Where Sayan is, why it feels so far from the crowds, and what is close by.
Most people picture Ubud as its busy centre: the palace, the market, the long line of cafés and shops. A few minutes west, the town changes character. The road runs out along a ridge above the Ayung River, the traffic thins, and gardens and rice fields take over. This is Sayan.
Where Sayan is
Sayan is a village on the western side of Ubud, in the Gianyar regency of Bali, set along the ridge that looks down into the Ayung River valley. From Ubud Raya it takes about 10 to 15 minutes by car to reach Ubud Centre.
Why it feels further away than it is
The difference is not distance but noise. The centre of Ubud is built around a handful of busy streets. Sayan is residential and green, with narrow lanes, family compounds and open fields, so the evenings are quiet. There is no monkey disturbance here either: Ubud's macaques live in and around the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, about 20 minutes away.
What is close by
- The Ayung River, about 15 minutes by car, known for white-water rafting.
- Ubud Centre, 10 to 15 minutes by car, for Ubud Palace, the art market, galleries and restaurants.
- The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, about 20 minutes by car.
Getting around
Sayan is best enjoyed with a driver for longer trips and a bicycle for short ones. Guests at Ubud Raya Resort have a complimentary bicycle tour of the area, and our team can arrange drivers and private tours for temples, rice terraces and the rest of Ubud.
When to explore
Early mornings are the coolest and clearest time of day in the hills around Ubud, and the best time for walks. Save the middle of the day for the pool.
