Most freedomCar with driver
You plan, they drive
- Hours
- Up to 10
- Seats
- Up to 5 in the car
- Guide
- Driver only
- Area
- South and central Bali
Guides
Language
EnglishCurrency
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Guide · Tours compared
Ubud private driver or a set day tour?
A car with a driver lets you write the day yourself; a set private tour hands you a plan and a guide; a shared day puts you in a group on a fixed route. Here is how the three compare from Ubud.
Check availabilityfrom $14 · free cancellation possible
Editorial team, ubuddaytour.comUpdated October 24, 2026read in 7 minutes3 sources
The short version
- 01Driver for hire
- You choose every stop; a full day is at most 10 hours.
- 02Set private tour
- A planned route with a driver-guide, from $14.
- 03Shared full day
- Fixed stops in a group, from $23.
- 04Half a day
- Private half days of 4 hours exist.
- 05Best for
- A driver for planners, a set tour for first-timers, shared for solo travelers.
Three ways to spend a day out of Ubud
Days out of Ubud come in three shapes. The first is a car with a driver for hire: you plan the stops, the driver takes you there and waits. The second is a set private tour: the same private car, but with a route the operator has planned and a driver who also guides. The third is a shared day with other travelers on a fixed route, where you trade freedom for company and a set plan. Each has its place, and a week in Ubud can easily use more than one.
The difference is less about the car than about who decides. With an Ubud private driver you are the planner, which suits travelers who already know which terraces, temples and waterfalls they want. With a set tour the operator has done that work, and the guide adjusts it on the day. With a shared day the program is the program, and the group keeps the pace.
All three start in or near Ubud, and the main sights are close together, so you rarely need more than a day for the classic loop. The questions that matter are how much you want to explain yourself, how many people are in your party, and whether you want someone to talk about what you are looking at. Answer those three honestly and the choice usually makes itself.
A set private day
How the three-waterfall day runs
-
Pickup
Collected in the Ubud area
Pickup and drop-off are included; the record names the Gianyar Regency.
-
First hour
Transfer
About 1 hour by car to the first stop.
-
Morning
Tegallalang terraces
Photo stop, guided walk and free time on the terraces.
-
Midday
Tirta Empul
Guided visit, free time, and an optional lunch nearby.
-
Afternoon
Three waterfalls
Tukad Cepung, Kanto Lampo and Tibumana, with swimming.
-
Last hour
Back to the hotel
About 1 hour back; Ubud guests may finish earlier.
Hiring a car and driver for the day
The car charter with the most reviews in this guide is a private car charter with an English-speaking driver, wheelchair accessible, from $41. Its car takes up to 3 people with luggage or 5 without, and a van takes up to 8 with luggage or 14 without. That is enough for a family with bags on the way to or from the airport, or for a bigger group of friends.
A full day is at most 10 hours and a half day at most 6 hours, with extra hours paid to the driver. It covers the south and center of Bali, and trips to the east, west or north cost a surcharge. A flexible car hire from Ubud offers options of 4 or 8 hours, and says plainly that its driver suggests routes but is not a licensed guide unless the listing states it. Read the area rules before you plan a long loop, because the far corners of the island add both time and cost.
That is the trade-off. A driver gets you to the right places at the right times and knows where to park, eat and avoid the queues, but do not expect a lesson in Balinese history at each stop. If you want that, book a driver-guide, or read up on the places before you go and let the driver handle the roads.
How many have gone
Reviews behind each option
reviews
Side by side
Driver, private tour and shared day from Ubud
| Option | Who comes | Hours | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car charter | Driver | 6-10 | 933 | from $41 |
| Flexible car hire | Driver | 4 or 8 | 133 | from $24 |
| Three-waterfall day | Driver-guide | 6-10 | 6,668 | from $14 |
| Town and terraces day | Guide | 5-8 | 5,023 | from $21 |
| Five-stop private day | Driver-guide | 9 | 4,439 | from $14 |
| Shared or private day | Guide | 8 | 5,916 | from $23 |
| Private half day | Host-greeter | 4 | 136 | from $26 |
From each GetYourGuide listing; all prices are from-prices, and private listings show your party's total once you set the group size.
Three ways to go
Driver, private plan or group
Most freedom
This page's pickThree-waterfall day
A set route, your car
- Hours
- 6 to 10
- Stops
- Terraces, temple, falls
- Guide
- Driver-guide
- Tickets
- On one option
Most guide languagesShared or private day
Fixed stops in a group
- Hours
- 8, longer with traffic
- Stops
- 6, town to waterfall
- Guide
- Five languages
- Format
- Group or private
Decision helper
Which way suits your day?
Pick the line that sounds most like you.
A car with driver
You set the route; the charter's full day runs up to 10 hours.
A set private tour
The set tour comes with a driver-guide in English, French or Dutch.
A shared day
A group day starts from $23 with six fixed stops.
A van
The charter's van takes up to 8 with luggage.
A half day
A private half day of 4 hours covers a terrace and a waterfall.
Like other towns popular with tourists in Bali, it is not permitted to order a metered taxi or ride-sharing service for pickup within Ubud.
A set private tour with a driver-guide
The set private tour on this site runs a planned loop: Tegallalang, the Tirta Empul water temple, and the Tukad Cepung, Kanto Lampo and Tibumana waterfalls. The car and the driver-guide are yours alone, pickup and drop-off are included, and the day lasts 6 to 10 hours depending on the option. In practice that means the guide can stretch a swim when the pools are quiet and cut a stop short when a car park is overflowing.
It starts from $14, with 6,668 reviews averaging 4.96, and guides speak English, French or Dutch. The order of stops moves with traffic, weather and crowds, so the plan is a frame, not a script.
Another popular private day, with 5,023 reviews averaging 4.92, takes the opposite route through town, with Tegenungan waterfall, the Monkey Forest, the art market, the palace, a jungle swing, the Tegallalang terraces and Tirta Empul. Pick the loop by what you want to see, not by the price alone. The waterfall loop suits swimmers and photographers; the town loop suits people who want the Monkey Forest and the market as well.
Before you book
What to settle in advance
01
With a driver
- Start time and the latest return
- The route, in order, sent in writing
- What an extra hour costs
- Whether fees and parking are included
02
With a set tour
- Which option: with or without tickets
- An early start to beat the crowds
- The guide's language
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Party price
Price a shared day for your group
Shared days are priced per seat; add up yours here.
People
Total from$45
per head from $23
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.
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Hiring a private driver for a day in Bali: was it worth it?
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Shared days and what they include
Not every fixed day is shared. One private full day lists five stops of 75 minutes each, the Monkey Forest, a rice terrace, Tirta Empul, a coffee plantation and Tibumana, over 9 hours. It starts from $14 and has 4,439 reviews averaging 4.96. Five stops in a day leaves little slack, so treat the coffee stop as the natural place to rest your legs.
A day you can join in a group, or book privately, gives the Monkey Forest an hour, the palace and the art market half an hour each, then Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Tegenungan. It starts from $23. It names guides in English, French, German, Japanese and Korean, and warns that the day can stretch to 8 to 11 hours with traffic. Traffic on the roads in and out of the south decides where in that range your day ends.
Read what the ticket line says before you compare prices. Some shared options leave entrance fees out, and one operator notes that tickets bought on the spot are mostly paid in cash. A cheaper day that sends you to the ticket booth at every stop may cost the same in the end.
Half a day or the whole day
If you only have a morning, an Ubud half day tour can still cover a terrace and a waterfall. One private half day of 4 hours visits the Abian Desa terraces and the Ulu Petanu waterfall, with a host-greeter rather than a guide. A shared half day pairs the Monkey Forest with Tegalalang in up to 6 hours.
The set private tour also has a short option: 6 hours with up to 3 attractions, against about 8 to 10 hours for the full day. The five-stop private day's own half-day option drops places and entrance tickets. That makes the short option a fair test if you are unsure how much walking and swimming you want.
A half day works best if you are staying in Ubud and want the afternoon free for the town, or if you have small children. If you are staying on the coast, the drive in and out eats much of a half day, and a full day makes more sense for the time spent in the car.
Getting around Ubud without a driver
Ubud itself is small enough to explore on foot, or by hired bicycle or motorbike, though the town is hilly.2 For the palace, the market, the Monkey Forest and the museums, you do not need a car at all.
Taxis are a different story. Metered taxis and ride-hailing pickups are not permitted within Ubud; you agree a fare with a member of the local taxi cooperative.1 That makes a pre-booked driver or tour the simpler choice for the terraces and waterfalls outside town, where you also need someone to wait while you walk and swim. Agree the fare before you get in, and keep small notes ready for the return trip.
From the airport, a prepaid cab is the easy way in, but the fare can be steep; taxis, rental cars and buses also go.3 Booking the airport transfer and the first day out with the same driver also settles the question of who knows the roads.
What to agree before you book
With a driver for hire, write the route down and send it in advance: which places, in which order, and what time you want to start. Ask whether entrance fees, parking and fuel are in the price, and what an extra hour costs. The listings here charge overtime directly to the driver.
With a set tour, check the option you are booking. On the set private tour, entrance tickets are included only on the option with tickets, and lunch and tips are never included. Ask for an early start if crowds bother you; the operator recommends it. An early pickup also leaves the afternoon free if the sky turns grey over the hills.
Whatever you choose, the listings in this guide offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so you can hold a date and move it if the weather turns. Choosing the best Ubud tours is less about one winner than about matching the day to your party.
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 a private driver in Ubud also a guide?
Not always. One flexible car hire says its driver suggests routes but is not a licensed guide unless stated.
How many people fit in a hired car?
Up to 5 without luggage. The charter's car takes 3 with luggage or 5 without; its van takes 8 or 14.
How long is a driver day?
At most 10 hours. The charter's full day is at most 10 hours, its half day at most 6, with extra hours paid to the driver.
Can I book a taxi app inside Ubud?
Not for pickups. Metered taxis and ride-hailing pickups are not permitted within Ubud; fares are agreed with the local cooperative.1
Are entrance fees included on private tours?
Only on some options. The set private tour includes tickets only on the option with tickets.
Is a shared day cheaper?
Not always. A group day starts from $23, while some private days start lower; check what each includes before you compare.
Can I cancel if it rains?
Yes, up to 24 hours before. Every listing compared here lets you cancel at no cost until 24 hours ahead.
Sources
Sources and evidence
- 1WikipediaUbud↩
- 2Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 3Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
