Ubud is the best base on the island for the volcano and the river, and the worst for the sea. Mount Batur is about 90 minutes away, so Ubud pickups for the sunrise land around 02:30, the latest on the island, and the Ayung rafting put-in is about 20 minutes from the centre. Every boat, on the other hand, leaves from the coast: Sanur port is 45-70 minutes away for Nusa Penida, and Padang Bai 1h15-2h for the Gilis and Blue Lagoon. The airport is 1.5-2.5 hours. Below is every tour we run from Ubud with its pickup time, drive and price, and what we would not book from here.
By Alex Moskvin, Founder of SB Excursions · Published 23 September 2026 · Updated 16 October 2026
Tour on this route: Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour — From $45, 6-8 hours.
What tours can you do from Ubud?
All of our day tours collect from Ubud. The easiest are inland: the Mount Batur sunrise with pickup around 02:30, rafting on the Ayung about 20 minutes away, the Ubud temple and terrace route, and the UNESCO sites. Sea days work too but start with a drive: 45-70 minutes to Sanur port for Nusa Penida, 60-90 minutes to Blue Lagoon.
This guide also answers:
- What time is the Mount Batur pickup from Ubud?
- Can you do Nusa Penida as a day trip from Ubud?
- How far is the rafting from Ubud?
Top picks from this guide
#1
#2
Rafting the Ayung
The put-in is the shortest transfer to any rafting river on the island, about 20 minutes from central Ubud. Rafting is from $25 with gear and hotel pickup, about two hours on the water, and a better ride from November to March.
#3
Tegalalang, Kintamani and the temple valley
Tegalalang is 25 minutes from Ubud. The Ubud route links it with Sebatu, Gunung Kawi, a Kintamani lunch and Monkey Forest: 08:00 pickup, 10 hours, from $65 per car for up to five plus $22 tickets per person.
#4
Jatiluwih and the UNESCO sites
Jatiluwih is 1.5-2 hours from Ubud, with marked walking trails and far fewer people than Tegalalang. The UNESCO heritage tour pairs it with Taman Ayun, Ulun Danu Beratan and Tanah Lot in 10 hours from $65 per car plus $20 tickets per person.
#5
Nusa Penida from Ubud
It works well; it simply runs longer than from a beach hotel. The drive to Sanur is 45-70 minutes, the crossing 30-45. The west tour is from $49 per car for up to six with hotel pickup; with manta snorkelling from $60, east or full day from $75.
#6
Blue Lagoon and the east coast
Blue Lagoon is closer to Ubud than to the south, 60-90 minutes against 90-120. The snorkelling trip leaves Padang Bai at 09:00, two hours on the water from $19 per person; the transfer is quoted separately.
Which tours pick up from Ubud?
All of the ones in the table below. Ubud is in the standard pickup area of our day tours, and it is the one base where the interior days are short and the sea days are long. If you are still choosing where to stay, our things to do in Ubud guide covers the town itself, and Ubud in one day is the plan for guests who are only passing through.
Prices are either per car or per person. The car tours, Ubud, UNESCO, east Bali, Tanah Lot and Bedugul, and the private car, are priced per vehicle for up to five, with entrance tickets per person on top where the route has them; the west Nusa Penida tour is per car for up to six. Rafting, the Batur formats, the manta and Blue Lagoon trips are per person.
| Tour | Pickup from Ubud | Drive each way | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batur sunrise jeep | About 02:30 | About 90 min | 6-8 h | $45 in Kintamani, $60 with pickup |
| Batur jeep and hot springs | About 02:30 | About 90 min | 6-8 h | $55 in Kintamani, $70 with pickup |
| Batur sunrise hike | About 02:30 | About 90 min | 5-8 h | $35 |
| White water rafting | Morning or midday | About 20 min to Kedewatan | 4-6 h | $25 |
| ATV quad bikes | Optional pickup or meet at the track | Ubud area | 4-6 h with a 1.5 h ride | $39 |
| Ubud rice terraces, temples and volcano | 08:00 | Local | 10 h | $65 per car + $22 tickets |
| Ubud Instagram tour | 07:00 | Local | 10 h | $65 per car + $15 tickets |
| UNESCO heritage sites | Morning | 1.5-2 h to Jatiluwih | 10 h | $65 per car + $20 tickets |
| Nusa Penida west | Early, before the morning boat | 45-70 min to Sanur port | Full day | $49 per car, boat from $15 |
| Blue Lagoon snorkelling | Boat at 09:00 in Padang Bai | 60-90 min | 2 h on the water | $19 per person |
| Lovina dolphins at sunrise | About 03:00 | North coast | 8 h | $69 |
| Tanah Lot and Bedugul | Morning | 90-120 min to Tanah Lot | 9-11 h | $65 per car + $20 tickets |
| Airport transfer | Any hour | 1.5-2.5 h | One way | From $15 per car, by area |
| Private car with driver | When you choose | Your route | 10-12 h | $59 per car |
Pickup times and prices from our tour pages, September 2026. Drive times are our planning ranges from central Ubud; villas in the rice fields outside town add to them.
Mount Batur and the river: why Ubud wins
The volcano is the clearest case. Mount Batur is about 90 minutes from Ubud on empty night roads, the shortest approach of any base, so sunrise pickups land around 02:30 while Canggu, Seminyak and the far south start a full hour earlier. The jeep formats run 6-8 hours door to door, which puts you back in Ubud by late morning with the day intact. Our Mount Batur sunrise from Ubud compares the three formats in detail.
The river is the other. The Ayung put-in at Kedewatan is about 20 minutes from central Ubud, the shortest transfer to any rafting river on the island, against about 60 km and 2-2.5 hours from Nusa Dua. Rafting from $25 is a morning from Ubud and most of a day from the south. The ATV track, from $39, sits in the same part of the island.
The sea days from Ubud
Every boat leaves from the coast, so every sea day starts with a drive. Nusa Penida's fast boats leave from Sanur, 45-70 minutes from Ubud depending on traffic, then 30-45 minutes across; the pickup comes earlier than from a beach hotel, and the day runs longer. It works, and the price is the same: the west tour from $49 per car for up to six with hotel pickup. Our Nusa Penida day trip from Ubud walks through the seven stages of that day.
East is closer than south. Padang Bai is 1h15-2h from Ubud, and Blue Lagoon, 5 minutes north of the harbour, is 60-90 minutes, closer than from Seminyak or Kuta. The Blue Lagoon trip leaves at 09:00 from $19 per person. The nearest calm swimming sea is Sanur, 45-70 minutes away, so a beach day from Ubud is a day out rather than an afternoon.
What we would not book from Ubud
A Gili day trip. There is no boat from Ubud; the crossing leaves Padang Bai, 1h15-2h away, and takes about 1h30 each way, so a day trip means fourteen hours out for four or five on the island. Our Gili Islands from Ubud guide covers the harbours and the return schedule; if the islands matter, stay a night.
And the airport on a tight morning. The drive is 1.5 to 2.5 hours for about 40 km, most of it through Denpasar, so a tour on the day of an early flight is a bad trade. Book the airport transfer, priced by hotel area from $15 per car, and keep the last morning free; the airport to Ubud guide has the timings.
FAQ
What tours can you do from Ubud?
All of our day tours collect from Ubud. The easiest are inland: the Mount Batur sunrise with pickup around 02:30, rafting on the Ayung about 20 minutes away, the Ubud temple and terrace route, and the UNESCO sites. Sea days work too but start with a drive: 45-70 minutes to Sanur port for Nusa Penida, 60-90 minutes to Blue Lagoon.
What time is the Mount Batur pickup from Ubud?
Around 02:30, the latest pickup on the island, because the drive is about 90 minutes; guests in the south start about an hour earlier. The jeep is $45 meeting in Kintamani or $60 with hotel pickup, and the hike is from $35.
Can you do Nusa Penida as a day trip from Ubud?
Yes. The drive to Sanur port is 45-70 minutes and the crossing 30-45, so the pickup is earlier and the day longer than from a beach hotel. The west tour is from $49 per car for up to six with hotel pickup and an island driver, with the fast boat from $15.
How far is the rafting from Ubud?
About 20 minutes. The Ayung put-in at Kedewatan is the shortest transfer to any rafting river on the island. Rafting is from $25 with gear and hotel pickup, about two hours on the water, so it fits a morning and leaves the afternoon free.
How long is the drive from Ubud to the airport?
1.5 to 2.5 hours for about 40 km, depending on traffic through Denpasar. Our airport transfer is priced by hotel area from $15 per car. Keep a tour off the morning of an early flight.
Is a Gili day trip from Ubud worth it?
We do not recommend it. There is no boat from Ubud: the crossing leaves Padang Bai, 1h15-2h away, and takes about 1h30 each way, so a day trip means about fourteen hours out for four or five on the island. Stay at least one night instead.
Recommended Bali tours for this guide
Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour
This is one of the most accessible sunrise adventures in Bali because you still get the volcano mood without committing to a full trekking route. It is ideal for couples, small groups, and guests who want a signature morning with strong visuals.
- Duration
- 6-8 hours
- Area
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Bali White Water Rafting, Ayung River
White water rafting is one of Bali's easiest adventure products to fit into a trip because it feels active without being overly technical. It is especially strong for guests who want something memorable that still works for mixed groups.
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Nusa Penida West Tour
If your priority is bold scenery over snorkeling, the west route is the cleanest and most iconic Penida choice: one car, one driver and the island's four most photographed stops in a single day. It is especially strong for couples and first-time visitors who want the headline views with transport handled professionally.
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