Walk the rice terraces of Jatiluwih

What the experience is

Jatiluwih is a village in the district of Penebel, in the regency of Tabanan, at about 700 metres above sea level. Its rice terraces, covering more than 600 hectares, are among the largest continuous stretches on the island, with Mount Batukaru behind them. They form part of the Catur Angga Batukaru component of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, which UNESCO listed in 2012 for the subak, the cooperative irrigation system of Bali. The experience is a walk through the fields on the farmers’ paths.

The walk

Marked routes of different lengths start from the road through the village. The shortest takes under an hour, and the longest crosses the protected core of the terraces in about three and a half hours. The paths run along the tops of the terrace walls and beside the irrigation channels, past small shrines where farmers leave offerings to the rice goddess, and through patches of coconut and bamboo. The village has also organised electric bicycle tours.

Look at the water. It enters at the top of the slope and is divided at each junction by a notched weir of wood or stone, which gives every field its agreed share. Those shares are decided at the subak temple. The whole landscape is a diagram of that agreement.

When to go

The terraces are worth seeing at any stage, flooded and reflecting the sky, bright green, or gold before the harvest. The drier months from about April to October give firmer paths and clearer views of the mountain. Go early in the morning, before cloud gathers on Batukaru and before the day visitors arrive.

Good to know

A fee is paid at the entrance to the village area, usually in cash; it has risen in recent years, and foreign visitors pay more than residents. Wear shoes with grip, since the paths are narrow and can be slippery, and take a hat. Stay on the paths and off the terrace walls, and ask before flying a drone. This is working farmland under pressure: in 2025 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee expressed concern about tourism-related development around Jatiluwih, and building rules and land-use disputes continue, so visitors can expect restrictions and change. There are simple restaurants along the road with views over the fields.

Getting there

Jatiluwih is reached by car from the south of the island by way of Tabanan and Penebel, or from the road to Bedugul by way of Baturiti. Allow about an hour and a half from Ubud or from the southern beaches. The royal water temple of Taman Ayun, at Mengwi, is a natural stop on the way.

Why OKYTO recommends it

The better-known terraces near Ubud are small and crowded. Jatiluwih has the scale, and it is farmed in earnest. A morning here, after reading how the subak works, changes the way the rest of the island looks.