Bali Horse Riding Activity and Full-Day Trip in Ubud

The unusual hook here is the pairing of a beach horseback ride with a full day of Ubud sightseeing. You start on the volcanic sands of Saba Beach, then head inland for temples, rice terraces, macaques, a palace, lunch, and a waterfall.

I like the private format, since your group has its own air-conditioned vehicle and can request a flexible schedule. I also like that lunch, entrance fees, safety equipment, and two-way transfers are included, so the $120 price covers much more than a simple riding session.

The drawback is the packed day. Six major stops after a morning ride means plenty of time in the car, and the horse ride has a strict maximum weight of 90 kilograms. Check that rule before booking, since it is easy to overlook.

Key points to know before booking

• Saba Beach comes first: Ride for one hour along the coast with a professional horse-riding guide.
• Your group stays private: Only your party shares the vehicle, with an English-speaking driver who also acts as your guide.
• Ubud’s major sights are covered: Celuk Village, Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and Tegenungan Waterfall all fit into one day.
• The price includes the practical extras: Hotel pickup and drop-off, air conditioning, lunch, entrance tickets, safety gear, insurance, tax, and service are included.
• The ride has firm limits: Participants must be at least five and no older than 60, with an absolute maximum weight of 90 kilograms.
• Expect a full day: The experience lasts about nine to ten hours, so wear sensible clothes and bring sunscreen and a camera.

Why combine Saba Beach with Ubud?

Most Ubud day trips stay inland. This one gives you a change of scenery before the cultural stops begin. At Saba Beach, the ride follows a broad stretch of coast with sea air and dark volcanic sand. The horseback portion lasts one hour, and the tour description also presents it as a guided ride of about 10 kilometers.

That distance and the one-hour duration do not quite tell the same story, so I would treat the ride as a scenic introductory outing rather than a long equestrian trek. You should expect a controlled pace, not a fast gallop. One useful detail from the experience feedback is that the horses moved at a fairly gentle speed, and a short introduction to the horses would have made the activity more engaging.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. A steady pace suits first-time riders, families, and anyone more interested in coastal views than speed. The tour includes safety equipment, riding insurance, and a professional riding guide, which makes the beach portion easier to approach if you have little or no riding experience.

The tour then changes character completely. You leave the coast for south-central Bali, passing through villages and rural areas on the way to Ubud. The result is a big, busy day that gives you a sample of several sides of Bali rather than a slow look at one place.

The private vehicle makes the long day easier

Your own air-conditioned vehicle is one of the strongest parts of this experience. The route links Saba Beach with Celuk, Ubud, Tegalalang, and Tegenungan, so driving yourself would mean route planning, parking, and keeping track of several entrance points.

The driver is described as a professional English-speaking driver and tour guide. A driver named Putu received particular praise for being friendly and for making the day informative. That personal element matters on a route like this, where the time between stops can otherwise feel like dead time.

Private does not mean that the day is short. You still have to cover a wide part of Bali, and road conditions can affect the rhythm. The advertised duration is about nine to ten hours. Ask for a clear pickup time and confirm the return estimate, especially if you have an evening reservation or a flight-related plan.

Pickup is offered from hotels and villas in Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Tuban, Kerobokan, Canggu, Sanur, Denpasar, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, and Ubud. Since the tour is presented from Seminyak but covers much of south Bali, confirm that your exact address is included and ask when the driver expects to collect you.

Saba Beach: a gentle start on horseback

The horse ride is the most distinctive activity of the day. The stable uses tame, healthy horses, and you ride with a professional guide along Saba Bay. The coastal setting gives the activity a sense of space that you would not get at an indoor riding center or on a short farm track.

The ride is included in the admission price, along with safety equipment and insurance. You do not need to arrange a separate riding operator, and the tour keeps your driver and vehicle available for the rest of the day.

Still, be realistic about the style of riding. The available feedback suggests that the horses may remain at a relaxed pace. If your main goal is a fast, technical, or highly active ride, this may feel tame. If your goal is to sit on a horse by the sea and add something different to an Ubud day, it fits well.

The minimum age is five, the maximum age is 60, and the maximum weight is 90 kilograms. That last condition is absolute. It should be checked before payment, since someone who cannot ride may not receive the experience they expected. The operator says a refund was provided in one such case, but it is still better to settle eligibility in advance.

Wear smart casual clothing, but choose it with the horse ride in mind. Long trousers and secure shoes are more practical than delicate clothing or loose sandals. Sunscreen is specifically recommended, and you should bring a camera if you want coastal photos.

Celuk Village and Bali’s jewelry trade

Celuk Village is scheduled for about an hour. The village has a long tradition of producing gold and silver items for local, national, and international markets. This stop adds a look at Balinese craft production to a day otherwise focused on scenery and major attractions.

The value of Celuk depends on how much time you want to spend browsing and learning about the work. It is not simply another photo stop. You can use the hour to see the village’s jewelry-making identity and consider purchasing something, though personal expenses are not included.

If shopping is not your priority, tell the driver how much time you want here. The private setup gives you more room to balance this stop against the waterfall or rice terraces. The tour also passes a famous wood-carving village and a well-known temple along the way, though those are described as pass-by sights rather than scheduled visits.

Monkey Forest: nature, shade, and macaques

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary occupies 27 acres in Ubud and is home to long-tailed Balinese macaques. The scheduled visit lasts about an hour, enough for an introduction to the forest paths and the animals, but not enough for a slow exploration of every corner.

This is one of the more atmospheric stops. The forest provides shade, and the macaques add an element of unpredictability. Keep your attention on your belongings and follow the sanctuary’s instructions around the animals. The tour data does not specify a separate animal briefing, so listen carefully to the guide and staff when you enter.

An hour here works well in a packed itinerary, but it also creates a tradeoff. You get the famous Ubud experience without giving up the other stops, yet you will not have a long, unhurried visit. If the Monkey Forest is your main reason for going to Ubud, a separate visit would allow more time.

Ubud Palace in a compact 30 minutes

Ubud Palace, also called Puri Saren Ubud, receives only 30 minutes. That is enough to see the traditional buildings, meeting areas, and the banyan tree, but this is a brief orientation rather than a detailed architectural visit.

I like this stop because it places Ubud’s royal past in the center of town and breaks up the day with a cultural site. The short duration also makes sense if you want to cover several parts of the Ubud area in one outing.

Do not expect a long palace tour. The time is best used for a quick walk, photographs, and a few explanations from the driver-guide. If you prefer to linger over carved details and old buildings, you may wish you had more than half an hour.

Lunch gives the middle of the day a reset

An authentic set-menu lunch at an Ubud restaurant is included. Vegetarian food is available if you request it at booking. This is a useful inclusion because the tour has no time for searching out a restaurant between scheduled stops.

The meal also gives you a proper break during a day of driving and walking. One piece of direct feedback praised the lunch, so I would regard it as a solid practical part of the package rather than an afterthought.

The exact menu and restaurant are not specified. If you have dietary needs beyond vegetarian food, state them before the day begins. Drinks and personal expenses are not listed as included, so budget for anything beyond the set menu.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the view from above

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is scheduled for about an hour. Its stepped fields are linked to an old irrigation tradition associated with the revered holy man Rsi Markandeya. The terraces are among the most recognizable rural scenes near Ubud.

This stop is about seeing how farming shapes the hillsides, not simply taking a quick picture. The layered fields create strong views, and the setting offers a useful contrast with the beach and the city-like center of Ubud.

An hour gives you time to look around, take photographs, and hear a little context from the guide. It is still a short visit. The tour does not specify a particular walking route or viewpoint, so ask the driver where the planned stop will be and how much walking is involved.

The ground may be uneven, so practical shoes are a better choice than fashion footwear. Since the tour combines several outdoor stops, sunscreen and water are sensible, even though only sunscreen is specifically listed as something to bring.

Tegenungan Waterfall closes the sightseeing route

Tegenungan Waterfall is the final major stop and also lasts about an hour. It is one of Bali’s well-known places of interest, visited by local people as well as international visitors. The waterfall gives the day a strong natural finish after the cultural stops and rice fields.

You should expect a viewpoint or access route that involves walking, though the supplied information does not specify the exact path or swimming conditions. Use the hour for photographs and the sound of the falling water rather than assuming you will have time for a long visit.

The order can make the day feel tiring by this point. After riding, driving, walking through Monkey Forest, viewing the palace, eating lunch, and visiting Tegalalang, you may appreciate the waterfall as a final stop but have less energy for it. Comfortable shoes and a realistic attitude toward the schedule will help.

Is $120 a fair price?

At $120 per person, this is not a cheap horse ride. It is also not priced like one. You are paying for a private vehicle, an English-speaking driver-guide, hotel transfers, the one-hour ride, riding equipment and insurance, entrance tickets, a set-menu lunch, tax, and service.

The private format is the key value question. For a couple or small group that wants a driver for a full day, the price can make sense because you avoid arranging separate transfers and tickets. You also avoid the strain of driving Bali’s roads yourself.

The value is weaker if you only want horseback riding or only want an Ubud sightseeing tour. In that case, much of the package may feel like extra time and expense. The best fit is someone who genuinely wants both activities on the same day.

Group discounts are offered, but the exact reduction is not provided. Ask for the group price before booking rather than assuming it will be substantial. Personal expenses are not included, so allow extra money for drinks, purchases at Celuk, or anything else outside the set lunch.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend this tour to first-time Bali visitors who want a broad introduction without arranging every part themselves. It suits couples, families with children aged five or older, and small private groups that value a dedicated vehicle.

It also works for people who like variety. In one day, you get the coast, a horse, a craft village, a forest, a royal compound, rice fields, a meal, and a waterfall. Few of these stops receive a long visit, but the range is impressive.

I would be more cautious if you dislike early starts, long drives, or tightly packed sightseeing. It is also a poor fit if you weigh more than 90 kilograms, are outside the stated age range, or want advanced riding. The tour is designed for a gentle beach outing followed by classic Ubud sights.

Bad weather can affect the experience. If conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book Bali Horse Riding and the Ubud day trip?

Book it if you want a private, high-variety day and see the beach ride as an enjoyable extra rather than the main sporting event. Putu’s friendly guiding style and the included lunch, tickets, equipment, and transfers add real value, especially for a first visit.

Skip it if you want a relaxed Ubud day, a serious riding experience, or long visits at individual sights. Before paying, confirm the 90-kilogram limit, your pickup address, the riding pace, and the precise lunch arrangements. With those points clear, this is a useful way to cover a lot of Bali in one organized day.

FAQ

How long does the Bali horse riding and Ubud tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately nine to ten hours.

Where does the horse riding take place?

The one-hour horse ride takes place along Saba Beach, also referred to as Saba Bay in the tour details.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private vehicle and activity arrangement.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking driver-guide, one hour of horse riding, riding safety equipment, entrance tickets, a set-menu lunch, insurance, tax, and service.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered from homes, hotels, and villas in Ubud and many parts of south Bali, including Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Canggu, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, and other listed areas.

What age can participate in the horse riding?

The minimum permitted age is five, and the maximum permitted age is 60.

Is there a weight limit for the horse ride?

Yes. The absolute maximum weight is 90 kilograms.

Can I request vegetarian lunch?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you must request it when booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.