Photo: Philip Nalangan (CC BY 4.0)
Nature · Bali
The rice terraces of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih
A walk through stepped rice fields, early, before the crowds. We take you to Tegallalang near Ubud and to Jatiluwih, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ubud · Bali
The experience
The green of Bali's terraces stretches out in an order that says much about the island's calm spirit. The terraces are more than a view: they are the work of subak, an irrigation system begun in the 9th century and run by farmers' associations, which carries water from spring temples down to every field.
The Tegallalang terraces, about 10 km north of Ubud, are the best known and the closest. We suggest arriving soon after dawn, when the light is soft and the paths are empty, walking down between the fields on the earth steps and leaving before the midday heat.
Jatiluwih: World Heritage
At 700 m in Tabanan Regency, below Mount Batukaru, lie the terraces of Jatiluwih. They are part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System, inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2012. The terraces here are wider and quieter, and the drive is part of the pleasure.
We arrange a private driver and a guide who explains subak and the rituals of the rice year. We can add a quiet lunch overlooking the fields, or a stop at the lake temple of Beratan on the way.
Bali
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Wellness
Balinese spa and traditional massage
End the day with a treatment built on traditional techniques and natural oils and spices. We book it at one of the island's best spas, or in your own villa.
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Sea and islands
A day on the island of Nusa Penida
Cross to a nearby island of untouched cliffs and turquoise coves. Its waters are among the few places in Bali where manta rays can be seen all year.
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Culture and heritage
Sunset and the Kecak dance at Uluwatu
A temple on the edge of a 70 m cliff and a chorus of men telling the Ramayana as the sun goes down: one of Bali's finest evenings.
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