When one thinks of Southeast Asian countries there is often a very strong likelihood of visiting gorgeously-manicured, lush, and cascading rice terraces.
The Jatiluwih rice terraces in Bali are among some of the most beautiful and are the largest in the area. The Jatiluwih rice terrace also often referred to as Jatiluwih Green land and is a chance to experience stunning mountainous views, tranquil surroundings whilst emerging yourself in a source of local culture and income that has been around for generations.
Despite this destination not being the most popular rice terraces in Bali (this is deemed to be Tegalalang rice terraces mainly for its proximity to Ubud and the temples), having fewer visitors delivers on a wonderful experience of meandering through these peaceful surrounds.
Apart from the overall gorgeousness of the island destination, this site has been awarded a ranking of UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape status, which means you have to see it!
The Bali rice terraces might not seem like a ‘real’ travel activity, but it’s really a great opportunity to support local cultural art and tradition that has been around for centuries.
Here you can also witness the specialized irrigation system that affords the lands the lush hues of jade, emerald, lime, and olive colour greens that you will see descending the rice terraces. Cities like Bali also never seems to disappoint when it comes to stunning photographic opportunities too!
I found exploring the Jatiluwih rice terraces a therapeutic relaxing experience that allowed me to effortless wander through the Bali rice fields, stopping and sitting at benches to just take in the incredible panoramic and be at peace with the land and myself whilst escaping the bustle of Bali city life.
There are actually a number of different walking paths, that you can take from the two entrances of Jatiluwih Bali. These paths are an easy walk and there is no set time limit as to how many hours you can spend on the rice terraces. Ubud may be the cultural hub of Bali, but because of this, the tranquility of the ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ moments are unfortunately lost.
Read the guide below to learn all you need to know about visiting these stunning rice terraces.
About Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Jatiluwih rice terraces are the largest rice terraces in Bali. The name Jatiluwih is said to mean ‘really good’ or ‘really beautiful’ in the Balinese language. It is composed of approximately 600 hectares of rice fields that mimic the impressive undulating inclines and topography of the Batukaru mountain range.
The Jatiluwih rice terraces are neatly located in the central coastal regency of Tabanan regency and quietly illustrates Bali’s outstanding picturesque rice fields perfectly at this heritage site.
One of the most important aspects of the Jatiluwih rice terraces is the Subak irrigation system. Subak is an organization owned by the farmers in Bali that specifically regulates water management or watering systems/irrigation of rice fields traditionally.
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The existence of Subak is a manifestation of the philosophy/concept of Tri Hita Karana. This particular water management system for rice plantation has been awarded by UNESCO a World Heritage Cultural Landscape.
The Jatiluwih village covers an area of 22.3 square kilometers, hosts 7 Subak with each Subak coordinated by one master water controller (Pekaseh).
The topography of Jatiluwih is: 70% Hilly, 20% Rolling , 10% Sloping, Soil type (yellow latosol), man made and natural irrigation type, tropical climate, 70-85% air humidity.
DISCLAIMER: Jatiluwih rice terraces UNESCO information and facts sourced from Jatiluwih.id. Click here to learn more about the Jatiluwih UNESCO status.
Location of Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Bali
The Jatiluwih rice fields are located in the Penebel district of the Tabanan Regency, this means that it’s not actually located in South Bali where most of the beaches, nightlife, and action. Its located much further to the North of Bali and West of Ubud. Ubud to Jatiluwih rice terraces can take up to an hour’s drive. Find the Balinese rice terraces Jatiluwih map here
Getting to Jatiluwih
When in Bali you have a few options to get to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. These will depend on your budget, the amount of time you have, or your driving skills.
OPTION 1: The first option is to visit Jatiluwih rice terraces with a private tour. I loved this idea and could combine visiting the best rice terraces in Bali with other cultural activities like visiting ancient Hindu temples, waterfalls, or even the monkey forest.
OPTION 2: The second option is to hire or rent a car and driver for the day or taxi services like Grab or GoJek, but getting back might be difficult. It would be a lot easier if you had a car and driver waiting for you. The car rental option with a driver is very common in Bali.
OPTION 3: The third option is to hire a motorbike and navigate to the Jatiluwih terrace yourself. This is only recommended for those who are familiar with driving in Indonesia and have a valid driver’s license to use in Indonesia.
WARNING: I never recommend using a motorcycle and driving yourself unless you have the correct driving license to do so and have driven a motorcycle in Indonesia or another population-dense, traffic manic Asian city before. The motorcycle skills needed to drive in Indonesia are insane. I strongly recommend you DON’T drive a motorcycle in Bali if you do not have the RELEVANT LICENSE, EXPERIENCE, AND TRAVEL INSURANCE. I’ve heard of and seen countless tourists being injured and dying due to motorcycle accidents. Also, note that hospital care may not be at the same level as your own home country so these are all factors to consider.
Check out travel insurance options here
The travel time from Bali main city is approximately 2 hours by car or motorbike. From Ubud to Jatiluwih rice fields is approximately 1 to 1 and a half hours.
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Jatiluwih rice terraces Entrance fees
The entrance fee for Jatiluwih is approximately IDR 40 000 per person and approximately IDR 5 000 for parking fees. These fees will need to be paid in cash, so best to have that prepared before arriving at Bali Jatiluwih rice terraces.
Best time to visit Jatiluwih rice terraces
The best time to visit UNESCO Jatiluwih is anytime between April and November in Indonesia is preferable as it is considered a dry season (not rainy, but not drought), so there are fewer likely chances of full days of rain.
Between February and April will probably be the most chance of lush and full rice terraces, whilst between June and July is when the farmers harvest so that’s also a great sight to see.
As for the best time of day to visit the Jatiluwih rice terrace, is probably early morning or later in the afternoon. The sun of Indonesia tends to be harsh and there is no real covering the area so make sure to load on the sunscreen and wear a hat or some sort of coverage if you are sensitive to the sun.
Looking to explore more than just the rice terrace Bali Jatiluwih? Temples are a must for any trip to Bali! READ: 10+ Must-see temples in Bali
Navigating the Jatiluwih rice terraces
Jatiluwih rice terraces Bali is wonderful because it is so massive, covering an expansive area of over 600 hectares. The Indonesia rice terraces offer a number of trail routes to explore that have easily marked signposts as laid out below:
You can choose between 5 different Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Walking Routes:
RED: This is the shortest route which takes about 1 hour.
YELLOW: This track takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
WHITE: The white path takes you further down into the rice paddies and gives you more lines of sight and views. The total time is approximately 2 hours.
GREEN: The green route one of the longer routes and involve a distance of approximately 6 km along the Bali Jatiluwih rice terraces. The walk takes about 2.5 to 3 hours again dependent on your walking speed and stops along the way
BLUE: This is the longest route on the Jatiluwih Bali UNESCO site, but will afford you the opportunity to see the most that this beautiful destination has to offer. Its approximately 7 kms and can take up to 4 hours to truly soak up as much of these incredible surrounds has to offer.
The rice field Jatiluwih Bali routes listed above are all walking paths, there is the option to use manual and electric bicycles, Jatiluwih rice paddy cycling is permitted on the Green and Blue routes.
Check out these great recommended cycling tours below:
Respecting the Rice Terraces
The rice terraces of Bali are not only a beauty to admire, but also serve a purpose. They are a place for growing rice and sustaining a community with income and food.
There have been a number of travellers and influencers who feel they have the right to veer off these paths and step into the rice paddies in Bali.
I’ve even shockingly seen a social media influencer video disgusting dive into the paddies, crushing the grass and grounds in a bid to create viral videos.
Unfortunately, as there is no strict policing in the rice fields of Bali, so there is no way of stopping these people from such acts unless you are there.
Please be mindful of these attractions and respect the surrounds and stick to the paths.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Opening Hours
The rice field Jatiluwih Bali site is open daily from 8:30 to 18:00
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Tours
Jatiluwih does not need a full day to visit, It can easily be combined as part of a day trip to other landmarks in Bali.
Although I have not tried every single one of these tours, the selection is based on the reviews and ratings given by travellers and their experiences with the company.
The Jatiluwih rice terrace tour options have endless combinations depending on your preferences. Here are some of my top picks of the Jatiluwih tours:
Bali UNESCO Sites: Private Guided Full-Day Tour
Jatiluwih Batukaru Mountain Nature’s Best Tour
Browse more tours at: GET YOUR GUIDE
What to pack when visiting Jatiluwih
Water: There are a few small shops around the entrance that you can purchase from, but within the rice terraces, there are no shops
Photography equipment: Be it your mobile phone, fancy camera, Go Pro, or Drone you need something to document these amazing surroundings
Comfortable shoes: Although most of the paths are paved, depending on how long you plan to spend out there, you may be on your feet for a while, and there may be a few small terraces climbs to get to the exit of the terraces- which is not the same point where you start.
Sunscreen: The climate lends itself to being hot majority of the time it being with no shade.
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Where to stay near Jatiluwih rice terraces
There are a few places to stay near Jatiluwih, I’m not sure if you would call them Jatiluwih hotels per se, some are villas and bungalows. There are also a number of Jatiluwih homestays.
Either way, They provide an absolutely breathtaking view over the rice fields. Jatiluwih Bali is far less populated than the areas like Kuta, Ubud, and Seminyak. If you are looking for 5-star hotels and resort accommodations then perhaps staying near the Ubud Bali rice terraces would be a more suitable option for you.
Below however you will find tranquil, secluded, and quaint accommodations in Jatiluwih UNESCO Bali rice terraces
D’WAN TEA MOUNTAINSIDE
BATUKARU COFFEE ESTATE VILLAS
KUBU D’UME HOMESTAY
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces FAQ
Travel Insurance
If anything, this should be a given for any trip you take! But be sure to keep a copy of your insurance details. If Indonesia is not your home country you need to be prepared for anything. All of these experiences have risks.
Check out World Nomads for amazing travel insurance options
Upon visiting, I truly believe Jatiluwih to be among the best rice terraces in the world. Has this Jatiluwih Rice terraces blog inspired you to visit? Have you been before or to Tegalalang Bali rice paddies?
I’d love to hear from you, comment below!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in the article have affiliate links, what this means is, if you click a link and make a purchase I may earn some money to buy a coffee (whoohoo!). Thanks for the support, I’d love to keep making this content freely available to all. As always opinions and thoughts remain my own.
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