Ubud day trip with a private driver, ending at Akar
A day in Ubud done well: a private driver who waits, the Sacred Monkey Forest by its own rules, rice fields and temples, and dinner at Akar in Tegallalang before the drive back to the coast.
Updated October 21, 2026 · 4 min read
The best way to do Ubud in a day is with a private driver who stays with you: leave the coast early, see one or two places properly rather than five in a rush, and end with dinner at Akar, K Club's steakhouse in Tegallalang, north of Ubud, before the drive home. FirstBali arranges the car and asks Akar for the table through the concierge.
Why a driver, not a tour
Ubud sits inland, and the day is mostly about the road between places. A private driver turns that into your schedule: you choose the order, stay where you like it, and leave when you are done, with your bags in a car that waits. Our transport catalogue lists cars with a driver option, from the Toyota Innova Zenix and Toyota Fortuner to the Toyota Alphard and the Toyota Hiace Premio for a group. Scooters on unfamiliar inland roads are a poor idea for a day trip; getting around Bali explains why.
A shape for the day
This is a suggestion, not a fixed itinerary; your driver adapts it.
- Morning: leave early. The earlier you set off, the more of the day is yours.
- Late morning: one main visit. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a temple or the rice fields — pick what matters to you most.
- Afternoon: something slower. A walk, a spa, a craft village on the way, or simply a coffee with a view.
- Evening: dinner at Akar, north of Ubud, then the drive back to the coast.
Tell the concierge what you want to see, and FirstBali passes it to the driver.
The Sacred Monkey Forest, by its own rules
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary describes itself as "a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud". It reminds visitors that the monkeys are not domesticated, and publishes guidelines worth reading before you go:
- No food or drinks may be brought into the forest.
- No plastic bags, for safety; lockers are available in the lobby.
- Do not look a monkey in the eyes: it "may be interpreted as a sign of aggression".
- Do not touch the monkeys or try to pick them up.
- Some areas are sacred and off-limits to visitors; follow the signs.
- Dress appropriately, as a sign of respect for Balinese culture.
The practical upshot: leave sunglasses, snacks and anything loose in the car. That is one more reason a waiting driver helps.
Rice fields, temples and the subak
The rice terraces around Ubud are watered by the subak, Bali's traditional cooperative irrigation system. Temples are places of worship first: cover shoulders and knees, and follow what the temple asks at its entrance.
Dinner at Akar
Akar, meaning "root", is the steakhouse of K Club in Kedisan, Tegallalang, set in the greenery of the jungle. It is spread over two floors with two bars and an open kitchen, and grills Australian and Japanese cuts, Wagyu included, over charcoal, alongside seafood, charcoal-roasted bone marrow and a curated wine list. Akar has won Best Luxury Steakhouse in Indonesia at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards.
- When: Akar serves breakfast and dinner, not lunch, so plan it as the end of the day.
- Which night: from Monday to Thursday the mood is relaxed; on Friday and Saturday dinner turns festive, with live DJs, dancers and a laser show.
- What to wear: smart casual; singlets are not permitted for men. Bring a change if the day was hot.
More in our Akar guide.
Should you stay instead?
If you can, yes: our Ubud guide makes the case for a night or two inland. But a well-planned day with a driver is a good Ubud too, and it leaves the villa and the coast where they are. If you change your mind, ask about villas.
Back on the coast
A day in Ubud can still end in a party. If you have energy left on a Tuesday or Friday, Desa Kitsuné's garden party in Canggu runs rain or shine; check the night's page for its terms.
DESA KITSUNE FRIDAY
Desa Kitsuné
HALLOWEEN SOIREE - LES CLOWNS DU CHAOS
Desa Kitsuné
SINNERS SOIRÉE
Desa Kitsuné
HALLOWEEN x DISKO AFRIKA
Desa Kitsuné
JORDAN JOHN
Desa Kitsuné
DESA KITSUNE FRIDAY
Desa Kitsuné
How FirstBali arranges it
Tell the concierge the date, where you are staying, how many you are, what you want to see, and whether you would like dinner at Akar. FirstBali checks what can be arranged, books the car and asks Akar for the table; each is confirmed only when the driver's company and the venue confirm. An assistant answers at any hour, and the team through the Bali day and evening. In an emergency, call 112.
Read next: a private driver in Bali, Alphard with driver, a seven-day Bali itinerary and the Bali spa day guide.
Questions we get asked
＋Can I do Ubud as a day trip?
Yes, best with a private driver who waits: leave early, choose one or two main visits, and end with dinner before the drive back. If you can, a night or two inland is even better.
＋What are the rules at the Ubud Monkey Forest?
The sanctuary bans food, drinks and plastic bags, asks visitors not to touch the monkeys or look them in the eyes, keeps some sacred areas off-limits and asks for appropriate dress.
＋Can I have lunch at Akar?
Akar serves breakfast and dinner, not lunch. Plan it as the dinner that ends your Ubud day.
＋Which car should we take for a group?
Our catalogue has cars with a driver option from the Toyota Innova Zenix to the Toyota Alphard and the Toyota Hiace Premio. Tell the concierge how many you are.
＋What should I wear in Ubud?
Shoulders and knees covered for temples, appropriate dress at the Monkey Forest, and smart casual for dinner at Akar, where men's singlets are not permitted.
Mentioned in this guide
Want us to arrange it?
Tell the concierge what you have in mind — a table, a guestlist, a villa, a driver. The assistant answers at any hour; the team takes over from 9am to midnight Bali time.
Ask the concierge