Ubud gave us exactly the kind of Bali experience we were hoping for: lush jungles, incredible bamboo architecture, sprawling rice terraces, mischievous monkeys, beautiful temples, and some of the most unique experiences of our entire Asia trip. We spent all four nights at Bambu Indah, which became a destination in itself with spring-fed pools, river pods, private dinners, a Balinese blessing, and some much-needed time to simply relax in the jungle. When we ventured out, we explored both Jatiluwih and Tegalalang Rice Terraces, visited two very different monkey forests, wandered central Ubud, and made the easy detour to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. Bali was dreamy, chaotic, occasionally hilarious, and completely different from the polished city energy of Singapore, making Ubud one of the most memorable stops of our Asia trip.

🗓️ Itinerary

This itinerary is based on our April 7–11 visit to Ubud, Bali, which was the second stop on our Asia 2026 trip. Four days felt like the perfect amount of time to experience Ubud’s jungle resorts, rice terraces, temples, cultural activities, and slower-paced magic without feeling too rushed. That said, Ubud is only one piece of Bali. We would have loved more time to explore the coast, beaches, waterfalls, and other regions of the island, and we would recommend adding at least another week if you want a fuller Bali itinerary beyond Ubud.

✈️ Day 1 – Singapore → Bali

• 🚗 7:30 AM – Grab to Changi Airport / Jewel entrance Terminal 1 (~20m)
• 🧳 7:50 AM – Check in bags for Bali flight
•  🛂 9:15 AM – Clear security and immigration
• ✈️ 10:15 AM – Flight: SIN → Bali (🎟️ BOOK, ~3h)
• 🛬 1:05 PM – Arrive in Bali at Denpasar Airport
• 🧳 1:30 PM – Clear immigration and get bags (baggage claim is the bottleneck – up to 1 hr)
  • 💵 Withdraw 2,000,000 IDR at Denpasar Airport ATM.
• 🚗 2:00 PM – Transfer to Ubud (🎟️ BOOK via Bali Honest Driver, ~1.5h, $33)
• 🏨 3:15 PM – Check in to Bambu Indah New Moon House and explore (🎟️ BOOK, 2 PM earliest check-in)
• 🍽️ 5:30 PM – Dinner at resort in Javanese Bale (🎟️ RESERVE, 4-course dinner experience)
• 🌹 7:30 PM – Rose petal bath (🎟️ RESERVE)

🎉 Day 2 – Birthday at Bambu Indah 

• 🥭 8:00 AM – Pod Breakfast (menu)
  • 🥣 Special breakfast in a cushion-lined pod at River Warung (🎟️ RESERVE, free)
• 📸 9:30 AM – Photoshoot  (🎟️ RESERVE, 30m at New Moon House)
• 🛶 12:00 PM – Lunch at Tembaga (menu, 🎟️ RESERVE)
• 🧘 2:00 PM – Private Balinese Blessing Ceremony at Keong Bale (🎟️ RESERVE, $65 billed to room, 24h free cancellation)
• 🍃 3:00 PM – Leisure + Pool Time
  • 🌞 Swim in the natural spring-fed pool, relax under the trees or read in a tree pod.
• 🌅 5:45 PM – Cocktails at Sunset Bar
  • 🥂 Sip a jungle cocktail as the sky glows over the valley (6:20 PM sunset).
• 🍽️ 7:00 PM – Private Riverside Birthday Dinner
  • ✨ Special dinner in Keong Bale (🎟️ RESERVE, 4-course dinner experience, drinks, flower decor, birthday cake)

🎨 Day 3 – Art Class + Ubud Exploration

• ☕️ 7:30 AM – Breakfast at Bambu Indah (free)
• 🚗 8:30 AM – Grab (~25m) to Five Arts Studio
• 🎨 9:00 AM – Batik class at Five Arts Studio (🎟️ BOOK via GetYourGuide, 3h)
• 🚗 12:00 PM – Grab to rice terraces
• 🍽️ 12:30 PM – Lunch along rice terraces at Tis Cafe (🎟️ RESERVE, 🌾 4.5 Star FMGF but didn’t have many GF options so ate rice)
• ❤️ Swing at Tis Cafe (200k IDR for dress rental + swing)
• 🌾 Hike Tegalalang Rice Terraces (~60m)
• 🚗 2:30 PM – Grab (~30m) into central Ubud 
• 🍪 Snack at Mara’s Kitchen (100% GF, bakery, casual, open 8 AM – 10 PM)
• 🛍️ 3:00 PM –  Ubud town stroll (Ubud Palace, Water Palace, markets) (~90m)
• 🚶‍♂️ 4:10 PM – Walk (~22m) to Sacred Monkey Forest 
• 🐒 4:30 PM – Visit Sacred Monkey Forest (~90m, open until 6 PM, last entry 5 PM)
• 🍽 Dinner at River Warung @ Bambu Indah

🌾 Day 4 – Rice Terraces & Temples 

• 🐒 Private driver (🎟️ BOOK – Bali Honest Driver $55/12hr, Google Maps route)
  • 🍽 7:30 AM – Breakfast at Bambu Indah (🎟️ RESERVE Hanging Riverpod)
  • 🚗 8:30 AM – Depart Bambu Indah
  • 🌾 10:00 AM – Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (UNESCO) (1h, pay entry 150k IDR for 2 people at road stand)
    • 🚴‍♂️ Rent e-bikes onsite (150k IDR per hr/person).
  • 🍽️ 11:45 AM – Lunch at Nadi Farm Cafe (🎟️ RESERVE, 18m drive, lots of GF options)
  • 🚗 1:00 PM – Drive to Ulun Danu Beratan (~23m)
  • ⛩️ 1:20 PM – Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (~50m, 🎟️ Purchase tickets onsite)
  • 🚗 2:10 PM – Drive to Sangeh Monkey Forest (~48m)
  • 🐒 3:00 PM – Sangeh Monkey Forest (~50m, 🎟️ Purchase tickets onsite – includes peanuts/bananas to feed monkeys)
  • 🚗 3:50 PM – Drive to Bambu Indah (~23m)
  • Optional additions: Handara Gate, Leke Leke Waterfall, Mengwi Temple, and Tanah Lot sunset, but we chose more resort time instead. Sample itinerary by Bali Honest Driver.
• 🍽 Balinese Night Banquet at River Warung @ Bambu Indah

🍸 Day 5 – ✈️ Bali → Bangkok

• 🧳 Check out of Bambu Indah
• ☕️ Breakfast to-go provided by Bambu Indah
• 🚗 7:30 AM – Grab to airport (1-1.5h)
• ✈️ 9:00 AM – Arrive at Bali Airport
• 🍽️ Snack/lunch at airport, if available
• 🛫 12:10 PM – Flight: Bali → Bangkok DMK (~4.5h – Thai AirAsia) (🎟️ BOOK)

💡 Bali Tips

🌺 Where to Stay + How to Experience Bali

• 🌺 Stay Somewhere That Feels Like Bali: Bambu Indah was one of the most memorable parts of our entire Asia trip because the property itself felt like a destination. Between the spring-fed pools, jungle paths, river pods, incredible bamboo architecture, private dinners, and wildly unique houses, it gave us the dreamy Bali experience we wanted without needing to leave the resort every second.
• 🌹 Make Time to Enjoy the Resort: Bali itineraries can get packed fast, but some of the best moments came from staying put, swimming in the natural pool, relaxing on hanging chairs, and soaking in the setting.
• 🏝️ Balance Adventure With Atmosphere: The magic of Bali was not just checking off sights. It was the mix of jungle lodging, rice terraces, monkeys, art, ceremonies, special meals, and slow resort moments. The best itinerary leaves space for both exploring and simply being there.
  
  For more tips, check out our blog for Staying at Bambu Indah in Ubud: Bali’s Jungle Dream Resort.

🚗 Transportation + Arrival Logistics

• 🛂 Complete Bali Entry Forms Before You Arrive: Make sure to fill out the required customs declaration and SATUSEHAT health pass before landing. It makes arrival smoother, especially when you are already dealing with immigration, baggage claim, and meeting your driver.
• 🧳 Expect Baggage Claim to Take a While: Immigration was not our biggest arrival delay. Baggage claim was the bottleneck and can take close to an hour. Message your driver on WhatsApp while you wait so they know where you are.
• 📍 Confirm Your Airport Meeting Point: Our Bali Honest Driver pickup was at the Circle K after immigration, where our driver was waiting with a name sign. Having the meeting point confirmed through WhatsApp made the busy airport arrival much easier.
• 📲 Use WhatsApp for Almost Everything: Drivers, restaurants, hotel coordination, gluten-free questions, and activity confirmations were easiest through WhatsApp. Have it downloaded and ready before you land.
• 💵 Withdraw Cash at the Airport: We pulled out 2,000,000 IDR at Denpasar Airport, which was useful for smaller expenses, tips, tickets, swing rentals, temple stops, and local experiences. Bali is not cash-only, but cash still makes things easier.
• 🚗 Book a Trusted Private Driver: For places like Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, and Sangeh Monkey Forest, a private driver made the day so much easier. Bali traffic and drive times can be unpredictable, so having Bali Honest Driver for a full-day route was worth it.
• 🚗 Do Not Trust Bali Drive Times: A 25-minute drive can stretch longer depending on traffic, road conditions, ceremonies, or the time of day. Avoid overpacking days where you are crossing different parts of the island.
• ✈️ Leave Early for the Airport: For a Bali departure, leaving Ubud 4.5 to 5 hours before your flight sounds dramatic, but it is not crazy. Traffic can be unpredictable, and airport logistics can take longer than expected.

🌾 Rice Terraces + Sightseeing

• 🌾 Prioritize Jatiluwih for the Best Rice Terrace Experience: Tegalalang is more famous and very set up for swings and photos, but Jatiluwih felt more expansive, scenic, and worth the drive. Renting e-bikes there was one of the best ways to see the terraces without turning the visit into a long, hot walk.
• 📸 Tegalalang Is Better for a Short, Active & Photogenic Visit: Tegalalang was more commercial than Jatiluwih, but we really enjoyed hiking through the terraces. Tis Cafe also made it easy to combine lunch, a dress rental, the Bali swing, and the rice terrace hike in one stop. For peaceful, sprawling scenery we preferred Jatiluwih, but Tegalalang was still worth doing.
• 🌅 Do Not Add Too Many Stops to One Driver Day: It is tempting to stack Jatiluwih, Ulun Danu Beratan, Sangeh, Handara Gate, waterfalls, coffee tasting, and Tanah Lot into one day, but Bali is more enjoyable when you leave breathing room. Pick your must-dos and treat the rest as true bonuses.
  
  For more tips, check out our blog Best Rice Terraces in Bali: Jatiluwih vs. Tegalalang.

🐒 Monkeys, Bugs + Practical Comfort

• 🐒 Choose Monkey Forest Based on the Experience You Want: Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is iconic, atmospheric, and easy to pair with town, but it is also busier. Sangeh Monkey Forest felt like a more interactive experience because the ticket included peanuts and bananas for feeding monkeys.
• 👜 Be Smart Around the Monkeys: Do not carry loose food, dangling items, sunglasses on your head, or anything you do not want grabbed. The monkeys are entertaining, but they are still wild animals and very used to tourists. We chose to get pre-exposure rabies vaccinations before our trip, but vaccination does not eliminate the need for prompt medical care if you are bitten or scratched.
• 🦟 Do Not Underestimate Mosquitoes in Ubud: Mosquito cream and treated clothes were worth it, especially around jungle resorts, rice terraces, evening dinners, and temple areas. Bali is beautiful and lush, but that also means bugs.
• 🧺 Use Laundry Strategically: Bali was a good place to reset laundry mid-trip, especially with humid weather, mosquitoes, temple outfits, and multiple dressier resort moments. Plan laundry before moving on to the next country.
  
  For more tips, check out our blog Best Monkey Sanctuaries in Bali: Sangeh vs. Sacred Monkey Forest.

🍽️ Food + Gluten-Free Tips

• 🥘 Do Not Assume Highly Rated Restaurants Have GF Options: Tis Cafe had a strong gluten-free rating online, but in reality there were not many safe options and Scott ended up with rice. Always message restaurants directly ahead of time if GF or celiac-safe food is important.
• 🌿 Bambu Indah Was Excellent for GF Dining: The resort did a fantastic job accommodating Scott’s GF needs throughout our stay, including breakfasts, lunches, private dinners, and the Balinese Night Banquet. With many ingredients sourced from their own gardens, it was also some of the freshest and most memorable food we had in Bali.
• 🌾 Nadi Farm Cafe Was One of Our Best GF Stops: Near Jatiluwih, Nadi Farm Cafe had plenty of options Scott could safely eat and was one of our favorite lunches in Bali. With limited gluten-free choices around Jatiluwih, this is one restaurant I would plan in advance rather than winging it.
• 🍪 Ubud Has Several 100% GF Options: Mara’s Kitchen, Flourish Gluten-free by Heart Space, and Gluten Free on Bisma are good names to keep in your plan if you need safer gluten-free food in town. Having these pinned in advance helps avoid stress.
• 🥡 Pack Snacks for Bali Airport and Flights: Bali airport food options can be hit or miss, especially with gluten-free needs. Having backup snacks made travel days less stressful.

🌺 Culture + Special Experiences

• 🎨 Skip the Batik Class If You’re Short on Time: We were already on the fence about booking the batik class at Five Arts Studio, and in hindsight, we wish we had spent that time relaxing at Bambu Indah instead. The class was long at 3 hours, the instruction was not great due to too many attendees and the language barrier, and it did not feel worth giving up precious resort time.
• 🌺 Book a Balinese Blessing for Something Truly Different: Our private blessing ceremony at Bambu Indah became one of the most memorable experiences of my birthday. A local priest led us through water blessings, prayers, and flower rituals, with a translator helping us through the ceremony. It was meaningful, beautiful, occasionally confusing, and unintentionally hilarious when I misheard “split” as “spit.”
• 🍽️ Reserve Special Resort Dining in Advance: The Javanese Bale, Keong Bale, and Balinese Night Banquet were all memorable. At a resort like Bambu Indah, the meals are part of the experience, not just something to squeeze in later.
• 💃 Choose Your Evening Cultural Experience Carefully: We originally booked a 7 PM traditional dance performance in Ubud, but after a full day of exploring, we ended up skipping it and staying at Bambu Indah for the Balinese Night Banquet instead. If you are staying somewhere with its own cultural dinner, that may be the easier and more relaxing option after a busy sightseeing day.
• ⛩️ Pair Ulun Danu Beratan With Jatiluwih: Ulun Danu Beratan was an easy cultural stop to add after Jatiluwih because it fit naturally into the route and did not take long to visit. Go for the beautiful lake temple setting, gardens, statues, and photo spots, but expect it to feel more like a scenic cultural park than a quiet temple experience.

📸 Summary