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4 Days in Bali: Ubud, Mount Batur, Uluwatu and Nusa Penida (with Tour Prices Compared)
A short first trip for people landing in Bali this November or December: two nights in Ubud for rice terraces, waterfalls and a sunrise volcano hike, then two nights on the south coast for the Uluwatu fire dance and a boat day to Nusa Penida. Every paid stop is a tour we compared across booking sites, and the gaps are free time. Getting from Ubud to the south between day 2 and day 3 isn't included; a car or driver is the usual way (transfer price not checked, unverified).
Day 1: Ubud's waterfalls, rice terraces and the Monkey Forest
- Morning and afternoon: Ubud private day. Hire Bali Driver's private waterfall, rice terrace and Monkey Forest tour was cheapest on GetYourGuide, from $18 (4.9 from 5,106), against $65.00 for the same company's tour on Viator (5.0 from 123). It's a private tour, so the per-person price depends on your group size; check the total for your group. If you'd rather have lunch and entrance fees included, Bali Driver Seminyak's rice terraces, temples and waterfalls day on Viator was from $38.00 with 17,713 reviews (5.0) and includes the jungle swing. Klook has a similar Ubud private day.
- Evening: free. Wander Ubud's main streets and have an early dinner; tomorrow starts before dawn.
- Swap idea: if you'd rather cook than sightsee, Pemulan Bali's farm cooking class on Viator was from $36.85 (5.0 from 482), a few cents under $37 for the same class on GetYourGuide (5.0 from 2,169). Klook sells a similar Ubud cooking class. Class times vary (unverified), so check whether it fits around the Ubud day.
Day 2: Mount Batur at sunrise
- Pre-dawn to late morning: Mount Batur sunrise hike. The sunrise hike with breakfast on top and hotel pickup was cheapest on GetYourGuide, from $27 (4.8 from 11,556), against $30.00 for a very similar hike on Viator (4.9 from 2,049), whose listing includes the summit breakfast, hot drinks while you wait for sunrise, trekking poles and a flashlight. These tours run about 5 to 10 hours including pickup. Klook sells a similar sunrise trek.
- Want a soak after? The hike with a hot spring option on Viator was from $33.00 (4.9 from 2,222), against $35 for the hike and hot spring on GetYourGuide. Not up for the climb? A sunrise jeep tour with hot spring on Viator was from $19.84 (5.0 from 1,820), and Klook has a similar jeep tour.
- Afternoon and evening: free. Nap, swim at your hotel or take a slow walk in Ubud. You'll be tired.
Day 3: south to Uluwatu and the Kecak fire dance
- Morning: free. Move to your south coast hotel (Uluwatu, Jimbaran or nearby) and spend the rest of the morning at the beach.
- Afternoon: free. Beach time, or a long lunch with a view.
- Sunset: Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu. The Kecak show and Uluwatu Temple entry ticket was cheapest on GetYourGuide, from $9 (4.2 from 4,498), against $11.50 for a Kecak ticket on Viator (3.8 from 275), which leaves out temple admission. Both have mixed ratings. Klook has a Kecak ticket too.
- Prefer a guide and dinner? Eco Bali Tours' private Uluwatu sunset tour on Viator was from $31.50 (4.9 from 4,518); the temple fee, show ticket and Jimbaran seafood dinner are only included if you pick that option. A similar sunset, Kecak and Jimbaran tour on GetYourGuide was from $39, and Klook sells a similar Uluwatu sunset tour.
Day 4: Nusa Penida and the manta rays
- All day: Nusa Penida manta day. Bluuu Tours' premium day with manta snorkeling, a yacht and the Kelingking land tour was cheapest on Viator, from $73.12 (4.9 from 10,840), about $29 less than $102 for the same company's day on GetYourGuide (4.9 from 1,045). Viator's listing includes up to 4 snorkel spots, lunch with pool access, GoPro photos and the boat; hotel pickup outside its shuttle points costs extra. Klook sells a same-named premium day.
- Close second: Indo Compass's manta snorkeling and land tour on Viator was from $70.00 (4.9 from 2,696), against $99 on GetYourGuide. Klook has a similar manta and west Penida tour.
- Cheaper, no snorkeling: the west and east highlights land day on GetYourGuide (Kelingking, Diamond Beach) was from $32 (4.7 from 8,561). Klook sells a similar west and east day.
- Evening: free. Back on Bali by evening (return time unverified); a sunset dinner near your hotel is enough.
Rough cost per person
| Item | Cheapest site | From |
|---|---|---|
| Ubud private day: waterfall, rice terraces, Monkey Forest | GetYourGuide | $18 |
| Mount Batur sunrise hike with breakfast | GetYourGuide | $27 |
| Uluwatu Kecak fire dance and temple entry ticket | GetYourGuide | $9 |
| Nusa Penida manta, yacht and land day (Bluuu Tours) | Viator | $73.12 |
| Total, paid tours | about $127 |
That's $18 + $27 + $9 + $73.12 = $127.12 in "from" prices (US dollars), before taxes, fees, meals outside the tours, drinks, tips, hotels and the Ubud-to-south transfer. The Ubud day is a private tour, so the per-person price can be higher for small groups. Taking the $32 Nusa Penida land day instead of the manta day brings it to about $86. The jeep instead of the hike saves $7.16, and the guided Uluwatu sunset tour instead of the plain ticket adds $22.50.
Skip if…
- Skip the Batur hike if you don't want a pre-dawn start or a steep climb in the dark (pickup time not checked, unverified); the $19.84 jeep tour gets you the sunrise without the hike.
- Skip the manta day if you're not a confident swimmer or get seasick; the $32 land day sees Kelingking and Diamond Beach from the cliffs instead.
- Skip Lempuyang's "Gates of Heaven" on a 4-day trip. The Besakih and Lempuyang tour on GetYourGuide (from $30) takes 9 to 10 hours, and there's a queue for the famous photo.
- Skip Komodo and Java unless you have more time. The Komodo day trip (from $86) leaves from Labuan Bajo, not Bali, and the Bromo and Ijen train tour (from $185) takes three days on its own.
A note on the season: rainy months and holiday crowds
Late November to mid-December falls in Bali's rainy season, so leave some slack around boat days and the sunrise hike. Rain often comes as afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain, and rough seas can cancel or reschedule Nusa Penida boats (general guide, unverified). Christmas and New Year are busy, so book early. Free cancellation is common: every Viator listing in our comparison gives a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. Check each GetYourGuide and Klook listing for its own terms.
See every price, rating and site side by side, including the Gili Islands, Komodo, Borobudur, Bromo and Ijen, in the full Bali and Indonesia tours comparison.