Overview
Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali, and this unhurried day is my favourite way to introduce it. We walk the emerald Tegallalang rice terraces, feel the calm of a thousand-year-old water temple, meet the silversmiths and wood carvers who still work by hand, and finish among the banyan trees of the Sacred Monkey Forest. Along the way I explain the meaning behind what you see — the offerings, the ceremonies, the daily rhythm of Balinese life.
I meet you in your hotel lobby with cold water and a towel, and we set off toward the highlands.
Walk the famous emerald terraces while I explain subak — Bali's 1,000-year-old irrigation system, recognised by UNESCO.
Meet local silver, wood and batik artisans in Celuk and Mas — real workshops, no pressure to buy.
Authentic Balinese cuisine at a hillside restaurant overlooking the rice fields.
Witness — or take part in — the sacred water purification ritual at this temple, in use since 962 AD.
Stroll the mossy temple ruins and banyan trees of this protected forest sanctuary.
Back to your hotel, full of stories and photos.
