How To Spend One Week in Ubud, Bali

A relaxed village surrounded by the Balinese jungle – a place where time slows down and life adopts an easygoing vibe. After spending one week in Ubud, the town I had dreamed up was not quite the same as the Ubud I experienced. While you can still walk all of Ubud, it is not actually that small. While people are laid back and going with the flow, it is still chaotic. Walking anywhere during the daytime in the center of Ubud means fighting for space among other foreigners on the sidewalk. The dense traffic in and around the center of town turns a five minute journey into an easy twenty. It doesn’t feel how I imagined a Balinese village would feel – it feels like a big group of White people were transplanted from Europe, Australia, and North America into a town in Bali where they could continue to live in a very similar Westernized space.

That being said, Ubud still retains a certain charm. The Balinese people are some of the kindest people I have ever met: always quick to smile, to laugh, and to help. If you wander a little farther, you can find quieter streets with more authentic Indonesian food. Surrounding Ubud is some of the most beautiful natural sights and temples to see in Bali, so it’s a good place to base yourself. And while the chaos and the overcrowded streets put me off at first, Ubud does have that atmosphere that vibrates a sense of spirit, healing, and tranquility that everyone claims it does.

Ubud was my first stop in Bali and after spending a week exploring Ubud and the surrounding area, these are my suggestions of 10 things to do to make the most of one week in Ubud.

10 THINGS TO DO WITH ONE WEEK IN UBUD

Visit A Waterfall

If you have been following along the blog for any amount of time, you’ll probably know by now that I love waterfalls. In fact, my list of things to do in Ubud consisted almost entirely of waterfalls in the surrounding regions. I didn’t go to all of them but I did go to two that knocked my socks right off.

Kanto Lampo was a waterfall I had never heard of until a new friend in my hostel dorm showed a photo that her brother had taken of the falls on a trip he had taken to Bali. Let me just say that their brother should be a spokesperson for that waterfall because if it weren’t for that photo, I never would have gone. Kanto Lampo is a little bit more off-the-radar than some of the other popular falls around Ubud but is incredible. It’s easy to access by Grab car or a hired scooter and takes just over half an hour to reach from Ubud.

Set on a lazy river in the rainforest of Beng village, Kanto Lampo is a truly unique waterfall that cascades over large flat stones which you can climb up for a good photo – but be careful, the rocks are slippery and the water is forceful! While the water was a little chilly, you can have a decent swim here before climbing all the stairs back up.

The second waterfall we visited was Tukad Cepung. From Ubud it would take you about an hour to drive there, a little farther out than Kanto Lampo, but well worth the visit. Tukad Cepung is one of the most interesting waterfalls I’ve ever seen. To reach the falls, you have to go down a number of very large, somewhat steep steps (particularly large if you’re only 5’1 like me) and then walk a path along the creek until you get to a second staircase leading down into an enchanting gorge.

You could spend ages exploring the gorge itself but head left at the bottom of the stairs and follow the gorge through a gap in the rocks and into a cave. At the far back of the cave is where you’ll find Tukad Cepung, with the waterfall pouring down from a hole at the top of the cave. It was really unlike any waterfall I’ve ever seen – the entire place was like a scene in a movie and, had I been on my own and not with a group, I probably would have spent a long time taking in the serene atmosphere of the place and exploring the gorge. While the waterfall is a beauty no matter what, coming when the sun is shining would make it extra special to see the sun rays beaming through into the cave as well.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace

The Tegallalang rice terrace is a popular tourist attraction for anyone spending time in Ubud and for good reason. It is exactly what it sounds like – high terraces of rice fields with palm trees scattered throughout. It makes for a stunning view and a nice place to wander around. Tegallalang might even be one of the most photographed spots in Ubud, but don’t quote me on that.

To enjoy the rice terraces without an insane amount of tourists, plan to arrive early. We arrived before 9am and it wasn’t very busy at all! For those wanting something a little bit touristy, a little fun, and a good photo-op, they have installed a swing for tourists to go on. The swing goes out into a beautiful view of the rice terraces and makes for a great photo and a bit of an adrenaline rush. You do need to pay about 100k IDR (about $10) to go on the swing, but it’s fun – and felt a lot more secure than the Casa del Arbol swing in Ecuador. Regardless, I had a very similar reaction on the swing at the rice terrace, much to everyone’s amusement.

Wander Ubud

I spent two solid days wandering around during my one week in Ubud. While the center of Ubud is chock-full of people, I did end up doing a few things that I really enjoyed.

One morning while we were wandering Ubud, we came across a small, easy to miss sign that read something like “Magical Rice Field”. Intrigued, we followed a narrow little path that led behind houses and apparently to nowhere. We were just about to give up when we turned the corner and came across a hidden rice terrace tucked away neatly behind the busy streets of Ubud. And yes, it was magical. Apart from the locals working the rice fields we had the entire place to ourselves.

Another evening, a friend and I were on the search for some live music to listen to. We took to the streets after a yummy vegetarian dinner and followed our ears. We came across a number of restaurants with musicians playing for those eating dinner but we were looking for something a little less.. fancy and mainstream. Again, we noticed a sign propped up on the ground with red writing that said “Magic This Way”, pointing to the back of a building. People really love magic in Ubud, guys. So we followed it and were led up a staircase on the side of the building to a small, darkly lit and smoky room and the most beautiful Spanish music filling the space.

The band was playing some of the most upbeat, soulful Spanish music and the crowd was so engaged. After a roll call initiated by the musician, we discovered that there were at least ten different countries represented in that tiny hidden bar. Very few of us knew any Spanish and yet everyone was there, coming together, and loving the atmosphere. The sign wasn’t lying, there was magic happening there that night.

Explore The Ubud Market

The Ubud Market is a definite must-see if you’re spending any amount of time in Ubud. It’s a typical market that you would find in the likes of Asia or South America – stalls upon stalls of local clothes, crafts, jewellery, and food. You don’t even need to buy anything but a walk through a market like this is an experience in itself. Practice your bargaining skills – always in a friendly manner! – and in the end, while bargaining is fun, just remember that that dollar you’re so set against spending means probably nothing to you but can mean a lot more to the person making their living. I walked away with some fresh mangoes and a skirt for under $4!

Campuhan Ridge Walk At Sunrise

It’s not often that I’ll wake up before the sun but just this once my alarm was set for 5:30AM and by 6AM we were out the door to Campuhan Ridge. The beauty about Ubud is that you can walk ten minutes and be completely removed from the town. We arrived to Campuhan Ridge as the sun was rising, sharing it with only locals on their morning run. It’s a quick 2km walk with a cafe at the end, with the option to continue on if you feel like it. The views speak for themselves – just do it.

Monkey Forest

One of the first things I did was visit the Monkey Forest that sits just on the outskirts of Ubud. A miraculous forest with temples and over 300 monkeys living freely, it’s one of those things that people like to tick off the Ubud list. While I am glad to have seen it, I probably wouldn’t go again. While the macaques that live here in the forest are free, they are definitely very used to people and more than once I saw some of the staff petting them. Apart from the monkeys, the grounds are a really beautiful place to walk around and I wouldn’t miss the water temple!

Tirta Empul Holy Water Springs

This was one of my favorite experiences during my week in Ubud. A water temple built back in 962AD, the holy water temple has been used traditionally by local Balinese since it’s creation. Today, locals and visitors alike join to receive the cleansing and purifying properties of the holy water springs. You will need to wear a sarong to enter the temple and then change into a bathing sarong if you wish to enter the springs. Please, if you decide to take part in this sacred ceremony, make sure you do it properly and respectfully.

We saw a number of people doing things the wrong way (even after they’d had things explained to them). Just don’t be a stereotypical clueless, disrespectful tourist if you can help it. Find someone to explain to you the meaning of the springs, the proper way to use them, and follow their direction. For example, two of the springs are off limits as they are only meant to be used during funerals to purify the dead.

Going through each of the springs, drinking the holy water, and finding connection to the healing spirit of this place was truly profound and I came away from this experience feeling so much gratitude.

Focus On Your Health

Ubud is a fabulous place to focus on your health and well-being. With a whole week in Ubud, you can easily get into a good wellness routine. There are yoga studios scattered all about, smoothie bowls everywhere you look and a huge amount of vegan and vegetarian restaurants and cafes. Whether you commit to some yoga classes, meditation, or just eating clean and green, Ubud has a very healthy vibe.

Yoga Barn is a very popular place with foreigners looking to focus on yoga/meditation and it’s an experience in itself to visit. Clear Cafe was a favorite place for any meal at any time of the day for healthy food, a unique concept and an extensive menu.

Hire A Scooter and Explore!

While I was too nervous to trust myself driving a scooter in the busy traffic of Ubud (especially being solo), I would definitely have tried it if I had a friend with me. Hiring a scooter is a really popular and easy way to get around in Bali and from Ubud, you have access to some of the most beautiful natural scenery that the island has to offer. Whether you take it north into the jungle and more waterfalls, just around the corner to see some temples or east to sleepy fishing villages, a scooter can take you anywhere you want to go.

Treat Yourself

Your money can go a long way in Bali in general. If you are spending a week in Ubud, don’t forget to splash out on a few of life’s luxuries. You can get cheap – and good – massages all over the place. From $10 massages from the spas along the main road to $50-$100 for a half-day package of spa treatments from some of Ubud’s nicest spas, there are options for everyone.

While you’re out there treating yourself – and you should, you deserve it – Ubud offers tons of different villas. I spent half of my week in Ubud staying just outside the city in one of the nicest places I have ever stayed. A private villa for myself with a private pool, for myself. It was glorious.

And there you have it – a quick guide to having the best time when you spend one week in Ubud. Let me know if you’ve been to Ubud before and if so, what was your favorite part?