Every year millions of travellers from all over the world come to Bali to relax on the beautiful beaches, taste the delicious cuisine, and of course to admire the miraculous views. Bali is filled with stunning views, but some of the most impressive views must be those beautiful green and lush rice fields views. The endless rice fields with volcanoes towering in the distance are a stunning and unique sight, and while rice fields can be found everywhere in Bali, some locations are just that tat bit more special then others. From the Tegalalang Rice Terrace to the beautiful rice fields of Sidemen, every location is different, offering a new and spectacular view. Go hiking through the rice fields, get up early to admire the sun rise, or perhaps just have breakfast with a view, here are our tips on visiting the most beautiful rice fields in Bali!
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The Most Beautiful Rice Fields in Bali
Sidemen
In the East of Bali you will find the perfect destination for those who are seeking to escape the crowds while admiring some of Bali’s most beautiful rice field views: Sidemen. Known for its impeccable rice field and volcano views, this destination is a true oasis of green. While Sidemen can easily be visited on a day trip, you might want to consider staying here for a couple of days if you have the time in your itinerary. Go white water rafting, hike through the rice fields, visit the local morning market or perhaps take a cooking class, Sidemen has so much to offer. For those who prefer to just relax, don’t worry, Sidemen is filled with stunning hotels (both luxury and budget) some even offering infinity pools overlooking the rice fields, the perfect place to unwind for a day or two before heading back on the road to explore the rest of Bali!
Quick tips for visiting Sidemen’s Rice Fields:
- Location – Sidemen is located roughly 30km East from Ubud, check the exact location here.
- Things to do nearby Sidemen – Combine your stay in Sidemen with visiting the Tukad Cepung Waterfall, a stunning waterfall.
- Top tip – The rice fields of Sidemen are stunning, but also incredibly large, hire a local guide (can often be arranged through your accommodation) to not only explore the rice fields, but also to learn more about Bali’s rice fields.
Tegalalang Rice Terrace
Half an hour North of Ubud you will find one of Bali’s most popular rice terrace: the Tegalalang Rice Terrace. This rice terrace is one of those places that is on everyone’s bucket list, and rightfully so. Wandering through the rice fields at the Tegalalang Rice Terrace you will simply find stunning views no matter which corner you turn, or which way you look, it is a sight like no other. Small paths built by the farmers who own the land will take you up and down the rice fields, offering a brand new view every 100m or so. After you are done exploring the rice fields you can enjoy a meal or a drink at one of the many cafes overlooking the rice fields, the perfect way to enjoy those views just a bit longer before continuing your day of exploring!
Quick tips for visiting the Tegalalang Rice Terrace:
- Location – The Tegalalang Rice Terrace are located roughly half an hour North of Ubud, find the exact location on the map.
- Things to do nearby the Tegalalang Rice Terrace – Combine your visit to the Tegalalang Rice Terrace with a visit to Pura Tirta Empul, Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu or Pura Gunung Kawi, some of the most beautiful temples in Bali!
- Top tip – The Tegalalang Rice Terrace are one of Ubud’s most popular sights, go as early as possible to beat the crowds!
Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
If you are planning on visiting the North of Bali, then be sure to stop at the beautiful Jatiluwih Rice Terrace on your way up North. The Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and when visiting it you will understand why. At the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace you will be able to admire rice fields as far as the eye can see, with a total area covering over 600 hectares. Walk through the rice fields, admire the sun set, or grab lunch with a view, there is something to do for everyone at the rice fields here! The Jatiluwih Rice Terrace are still one of the lesser explored rice fields in Bali, mainly due to it being located quite far away from the main touristic destinations such as Ubud and Seminyak. However, if you are venturing up North, or have some time left in your schedule then it might definitely be worth adding to your itinerary!
Quick tips for visiting the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace:
- Location – The Jatiluwih Rice Terrace are situated a rough 40km Northeast from Ubud, it will take an hour to an hour and a half to get here depending on traffic. You can find the exact location of the rice terrace on the map here.
- Things to do nearby the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace – After having admired a magical sunrise at the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace head over to the beautiful Leke Leke Waterfall or the powerful Nungnung Waterfall.
- Top tip – These rice fields are located roughly an hour and a half from Ubud, make the most of your day by turning it into a day trip! Visit the waterfalls mentioned above, or venture further North and explore sights such as the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple!
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Ubud’s Rice Fields
The reality is that rice fields can be found everywhere in Bali, and if you don’t want to or simply don’t have the time to, you don’t have the venture far out of the towns to admire the rice fields. Around the centre of Ubud you will find plenty of stunning rice field walks and views, they might just be a little bit hidden. These places are perfect to go for a sunrise walk, enjoy the peace and tranquility of Ubud, away from the crowds that you’ll find in Ubud’s centre. These rice field walks can easily be combined with plenty of the other amazing things to do in Ubud, short walks that can fit into anyone’s itinerary. Read more below about the most beautiful rice fields walks and views in Ubud.
Where to find Ubud’s most beautiful rice fields
- Penestanan Rice Field Walk – The Penestanan rice field walk is located just outside of Ubud, and at this moment is still considered to be one of Ubud’s hidden gems. No cafes, no crowds, just stunning rice fields as far as the eye can see!
- Sari Organik Walk – The Sari Organik walk is located slightly more central in Ubud, hidden behind the buildings of Ubud’s main street. This peaceful walk is the perfect escape from Ubud’s crowds, and the walk itself is filled with cafes that overlook the stunning rice fields. The Sari Organik Walk is a great place to grab some breakfast or lunch with a view.
- Campuhan Ridge Walk – And last, but definitely not least, is the Campuhan Ridge Walk. While this walk itself is incredibly beautiful, it actually doesn’t have any rice field views until you reach the end of the walk. However, as this is one of Ubud’s most beautiful, and popular, walks we believed it deserved a spot on this list!
Canggu’s Rice Fields
And last, but definitely not least, are the rice fields of Canggu. Canggu, just like Ubud, is surrounded by rice fields and while they might not be within walking distance, the rice fields of Canggu can easily be explored by going on a short scooter ride! The rice fields are truly everywhere, and if you are lucky you might even have accommodation overlooking the rice fields. If you are keen on going exploring around Canggu, and are looking for the best rice field views, then we definitely recommend checking out these places:
These 3 streets are located relatively close to Canggu, and can all easily be explored within one morning or afternoon. If you have a bit of time left in your Canggu itinerary combine exploring the rice fields with exploring some of Canggu’s most beautiful beaches for even more incredible views.
Tips for visiting Bali’s Rice Fields
Best time to visit
While the rice fields are beautiful no matter what time of the day you will visit them, we’ll always recommend to go as early as possible, preferably around sunrise. Temperatures in Bali rise quickly during the day, and with little to no shade at many rice terraces exploring the rice fields can get quite hot and sweaty. Another benefit of exploring the rice fields early in the day is that you not only visit the rice fields during golden hour, the best time of the morning to shoot photos, but you will also avoid the crowds. This last reason is why we love waking up early in Bali, and how we have been able to manage getting photos without any other people in it!
What to wear
Now, you might be wondering what to wear when exploring the rice fields, and don’t worry, you don’t need to wear anything specific to explore the rice fields. Here are some general recommendations on what to wear:
- Clothing – The dress code for visiting the rice fields is the same as the rest of Bali. We would personally recommend to stick to clothing that is light and breezy, especially if you are planning on exploring the rice fields in the heat of the day. For some more inspiration on what to pack and what to wear check out our full Bali packing list.
- Footwear – When exploring the rice fields you will want to leave your heels at home. Especially during the rain season the rice fields can get extremely slippery, and by the off chance your food slides into the mud you will want to wear footwear that doesn’t come off easily. We would recommend wearing sneakers, but perhaps not white or brand new ones as it is easy to get them dirty. Another good option would be to wear sandals with a back strap that can be easily cleaned, like these Teva Sandals. Just be aware that there can be snakes hiding in the rice fields, something you will want to be extra cautious about when wearing open shoes.
- Accessories – Lastly, be sure to bring a hat and sunglasses to the rice fields. When the sun is beaming in your eye a hat and sunglasses will definitely be needed, and as an added bonus they can make for a great accessory when taking photos!
What to bring
Besides a hat and sunglasses, there are another couple of things that you might want to put on your packing list if you are planning on exploring the rice fields. These are the items we never leave home without in Bali, especially when exploring those beautiful rice fields:
- Sunscreen – No matter where you go in Bali, bring and wear sunscreen, always. The last thing you would want is to get a bad sunburn that ruins your trip.
- Mosquito repellent – Be wary of the mosquitoes in Bali, especially during rain season. The rice fields in general are filled with them, and not only can the mosquito bites be extremely itchy and irritating, there have also been cases of people contracting dengue fever in Bali.
- Water bottle – Bring a reusable water bottle to the rice fields to stay hydrated. It can get extremely hot and sweaty, especially when hiking up and down the rice terraces.
- Camera – Don’t forget to charge your batteries and to pack your camera. The rice fields in Bali are some of the most beautiful we have seen in Asia, something you will definitely want a photo of!
- Poncho or rain coat – If you are visiting Bali during the rain season you might want to pack a rain coat or poncho. The weather during the rain season changes frequently, and tropical rain can leave you completely soaked within minutes, if not seconds.
- Small change – And lastly, pack some small change, notes of 10,000 IDR or smaller. We will talk a bit more why in the next section.
Entry Fees & Donations
Some of the rice fields mentioned above will either require an entrance fee, or a small donation to enter. At some of the rice fields you will find donations boxes where you can leave a small donation to the owner of the rice fields. Some donations are voluntary, however, when visiting more popular rice fields like the Tegalalang Rice Terraces you will find booths where donations are considered mandatory, it is more like an entry fee, to enter specific sections of the rice fields.
The rice fields at the Tegalalang Rice Terrace are not owned by one specific farmer and are rather a collection of many pieces of land owned by many farmers. For that reason there is no one entry fee or one donation to enter all the rice fields. You will find different sections with each having a donation box, and the further you will go into the rice fields, the more donations you will be required to make. The standard donation is around 10,000 IDR (±0.70 USD), and as they often will not have change we recommend bringing multiple small bills. So while the donations might not be voluntary at every rice field, we personally do believe it is a fair price to pay, especially as the farmers build bridges, walkways and run the risk of their crops being harmed by the large amount of tourists walking through the fields. So the total price of the entry fee at these rice terraces depends on how long and how much of the rice terraces you are planning on exploring.
On top of the regular entry fees and donations there is also the possibility of having to pay a parking fee which can range from 2,000 to 10,000 IDR, another great reason to bring some small change.
Be respectful
And last, but definitely not least, be respectful. When visiting the rice fields in Bali be sure to leave nothing but footprints. The rice fields that you visit are not just build for tourists and travellers to come and take photos, they are crops and a mean of income to many people living on the island. If you are unsure about exploring the rice fields on your own, especially in less touristic areas like Sidemen, consider hiring a local guide instead who will lead you through the rice fields. This way will you not only be supporting the local economy, but you will also have the chance to learn more about the process and the history of Bali’s beautiful rice fields.
And there you have it, everything you need to know about visiting Bali’s most beautiful rice fields. How about you, have you been to Bali before? Any rice fields that should be on this list? Be sure to share it with us in the comment section down below! Before you leave, be sure to check out some of our other articles filled with activities and sights in Bali that deserve a spot on your itinerary:
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