
The famous one, twenty minutes from Ubud, and by now as much a set of viewing platforms and swings as a rice terrace. It is genuinely striking and it is genuinely busy. Go at first light or accept the crowd.
A ridge path straight out of the middle of Ubud with a valley either side, and no entrance to pay. Do it at first light — it is beautiful at six and unpleasantly hot by nine, and there is no shade on it at all.
A genuine forest temple complex in the middle of Ubud that happens to have several hundred macaques living in it. The trees and the temples are the reason to go; the monkeys are wild animals rather than an attraction, and they behave like it.
Do not feed them, do not hold food, and put your sunglasses away. They will take what they can reach.
If you have one inland day, the honest answer is two waterfalls near Ubud in the morning, Campuhan at dawn if you can face it, and Tegalalang or Jatiluwih in the afternoon. If you have two, one of them should be Sekumpul on its own. Tell us how many days you have and where you are staying and we will split it properly — Ubud to the Bukit and back in one day is the mistake everybody makes.
Asked honestly, answered honestly.
Sekumpul, comfortably — but it is a full day, a long drive north and a serious climb back up. If you want a good one without the day, Tibumana is the easiest and Tukad Cepung is the most striking.
Tibumana, Kanto Lampo and Tukad Cepung are close enough together for two or three in a morning. Sekumpul is not one of those — it is its own day.
Jatiluwih if you want to walk and to see terraces that are still farmed, and it is much quieter. Tegalalang if you want the famous view twenty minutes from Ubud and you are prepared to go early to beat the crowd.
No, but there is no shade anywhere on it. Go at sunrise. By nine in the morning it is hot enough to spoil it.
It is a working temple complex and forest where the macaques live wild, rather than an animal attraction. Do not feed them and keep hold of your things.
