TEGALALANG RICE TERRACE UBUD – The Complete Guide
The Tegalalang Rice Terrace in Ubud is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bali and can’t be missed on your Bali itinerary! Rice is the lifeblood of Bali, you could even say that rice and rice farming is Bali! It has been part of Balinese culture for at least two thousand years and is still a very important symbol of Bali. There are two most famous rice terraces in Bali, the UNESCO Heritage Jatiluwih and the beautiful terrace layered Tegalalang rice terraces. It is a very special and interesting visit to the famous rice terraces in Bali which are without a doubt the best rice fields in Ubud. In this blog post you will find all the things you need to know about the lush green Tegalalang rice terraces. From how to get there, the entrance fee, best time to visit the Tegalalang rice terraces and much more!
Book your tour to the Tegalalang rice terraces here
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General travel must haves for Bali
Before we dive into the things you have to know about Tegallalang rice fields, let’s check a few things to make your travels in Bali easy and safe.
Have you thought about how to get around in Bali? A scooter is the easiest way if you’re comfortable driving one yourself.
- Book your scooter or motorbike here to get around in Bali. This is the most convenient way to arrange your rental motorbike, especially because it gets delivered and picked up for free to your accommodation within Ubud, Canggu, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Denpasar, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Kerobokan, Jimbaran, Sanur. Requirements: 20 years old; international car (B) drivers license for scooters (or moto (A) license for motorcycles); copies of passport and drivers license.
Do you prefer a private driver for the day and the freedom to create your own itinerary?
Did you already book your accommodation?
Are you insured during your travels?
- Buy your travel insurance here. Safetywing not only includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability. But also covers all your medical expenses for hospitalisation.
History about rice production in Indonesia
Rice production inIndonesia is a very important part of the national economy and has been part of the Balinese culture for at least two thousand years. So before I continue to tell more about the Tegalalang rice terrace Ubud, I want to share a little bit of background and history about rice production in Indonesia.
Indonesia is the third-largest producer of rice in the world and everywhere you go in Indonesia, rice fields shape the landscape. Rice is sold at markets and is served in most local meals both as a savoury and a sweet food.
The rice cycle is a process which takes in total 5 months! Just before planting the new rice, the fields have to be fertilised which is done by flooding them with water and cows or machines plowing the land. The fields then look like reflecting mirrors and are ready for planting. This is done by hand over several days. The little seeds are reflecting in the silvery water and are ready to grow. This takes two months after planting the rice before they have grown taller into green rice and are ready to harvest. After harvesting, the stubble in the fields are burnt or flooded, so that the old rice stalks slowly decompose under the water and the ground is being prepared for the next rice.
What is Tegalalang rice terrace?
The rice terraces Tegalalang is a series of rice paddies located just outside of the centre of Ubud. These rice fields are famous for its terraced layout which is a traditional Balinese irrigation system known as Subak Irrigration. Located in a valley, the Tegalalang rice terraces offer extremely scenic lookouts over the rice fields and surrounding green landscape. It’s a very popular tourist attraction in Bali, Ubud, and a must-see when you’re in Bali.
The Tegallalang Rice Terraces are impressively cut out into walls of the valley with up to 10 tiered levels of rice paddies and cascading water throughout. You will see the local farmers doing their daily routine harvesting the rice and maintaining the valley which makes it very enjoyable and picturesque for visitors.
Where is Tegalalang rice terrace
The Tegalalang Rice Terraces are located in a small village in the popular rainforest region of Ubud in central Bali. This makes it easy to put a visit to the Tegalalang Rice Terrace on everyone’s Bali itinerary. You can combine a visit the the Tegalalang Rice Terraces with many other to go places in Ubud.
How to get to Tegalalang rice terrace Ubud
The Tegalalang rice terrace is a short 20-minute drive north of Ubud. The road is mostly straight and easy to reach if you have your own scooter or car.
You can easily park your scooter along the road, but there is also a big parking area close to the rice paddies Ubud where you can drop your vehicle for a small fee (around 10,000 IDR). There are multiple entry points at Tegalalang rice terrace down into the valley. You can find a set of stairs down to Tegalalang via one of the cafes on the hillside where you just follow the path further into the rice terraces.
If you’re not confident enough to drive a scooter or car yourself, you can get a taxi or even better, book one of the tours below that include a visit to the Tegallang rice terraces.
- Tegalalang Rice Fields, Tegenungan Waterfall & Elephant Cave
- Tegalalang, Penglipuran village, Tirta Empul purification and Tibumana waterfall
- Tegalalang rice fields, Bali swing, Tukad Cepung waterfall
- Tegalalang, Tegenungan waterfall, Monkey Forest, Ubud market
Best tours in Ubud
If you want to explore the best of Ubud including it’s amazing waterfalls, then it is highly recommended to book a tour. During most of these tours you will combine a few locations on one day so you can see the diversity that Bali has to offer. Because of Bali’s popularity it is highly recommended to book your tours in advance as it is likely that tours sell out. So don’t wait with booking until you get to Bali. Choose your favorite tours here and secure your booking! All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
- Countryside cycling tour from Ubud
- Hot air balloon flight including floating breakfast in Ubud
- Kanto Lampo waterfall including Monkey forest Ubud, Tanah Lot and more. This 10-hour trip packs a lot in, from visiting the sacred Monkey Forest, temples, a waterfall, and the scenic sunset views of Tanah Lot Temple.
- Tirta Empel, Penglipuran village, Tibumana waterfall and Tegallalang rice terrace
- Couple Spa treatment with Sparkling Wine in Ubud
- One day wellness retreat with massage, yoga class and lunch in Ubud
- Ubud jungle Spa experience with forest swing
- Customized Bali tour. Create your own Bali itinerary and have your private driver for 10-11 hours. Enjoy unlimited mileage and go to all the best waterfalls of Bali you wish to visit.
- Ubud waterfalls tour. Visit some of the best waterfalls in and around Ubud including Tukad Cepung, Tegenungan and Tibumana waterfall.
- ATV Quad Bike & White Water Rafting tour in Ubud
- White Water Rafting and Jungle Buggies tour in Ubud
- Ubud rice terraces, temples and Kintamani volcano tour
- Mount Batur hike and white water rafting tour in Ubud
- Ubud and Canggu tour; visit Tegenungan waterfall, Tegallalang rice fields and watch sunset at Canggu beach
Entrance fee Tegalalang rice terrace
The entrance fee for the Tegalalang rice terrace is a donation fee. A local man resides in a small hut that sits on top of Tegalalang Rice Terrace will also approach you and ask for a donation for walking around on his land. Give him what you can miss, usually around 20.000 IDR is okay.
If you want to make photos with sunrise in the rice fields, you have to walk all the way to the way to the furthest valley. There you have to ask the elderly local landowner (Wayan) to open the fence and pay him 50,000 IDR. To stop people from walking through the rice terraces, there are now makeshift fences on most of the rice terraces. However, if you find Wayan and pay him the 50,000 IDR, he will move the fence so you can take photos in the terraces.
Best time to visit Tegalalang rice terrace Ubud
Sunrise! Always sunrise. It’s also important that you realize that the terraces will look different during each season. You will have the best circumstances just before the rice is harvested, which is usually around March-early April and September-October. But if you want to be sure that the Tegalalang rice terraces are green, have a look at instagram on the location stories or ask a fellow traveler in Ubud if it’s worth it to go.
When the rice has just been harvested, the Tegalalang rice terraces are mud pools. That takes away the charm of visiting one of the most beautiful spot on Bali. So know when to visit!
What not to miss at the Tegalalang rice terrace
There are several things you can’t miss when visiting the Tegalalang rice terraces.
- The “Love Bali” sign seat at the start of the rice fields. This swing is a famous Instagram spot and makes a perfect photo opportunity with the rice fields in the background.
- The big Bali swing. A few tree swings are strung around the treetops throughout Tegalalang Rice Terrace. So if you feel like you’re into swinging over the rice fields, you can’t miss this thrilling experience. The price to use the swing is 250,000 IDR which I think is quite expensive for what it is. But it is a once in a lifetime experience for some and a perfect photo opportunity.
- Visit the coffee plantation at the Tegalalang rice terraces. Here you’ll see the most expensive coffee in the world, called Luwak Coffee. This coffee is actually made from the feces of the civet cat. An animal that eats the coffee bean and digests it in its stomach. In the morning, the coffee is still intact in the animal’s feces and collected to be processed to make the coffee. Enjoy this unique coffee in front of the rice terrace view before or after your visit to the rice terraces.
The Bali Swing and Luwak coffee beans at the coffee plantation
Tips for your visit to Tegalalang rice terrace Ubud
- The best photo spots at Tegalalang rice terrace. For the best photo’s at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces you have to arrive early. There are a few areas to explore, but the best spot for photo’s, especially with sunrise, is the furthest valley. From the start point, you’ll have to first walk all the way down the stairs into the bottom of the valley. Then follow the stairs up the other side of the valley and around the corner you will find the beautiful photo spot of the Tegalalang rice fields. The way is clearly signposted so it is easy to navigate around the Ubud rice fields by following the signs and concrete path. When you arrive around sunrise on a clear day at this spot, you’ll see the magnificent sun rays beaming through the palm trees
- Bring water and snacks to stay hydrated.
- Bring small money for the donations.
- Be respectful and don’t walk through the rice fields in Ubud.
Things to do around Tegalalang rice terrace
- Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
- Walk along the Campuhan Ridgewalk with views on the beautiful green valley
- Do a purification at Tirta Empul Temple
- Refresh at the Tegenungan waterfall
- Go water rafting
- Explore the Elephant cave
- Visit the other Ubud waterfalls
Best places to stay in Ubud
If you plan on staying in Ubud then there are plenty of jungle resorts and private villa’s to choose from. We have stayed at some amazing hotels, villa’s and resorts in Ubud, so hereby our recommendations.
Super Luxury hotels in Ubud
Book here your stay at Four Seasons Sayan Ubud
Located in the lush valley of Sayan with views on the Ayung river, Four Seasons Ubud offers her guests an extraordinary experience with top class service. The private villas with pool are very spacious, luxury and besides that the resort offers an outdoor pool, four dining options and a gym.
Book here your stay at COMO Shambala Ubud
COMO Shambala is a true wellness sanctuary in the jungle of Ubud. The holistic, Asian-inspired body treatments which can include your stay at COMO Shambala are specifically designed to rejuvenate and restore the body. The private villa’s at COMO Shambala are incredibly big with each their own private pool and butler.
Book here your stay at Capella Ubud
If you love being close to nature with all luxury comforts, then glamping at Capella Ubud is the experience for you. The tented accommodation with salt water pools amidst Ubud’s lush greenery is some of the most unique experiences in Ubud.
Mid Luxury hotels in Ubud
Book here your stay at Kamandalu
Kamandalu shows the essence of a real-life Balinese village. The authentic villa’s and style of the 5 star resort really gives you the feeling that you’re in Bali. With many awesome experiences inside the resort such as the jungle swing, boat lunch and romantic dinner, you almost don’t have to leave the resort.
Book here your stay at Alila Ubud
Alila Ubud is a fantastic getaway for the whole family with an incredible infinity pool overlooking the lush valley. The hotel offers rooms and private villa’s, with and without pool. All rooms have views on the green surroundings. With a Spa, great restaurant and plenty of activities, you can enjoy your time at Alila Ubud all day long!
Book here your stay at COMO Uma Ubud
COMO Uma Ubud is a bit more affordable than COMO Shambala but still offers the hospitality and quality of the COMO brand. With beautiful villa’s with views on the jungle but still close to the centre in Ubud you can have best of both worlds at COMO Uma Ubud.
More Bali travel guides
We hope you enjoyed reading this complete guide about the Tegalalang rice terraces.
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Hi Ilse, amazing pictures. We enjoy your info about Tegalalang Rice Terrace in Ubud.