Trekking and Sightseeing tour with lunch

Bali rewards those who walk slowly. This 7.5-hour private outing combines a moderate four-hour trek through Taro village with rice fields, bamboo forest, a holy-water temple, lunch, and a coffee plantation stop. It gives you more than a quick photo visit: you spend real time in rural Bali, then finish with some of the island’s best-known sights.

I especially like the small private format, since your guide can adjust the pace and respond to your interests. I also like that lunch, bottled water, hotel pickup, parking, and a professional guide are included. The main consideration is physical effort. Four hours on foot can be tiring, and the later swing stop costs extra, so the $78 price is good value only if you want an active day rather than a simple sightseeing circuit.

Key Things to Know Before You Book

• Taro village gives the day a local focus: You spend about four hours around Delodsema, part of the ancient Taro settlement, rather than rushing from one major attraction to another.
• The trek is moderate, not casual: Expect a long walk through bamboo, rice paddies, and tropical plant life. A fair level of fitness is required.
• Lunch comes with a view: The included Balinese meal is served overlooking rice paddy fields, adding a scenic pause after the hike.
• Tirta Empul offers an optional ritual: You can admire the holy-water temple or take part in purification and blessing if you choose.
• The swing is an optional extra: The rice-terrace swing and plantation visit are not included in the tour price.
• Your group stays private: Pickup and drop-off from your Ubud hotel are included, and only your party takes part.

Four Hours Around Taro’s Bamboo Paths

The day begins with pickup at your Ubud hotel and a drive of about 30 minutes north to Delodsema Traditional Village. The village forms part of Taro, a Hindu settlement with a history said to reach back 3,000 years. Its old temple complex is presented as Bali’s oldest.

That claim gives the first stop real weight, but the appeal is not only the age of the site. Taro gives you a look at a quieter side of Bali, where village life, religious practice, agriculture, and forest paths are closely linked. Your local guide provides the context that turns a walk through greenery into a lesson in how the area works.

You spend roughly four hours here, making this the heart of the experience. The route passes through bamboo forest, rice paddies, and areas filled with tropical plants such as mangoes and mandarins. The setting changes often enough to keep the walk interesting, but you should not expect a flat, easy stroll.

The word moderate matters. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven rural paths. The supplied information warns against joining if you have serious heart problems, back trouble, or other major medical conditions. Children must be at least seven years old, and children under seven must be carried by a parent.

I like this part because it places the most time in the least packaged setting. The well-known temples and rice terraces come later. In Taro, you get room to notice the countryside, ask questions, and set a pace that suits your private group.

The private arrangement also matters here. The group is not mixed with strangers, so you can pause for photographs or spend more time listening to your guide without holding up a large party. Guides named Wayan and Baru have received especially warm praise for their personal approach, flexibility, and ability to explain Balinese culture.

The Old Temple Complex and Rural Bali

The temple visit in Taro is included as part of the village stop, so you do not need to arrange a separate entrance. The experience is less about checking off a monument and more about seeing how a traditional settlement connects its sacred places with the surrounding countryside.

Bring a respectful attitude and follow your guide’s instructions. The supplied details do not specify a dress code, so ask the operator before departure if you need clarification about clothing for temple visits. It is sensible to dress modestly for any sacred site in Bali.

This stop may suit you best if you want cultural context alongside scenery. If your main goal is a dramatic viewpoint or an elaborate temple interior, the later Tirta Empul visit offers a more direct attraction. Taro is quieter and more connected to the walk itself.

Lunch Above the Rice Paddies

After the long trek, you sit down to a Balinese lunch overlooking rice paddy fields. Lunch is included, as are bottled water and parking fees, which helps keep the day’s extra costs under control.

The meal is valuable for practical reasons as well as scenic ones. A four-hour walk is a substantial part of the day, and stopping for food before the afternoon visits gives you a chance to rest. The information provided does not specify the exact dishes or whether dietary requests can be accommodated, so contact Bali Excursion in advance if you have food restrictions.

I like the way lunch breaks up the day. You are not simply transferred from one attraction to the next. The meal acts as a reset between the village hike and the more famous temple and rice-terrace stops.

Still, keep your expectations clear. This is not presented as a cooking class or a food tour. The value lies in having a local meal included in a scenic setting, not in sampling a long menu or learning recipes.

Tirta Empul’s Holy Water

The next major stop is Tirta Empul Temple, visited for about an hour. This is one of Bali’s most important holy-water sites, and the atmosphere is distinctly spiritual. You can walk through the temple grounds, observe the bathing areas, and take in the religious setting.

You may also choose to take part in purification in the holy water and receive a blessing. That part is optional, so you can join the ritual or simply observe with respect. The temple admission fee is not included in the $78 price.

This is a place where a guide adds practical value. Religious customs can be difficult to understand from a quick walk through the gate, especially if you are unsure where you may stand or what a ceremony means. A local guide can help you approach the site with better manners and clearer context.

Allow for extra spending here because admission is separate. The tour includes transport and guidance, but not every entrance fee. That arrangement keeps the basic price clear, though it means you should carry money for optional activities and later stops.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace Photo Stop

The visit to Tegalalang Rice Terrace lasts about 30 minutes. After the off-the-beaten-path walk, this is a shorter, more polished stop for views and photographs.

Tegalalang is useful as a contrast to Taro. The earlier paths show you rural Bali at walking pace. Here, you pause at one of the island’s best-known rice-terrace viewpoints. You can take photographs, appreciate the layered fields, and enjoy a quick scenic break.

Thirty minutes is enough for a photo stop, but not enough for a long walk through the terraces. If you want extended time there, this schedule may feel brief. The attraction also has a separate admission cost, which is not included.

I see this stop as an add-on rather than the reason to book the outing. The strongest part of the day is the long Taro walk. Tegalalang rounds out the scenery and gives you a familiar Bali image, but it does not replace the quieter village experience.

Coffee, Swings, and Optional Adrenaline

The final section lasts about two hours and combines a coffee plantation visit with Terrace River Pool Swing. You can sample luwak coffee, described as one of the world’s most expensive coffees, then choose from different swing types above rice terraces, river views, and fields.

The swing is optional and costs extra. This distinction matters when judging the price. The basic $78 package covers the guide, lunch, water, transport, and parking, but you should budget separately if you want to swing or purchase anything at the plantation.

This part will suit you if you enjoy a little staged excitement after a long walk. The elevated swing offers a different kind of experience from the temple and village stops, with photographs and an adrenaline element. If you prefer a quieter cultural day, you may find the two-hour allocation here less appealing.

Shopping expenses are also excluded. Keep that in mind at the coffee plantation. You do not need to buy anything, but tasting and browsing can make it easier to spend beyond the advertised price.

What the $78 Price Really Covers

At $78, this is not simply a transport service to a few attractions. You receive a private full-day outing with hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, lunch, bottled water, parking, and about four hours of guided walking.

That package compares well if you would otherwise arrange separate transport, a village guide, a temple visit, and lunch. The private format is an important part of the value. You are paying for a day shaped around your own group rather than a large shared bus.

The price is less attractive if you plan to skip the hike or avoid the optional swing and coffee stop. The tour’s strongest value comes from combining active walking with cultural explanation. It is not designed as a low-cost temple shuttle.

Group discounts are available, though the exact savings are not provided. If you are traveling with family or friends, check the final rate for your party before booking. Since only your group participates, the per-person cost may make better sense with several people sharing the private vehicle and guide.

Timing, Fitness, and What to Bring

The full experience lasts about 7 hours and 30 minutes. The schedule gives four hours to Delodsema, one hour to Tirta Empul, 30 minutes at Tegalalang, and about two hours at the plantation and swing area, with driving time included around those stops.

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suited to a moderate walk. The information does not specify the exact trail surface, so prepare for ordinary rural walking conditions rather than a smooth city path. Bottled water is supplied, but you may still want sun protection and anything else you normally need for a long day outside.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Pickup is offered from your Ubud hotel, and the tour is near public transportation, though the included hotel transfer is the simpler choice. Confirmation arrives at booking. Minimum age is seven, and the private setup makes this more manageable for families than a large group outing, provided everyone can handle the walk.

Who Will Enjoy This Day Most

I would choose this tour if you want to combine active countryside walking with Bali’s major cultural sights. It suits couples, families with older children, and small groups who value a private guide and do not want to spend the entire day in a car.

It is also a strong choice if you have only one full day available around Ubud. The schedule covers Taro, Tirta Empul, Tegalalang, lunch, and the coffee plantation without requiring you to plan several separate bookings.

You should think twice if you dislike long walks, have serious back or heart problems, or want a slow temple-focused day. The trek is the centerpiece, and the later swing visit may feel too commercial for someone seeking only quiet village life.

The tour’s best quality is its human scale. The warm feedback about Wayan’s personal touch and Baru’s flexible guiding fits the design of the day: a private outing where the guide can adjust to your requests. One person even booked another excursion with Wayan, which suggests the guiding relationship can be as memorable as the sites.

Should You Book the Taro Trek?

Book it if you want a full day that connects Bali’s rural paths, Hindu traditions, rice farming, and popular photo stops. The included lunch, transport, guide, water, and private format make $78 reasonable for an active cultural day.

Before paying, confirm the pickup point, food needs, temple clothing expectations, and the extra fees for temple admission, rice-terrace access, and the swing. If you are fit enough for four hours of moderate walking and prefer personal guiding over a rushed group schedule, this is one of the better ways to use a day in Ubud.

FAQ

How long does the trekking and sightseeing tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup and drop-off from your Ubud hotel are included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

How long is the trek?

The Delodsema Traditional Village portion includes about four hours of trekking and sightseeing.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and bottled water are included in the tour price.

Can I take part in purification at Tirta Empul Temple?

Yes. Purification in the holy water and a blessing are optional, according to the provided tour details.

Are the swing and entrance fees included?

No. The swing ticket is not included. Admission fees for Tirta Empul Temple and Tegalalang Rice Terrace are also not included.