Cycling the Tumbling Rice Paddies of Ubud

Bite-sized trip

Location:
Bali: Ubud
Duration:
4 days / 3 nights (flexible)
Price:
from £ 235.- per person (excluding flights)

Only an hour's hop away from the airport, you'll find Ubud - the green heart of Bali. Nestled in between bright green rice paddies, this is the best place to come and take it easy after your flight. You'll be staying in a traditional Balinese-style hotel just outside of the centre, as this way you can really enjoy the surrounding views of the tumbling rice paddies. The next day you'll head out on a cycling tour with a local guide, passing rice fields and artisan villages.

Indonesia Bali family cycling through Ubud rice fields

Day 1 – Arrive in Ubud

Here the locals are busy painting, carving, dancing and playing music and not a day goes by without a religious celebration or a temple visit. While your tribe explores the area you’ll see how Balinese women bring rice sacrifices to temples and in Monkey Forest you’ll see monkeys lying around Balinese statues and in the treetops.

Just outside the centre of Ubud, we have found a selection of small family-friendly hotels surrounded by nature. The rooms are tastefully decorated with carved, dark wooden furniture and have a separate kid’s area. You can go to the swimming pool for a refreshing dip and to cool down and acclimatise.

Day 2 & 3 – Cycling in Ubud & free time

After breakfast, it’s time for a bike ride through Ubud. You’ll be picked up and taken to the starting point by minibus. During the bike ride, you’ll be accompanied by an experienced guide and the route and pace will be adjusted to your family’s needs (if you have teenagers, we can arrange a more challenging ride). You’ll cycle past rice fields and temples and stop at a primary school. Along the way, the guide will explain about Balinese life and the culture and traditions here. If you want to rest your legs, ask the guide to stop at a warung where you can grab a Balinese coffee, before continuing on.

The last part of the bike ride is mainly downhill, and by this point, you’ll surely have built up an appetite! You’ll head into a charming Balinese garden where lunch will be ready and waiting for you and you can tuck into some delicious local cuisine. After eating you’ll be transferred back to your hotel and you can spend the rest of the afternoon lazing with the kids at the pool, or just strolling around the craft workshops.

In the evening, have a bite to eat in the centre of Ubud. There is a big vegetarian and organic food scene here, but don’t worry, you’ll be able to find food that suits all of the family. The next day is also free for you and your family to do some exploring, to visit some local temples and to do as much or as little as you want.

Day 4 – Departure from Ubud

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the tumbling rice terraces and continue on to see more of the gems that Bali has to offer. From here you can get to the east coast in around 2 hours and delve into the Balinese traditions with an incense-offering in Tirta Gangga Water Palace.

Otherwise, you can always head for the cooler climes of Munkuk. Here you’ll take a stroll through fertile plantations full of cloves, nutmeg and vanilla. If you want to explore more of Ubud, then do let us know as we can extend your stay here too.