To fully enjoy Ubud a home stay is suggested, a locally owned set of rooms that cost around Rp.50,000 per night. You will meet the family, watch their daily rituals at close hand and appreciate the sights, sounds, smells and pace of their culture.
Shopping in Ubud is fantastic, and extremely varied. The main shopping areas are Jalan Raya, Jalan Hanoman and Jalan Dewi Sita. These three streets are interconnecting and can be walked in a day, one after the other, You can find all kinds of
crafts incuding ancient antiques, the latest designs in decor, cheap souvenirs, modern masterpieces of art, useful objects and whimsical trinkets. Prices vary widely, and bargaining is the norm. Try it, but always smile and be polite.
If you are artistically inclined you will find Ubud to be a town rich in all area of art and culture. Dancers, sculptors and painters seem to be around every corner. Downtown Ubud is rather compact and along Jl. Raya Ubud you will find some
very good restaurants such as Arys Warung and Casa Luna.
Nightlife is minimal here and the town is quiet after 10pm. Plenty of cheap guesthouses and also small boutique hotels are scattered throughout the town and surrounding area. The scenery around Ubud is mostly gentle rolling hills and rice fields,
some which may come right up to the rooms you are staying in. This aspect of Ubud creates a gentle, peaceful atmosphere. People looking for an arts / culture holiday rather than a beach / partying holiday will enjoy Ubud
On the side of craft, there are scores of "art shops" lining the main roads which connect Ubud to surrounding towns and villages. Notably, the road from Peliatan to Pujung, which is dotted with woodcarving galleries and other craft shops. In
Tegallalang and surrounding villages you will find Bali's best Garuda and Singga carvers situated among the cheesy pop-art wooden souvenirs.
Activities to Enjoy
Walks
There are many wonderful walks in every direction from Ubud, through villages, rice terraces, jungle gorges, and grassy hilltops. Don't be afraid. Just strike out in any direction. You can walk anywhere you like, without "trespassing."
Biking
Bicycling is a great way to see the Ubud area, and to stay fit. The early morning hours are best, when it's still cool. You can peddle sedately along the back roads, or take a mountain bike and bash your way down precipitous gorges, along
slippery rice terrace dikes, or through rough village byways pocked with mini craters. A truly glorious ride is to slog all the way up to Kintamani on the crater of Mt. Batur then glide effortlessly back downhill to Ubud through a chain of
traditional villages dotted with craft studios and cafes.
Rafting
The rivers around Ubud provide pleasant rafting conditions year round --- with enough rapids to make the ride fun, but still mild enough for those who tend to be timid when it comes to whitewater. Rafting also provides an unrivalled way to check
out the natural scenery, wildlife and exotic plants of Bali, while sitting happily on your rear end! And it's a good way to cool off if the tropical heat gets oppressive. Check out Bali Adventure Tours
who have a number of rafting, cycling & trekking tours.
Elephant Trekking
It is now available in the village of Taro, twenty minutes north of Ubud. You can ride an elephant, then feed it and give it a bath. Open 9 to 4 every day, no reservations necessary, just show up in Taro with $27 and choose your mount. Great food
also available at the restaurant - have a great day out with the elephants. Check it out at www.baliadventuretours.com
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