An Ubud Itinerary | What to do in Ubud

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Ubud is one of those places that travelers budget two or three days for but wind up staying one week or more.

This town in the center of Bali captures the essence of what this island is all about. Sure it is touristic, and sure everyone who comes to Bali to find themselves starts that search in Ubud.

But Ubud is much more than that, and it is a far cry from the bikini-clad bodies, stoned backpackers and intense scene that makes up the Kuta area.

Ubud is lined with temples, both in the city and blossoming through the countryside and villages around it. It serves as the cultural hub of Bali, and there is where you can get in touch with and immerse yourself into what Bali is all about

1. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

I was sitting outside the main entrance to the Monkey Forest waiting to meet Marie. I had just bought some freshly made crackers to munch on, and as I sat down and ate away, I felt someone grab my shoulder. Assuming it was Marie, I turned around only to be directly staring back into a monkey’s face. I screamed some sort of profanity, and I was genuinely unnerved by how human this monkey’s hand felt on my shoulder.

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Referred to simply as the Monkey Forest, this is a place that everyone visits when in Ubud. Inside the cool escape of the forest are three temples to explore and a heap of monkeys that will climb all over you. In a way, its Indiana-Jones, vine-covered stone temples and structures brought me back to Cambodia, and its vicious monkeys kept me on my toes. The baby monkeys are cute, but the mama monkeys pack some fangs.

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2. Rent a motorbike
The afternoon of the Galungan holiday, I rented a motorbike and drove around the areas surrounding Ubud. There are villages spread all throughout the town, and the roads are calm and smooth enough for even a completely incompetent driver such as myself swerved through the mountains with ease.

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3. Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah)
The Elephant Cave, or Goa Gajah, was built in the 9th century and is a sacred sight to the Hindus. The façade of the cave is a sight to be seen – the sharp, strong carvings instantly transport you back in time, and you enter the cave through this wicked-looking entrance that feels like you are walking into the mouth of a devil creature. The inside of the cave is stuffy with incense, but it bears massive cultural importance to the Hindus.

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4. Eat at Sari Organik
I myself am upset that I didn’t make it here, but my friends raved about it. Sari Organik is a beautiful experience, not just because of its amazing organic offerings but also because of its location smack in the middle of Ubud’s lush and never-ending green fields.

5. Ubud Bike Tour
The bike tour ended up being one of the best things I did throughout my time in Bali. There are a variety of companies and tours that you can go on, so do the research to see which fits you. My friends and I booked our tour through our hostel and each paid about $40 for the afternoon. The tour takes you through traditional villages and the countryside, in a way that I personally did not make me feel like I was on a tour at all.

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6. Tegalalang Rice Terraces
I stopped at the rice terraces the same afternoon that I had been driving around on a motorbike. These terraces are so green they were practically yellow. The structure of these terraces is so beautiful, so well-manicured and just snaking their way around in front of you. It was one of those landscapes that made me think to myself, “This world we live in.”

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7. Walk around the city
It sounds simple, but there are a lot of beautiful things to do and see just around town that you can see by walking and orienting yourself with the layout of Ubud. There are heaps of markets and little shops, but there are also a couple of big, beautiful and sprawling temples right in the heart of the city. Additionally, Ubud Palace is another drawcard for many tourists, which sits right in the heart of the town and is where the royal family still lives.

8. Coco Supermarket
Trust me, you will thank me.

Category: Indonesia

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