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Heritage Cuisine4.9(203)

Village Kitchen: Cooking with a Balinese Family

Ubud, Bali

Photo: Yun Huang Yong · CC BY 2.0

Duration
1 day
Group size
Max. 8 people
Category
Heritage Cuisine
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for almost everyone; plenty of stops and light walking.
Language
Indonesian, English

About this journey

Shop at the morning market, then cook lawar, sate lilit and base genep in a family kitchen.

Balinese cooking starts with base genep, a paste ground from more than a dozen spices. With Ibu Made and her family, you will shop at the village market, get to know local ingredients, then cook in a traditional earth-floored kitchen. We end the day eating together and talking about food's role in ceremonies, from offerings to megibung communal feasts.

Hosted by the local community in Ubud

What you'll experience

  • Shop for ingredients at the village market
  • Grind base genep from scratch
  • Cook five Balinese dishes
  • Bilingual recipe booklet

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Morning market and family kitchen

    07:30 village market, 09:00 arrive at the family home, cook until 12:30, then eat together.

What's included

  • All ingredients
  • Shared meal with the family
  • Return transport from the meeting point
  • Recipe booklet

Not included

  • Personal expenses, extra drinks and souvenirs
  • Tips for guides and hosts (optional)
  • Travel insurance

Before you go

Practical notes so your trip is comfortable and your hosts feel respected.

What to bring

  • Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting messy
  • Let us know about allergies or dietary restrictions when you book
  • Small-denomination cash for crafts or donations

Local etiquette

  • Take off your shoes when asked before entering the kitchen or house.
  • Do not step over or on canang offerings on paths and in front of homes.
  • Use your right hand to give and receive things.

Getting there

About 1–1.5 hours by road from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, depending on traffic through Denpasar.

Meeting point

Pasar Ubud, Jl. Raya Ubud, Gianyar

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Traveller reviews

4.9 out of 5 from 203 reviews

  • The best sate lilit I've ever had, and I helped make it.

    E

    Emily Carter

    United Kingdom · September 2026

  • Such a warm family. The kids joined in the kitchen.

    D

    Daniel Kim

    South Korea · September 2026

  • The explanation of offerings and ceremonial food was eye-opening.

    S

    Sari Wulandari

    Indonesia · September 2026

You can write a review from your Account once your trip is completed.

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