How much is a licensed tour guide in Bali? With Sekar Bali Activity, a government-licensed guide costs IDR 600,000 in English, IDR 700,000 in Japanese, or IDR 750,000 in French — per booking, for 8 hours, not per person. Each extra hour is IDR 150,000 in any language. You can book only the guide — they meet you at your hotel or first stop, guide transport included — or add a separate private shuttle (car and driver, quoted on WhatsApp). Book a licensed guide — WhatsApp, no payment to inquire.
Key Takeaways
- Price per booking, not per person: English 600K · Japanese 700K · French 750K for 8 hours
- Extra hour: IDR 150,000, the same for every language
- Guide only, or add a shuttle: the guide meets you at your hotel or first stop; a separate car + driver is optional
- Licensed means the guide holds a Bali KTPP guide ID card. Ask to see it
- Need a car too? Add the same guide to our Full Day Ubud Tour at the same flat price
Price: licensed guide only (2026 IDR)
| Language | 8 hours (per booking) | Each extra hour |
|---|---|---|
| English | 600,000 | 150,000 |
| Japanese | 700,000 | 150,000 |
| French | 750,000 | 150,000 |
The price is for one guide and your whole group. Two guests or a family of five pay the same.
Worked examples:
- English guide, full 8-hour day around Ubud: IDR 600,000
- Japanese guide, 9-hour day: 700,000 + 1 × 150,000 = IDR 850,000
- French guide, 10-hour day: 750,000 + 2 × 150,000 = IDR 1,050,000
Not included: entrance tickets, meals, and tips. Transport is up to you — see the shuttle option below.
Guide only vs driver-guide vs tour + guide
Most listings for a "Bali guide" are really a car charter: a driver who speaks some English and also shows you around. That works for many trips. But the driver is not always a licensed guide, and the explanation at a temple is not the same as from someone trained and licensed to give it.
| Option | What you get | Best if |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed guide only — book here | Licensed guide, 8 hours, from IDR 600,000 per booking | You already have a car, a rented driver, or a villa driver |
| Licensed guide + our separate shuttle | Licensed guide, plus a private car and driver for the whole guided day (up to 6 guests), shuttle quoted on WhatsApp | You want your own route and need transport |
| Driver-guide charter (elsewhere) | Car + driver who speaks English | You want transport and light commentary only |
| Our tour + licensed guide add-on | Private car and driver, plus a licensed guide for the whole tour at the same flat price | You need a car and a proper guide in one booking |
On our tours, the guide add-on covers the full scheduled tour — the Full Day Ubud Tour (10 hours), the Half Day Ubud & Tanah Lot (about 6 hours), and the Umah Kuno Luwak Coffee visit. The IDR 150,000 hourly rate applies only if the day runs past the tour's normal length.
What "licensed" means in Bali
Bali tour guides (pramuwisata) are licensed by the provincial government. A licensed guide carries a KTPP (Kartu Tanda Pengenal Pramuwisata) — the Bali guide ID card — issued under Bali Provincial Regulation No. 5 of 2016 on tour guides. Many licensed guides also belong to HPI, the Indonesian tour guide association.
In 2025, Bali's governor issued a code of conduct for foreign visitors, Governor Circular No. 7 of 2025. Among the obligations it lists for visitors is being accompanied by a licensed tour guide when visiting tourist attractions. We are not a legal adviser, and how strictly this is checked varies by site — but a licensed guide removes the question entirely.
How to check your guide:
- Ask to see the KTPP card when you meet.
- Check the name on the card matches the name we sent you.
- Check the language on the booking matches the guide — one language per booking.
How booking works
- Pick the language — English, Japanese, or French.
- Pick the date and start time, and drop the pin for your hotel or first stop.
- Add extra hours if you already know the day will run past 8 hours. You can also extend on the day.
- Send the request. We confirm on WhatsApp — no payment to inquire.
Tell us your route in the notes: temples, the Ubud palace and art market, rice terraces, villages, or a custom day. Ideas for a route around Ubud: things to do near Ubud.
Japanese and French guides
Fewer licensed guides in Bali work in Japanese or French than in English, so send your date early. Language guides:
- Japanese-speaking guide in Bali — IDR 700,000 for 8 hours
- French-speaking guide in Bali — IDR 750,000 for 8 hours
Not sure you need one? Read is a tour guide worth it in Bali? and temples with a guide vs without.
Ready? Book a licensed guide in Bali — English, Japanese, or French, from IDR 600,000 per booking.