We love to walk, but Ubud’s roads make it hard. With no sidewalks or shoulders and a constant stream of motorbikes and cars, walking roadside never felt safe, especially with a kid. So we looked for other ways to rack up our steps and found two walks out into the rice fields and countryside: the Campuhan Ridge Walk and the Sari Organik (Sari Organic) Walk. They have a lot in common, but there are also some key differences, which we’ll outline here.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
We started with Campuhan Ridge, heading out before 8 a.m. to beat some of the heat. The trail begins in central Ubud but quickly leaves the busy streets behind, winding past a beautiful temple.
Thankfully, the path is vehicle-free as it climbs gradually up the ridge, with views of flowers and rice fields below. About halfway, the footpath turns into a village road. It was still comfortable to walk, with only local traffic, likely because Grab drivers can only drop off at either end of the trail.
We did the trail as an out-and-back, about 2 to 2.5 miles in total. Near our turnaround point, we stopped to refuel with juice and breakfast at the lovely Karsa Kafe, with its seating over the water.
On the walk back, local shops were starting to open. One was selling all kinds of snacks, and a cat had crawled into the display case for a nap.
We also stopped into a local artist’s shop. He showed us his drawings and explained the meaning behind many of them. Meeting local artists, and ideally bringing home a piece or two, is one of our favorite things to do when we travel. That’s hard on an extended trip, but we did buy a small print that rolls up for packing. The whole experience felt far more authentic than the Ubud Art Market, which we found to be mostly mass-produced goods.
Sari Organik Walk
A few days later we tried the Sari Organik Walk, starting a little later, closer to 9 a.m. This one also begins on a path out of central Ubud, but sadly it was crowded with motos zipping by. The start didn’t feel safe and had us questioning our choices for the first 30 minutes or so. Thankfully, as we got further into the countryside, the path narrowed and the moto traffic dwindled.
We found the lovely Tori Cafe to regroup over coffee, juice, and smoothie bowls. Thus fortified, we really enjoyed the second half of the walk through beautiful rice fields.
Once again we stumbled upon a local artist, this time at work on a painting. He graciously explained his craft before we made a small purchase.
We’d planned another out-and-back, but after that harrowing start we reconsidered. If we kept following the path to the neighboring village of Bentuyung, it looked like we’d be able to catch a Grab there. The plan worked: after about 2 miles (just over 3 km) one way, we checked out the Pyramids of Chi, then picked up a Grab down the street. We highly recommend doing this walk one way.
Which walk should you choose?
It felt so good to escape the city and stretch our legs in the countryside, with beautiful views, refreshing cafés, and friendly local artists on both walks. If you only have time for one, we’d choose Campuhan Ridge, given the moto traffic we hit on Sari Organik. Campuhan is about 2 to 2.5 miles as an out-and-back, and Sari Organik is just under 2 miles one way. If you have time for both, start Sari Organik early to dodge some of the traffic and beat the heat.
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