The Bali rice paddies They fill the island with an emerald green color, as well as being one of the main attractions for the thousands of tourists who visit the island every year. In Balinese cuisine, most of their dishes are accompanied by rice, such as their delicious nasi goreng, so it is the predominant crop of the island that is also one of the objects used in offerings to the gods.
Many of its plantations are located on mountain slopes, forming beautiful terraced rice terraces, which become one of the most beautiful postcards of Bali, as well as one of the most characteristic.
The irrigation system is very old but functional, in which each terrace is filled with the right amount of water and then fill those below. The farmers plant rice three times a year and Bali rice paddies They reach their maximum splendor some time before harvesting.
During our trip to Indonesia in 26 days for free we toured some of its most famous rice paddies, although it has been in this last one month trip, in which we have stayed in this Ubud villa, that we have not been able to enjoy them with more tranquility and With your best colors. Based on our experience we have made a list of what we think, are the 5 best rice paddies in Bali. We start!
1. Tegalallang
Located 15 kilometers from Ubud, Tegalallang rice plantations are the most famous and one of the best rice paddies in Bali. They are located next to the main road and if you go by motorcycle or car from Ubud, we recommend parking at the public parking lot that is at the beginning of the rice fields, in which the price is Rs 5000 (30 cents) all day, price It is repeated in most tourist places of Bali. After leaving the parking lot and paying the entrance to the rice paddies (10000 rupees), it is best to walk the part of the road that goes to the plantations until reaching the end, where you can stop at the different viewpoints, some on terraces of restaurants and cafes, which you can also take advantage to enjoy a refreshing young coconut With the best views.
Tegallalang rice paddies
Right in the middle of the road there is an access to go down to the Tegalallang rice paddies and be able to walk among the rice terraces in exchange for a small donation to the farmers who care for and maintain the place. The route of ups and downs between rice paddies is approximately one kilometer and is beautiful, although if it rains or has rained in the last hours, the path gets muddy and you have to go with a little more care.
During the route you have to avoid stepping on the rice fields and passing only through the marked areas. And of course, to finish the tour we recommend having a good cold coconut in a warung overlooking the rice paddies, if you have not done it along the route through the viewpoints.
The disadvantage of Tegalallang, with respect to other rice fields is its ease of access, as many tourists visit it throughout the day, so a good option is to go first thing in the morning and thus avoid meeting the organized groups.
Tegallalang rice terraces
2. Jatiluwih rice paddies
Jatiluwih rice paddies, located in the Tabanan region just under 2 hours drive from Ubud, were declared Unesco Heritage and are considered for many as the best rice paddies in Bali. They have the advantage of being very extensive and having more difficult access than those of Tegallang, you can enjoy the experience with much more peace of mind.
The entrance price to these rice paddies is Rs 40,000 (less than 3 euros) and you can park directly on the road that borders them, or in the parking lot that is enabled.
To reach all these rice fields you can rent a motorcycle, car or a car service with driver in which you decide the itinerary and the places you want to visit.
Jatiluwih rice terraces
At the entrance to the rice fields you will see a small map with the different hiking and cycling routes. All are perfectly signposted and last between 1 and 4 hours. Undoubtedly, one of the best things to do in Bali is walking through rice terraces and Jatiluwih is the perfect place to do it and enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Island of the Gods.
After finishing the route we recommend having a drink or eating in one of the many restaurants overlooking the rice fields, to end the experience in the best way.
A good one-day option is to combine the rice terraces with a visit to the spectacular Batukaru temple, they are very close and the road that separates them is incredibly spectacular, full of rice paddies and vegetation.
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3. Gunung Kawi, one of the best rice paddies in Bali
Located around Gunung Kawi, one of the essential Bali temples, these plantations are one of the Bali's most beautiful rice terraces.
A half hour drive from Ubud and very close to another of the most important temples on the island, Tirta Empul, this is another of the rice fields that you can not miss on the Island of the Gods.
To see them you can leave the car in the parking lot of Gungung Kawi and buy the ticket (10000 rupees) from the temple at the entrance, at the same time that you wear the sarong as a sign of respect.
Once you have crossed the entrance door you have to go down some steep stairs and before reaching the riverbed you will see perfectly maintained rice terraces on the right sides. If you have a while, we recommend you to make a route walking through the rice fields that are found to a small waterfall and some sanctuaries carved in the rock. This is one of the least visited areas of Gunung Kawi, but one of the most incredible and beautiful.
To end the visit nothing better than crossing the Pakerisan River by its photogenic bridge and enjoy the impressive Gunung Kawi temple.
Gunung Kawi, one of the best rice paddies in Bali
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4. Rice terraces around Ubud
If you are staying in Ubud, our favorite location, you don't have to go far to see some of the best rice terraces in Bali. Among the routes you can choose around Ubud to see rice paddies, our first option would be the Sabak Juwuk Manus Trail. This route starts at the entrance of Jl. Kageng Street from Jl. Raya Ubud Street, next to the Starbucks. This street is characterized by its souvenir shops and the ads on the cement floor of companies, hotels, restaurants or people who have paid to have their "memory" on the walk
The walking tour is between 2 and 3 hours, making some stop at one of its beautiful restaurants of healthy food, where you can enjoy the incredible views between rice paddies. It is advisable, especially on hot days, to go first thing in the morning to avoid high temperatures, in addition to the people who usually do these routes.
The first part of this route between rice fields runs through a forest, where after crossing it you will reach a point where you will have to cross a river and climb up to the rice fields. This second part of the route that ends in Ubud, is for us the most beautiful, since you are walking surrounded by rice fields, meditation and yoga centers and charming cafes and restaurants such as the Sari Organik.
Sabak Juwuk Manus Trail
Another of the routes between rice paddies that you cannot miss in Ubud is the Campuhan Ridge Walk that ends in an area full of rice terraces. This tour known as the Palm Tree Route, start at the entrance to the IBAH Hotel from Jl. Raya Ubud Street. After going down a steep slope you will see the beautiful Gunung Lebah temple and you will cross the river to go up to the high zone along a half-paved road that will take you to a series of beautiful lonely palm trees.
We recommend finishing this route in the beautiful Karsa Cafe, overlooking the rice paddies, where you can also take one of the best massages in Bali.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
In addition to these routes there are many areas around Ubud to see rice paddies, without more, in the villa that we rented with Airbnb in Ubud we had magnificent views of rice paddies, so this is also an aspect to consider when looking for accommodation if rice terraces in Bali They are one of your preferences.
Rice paddies around our villa in Ubud
5. Tirta Gangga
The water palace of Tirta Gangga, surrounded by extensive rice paddies, is one of the essential places to visit in Bali, as well as one of the places you cannot miss on the island.
The car route that goes from Tirta Gangga to the Lempuyang temple, located more than 1000 meters above the sea, offers natural viewpoints to large rice plantations, which are another of the great reasons to make these visits.
This area, near the active volcano Agung, is the least visited of this list of the best rice paddies in Bali, so it is the least altered by tourism and one of the most recommended.
As an extra, we advise you to stop at one of the warungs overlooking the rice paddies, sit down, order a coffee and chop some fried bananas while enjoying one of the best experiences in Bali.
Rice terraces near Tirta Gangga
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the best rice paddies in Bali, add yours in the comments.
