Bali by bike beats the road traffic. This Ubud countryside ride is built for quiet back lanes and real village stops, with big-name sights like Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the bamboo forest of Penglipuran worked into a relaxed day. You start early, ride at an easy pace, and spend hours among rice paddies and local community life instead of stuck in a vehicle.

I really like the English-speaking guide experience—people like Wayan, Ketut, and Sandi are praised for looking after you from pickup to drop-off and sharing what daily Bali life is like (including fruit and snack-style tastings along the way). I also love the food rhythm: breakfast to get you going and a lunch in the rice paddies with mineral water at stops, plus the option of a vegetarian meal.

One thing to consider: the day is long (about 10.5 hours), and not every entrance is included—Penglipuran Village admission isn’t included, so you may need extra cash depending on what’s required that day.

Key reasons this ride is worth your pedal time

• Car-free feel: Routes go where normal tour vehicles can’t reach.
• Big scenery, small moments: Tegalalang terraces and then quieter countryside cycling.
• Bamboo forest that feels special: A 7.5-hectare bamboo forest stop with bamboo craftsmen visible inside.
• Real village culture: A stop in Penglipuran (traditional village layout and way of life).
• Food as part of the itinerary: Breakfast, lunch in a Bali-style restaurant by rice paddies, and mineral water at stops.

Why Ubud’s countryside cycling feels different from the big bus tours

In Ubud, it’s easy to spend a day bouncing between photo stops while you’re still sitting in traffic. This tour flips that. You get a bike, a helmet, and a guide, and you’re moving through the countryside where roads get quieter and views feel closer to everyday life.

The route also mixes “famous Bali” with genuinely local stops. You’ll see the Tegalalang Rice Terrace area, then head into countryside cycling that’s more about paddies, village lanes, and community scenery than one more ticketed monument.

Price and what you really get for about $36

For around $36, this is good value if you want a full day experience rather than just a short ride. A lot is included: the bike, helmet, and (during rainy season) a raincoat, plus an English-speaking cycling guide.

You also get meal time and water built into the day. Lunch is provided at an authentic Balinese-style restaurant in the middle of rice paddies, and mineral water is provided at every stop. Several entrances are included too—Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the bamboo forest stop include admission, and some other stops are marked as free.

The one cost caution is simple: Penglipuran Village admission isn’t included, and you might want a bit of spending flexibility for anything else you decide to buy.

Getting started: 8:00am pickup, A/C van, and a mobile ticket

This tour typically starts at 8:00am with pickup from your place in Ubud/Gianyar area by A/C van. After that, the day is paced so you’re not just thrown onto a bike and sent away.

You’ll also have a mobile ticket, which is convenient if you prefer keeping everything on your phone. The tour is capped at 25 participants, which helps keep the day from feeling like total chaos at every stop.

The riding day flow: breakfast, a quiet launch point, then pedals start

A common rhythm here is: breakfast first, then you’re taken by van to the countryside starting area where the bikes are waiting. The starting spot is chosen to be quiet and green, which matters because the first minutes set the tone. If you start in a calmer area, the rest of the ride feels more like a countryside experience and less like a commute.

From there, the day is structured around short sightseeing stops and steady riding between them. Times vary by stop, but the total day runs about 10 hours 30 minutes.

Stop 1: Tegalalang Rice Terrace and why the timing matters

Tegalalang is a name people recognize for a reason. You’ll visit the emerald-green rice terraces north of Tegallalang village, laid out in the river gorge area in central Bali.

You’ll get about 35 minutes at this stop, and admission is included. That time window is long enough to walk around, take photos, and pause, but not so long you feel stuck there while the whole countryside turns into a crowd.

Stop 2: Undisan countryside start for an easier first pedal

After breakfast and the van ride to the starting point, you enter the cycling portion in Undisan. This stop is about resetting your body for the ride: 30 minutes of being oriented, getting settled, and starting from a quieter countryside area.

Admission is marked as free here. What matters more is the feeling—this is where you start to see how the rest of the day will play out: lanes with trees, paddies, and small local scenes close enough that you notice details, like where people farm and how homes sit near the fields.

Penglipuran Bamboo Forest: 7.5 hectares and bamboo craftsmen

This is one of those stops that’s hard to fake with photos. The tour includes a ride through 7.5 hectares of bamboo forest at Penglipuran.

You also get a practical cultural moment: you may see Balinese traditional bamboo craftsmen at work inside the forest area. It’s not just a scenery walk. It’s a chance to understand that bamboo here is more than decoration—it’s part of what people actually do.

This stop is around 30 minutes, and admission is included.

Penglipuran Village: a beautiful traditional layout (but check admission)

After the bamboo, the tour shifts into village culture. Penglipuran Village is described as a very traditional village with its own way of life, plus an outstanding sense of place.

You’ll have about 45 minutes here. Admission is not included, so don’t assume it’s covered in your ticket price. If you’re watching your budget closely, plan for this upfront so the end of the day doesn’t get awkward.

Pura Taman Narmada Bali Raja: a Subak water temple in rice country

Next up is a stop tied to water management and traditional farming. The tour visits Pura Taman Narmada Bali Raja, described as a unique Subak water temple surrounded by rice paddies and a small lake.

You’ll spend about 30 minutes here, and admission is listed as free. The setting is the point: temples like this connect daily irrigation with spirituality and community life, so the surrounding rice fields don’t feel like background. They feel like part of the story.

The tour description also notes that accessing this spot involves walking down a short stretch, so be ready for a bit of uneven ground.

Jalan Bukit Batu lunch break in the rice paddies

Once the riding session is done, you head to lunch at a Balinese-style restaurant in the middle of rice paddies. This is the long stop on the back half of the day, about 1 hour.

Lunch is included, and you’ll be served a special drink option too—young coconut is mentioned, along with a fresh non-alcoholic alternative. Mineral water is provided at every stop, so you’re not left guessing about hydration after hours on the bike.

This is also where the day’s pacing helps. After cycling and multiple stops, you finally get a proper seated reset.

Pace, terrain, and what to bring for a long day

The tour says most people can participate and the riding is kept at a relaxed pace. Still, a countryside cycling day means you should plan for real-world bike travel: some uneven rural surfaces, changing light under trees, and enough time seated to feel it in your legs.

Here’s what you can count on from the provided details:

• You’ll have a bike and helmet.
• A raincoat is included during the rainy season.
• You’ll be in the countryside for multiple hours between stops.

For your packing, I’d keep it simple: comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dusty, closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and a small layer in case mornings feel cool.

Guide quality is the difference between photos and stories

This tour works because of the guide, and the guidance quality shows up in the feedback. People mention guides like Wayan, who shares knowledge and love of Bali, and Ketut, who keeps things organized and makes you feel looked after.

Sandi is specifically noted for good English and for keeping the day lively—people highlight how he shared fruits and foods to try during the ride, plus took care of pickup and drop-off. That matters because countryside cycling isn’t only about landmarks. It’s about understanding what you’re passing: rice farming routines, village life, and the everyday details you might miss if you were just riding solo.

Who this tour fits best (and who should skip it)

This is a strong match if you want:

• a full day with a mix of countryside riding and cultural stops
• an English-speaking guide to explain what you’re seeing
• an included meal in a scenic setting (breakfast + lunch in rice paddies)

It may be less ideal if you’re looking for intense training-level cycling or a short, low-effort activity. The day is long by design, and there are multiple stops, not just one continuous ride.

The good news: if you want more personal attention, there’s an upgrade for a private option. If your group is small or you prefer quieter guidance, that’s worth considering.

Should you book Bali Countryside Cycling Tour from Ubud?

If your goal is to spend more time outside and less time in traffic, I think this is an easy yes. The blend of Tegalalang Rice Terrace, a bamboo forest with craftsmen, and a traditional village stop gives you variety without turning the day into nonstop hustling. Add in the fact that lunch is included in a rice-paddy setting and the guides are repeatedly praised for care and English support, and the value looks solid.

The main reason to hesitate is the long day plus the fact that Penglipuran Village admission isn’t included. If you’re comfortable with a full morning-to-afternoon ride and you’re okay covering that one entrance separately, this tour fits what most people want when they book a countryside cycling day: better access, better pacing, and more of Bali’s daily rhythm.

FAQ

What time does the tour start in Ubud?

The tour start time is 8:00am.

How long is the Bali countryside cycling tour?

The duration is about 10 hours 30 minutes.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup at your hotel is included.

What’s included in the price?

Included items are the bike, helmet, and a raincoat during rainy season, a professional English-speaking cycling guide, breakfast/lunch (lunch at a restaurant in rice paddies), mineral water at every stop, and entrance ticket(s) for selected stops.

Are vegetarian meals available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you ask at the time of booking.

Is there a mobile ticket?

Yes. You’ll receive a mobile ticket.

Is the group size limited?

Yes. The tour has a maximum of 25 travelers.

Is Penglipuran Village admission included?

No. Penglipuran Village admission is not included (while other stops like Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the bamboo forest are included).