3-Hour Wood Carving Master Class Ubud Bali

The carving studio in Lodtunduh, near Ubud

The class takes place in an open-sided Balinese pavilion studio on Jl. Raya Silungan in Lodtunduh, a quiet village in the Gianyar regency about fifteen minutes' drive south of central Ubud. The setting is part of the experience: low wooden worktables, racks of chisels, half-finished masks and relief panels, and a garden of palms and frangipani around the pavilion, so you work in fresh air rather than in a classroom.

Lodtunduh sits right next to Mas, the village that has been known for generations as the wood carving centre of Bali, and many families along this road still earn their living from the craft. If you are looking for a wood carving class in Ubud that feels authentic rather than staged, this is the right neighbourhood: you are learning where the carvers actually live and work.

Balinese wood carving: a craft passed down through families

Balinese carvers are known around the world for intricate, nuanced work, and carved wood decorates temples, family compounds, doors and roof beams almost everywhere on the island. The skill is traditionally inherited from one generation to the next, with children learning by watching and helping in the family workshop long before they are given their own tools.

During the class your master explains the philosophy behind the shapes you see across Bali: protective masks and guardian figures, animals from Balinese stories and the flowing leaf and flower patterns used on temple gates. Understanding why a motif is carved a certain way makes every temple visit afterwards more interesting, and it helps you choose a design for your own piece. Ask questions freely; the instructors enjoy sharing the stories behind the work.

The master class step by step

You begin by choosing a design and a block of wood. The instructor sketches the outline, then shows you how to hold the chisel, how hard to strike with the wooden mallet and how to follow the grain so the wood does not split. Most of the three hours is spent carving, with the master working beside you to correct angles and rescue tricky cuts, so even complete beginners finish with a piece they are proud of.

Halfway through there is a break with Balinese fried pineapple and fried banana drizzled with palm sugar, served with coffee, tea or water. At the end you receive a class certificate and take your carving with you. Classes start in the morning or early afternoon, and the small group size means you get real one-to-one attention throughout.

Getting to the studio and exploring Ubud afterwards

This option does not include transport, so you make your own way to the studio; it is an easy ride by taxi or ride-hailing app from Ubud, Sanur or the south of Bali, and the Google Maps code C7X4+JFP takes you straight to the door. Allow extra time in the late afternoon, when traffic around Ubud gets heavier.

The morning class leaves the afternoon free for Ubud itself: the art market, the royal palace, the rice terraces of Tegalalang or the Sacred Monkey Forest are all within a short drive. The afternoon class fits well after a morning of temple visits. Either way, a wood carving workshop is one of the best things to do in Ubud on a rainy day, because you are under cover the whole time.