If you’re like me someone who refuses to be stuck in Ubud’s infamous traffic and just wants to see the greener, quieter side of Bali, you have to try these Ubud day trips.

I’ve been to Ubud countless times, and yet I can’t believe I missed out on these spots until recently.

There are so many beautiful places around, but it’s surprisingly hard to get off the beaten path when everyone else seems to be heading to the same rice terraces and waterfalls.

Before I share with you my best Ubud day trips, here’s where I recommend you have to stay — the stay itself is so unique in some of these places that it feels like a day trip!

Where To Stay in Ubud

For yoga & wellness kind of stays:

SOME OF THE NICEST STAYS - THIS WAS IN SUARA ALAM UBUD

Adiwana Suweta: amazing spa experience + hotel stay!
Bisma eight villas: yoga, dance & cooking classes - like what!
Prashanti Bali: There is a yoga studio onsite & a pool
Om Ham Retreat: amazing Kundalini yoga classes!

For solo travellers:

Arya Wellness Retreat: perfect for solo travellers as they have female-only spa & yoga
Soulshine Resort: gorgeous, gorgeous place with pampering massages!

Unique stays:

Bambu Indah: immersive pools you don’t want to leave!
Atelier Ubud Art Hotel: Never seen something so artsy like this!
Casa Pohon: everything about this place set in a jungle setting is stunning!

Ubud Day Trips: The One I Fully Recommend!

1. NungNung waterfall

NUNG NUNG WATERFALL, YOU’VE TO GO HERE ON A DAY TRIP IN bALI

Can I just say this was the most impressive waterfalls that I saw in Bali? It is about an hour drive from Ubud. If you want to go during sunset, you can book a guide here that takes you to a few places and then NungNung waterfall!

The hike down is steep (around 500 steps) but completely worth it once you reach the base. The intensity of the waterfall can be quite something — the rocks were slippery too but somehow when you feel the mist after the hard hike, it feels worth it!

I’ll say kids or senior citizens can manage as long as they’re OK with slippery surfaces and steps.

It is about a 20 minute walk or hike down the steps and the entrance fee is IDR20k.

2. Munduk: Twin Lake Jungle Hike

The region of Munduk is quite off the beaten path and about 2 hours away from Ubud. Only a few people seem to visit.

The highland area is surrounded by coffee plantations, waterfalls, and cool mountain air.

So if you’ve some time, I would highly recommend doing the Twin Lake Jungle Hike takes you through dense forest trails connecting Lake Tamblingan and Lake Buyan. You can book it here!

The good thing about this is that it is often guided by locals who share stories about the jungle plants and a few temple legends along the way which I had no idea about.

Otherwise, it is always the usual stops and taking picture but here you get to pause a bit and see something better than the trails in Ubud.

After the hike, we grabbed a cup of locally grown coffee overlooking the lakes.

3. Manuaba waterfall

I saw no one on this waterfall and this is why it was one of my favourite day trip.

Manuaba waterfall is tucked away near Tegallalang and often missed by tourists which was why I loved coming to this place.

The whole hike took about 45-60 minutes but you can cover it under 30 minutes if you don’t stop too often. The entrance was 30k rupiah.

It is also only 30 minutes away from Ubud. Make sure to stop at Warung D&W after your hike for some refreshing drinks and coconuts!

4. Tegallalang Rice Terrace & Coffee Tasting

TEGALLALANG RICE TERRACE FIELDS - PERHAPS THE ONLY ONE WORTH GOING TO

Yes, it’s touristy — but IMHO it’s still worth seeing.

It also is worth to take a guide here because getting a taxi in and out is a challenge, and for a good price you get transportation, someone waiting for you and they can also bring you to a coffee plantation after the Tegallalang rice field tour.

They are knowledgeable and can give you insight into the farmers tending the fields while showing you viewing points not many people go to!

I loved how calm and beautiful it was on the morning we went.

Grab a coffee at one of the small warungs facing the valley, not the big cafés, but the quiet ones higher up the slope.

5. Puri Gunung Kawi Sebatu

DO YOUR PURIFICATION HERE AT PURI GUNUNG KAWI SEBATU

Everybody goes to Tirta Empul but the crowds are maddening but there’s far lesser crowds in Puri Gunung Kawi Sebatu and I loved that the spiritual purification ceremony is not rushed or overcrowded.

This is one of Bali’s most peaceful temples that has a calm like ambience! You will receive a sarong for free at the entrance.

A good thing to do it is to pair it with this day trip that takes you to two secret canyons as well as this spot where you can stop to do the purification ceremony!

6. Exploring North Bali

North Bali was something I wanted to stay at especially to see the dolphins at Lovina, ofcourse you can do that and book this amazing dolphin tour if you want to!

But if you want to do a day trip by road, and explore their quiet black-sand beaches near Lovina, and mountain viewpoints with no crowds in sight, this North Bali tour takes you to all those spots.

It was such a breather to see another side of Bali like Banyumala or Sekumpul, see the quiet black-sand beaches near Lovina!

The drive itself is an adventure since it winds through dense forests and tiny roadside warungs where you can stop for snacks and coffee.

7. Mount Batur

MOUNT BATUR SUNRISE — YOU’VE TO DO THIS!

Climbing a volcano seems like the best way to get away from Ubud’s mad chaos.

Mount Batur is the most famous volcano hike you can do from Batur. The climb starts around 2 a.m., and after about two hours, you’ll reach the summit just in time to watch the sun rise above Lake Batur.

The best way to relax after this hike is at the hot spring. I would recommend doing the Mt Batur hike with hot springs option!

8. Cycling in Bali on an e-bike

CYCLING IN UBUD, HONESTL,Y THE BEST WAY TO GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH

I love biking and this e-biking tour along rice fields and a visit to a home for local lunch was one of the best ways to get off the beaten path in Ubud.

I had two guides for the trip supporting from the front and behind and were 10/10 for safety the whole time!

You are also given two bottles of water, an entire tour on bike of the rice field, coffee/tea tasting, a swing experience and dinner.

4 hours was honestly perfect for a bit of adrenaline in Bali!

9. Climbing Mount Ijen

Okay, this one’s technically not in Bali but if you’re adventurous, you can do it as an overnight or very long day trip.

I did this essentially because I wanted to see Java and had an extra day!

Mount Ijen is famous for its surreal blue flames and turquoise sulfur lake. You’ll need to take a ferry from Gilimanuk to Banyuwangi (East Java), then hike up before dawn to catch the phenomenon.

It’s one of the most unique hikes in Southeast Asia and I highly recommend doing this trip if you’re up for it!

The best way is to book it here!

Also read: Hiking Kawah Ijen Crater From Bali in 24 Hours: My Complete Guide to Climbing The Volcano

10. Wellness Yoga Retreat Day Trip

SOME OF THE BEST YOGA RETREATS ARE N BALI

The amount of yoga & spas in Ubud is next level — after all that hiking and moving around, I so needed a day to slow down instead of temple hopping.

I highly recommend checking out this wellness retreat that lets you have a massage, yoga class, and lunch.

It starts with a traditional cleansing ritual, followed by a traditional dish for lunch, then an authentic Balinese Yoga and ending up with a Balinese Massage in the jungle.

You should also check out this sound yoga & energy healing experience!

These were all the experiences I checked out in Bali and I highly recommend you doing a mix of these!

Read my other Bali guides:

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