Bali Cycling and Ubud Waterfall Tour 2025: An Honest Look

Let’s talk about that Bali bike tour you’ve seen everywhere. You know, the one where people are smiling, cycling through these gorgeous green rice fields. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first. I mean, could it really be that amazing? So, I went ahead and booked the “Bali Cycling and Ubud Waterfall Tour” for myself to see what all the fuss was about. I’m going to give you the real story, basically the good parts, the okay parts, and the stuff you should know before you go. This is more or less my personal take on a day spent pedaling and exploring a different side of the island. It’s really about seeing if the experience matches the pictures, you know?

Getting Started: The Kintamani Volcano and a Balinese Breakfast

So, the day kicks off pretty early, with a driver picking you up from your hotel, which is super convenient, obviously. You sort of climb into this air-conditioned van, half-asleep, and head up, up, up into the mountains. The drive itself is actually quite a treat, like you watch the busy streets give way to more traditional villages and all that green. Frankly, the main goal here is getting to Kintamani for breakfast. And you know, the breakfast spot is chosen for one very specific reason. The view of Mount Batur volcano is absolutely right there in your face. It’s kind of hard to focus on your banana pancakes when you have a live volcano just hanging out in front of you. Speaking of the food, it’s more or less a simple Balinese breakfast. We had some coffee, tea, fruit, and those pancakes I mentioned. To be honest, it was just enough to get you going for the day ahead, you can check out some of the top spots for local food to see what I mean. At the end of the day, it’s the atmosphere and the incredible sight of the volcano that makes this part of the tour pretty memorable.

You’re not there for a gourmet meal, basically, you’re there to fuel up with a truly amazing backdrop. It’s also where you meet your guide and the rest of your group, which tends to be a pretty mixed bunch from all over. The guide typically gives you a little talk about the volcano, its history, and what to expect for the rest of the day. For example, our guide was this super friendly Balinese man who clearly loved his job. He was just so excited to share stories about his culture, and stuff. You just get your first real sense that this isn’t just a physical activity. Actually, it’s a cultural one too. So, you sip your Bali coffee, you try not to stare too much at the massive crater, and you get ready for the main event. It’s a rather gentle start to what will be a very active day, and it’s almost the calm before the cycling fun begins.

The Downhill Ride: Pedaling Through Paradise (or so they say)

Alright, so after breakfast, they drive you a little bit to the starting point of the bike ride. Honestly, this is where the real adventure gets going. You get fitted for a mountain bike and a helmet, and the guide gives you a quick safety rundown. Seriously, I was a bit worried about the “downhill” part, I mean, would it be super steep? But frankly, it was mostly a gentle, sloping cruise. You really don’t have to be a Tour de France athlete to handle this. You’re pretty much just gliding most of the time, letting gravity do the work. The path takes you through areas you would absolutely never see from a car window. We rolled through tiny villages where little kids ran out to the street to yell “hello!” and give you high-fives. It’s incredibly heartwarming, like you’re not just a tourist passing by, but for a moment, a part of their world. To get a feel for other unique island experiences, it might be a good idea to read about similar adventures.

The scenery is just like what you see in the photos, only better because you’re actually in it. You can literally smell the soil and the plants, you feel the warm breeze on your skin, and you can hear the sounds of village life all around you. We rode past these amazing, ancient-looking temples, and our guide would stop and explain a bit about them, which was sort of fascinating. At the end of the day, the ride is about a couple of hours long, with plenty of stops for water and photos. I mean, you will want to take a lot of photos. It’s almost impossible not to. You cycle past a patchwork of green rice paddies, coconut groves, and fragrant clove and coffee plantations. Unlike a fast-paced tour, this cycling part lets you absorb everything at a human speed. You’re just kind of present in the moment, which is a really