REVIEW · NUSA DUA
Bali Private Tour: Waterfall, Monkey forest and Tanah lot sunset
Book on Viator →Operated by Online Bali Driver · Bookable on Viator
Sunset at Tanah Lot is the payoff. This private Bali day tour strings together Tegenungan Waterfall and Ubud’s primate-and-temple stops, then ends with sea views at Tanah Lot Temple. What I like most is that the day feels planned but not rushed-for-rushed’ sake, and it’s guided by an English-speaking driver who helps you time photo moments and understand what you’re seeing.
I also like the mix of nature and culture: monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a short look at the Ubud royal area, and then the shoreline spectacle at Tanah Lot. The one real drawback to consider is that it’s an all-day rhythm (about 8 to 10 hours) starting at 10:30 am, so you’ll want to be ready for heat, crowds at popular sights, and a day without lunch included.
In This Review
- Key highlights at a glance
- A private Bali day from Nusa Dua that actually makes sense
- Price and logistics: what $56 buys you (and what it doesn’t)
- Tegenungan Waterfall: green river views and photo-friendly time
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud: watching 600+ long tails
- Ubud Art Market and the royal palace area: culture with momentum
- Tanah Lot Temple sunset: the sea-surrounded moment
- What the guide adds: more than driving from stop to stop
- Timing, duration, and why the schedule feels full (but doable)
- What to wear and bring for this Bali private tour
- Who this private day trip is best for
- Should you book this Bali private tour?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- How long is the Bali private tour?
- Where is the tour based?
- Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
- What sights are included in the itinerary?
- Are entrance tickets included?
- Is lunch included?
- What about drinks during the tour?
- Is it a private tour or shared group?
- Is there a cancellation option if plans change?
Key highlights at a glance

- Tegenungan Waterfall scenery you can actually enjoy: greenery, river area views, and time to take photos (and possibly swim if you want).
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary’s scale: you’ll see over 600 long-tailed monkeys in a small central Ubud forest area.
- Ubud Royal Palace area + Art Market vibe: a short palace visit paired with market atmosphere.
- Tanah Lot Temple at sunset: the temple surrounded by seawater plus sunset views over the ocean.
- Private driver-guide with tickets handled: admission fees, parking, petrol, and bottled water are included, so you spend less time sorting logistics.
A private Bali day from Nusa Dua that actually makes sense

This is a private day trip that starts from Nusa Dua and covers the classic highlights many first-time visitors aim for: Tegenungan Waterfall, Ubud’s monkey forest, Ubud’s royal/palace area and art market, then Tanah Lot Temple at sunset.
The way the day is built is the big value. You get round-trip hotel transport by private vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide who can help you manage timing—especially for sunset at Tanah Lot, where being late can mean worse views and more crowd pressure. It also matters that entrance tickets and parking are included, because those small line-items add up fast when you book sights separately.
Price is $56 per person. For an 8 to 10 hour private day with pickup, fuel, bottled water, admission fees, and a driver-guide, it’s one of those deals that can pencil out well if you would otherwise pay entrance fees plus lose time arranging transport. The tradeoff: it’s still a long day, and it’s not built for slow wandering.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Nusa Dua
Price and logistics: what $56 buys you (and what it doesn’t)

At $56 per person, you’re paying for a full schedule, not just transportation. Included items are meaningful here: round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off, petrol, parking fees, bottled water, an English-speaking driver, and all entrance tickets.
What you don’t get is lunch and personal expenses. That’s normal for tours, but it changes how you should plan your day. Starting at 10:30 am and covering multiple major stops means you’ll likely want either:
- a light breakfast before pickup, then budget for a meal later, or
- snacks you can carry in your bag (just keep it practical and not messy).
Also note the pacing. The stops are each about an hour long in the provided schedule, which is enough for photos and a basic look, but not enough for deep browsing or long swims. If you love lingering at waterfalls or markets, you’ll need to focus on your must-dos.
Tegenungan Waterfall: green river views and photo-friendly time

Tegenungan Waterfall is the first nature hit. You’re there for about an hour, which works well as a warm-up before the more crowded Ubud stops. The attraction here is simple: green scenery around a river and waterfall area, with plenty of chances to stop, shoot photos, and take in the setting.
One thing to be aware of is that popular waterfalls tend to attract crowds. The upside is that you’ll usually find clear sightlines and easy places to pause without needing to hunt for the perfect angle.
If you’re hoping to swim, the tour notes that some guests love swimming while others prefer sightseeing only. My advice: treat swimming as optional. The hour is better spent enjoying the views and getting your photos if you’re not 100% confident in timing and comfort in outdoor conditions.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud: watching 600+ long tails

Next comes Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, with over 600 long-tailed monkeys. This stop is about an hour, and that time is used for walking through a small forest area centered in Ubud.
The main value is watching primates in a natural setting rather than just passing through a zoo-style exhibit. It also adds variety to the day. After waterfall greenery, you get something more animated: monkeys moving through trees, paths, and open areas.
A practical consideration: monkeys change the energy of a visit. You’ll want patience and flexibility, since you can’t control where animals go. I like this kind of stop only if you’re okay with it being a bit unpredictable. If you need a perfectly controlled photo shoot with zero interruptions, this might feel stressful.
Tip for your own comfort: wear smart casual shoes that handle walking on uneven ground. You’ll be glad you did when you’re navigating paths in a forest sanctuary.
Ubud Art Market and the royal palace area: culture with momentum

After monkeys, you go into the Ubud traditional art market atmosphere and then get a short look at the Ubud palace area just in front of the market. The palace visit is brief, but it has a clear reason for being there: it’s where the king of Ubud used to live.
This part of the tour is most enjoyable if you like culture you can see and feel fast—color, craft, daily market rhythm—without turning your day into a museum marathon. The market stop is about an hour, so you’ll likely be doing window-shopping energy more than deep shopping.
What to watch for: markets can be lively, and you’ll likely want to keep your pace steady so you don’t lose time while getting oriented. This is one of those stops where having an English-speaking driver-guide is useful because they can point out what matters and help you avoid wandering in circles.
You can also read our reviews of more evening experiences in Nusa Dua
Tanah Lot Temple sunset: the sea-surrounded moment

Then comes the headline: Tanah Lot Temple at sunset. This is one of Bali’s most recognizable places for a reason. The temple is surrounded by sea water, and the view is built around that idea—sunset over the ocean, with the temple as the focal point.
The schedule gives you about an hour at this last stop, and the timing is the whole point. If sunset is the goal, you’ll feel the difference between arriving early enough to get settled and arriving when the best light is already fading.
A realistic consideration: Tanah Lot is a highlight, so it can be crowded. That doesn’t ruin it, but it means your best photos may require patience—waiting for a gap in movement or shifting a little to improve angles. Private transport helps you arrive at the right time with less hassle.
Also, the tour notes that in the Tanah Lot area, you may visit other nearby temples depending on the situation and timing. So if you love temple-hopping, keep your camera ready for extra stops that can fit in.
What the guide adds: more than driving from stop to stop

The tour is built around a private driver-guide setup, not just a car. The biggest advantage is context. When a guide can explain Hinduism and cultural ideas in plain language, the sites stop being just backdrops.
One review highlighted a guide named Darma for being polite, kind, and educational for both kids and adults. That matters because it suggests the tour style isn’t dry or lecture-only. It’s the kind of guidance that helps you notice details—what you’re looking at and why it’s meaningful—while still keeping the day fun.
If you care about understanding the culture behind temples and rituals, this kind of guide support is a real value boost. If you just want photos and don’t care about explanations, the tour still works, but you’ll get even more out of it if you ask a few questions along the way.
Timing, duration, and why the schedule feels full (but doable)

This day trip runs about 8 to 10 hours and starts at 10:30 am. The stop durations are roughly an hour each (with Tanah Lot as the final highlight). That makes the itinerary feel “packed” in a way that works for many people because you hit multiple categories of Bali sights in a single day.
Here’s the main reason the timing works: the tour saves your energy by handling transport and ticketing. You aren’t trying to solve the island like a puzzle at every stop. You’re just showing up, enjoying, and moving on.
The downside is fatigue. By late afternoon/evening, you’ll want your body to cooperate—especially in warm weather. Plan for it:
- keep a bottle of water handy (you’ll get bottled water included),
- use sun protection if you burn easily,
- and don’t stack any late-night plans too tightly after sunset.
What to wear and bring for this Bali private tour
Dress code is smart casual. That’s helpful because these stops include outdoor walking, temple areas, and market time. Practical clothing beats fancy outfits here.
I’d bring:
- comfortable walking shoes (temple areas and forest paths can mean uneven ground),
- a light layer in case evenings feel cooler near the coast,
- sun protection,
- a small bag for personal items (so you can manage it easily during monkey time and crowded sunset areas).
Lunch isn’t included, so if you know your energy drops without food, plan a meal after the tour or grab something earlier. Personal expenses aren’t included either, so if you plan to shop in the art market, bring cash/card as needed.
Who this private day trip is best for
This Bali Private Tour is a good fit if you want:
- a single organized day covering waterfall + Ubud + a major temple sunset,
- private transport starting from Nusa Dua,
- entrance tickets handled for you,
- and a driver-guide who can explain cultural points, not just point out where to stand.
It’s especially suited to families and mixed-age groups because the day includes variety and the guide support can make the cultural pieces more understandable.
It may not be your best choice if:
- you want long unstructured time in one place,
- you prefer minimal crowds at every stop,
- or you need an easy day with no walking and no schedule pressure.
Should you book this Bali private tour?
Book it if you like the idea of checking off several major Bali experiences in one private, ticket-included day, and you care most about seeing Tegenungan Waterfall, Ubud’s monkey forest, and getting a real shot at Tanah Lot Temple at sunset.
Skip or consider another option if you’re the type who hates packed days, wants hours instead of minutes at each stop, or absolutely needs lunch included in the price. Also, if monkeys aren’t your thing, that Ubud stop can feel like a hard requirement.
If you do book, I’d go into it with one mindset: treat it as a well-run highlights tour with enough time to enjoy each place. Then let Tanah Lot sunset be the big emotional finish.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 10:30 am.
How long is the Bali private tour?
It runs about 8 to 10 hours.
Where is the tour based?
It’s in Bali, with pickup from Nusa Dua, Indonesia.
Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off by private vehicle are included.
What sights are included in the itinerary?
You visit Tegenungan Waterfall, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud traditional art market and the Ubud palace area, and Tanah Lot Temple for sunset.
Are entrance tickets included?
Yes. Admission tickets are included, along with parking fees.
Is lunch included?
No. Lunch is not included.
What about drinks during the tour?
Bottled water is included.
Is it a private tour or shared group?
It’s private, and only your group participates.
Is there a cancellation option if plans change?
Yes, there is free cancellation. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.



























