Jatiluwih: the UNESCO rice terraces
Vast, rolling rice terraces on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, wider and quieter than the famous ones near Ubud.
- Area
- West
- Start from
- Ubud or Canggu
- Distance
- about 1.5–2 hours' drive
- Time needed
- half a day – 1 day
- Best season
- All year; greenest in the growing season
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Transport
- Car or scooter
- Tickets & rules
- Entry ticket for the terrace area
Why go
Jatiluwih is the largest rice-terrace landscape in Bali, a sweep of terraces covering the lower slopes of Mount Batukaru. Where Tegallalang feels like a dramatic valley, Jatiluwih feels like a whole countryside, with walking trails that loop through the fields for hours.
Because of its scale, it rarely feels crowded once you leave the main viewpoint. You'll walk past farmers working, ducks foraging in the flooded fields and small shrines dedicated to the rice goddess.
On a clear day, the forested volcano rises behind the terraces, and the light in the late afternoon is magical.
The story
Jatiluwih is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy', inscribed in 2012.
Tri Hita Karana is a Balinese philosophy of harmony between people and the gods, between people and each other, and between people and nature. The subak system puts it into practice: temples, farmers and water working together.
Pura Luhur Batukaru, the temple nearby, is one of the island's directional temples, guarding the west, and it feels very different from coastal temples, wrapped in dense, wet forest.
Getting there
Drive north from Tabanan through the hills. The road is narrow in places but paved. Combine Jatiluwih with Pura Luhur Batukaru, a forest temple on the slopes of the volcano.
A suggested plan
- MorningDrive up, buy the entry ticket and pick one of the marked walking loops.
- MiddayLunch at a café overlooking the terraces; try the local red rice.
- AfternoonVisit Pura Luhur Batukaru, then drive back via Tabanan.
Where to stay
Day trip, or stay at a homestay or eco-lodge in the hills for cool nights.
Good to know
- Walking loops of different lengths are marked; even the short one is worth it.
- Red rice grown here is a local speciality.
- Stay on the paths; the terrace walls are fragile.
- Afternoon rain is common in the wet season.