Begin the day with an explorative walking tour or join a market tour cum cooking lesson for the best intro to the place.

Join an experienced guide from Keep Walking Tours (Tel: +62 361 973361) on a two- to three-hour walk through rice fields, local villages, and the countryside. You'll learn about the complex Subak irrigation system employed in the rice fields, and meet local craftsmen and artisans in their homes. Those who prefer wandering without a guide will find rice fields in Abangan (accessible from Jalan Raya Ubud). After 20 minutes of strolling, you can break for lunch at Sari Organic, a restaurant that uses organically-grown produce from its own gardens in their dishes (tel: +62 361 972087).

Market tours are given twice weekly by author, cook and long-time Ubud resident Janet de Neefe (phone +62 361 973282; info@casalunabali.com), who introduces local herbs and spices used both for cooking and for traditional remedies to travellers on her walks. After the tour, learn how to prepare Balinese dishes following recipes handed down from Janet's Balinese mother-in-law and other relatives. What you prepare makes up your lunch; don't worry if you aren't a natural — you can chase down your grub with plenty of rice wine.

If your tummy still has space, grab some babi guling (spit roasted suckling pig) at Ibu Oka (Jalan Suweta, opposite the Royal Palace). Highly recommended by food connoisseur Anthony Bourdain, countless travelers to Bali and even the locals, get some takeaway for a savory mid-afternoon if your stomach is still bursting from breakfast or lunch.

After lunch, visit Puri Saren Agung or the Ubud Royal Palace (corner of Jalan Suweta and Jalan Raya Ubud). Descendants of Ubud's last king still reside here, where building structures are decorated with intricate carvings and antique ornate furnishings. From the palace, you can stop at Pura Desa Ubud or the main town temple along Jalan Raya Ubud, or walk up Jalan Suweta to Pura Peseh, "the temple of origin", which is dedicated to Ubud's ancestors.

You're hungry by now, aren't you? Have some quality homemade desserts and a cup of coffee, brewed from daily fresh roasted beans, at Tutmak (Jalan Dewi Sita, phone +62 361 975754). Later you can have a meal of smoked duck at Arie's Warung next door (phone +62 361 977580), or barbecued spare ribs at Naughty Nuri's (Jalan Raya Sanggingan; phone +62 361 977547). Otherwise, chow down nasi campur (dishes of rice with mixed ingredients including chicken, egg, and vegetables) at Mangga Madu (Jalan Gunung Sari; phone +62 361 977334), or try the chicken with cashew nut rice at Dewa Warung (Jalan Goutama, off Jalan Dewi Sita).

Once done stuffing your face, catch a traditional Balinese dance performance at one of several venues, including the Ubud Royal Palace, the Ubud Water Palace (in Peliatan), or Pura Dalem Ubud (Jalan Raya Ubud). Performance times differ but usually commence from 7pm, and a ticket for each performance ranges between Rp50,000 to Rp150,000 ($8.25 to $24.80), depending on the length of the performance and the elaborateness of the dance.

Details such as location, price and type of dance are available at the Ubud Tourist Information Office (junction of Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Monkey Forest, diagonally opposite the Royal Palace).