Bali Horse Riding Activity and Full-Day Trip in Ubud

The best part of this long Bali day is the change of pace: you begin on horseback beside the volcanic sands of Saba Beach, then head inland for Ubud’s temples, rice terraces, macaques, and waterfall. It gives you a broad look at southern Bali without asking you to manage the roads yourself.

I like the private vehicle and flexible timing, especially when the day runs close to 10 hours. I also like the useful mix of places: Celuk’s silver workshops, Ubud Palace, the Monkey Forest, and Tegalalang each show a different side of Bali. The main caution is the strict 90-kilogram weight limit, which must be checked before booking.

• Saba Beach ride: Spend one hour on a tame, healthy horse beside Bali’s broad coastal sands.
• Private transport: Your party rides alone in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide.
• Ubud in one day: See the Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and Tegenungan Waterfall.
• Local craft stop: Celuk is known for gold and silver work sold in Bali and abroad.
• Lunch and tickets included: A set-menu lunch, entrance fees, safety gear, insurance, tax, and service are covered.
• Important limits: The activity is for ages 5 to 60, with a maximum weight of 90 kilograms.

A beach ride before Ubud’s inland sights

This tour starts with a one-hour horseback ride at Saba Bay, on Bali’s southeastern coast. The route is described as a six-mile, or 10-kilometer, guided ride along volcanic sand, while the stop itself is listed as one hour. I would treat the one-hour duration as the firm expectation and ask the operator to clarify the exact riding distance before you pay.

The setting gives you something different from Ubud’s usual roads and temple courtyards. You ride with sea air around you, rather than spending the entire morning in a car. A professional horse-riding guide accompanies the activity, and safety equipment is included.

The horses are described as tame and healthy, which matters if you are a first-time rider. This is still an active excursion, not a simple photo stop. Wear practical clothes, bring sunscreen, and expect to follow the guide’s pace. One useful point from the available feedback is that the ride may feel gentle rather than fast. If you want a more exciting pace, ask what speed is suitable for your ability before setting out.

There is no detailed horse briefing listed. I would ask for a short introduction to your horse and the riding plan before you leave the stable. That is especially sensible for children and anyone who has not ridden before.

Celuk’s gold and silver workshops

After the beach, the route turns toward Celuk Village. Celuk has a long tradition of producing gold and silver pieces for local, national, and international markets. The planned stop is about an hour, giving you time to see the village’s craft focus rather than simply passing through it.

This stop works best if you enjoy seeing how a place earns its living. It adds a human and commercial side to the day, balancing the scenic stops. You may find displays of jewelry and other metalwork, but the supplied details do not promise a particular workshop demonstration or purchase arrangement.

Keep your expectations clear here. This is a village visit, not a full jewelry-making class. If you are interested in buying, ask about prices, materials, and shipping before committing. The driver can help with the route, but the tour description does not state that purchases are included.

The road also passes a famous wood-carving village and a well-known temple. These are passing sights, not listed stops, so do not count on getting out for a full visit or taking an extended look.

Meeting macaques at Ubud Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary takes about an hour. It covers 27 lush green acres and is home to long-tailed Balinese macaques. The setting combines dense vegetation with a sanctuary environment, making this one of the more atmospheric sections of the day.

You should keep personal items secure around the monkeys. The supplied information describes them as greedy, which is a useful warning in plain language. Do not assume that a phone, snack, hat, or loose bag is safe simply because it is in your hand. Follow the sanctuary’s instructions and keep your attention on the animals.

An hour lets you see a portion of the sanctuary, but it is not a slow, all-afternoon visit. That is a fair trade on a tour with six main stops. If the monkeys are your main reason for going to Ubud, you may want more time than this schedule allows. If you want a broad first look at Ubud, the hour is enough to make the stop worthwhile.

This is also one of the places where your private format helps. You can ask the driver when to meet and keep the day moving without waiting for a large group. The tour remains tightly timed, though, so do not expect unlimited wandering.

A short look at Ubud Palace

Ubud Palace, also called Puri Saren Ubud, receives about 30 minutes. The former royal compound includes traditional buildings, a meeting venue, and a large banyan tree that provides shade.

Half an hour is enough for an introduction and photographs, but not for a detailed visit. I see this as a compact cultural stop between the Monkey Forest and the countryside. It gives you a sense of Ubud’s royal center without making the day too museum-heavy.

The short timing is both a strength and a weakness. You will not spend too long at one site, and you can fit more into one day. On the other hand, anyone who likes architecture and wants to linger will probably find 30 minutes limiting.

Your driver is described as an English-speaking professional who also acts as a tour guide. The quality of that explanation will shape this stop. One particularly strong account praised a driver named Putu for being kind and informative. If Putu is available, you can ask for him when booking, though driver assignment is not guaranteed by the tour details.

Lunch in Ubud, with the practical details covered

A set-menu lunch at an Ubud restaurant is included. The meal is described as authentic, and a vegetarian option is available if you request it at booking.

That inclusion adds real value to a full-day outing. You are not stopping to hunt for a restaurant while traffic and timing eat into the day. It also lets you try a local-style meal in Ubud rather than relying entirely on food near your hotel.

The menu itself is not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular dish. If you have dietary needs beyond vegetarian food, ask the operator before departure. Personal expenses are not included, so drinks, extra food, or shopping should be paid separately unless the operator tells you otherwise.

Feedback on the meal was positive, but the experience remains a set-menu lunch, not a food tour. I would see it as a convenient and pleasant pause, not the central reason to choose this excursion.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the long view inland

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is scheduled for about an hour. Its terraced fields are linked to a traditional irrigation and farming system associated with the revered holy man Rsi Markandeya, who is said to have passed through Bali in the eighth century.

The value here is visual and cultural. The terraces show how farming, water, and hillside cultivation shape the Ubud area. You get a clear change from the beach and city stops, with open views and stepped fields replacing walls and traffic.

One hour gives you time to look around and take photographs, but the tour does not list a longer walk through the terraces. Surfaces may be uneven, and the day includes several stops, so comfortable footwear makes sense. The tour asks for smart-casual dress, but comfortable shoes and sun protection are more useful than dressing formally.

This is a place where weather matters. Bright conditions make the terraces easier to see, while rain can affect comfort and the wider schedule. The operator requires good weather for the experience as a whole and may offer another date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation.

Tegenungan Waterfall as the final major sight

Tegenungan Waterfall is another one-hour stop. It is one of Bali’s well-known attractions and draws both local residents and international visitors. The waterfall gives the day a final burst of natural scenery after the cultural stops in Ubud.

The tour description does not state a swimming period, changing facilities, or a special waterfall walk. Plan on viewing the falls and taking photographs unless your guide explains that more is possible on the day. Bring your camera, as requested, but protect it from spray and keep your footing in mind.

This stop can feel busy at popular times, although no crowd conditions are guaranteed. The private vehicle does not mean you have a private waterfall. You still share the public attraction with others.

The one-hour visit is a sensible middle ground. It gives you time to enjoy the water without allowing a single stop to consume the whole day. If waterfalls are your main interest, you may want to ask how much walking is required and where the vehicle will meet you.

Private transport makes a packed route manageable

The tour lasts about nine to ten hours and offers pickup and drop-off from hotels or villas in Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Tuban, Kerobokan, Canggu, Sanur, Denpasar, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, and Ubud. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and only your party rides in it.

That private setup is the backbone of the experience. Bali’s roads can make a multi-stop day tiring, and self-driving would add route planning, parking, and navigation to an already full schedule. Here, you can ask for flexible timing based on your needs, within the limits of the booked stops and operating hours.

The trade-off is time in the vehicle. You are covering a beach, craft village, Ubud sights, rice terraces, and a waterfall in one day. This is a sightseeing sweep, not a slow stay in one area. I would choose it if you want orientation and variety. I would not choose it if your ideal holiday day means lingering for hours at one temple, gallery, or village.

The private format also suits families and small groups. Group discounts are offered, so the $120 per-person price may look better when several people share the vehicle and guide. The exact savings depend on the group size and booking terms, but the included transport, admissions, lunch, and horse-riding equipment make the price easier to justify than a simple transfer.

What the $120 price includes

At $120 per person, you are paying for a full private day rather than one isolated activity. Included items are:

• Private round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
• An English-speaking driver-guide
• One hour of horseback riding at Saba Bay
• A professional horse-riding guide
• Horse-riding safety equipment
• Entrance tickets
• Set-menu lunch
• Horse-riding insurance, tax, and service

That package covers the costs that can quietly add up on a do-it-yourself day. You avoid separate admissions, a private driver hire, a riding booking, and lunch planning. Personal purchases and other personal expenses are extra.

The value depends on how much of the route you actually want. If you only want horseback riding, $120 is a high price for an hour in the saddle. If you want a private vehicle, a guide, Ubud’s major sights, lunch, and the beach ride in one day, the amount is more reasonable.

Who should book this day?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want to see several headline sights without driving. It also suits couples, families with children old enough to ride, and small groups that value a private vehicle over the lowest possible price.

The minimum age is five and the maximum age is 60. The absolute weight limit is 90 kilograms. This is not a minor footnote. One customer expected a partial refund after being unable to ride, while the operator stated that the limit was already provided and said a refund for the unused horse-riding portion had been made. To avoid an unpleasant surprise, confirm your eligibility directly before booking.

You should also think about stamina. The day combines an active ride, walking at several sites, and long road transfers. Smart-casual clothing is requested, and sunscreen and a camera are specifically recommended. A vegetarian lunch can be arranged if you mention it at booking.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and poor weather may lead to a new date or full refund.

My verdict on this Bali day trip

Book this tour if you want a private, efficient introduction to the beach and Ubud in one day, and if the 90-kilogram limit and full schedule work for you. The strongest reasons are the beach horseback ride, the driver-led transport, the included lunch and tickets, and the chance to cover six distinct sights without self-driving.

Go elsewhere if you want a faster horse ride, a relaxed Ubud visit, or a long, detailed look at any single attraction. Before booking, confirm the riding distance, the horse introduction, your pickup point, your weight eligibility, and whether Putu is available as your driver. Those quick checks can turn a packed day into a much smoother one.

FAQ

How long does the Bali horse riding and Ubud tour last?

The experience lasts approximately nine to ten hours.

Where does the horseback riding take place?

The riding takes place at Saba Bay, along Saba Beach.

How long is the horseback riding activity?

The scheduled horse-riding stop lasts one hour. The tour description also refers to a six-mile, or 10-kilometer, guided ride.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your party participates in the vehicle and tour, with no other participants added.

What transportation is provided?

An air-conditioned vehicle provides private two-way transfers, with pickup and drop-off available from hotels or villas in several areas of south Bali and Ubud.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A set-menu lunch at an Ubud restaurant is included. A vegetarian option is available if you request it when booking.

What is the age and weight limit?

The minimum age is five, the maximum age is 60, and the absolute maximum weight limit is 90 kilograms.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. For other cancellations, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.