This page's pickBatur by jeep
Sunrise, no hiking
- Jeep
- About 4:30 to 8:00 AM
- Pickup
- Ubud area
- Hot spring
- Optional
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Guide · Day trips
Day trips from Ubud: Batur, the north, Nusa Penida and more
Ubud sits in the middle of Bali, which makes it the easiest base for day trips: up to the volcano before dawn, north to the big waterfalls, or out to sea for a day on Nusa Penida.
Check availabilityfrom $14 · free cancellation possible
Editorial team, ubuddaytour.comUpdated October 24, 2026read in 7 minutes25 sources
Quick answer
- 01Volcano sunrise
- Batur by jeep from $21, no hiking.
- 02On foot
- A Batur sunrise hike of 5 hours of walking.
- 03The north
- A private 10-hour day to Sekumpul.
- 04Out to sea
- Nusa Penida by boat, 9.5 to 12 hours.
- 05Closer to home
- Terraces, a water temple and three waterfalls.
Why Ubud makes a good base
Ubud lies in the central part of Bali, which puts the volcano to the north, the beaches to the south and the harbors for the islands to the east all within reach of a day.1 Several of the day trips from Ubud below start before breakfast and finish in time for an evening in town. That central position is the whole reason to stay inland rather than on the coast if you plan several outings.
The trade-off is the roads. They are narrow, they climb and they fill with traffic, so a trip that looks short on the map can take longer than you expect. Listings with pickup in the Ubud area take that worry off your hands, and it pays to choose one trip a day and do it well rather than stacking two. A good driver knows the back roads that dodge the worst of the queues, which is worth asking about when you book.
The trips below are grouped by direction: the volcano and its lake, the north with Sekumpul, the sea crossing to Nusa Penida, and the gentler evenings and loops close to town. Each comes with the listings that actually run it from Ubud, so you can see what is included before you book. Read the inclusions closely, because pickup, tickets and meals vary from one listing to the next.
Batur by jeep
A volcano sunrise morning
-
Before dawn
Pickup in Ubud
Pickup and drop-off are in the Ubud area.
-
About 4:30 AM
Into the jeep
The jeep part runs about 4:30 to 8:00 AM.
-
Sunrise
The viewpoint
Sunrise over the caldera of a 1,717 m volcano.2
-
After sunrise
The black lava
Lava fields from past eruptions, including 1963.3
-
Morning
Hot spring option
Bring a change of clothes for the warm pools.
Mount Batur at sunrise, by jeep or on foot
Mount Batur is 1,717 m high and stands in Indonesia's first UNESCO Global Geopark, listed in 2012.24 Its first documented eruption was in 1804 and its most recent in 2000, and the lava of a 1963 eruption still lies black on its flank.53 Lake Batur below it is crescent-shaped and stretches for 7.5 km.6 On a clear morning the sun rises behind Mount Agung and lights the lake below.
The jeep trip suits anyone who wants the sunrise without the climb. A shared jeep runs from about 4:30 to 8:00 AM to a sunrise point and the black lava, with an option for the hot spring, and pickup and drop-off in the Ubud area; it involves no hiking. It starts from $21 and has 2,979 reviews averaging 4.83. The jeeps park at viewpoints along the slope, so you watch the light change without breaking a sweat, and the ride over the lava is part of the fun.
The hike is for the fit. One listing gives 1.5 hours by car, 5 hours of hiking and 2 hours at a hot spring, with trekking gear and a light breakfast on top, from $36. The jeep listing asks for warm clothes for the early morning and a change of clothes for the hot spring, and the same packing suits the hike. The path up is loose volcanic gravel in places, so walking shoes with a firm sole make a real difference on the way down.
Length
Longest listed hours per trip
hours
Compared
Day trips from Ubud side by side
| Trip | Hours | Effort | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batur sunrise by jeep | 5-8 | No hiking | from $21 |
| Batur sunrise hike | 7-10 | 5 hours walking | from $36 |
| Kintamani private day | 7 | Easy | from $31 |
| Sekumpul private hike | 10 | Steep steps | from $55 |
| Nusa Penida by boat | 9.5-12 | Snorkeling | from $64 |
| Taro firefly evening | 3-8 | Easy | from $40 |
From each GetYourGuide listing; prices are from-prices, and private days show your party's total at checkout.
Three big days
Volcano, trek or sea
This page's pick
Most active
Longest dayNusa Penida by boat
Snorkeling and a beach
- Hours
- 9.5 to 12
- Boat
- 30 minutes
- Swimmers
- Confident only
Decision helper
Which day trip suits you?
Pick the line that fits your energy.
Batur by jeep
A jeep to the sunrise point and the lava; no hiking.
Batur on foot
5 hours of hiking with breakfast on top.
Sekumpul
A private 10-hour hiking day in the north.
Nusa Penida
Snorkeling at three bays and a beach, 9.5 to 12 hours.
Taro fireflies
Dinner, a village walk and a firefly viewpoint.
Geopark Batur became the first geopark in Indonesia to be listed in the UNESCO Global Geopark in 2012
Kintamani and the crater rim
The road from Ubud to Kintamani climbs north to the rim of the Batur caldera, where the lava field of the 1963 eruption is visible below.3 Even without a sunrise, the view across the caldera to the volcano and its lake is a sight you will not forget. Stop at one of the viewpoints along the rim road, where cafes serve coffee grown on these slopes.
A private 7-hour day starts with breakfast in Kintamani, then visits Tirta Empul, the Ulu Petanu waterfall and a pool club near Ubud for lunch, though swimming there is not included. It starts from $31 and has 156 reviews averaging 4.98. It suits travelers who want the volcano view and a waterfall in one easy, private day.
Bring a warm layer even in the dry months; the rim is higher and cooler than Ubud, and clouds can roll over it in minutes. If the summit is hidden when you arrive, wait for a while over a coffee. Cloud can lift as suddenly as it came. An early arrival gives you the rim before the midday haze.
Map
Ubud, the stops of the day and the trips beyond
First the town between the palace and the forest, then the terraces and the waterfalls around it, then the volcano, the north and the harbour for Nusa Penida.
1Ubud Palace2Ubud Art Market3Museum Puri Lukisan4Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary5Pura Gunung Lebah6Campuhan Ridge Walk7ARMA
1Ubud Palace8Tegallalang Rice Terrace9Tirta Empul10Tukad Cepung11Tibumana12Kanto Lampo13Tegenungan
1Ubud Palace14Mount Batur15Sekumpul Waterfall16Kusamba harbour17Ngurah Rai airport
- 1Ubud Palace
Puri Saren Agung, the royal residence at the corner of Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Monkey Forest; evening dances in the courtyard.789
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Ubud Art Market
Stalls of handicrafts made in Bali, beside the palace.10
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Museum Puri Lukisan
The town's art museum, opened in 1956.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
About 12.5 hectares of forest in Padangtegal, home to about 1,054 long-tailed macaques; open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.121314
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Pura Gunung Lebah
The temple at the Campuhan river confluence, tied to an 8th-century legend of Rsi Markandya.15
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Campuhan Ridge Walk
A walk suggested for the cooler afternoon hours.16
In Google Maps ↗ - 7ARMA
The Agung Rai Museum of Art, one of the town's museums and a Kecak venue.17
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Subak terraces about a 20-minute drive north of Ubud; the site tour's first stop.18
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Tirta Empul
The water temple on the site tour, where guests can join the bathing ritual.
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Tukad Cepung
A fall inside a rock cleft, reached by about 200 steps and shallow water.
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Tibumana
A single fall into a pool where the site tour allows a swim.
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Kanto Lampo
A broad fall in Beng village, Gianyar; busy at peak hours.19
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Tegenungan
A fall in Gianyar with a pool where visitors swim.2021
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Mount Batur
A 1,717 m volcano in Indonesia's first UNESCO Global Geopark.24
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Sekumpul Waterfall
A waterfall in the north of Bali, a private 10-hour hiking day.
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Kusamba harbour
The harbour for the speedboat to Nusa Penida, 30 minutes across.
In Google Maps ↗ - 17Ngurah Rai airport
Bali's airport, closed for the 24 hours of Nyepi.2223
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For the big days out
01
Volcano
- A warm layer for the dawn
- A change of clothes for the hot spring
- Shoes with grip for the lava
02
Sea and falls
- Swimwear and a towel
- Seasickness tablets if you need them
- Sunscreen and a hat
Party price
Price a day trip for your group
Add your party to compare the big shared days.
People
Total from$41
per head from $21
Check availabilityfree cancellationThis sum multiplies a listing's GetYourGuide starting price by the number in your party and converts it with the day's ECB rate; checkout shows the binding amount.
Video
The best day trips near Ubud, a guide to Bali’s cultural heartland
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The north: Sekumpul and the long drive
The big waterfalls of north Bali are a longer trip. A Sekumpul waterfall from Ubud day runs as a private 10-hour hiking tour with pickup, from $55. It has 117 reviews averaging 4.89. Count on most of the day in the car and on the steps, and only a part of it at the falls themselves.
Expect a long drive over the mountains, steep steps down to the falls and a hot climb back. The reward is a valley of tall falls set in thick forest, a different scale of water from the pools near Ubud. Take breaks on the climb and let the guide set the pace; there is no prize for reaching the car park first.
Go in the drier months if you can, when the paths are firmer and the water clearer, and start as early as your driver allows. Pack swimwear, a towel, dry clothes and shoes that grip, as for any waterfall day, and plenty of water for the climb. A dry bag for your phone is useful here, as the spray reaches far beyond the pools.
Out to sea: a Nusa Penida day trip from Ubud
A Nusa Penida day trip from Ubud starts early: pickup between 5:15 and 5:30 AM, a 30-minute speedboat from Kusamba, snorkeling at Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay for 40 minutes each, and 40 minutes at Kelingking Beach. The whole day takes 9.5 to 12 hours. Kelingking Beach is the famous cliff view, with a steep path that only the fit should attempt.
It is a day for confident swimmers only, and the listing warns that the sea can be choppy and the island's roads narrow and bumpy. It starts from $64, with 22 reviews averaging 4.81. Strong currents and swell can change the plan on the day, so treat the snorkeling sites as a wish list, not a promise.
If you get seasick, take precautions before the crossing and eat lightly. If you would rather spend more time on land, stay a night on the island instead. A day trip gives you a taste; Nusa Penida's cliffs and coves deserve more than a few hours. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a long-sleeved top to protect your back while you snorkel.
Closer to home: loops and evenings
Not every day trip needs a long drive. The private tour sold on this site stays close to Ubud, visiting the Tegallalang terraces, the Tirta Empul water temple and the Tukad Cepung, Kanto Lampo and Tibumana waterfalls over 6 to 10 hours, from $14. It is the gentlest full day of the lot, with swims and walks rather than long drives.
An evening trip to Taro village, about 40 minutes by car from Ubud, combines dinner at an agroforestry farm, a village walk and a firefly viewpoint. It starts from $40. It suits families and anyone who has had enough of early alarms. The fireflies are magic for children, and the dinner on the farm is a welcome change from restaurant meals.
A fat-tire e-bike half day through the villages and terraces around Tegalalang is another short option, with pickup within 5 km of central Ubud. Short trips like these leave you time to rest between the big days. Pair one of these short trips with a long day earlier in the week to keep your energy up.
How to plan a week of day trips
Mix the big days with easy ones. A sunrise on Batur means a very early start, so follow it with a lazy afternoon. A Nusa Penida day is long and tiring, so put a slow day in town after it. Keep the waterfall loop for a dry day, when the pools are clearest. Three big trips in a week is plenty; the rest of the time belongs to the terraces and the town.
Watch the calendar too. On Nyepi, which falls in March or April, Bali stops for 24 hours and the airport and transport hubs close, so no day trip runs.242322 Plan your days around it if you travel then. The day before Nyepi has its own spectacle, with villages parading ogoh-ogoh effigies before they burn them.25
The listings here offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so you can book with the forecast in mind and move a trip if the weather turns. Choose the best day trips from Ubud by your energy as much as by the sights. Book the trip you most want first, and fit the others around it.
Your day in Ubud
Terraces, a water temple and three falls.
Pick a date, get collected in the Ubud area, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
Is the Batur jeep trip a hike?
No. The shared jeep goes to a sunrise point and the black lava; the listing says it involves no hiking.
How high is Mount Batur?
1,717 m. It stands in Indonesia's first UNESCO Global Geopark, listed in 2012.24
When does the Batur jeep start?
About 4:30 AM. The jeep part runs about 4:30 to 8:00 AM, with pickup in the Ubud area.
How long is a Nusa Penida day?
9.5 to 12 hours. Pickup is between 5:15 and 5:30 AM, with a 30-minute speedboat crossing.
Do I need to swim for Nusa Penida?
Yes, confidently. The snorkeling day is for confident swimmers comfortable in open water.
Can I go on Nyepi?
No. Bali stops for 24 hours on Nyepi, and the airport and transport hubs close.2322
Is there a shorter trip?
Yes, an evening. The Taro firefly evening is about 40 minutes by car from Ubud.
Sources
Sources and evidence
- 1Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 2WikipediaMount Batur↩
- 3WikipediaMount Batur↩
- 4Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Geopark Batur↩
- 5WikipediaMount Batur↩
- 6Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Geopark Batur↩
- 7Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Istana Ubud, Kediaman Resmi Keluarga Kerajaan di Bali↩
- 8WikipediaUbud↩
- 9Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Istana Ubud, Kediaman Resmi Keluarga Kerajaan di Bali↩
- 10Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 11WikipediaPuri Lukisan Museum↩
- 12Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)History, Mission & Conservation↩
- 13Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)Long-Tailed Macaque↩
- 14Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)Opening Hours & Maps↩
- 15WikipediaUbud↩
- 16Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 17Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 18Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Tegallalang Rice Terrace: A Charm of the Green in Ubud↩
- 19Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 20Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Keindahan Air Terjun Tegenungan, Pesona Alam di Bali↩
- 21Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Keindahan Air Terjun Tegenungan, Pesona Alam di Bali↩
- 22Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 23Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 24Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 25Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
