Bali Part One: 4 Days in Ubud – Starting Point of Our Journey
Last updated on : November 4, 2025
Part One : Ubud
Ubud is often considered the soul of Bali. It’s here that we began to immerse ourselves in the island’s unique and sacred energy – the essence of the Island of the Gods.
Ubud is also the perfect base for exploring the surrounding area: temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, monkey forest, lively markets, and more. We spent 4 nights here during our trip in March 2025, and honestly, we could have stayed much longer – there was so much more to see and feel.
What I loved most about Ubud was its blend of vibrant energy and peaceful serenity. Despite the hum of traffic, there’s a soothing calm and a constant sense of spiritual connection in the air.
Between the daily offerings placed on sidewalks, the endless rice fields you can wander for hours, and the ever-kind smiles of the Balinese, everything seems to whisper: slow down, breathe and simply be. And that’s exactly what we were hoping to find.
If your heart is calling you to soak in some of Ubud’s magic, I’ve added a short video montage at the end of this article, capturing some of our favorite moments in and around this enchanting place.
In the meantime, let me take you throught each of our days – lived fullu in the gentle rhythm of Ubud.
Day 1 : Arrival at Ubud & Rest
After landing in Bali, we took our time to settling into our accommodation and letting the journey sink in. After all those hours of flying, we were completely exhausted, so we allowed ourselves a full night’s rest to recharge and wake up fresh and ready for the adventures ahead.
Day 2 : Exploring Ubud & Massage
After a good night’s sleep, we woke up full of energy, ready to wander through the heart of Ubud. Our first stop was Ubud Palace. The front part of the palace, the outer courtyard, is open to visitors free of charge. It was there that we admired our first glimpses of traditional Balinese architectural style.
Next, we visited Ubud Water Palace, a temple dedicated to the goddess Saraswat. Famous for its serene lotus pond and stone path crossing the water, it’s a place that seems to breathe peace and grace. Several quiet corner invite you to relax and take in the calm atmosphere. Wearing a sarong is mandatory here and included in the entrance fee (IDR 60,000 per person).
later, we took advantage of the afternoon to stroll along the Sweet Orange Walk a lovely trail winding through lush rice fields. A must-do if you’re looking for a gentle escape surrounded by nature.
We ended the day on high note with our first (and not our last!) Balinese massage of the trip. We booked a 90-minute couples massage at the “T Glow Spa” for about $40. An unforgettable experience that left us completely relaxed. highly recommend!
Day 3 : Temples & Coffee Plantation
On our third day, we met our driver-guide, Made Mustara. Relying on the list of attractions we wanted to see, he took us to three remakable temples: Pura Taman Ayun, Pura Tanah Lot, and Goa Gaja.
Since temples visits made up such a meaningful part of our journey, I decided to dedicate a full article to them. Each one has its own character and spiritual atmosphere, and I’ll sharemy impressions favorites ones in that article below.
👉 Read the detailed article on Bali’s Temples
Aside from the temples, our guide brought us to the Lumbung Sari Coffee Plantation, a stop I hadn’t specifically planned to make. I imagine guides received a small commission when visitors make purchase there.
Still, the free 15-minute visit, complete with a complimentary tasting of coffee and tea, was pleasant, and my husband happily left with a bag of coffee in hand.
To end the day, we stopped for lunch at Taman Dedari: a restaurant with an exceptional setting. An open-air garden adorned with immense, magnificent statues. The place itself is worth a stop, even just to admire the atmosphere and sculptures – a beautiful way to close our day.
Day 4 : Temples & Rice Terraces
Our fourth day was an intense one, not only in activity, but in emotion too. It was actually the day we visited the most places during our trip. Here’s the list of the temples we explored: Pura Pusering Jagat in Bedulu, Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring, Pura Mengening, Pura Tirta Empul, and Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu. As mentioned before, I’ve dedicated an entire article to the temples of Bali, so feel free to click on the link below for a more detailed overview.
👉 Read the detailed article on Bali’s Temples
The morning greeted us with rain, but it didn’t dampen our spirits. Our guide came prepared with umbrellas. and we continued our visits with the same enthusiasm.
That day, we also took part in a purification ceremony (Melukat Ritual) at Pura Mengening. If you ever travel to Bali, this is an experience I highly recommend. Of course, it’s possible to perform this ceremony in different temples – each temple offers a slightly different energy, it’s up to you to choose the place that resonates most with you.
Between temple visits, we stopped for lunch at AKASA Specialty Coffee, hoping to enjoy a view of Mount Batur. Unfortunately, the mountain was hidden behind thick clouds, but the place was still lovely – and I can imagine how stunning it must be when the volcano reveals itself.
To close the day, we couldn’t have chosen better than to admire the rice terraces. Instead of the famous Tegallalang Rice Terrace, our guide brought us near to Abian Desa Rice Terrace – the same type of landscape, but quieter, more peaceful and just as breathtaking. The entrance fee was IDR 25,000 per person, and the view… simply unforgettable.
If I Had More Time
The famous Monkey Forest was on my list of places to visit, but we ran out of time and couldn’t fit it in. Even though we came accross monkeys in several parts of the island, so I’m pretty sure we would have loved this experience.
I also wish we could have added a Balinese cooking class to our trip. We fell in love with the local dishes, and it would’ve been such a joy to bring a bit of Bali’s flavor back into our own kitchen.
And finally, I would have loved to hike Mount Batur at sunrise. Even if it meant waking up in the middle of the ningt, what a breathtaking sight it must be!
Where to Stay in Ubud
If you’re looking for a peaceful yet centrally located place to stay, The Bali Shanti is a real favorite. We stayed in a Deluxe Villa and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
In just about 15-minute walk, we could reach the heart of Ubud. Yet, once back at the villa, it felt like we were miles away from the city – surrounded by calm and greenery, with only the sound of nature around us.
Breakfast was included, lovingly prepared just for us and served on our balcony. There was also a lovely pool where we could unwind after our long days of exploring. All this at an reasonnable price – a place I’d recommend without hesitation.
💲Rate in March 2025: approximately IDR 550,000 (≈ 50$) per night for a Deluxe Villa, breakfast included.
Where to Eat in Ubud
There’s certainly no shortage of great places to eat in Ubud, but here are the restaurants we tried and really enjoyed:
- Sweet Cocoa: this was the first restaurant we ate in Ubud. The decor was lovely and the food was simple but good – a nice way to start our stay.
- Sun Sun Warung: we absolutely loved this spot. Delicious authentic Balinese food in a warm and welcoming setting.
- Gelato Secrets: this is where we had our first gelato in Bali. A perfect mid-afternoon treat to cool off between visits.
- Taman Dedari: as mentioned earlier, the setting is enchanting, surrounded by magnificient statues. The food was fine, but we mostly went there to enjoy the atmosphere and admire the statues.
In conclusion
Overall, we absolutely loved Ubud. It was the perfect place to transition from our Western rhythm to rest of our Balinese journey. We only wish we’d had a little more time to wander through the rice fields, the markets, and the lively streets of the town.
For us, Ubud will always remain the anchor point of our trip to Bali, the place where everything began. It reminded us how essential it is to slow down, to listen, and to simply be.
We both agree that Ubud should be part of every Bali itinerary. I recommend spending at leat 3 to 5 days here to truly soak up its atmosphere and explore without rushing.
And you, what would inspire you most about Ubud? Its temples, its rice terraces… or its unique, soothing energy?
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