A Cultural Mecca with Breathtaking Nature and Sacred Temples

A weekend in Ubud is just not quite long enough in my nomadic opinion. After a two and half week stint, I can honestly say that Ubud is a place that quickly grows on you. I met many freelancers, yogis, and simple travelers that had a plan to stay a few weeks but woke up one morning and it had been 5 years. There is almost a time warp in Ubud or maybe just time is less controlling there.

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With a 1-day off 1-day on work mentality, I was able to compile some quality day trips and excursions in Ubud that I will be revealing in this post. The post will also consist of some of the best places to experience based off the opinions of locals and the nomad community.

*all of the photos in this post were taken by me*

Waterfalls of Ubud

Timbuana Waterfall

You want to find a waterfall that you can take a swim in and that is not as well known as one like Tegenungan. Then Timbuana is a great 1/2 day adventure. About 30-35 minutes from the Ubud Center, Timbuana is accessible by scooter or car but the roads might be more scooter friendly. Timbuana is also family friendly so if you are one of those rad parents who have your toddlers with you, this is a great waterfall to take them to.

Sekumpul Waterfall

For the more adventurous spirit

Sekumpul Waterfall deserves to be on the top 10 list of places to visit in Bali. The falls are over 50 meters tall and surrounded by lush green cascading hills. I would recommend getting an early start ( we left at 7:30am ) from Ubud since the drive is around 2-2 1/2 hours. Unlike Timbuana, this waterfall requires a moderate to intense hike up and down some steeps steps. If you are up for the extra challenge, you can go past the turn off for the base of the waterfall and hike up the hillside to reach a spot with breathtaking views.

Once you get to the base of the waterfall, you can take a dip in the waterhole below the falls. This is when you will really feel the energy and power of 50 meters of water falling to the valley floor. The force can be pretty intense and I would not recommend bringing your phone into the splash zone or it will getting soaked!

A Day Exploring in Ubud With a Nice Variety

Ubud has a great nucleus within the city and an easily accessible outer ring of things to experience. This day trip consists of 3 places that you can get to with a guided driver ( tour ) or on a scooter/motorbike. The scooters are really fun and hectic in Ubud so I decided to leave the scooter behind and arrange a tour with the owner of my homestay. The locals are really knowledgable here so if you get a chance to book directly with your accommodation, I would highly recommend it. Now for the good shit, here are the 3 stops on this epic day trip just outside of Ubud.

Tegalalang Rice Terraces

An intricate display of Balinese Rice Paddies

The first stop on the day trip is to one of those places you have probably seen scrolling through your Instagram feed. There is really so much to Ubud as a city. After about a 30 minute drive, the rice paddies of Tegalalang began to slightly reveal themselves. The small village consists of hillside shops where local artists craft amazing wood sculptures. Along the hillside are also vendors and small restaurants that have swings and photo-opt spots for tourists. You can take the bait and pay for one of the swings here, but if you wait it out, the swing spot later in this itinerary will be worth the wait and a much more authentic experience.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud is famous for its beautiful scenes of rice paddies involving the subak (traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system), which according to history, was passed down by a revered holy man named Rsi Markandeya in the eighth century.

One reminder I kept hearing from the Balinese along the road who I talked with said to always “take your time”. Tegalalang is an amazing sight from so many different levels of the terraces so in the words of the locals, take your time and enjoy a couple hours surrounded by the best rice terraces in Ubud!

Tegallalang Rice Terraces Location: north of Ubud How to get there: Tegallalang is half an hour’s drive north of Ubud. From the main Ubud art market, head east to the large statue intersection and head further up north.

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Kumililir Coffee Plantation + Swing

Learn about Balinese Coffee in a treehouse and swing over the coffee plantations

Once you have had your Tegalalang fill ( I could spend a whole day here no problem ) , the next place on the itinerary is the “treehouse” and swing at Kumililir coffee plantation. When I say treehouse in quotations, it’s because it literally feels like you are in a treehouse overlooking the vast coffee plantations below.

The experience starts with a background on how the Balinese produce coffee and tea. The staff highlights the Luwak Coffee process, which is proclaimed the most expensive coffee in the world. How Luwak Coffee ( also known as Cuvet Coffee or “Cat Poo” coffee in the states ) is produced will definitely surprise you and have you questioning a lot. Check out the full breakdown of the Luwak Coffee process here. I drank Luwak Coffee my first 3 days at the homestay, only to be told during this tour about what I was actually digesting. I switched to original Balinese coffee shortly after but Luwak Coffee may be a delicacy you really enjoy.

A sample of the Kumililir tea and coffee produced is offered while you sit on top if the main platform with picturesque views. I, being a self proclaimed coffee and tea connoisseur , finished all of the samples offered. With a highly caffeinated body, I was asked if I wanted to do the swing. I took one look at the swing and said “Let’s Go”! I would like to dedicate a full post to the swing experience so make sure to check back in a week or so to read about the full experience. Kumililir has it’s tourist enticing moments but all in all is very enjoyable and highly recommended.

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Pure Tirta Empul ( The Sacred Water Temple )

Since 926 AD, the Balinese have come here to bath in the sacred waters healing and spiritual energy

After a full day out in the rice terraces and coffee plantations, the itinerary brings you to Tirta Empul, the sacred water temple where you can bathe in the sacred pools. According to http://www.bali-indonesia.com :

Tirta Empul, meaning ‘holy water spring’ is actually the name of a water source located within the temple. The spring feeds various purification baths, pools and fish ponds surrounding the outer perimeter, which all flow to the Tukad Pakerisan River. Various sites throughout the region and many other archaeological relics relate to local myths and legends.

The temple has a larger than life tree within it that really makes you feel how small we are in this vast universe. Upon entrance to the temple grounds, visitors are asked to wear a sarung just like the Balinese people do. The temple has different sections to experience before fully immersing yourself in the sacred pools. When the time feels right, a second water sarong is required to enter into the sacred springs.

I found this to be an ethereal experience and very moving as you get the opportunity to feel what the Balinese culture has felt for centuries. Fish swim in the pools with you and as the water flows into the purification baths, each bath symbolizes a different phase of gratefulness and appreciation for Life and what we have. According to sacred destinations:

Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra. His forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them.

An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD. Ever since – for more than a thousand years – the Balinese have come to bathe in the sacred waters for healing and spiritual merit.

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How to Get Around Ubud and to Top Attractions of Bali

Bali, like many other southeast countries ( Vietnam, Thailand, etc..) has unique traffic laws. What I mean by unique is that they are non existent. The roads can take some time getting used to and require some fearlessness to navigate. Transportation also takes place on the left side of the road, which can be tricky to certain parts of the world. For me, the best way I have approached navigating the roads of Bali is to stay laser focused on my surroundings. With dogs along the side of the road, tourists from every global corner, and locals flying past, the roads are no joke.

With that being said, Bali does have a wide variety of ways you can explore the city and get out into the natural beauty of the jungle. Here are the options for transportation and when exploring and creating your now route of things to do in Bali.

Motorbike + Scooter + Go Jek

Southeast Asia is scooter/motorbike dominant region in my opinion. It’s the epitome of bikes in Amsterdam. Motorbikes  and scooters are readily available in Ubud and all you the freedom to experience your top things to do in Bali. Rental prices range from 50-100k ( rupiah ) per day. I would highly recommend getting your international drivers license before arriving in Ubud.

If you aren’t confident or comfortable with operating your own scooter/motorbike, there is an app called Go Jek that is like an Uber/Lyft for scooters in Bali. Simply request a ride and a guy will show up in a green jacket ready to take you to your destination for a fraction of the price of a taxi.

Car Rental

As in most areas of the world, car rental is available in Ubud and surrounding Bali regions. Cars seem to have a tougher time with traffic and some of the roads in Ubud, but they are a great options for longer day treks and for travel families.

Personal Driver + Tour Guide

The views to certain destinations outside of Ubud are full of nature along the way so booking a tour guide is another good alternative. The balinese people really care about their culture and history so most tour guides really care about your experience and will provide great insight about the places within your itinerary. To learn more about my experience with a Balinese Family, see the full details here. When figuring out what to do in Ubud, Air B&B now offers experiences for where you are staying and some of the tours look great on Air B&B. If you can get recommended to a custom driver or tour guide by a friend/fellow traveller, that would be ideal to validate your trip in advance.

Grab ( Bali Uber )

The final form of transportation on the list in Bali’s version of Uber/Lyft known as Grab. Grab picks up in most locations in Ubud and can be a good alternative to a tour guide if you wanted to catch a grab to a single location and then catch a grab back to your place. Grab is more affordable than the taxis in Ubud, so pinch this pennies and get a Grab if you would like to go that route.

Final Thoughts

In this blog, we highlighted a way to spend a great couple days on a weekend in Ubud. The opinions of the locations included in this blog are from my direct experience at each location. The itinerary above and day treks can be a really great opportunity to connect with a Balinese individual and to immerse yourself in the Ubud culture.

A weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Ubud is a nice change. If you happen to be a digital nomad planning to come to Bali or maybe you are already here, nomad living is meant to have a sense of balance so I hope you will get to explore some of these locations. I also have you covered with  a full in-depth guide to the nomadic lifestyle in Ubud.

I think you will enjoy this itinerary and couple of waterfall hikes near Ubud, Bali. If you have any questions or would like to write a post about your Ubud experience, write me a few lines. I am always open to collaboration and would be honored to hear your unfiltered stories.

I will leave you with a quote that I have been vibing with over the past few days in Bali…

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

 

 

 

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