The most impressive and famous rice fields on the island of Bali

Bali, the island of the gods, known for its beaches and temples, but also for its famous tiered rice fields.

Staggered crops

The mountainous structure of the land makes rice cultivation not an easy task, but this is something that the Balinese solve with tiered rice fields, the result of cooperation between nature and man.

Some of the terraces have taken several centuries to build, but today they make up a green landscape worthy of the most beautiful of postcards.

The diet of Bali and Indonesia is based on rice. Indonesians eat 2 to 3 times a day with rice, which is why rice crops are very important to Indonesians. In Bali still many rice plantations are for family or village consumption.

On our trip through Bali, you will be able to observe many rice plantations, today I want to explain to you what the rice plantations are like in Bali, and the best stepped rice plantations to visit on your trip in Bali.

The Best Rice Terraces in Bali

The mountainous structure of the land makes it more difficult to plant rice, but the Balinese solved this by creating tiered rice fields.

The construction of some rice fields has taken several years, but today we can enjoy a beautiful landscape.

The system generally used is called «Subak», it consists of channels where water is transported from springs and is transported to the different rice fields, all working as a cooperative. We must remember that the cultivation of rice requires a lot of water, since the fields need to be always humid, semi flooded.

After approximately 210 days, the rice will be ready to be harvested. Then the land is prepared again for the next planting, so that per year you can sometimes have up to two harvests.

The Balinese are very spiritual, so also with the rice plantations, the Balinese have Dewi Sri, the Goddess of rice, to whom the peasants pay homage with the small temples in the middle of the plantations.

Jatiluwih rice fields

The rice fields of Jatiluwih, are my favorites, it is located one hour from the city of Denpasar or Kuta. We can see a landscape of rice terraces that end on the horizon. This place is so fascinating that it is even considered a World Heritage Site. In my opinion it is the best of the tiered rice paddies in Bali.

Tegalalang rice fields

The rice fields or Tegalalang rice terraces are without sweat one of the most famous in Bali, since they are near Ubud, a place chosen by most travelers in Bali.

The Tegalalang paddy fields are located between Tampaksiring and Ubud. Depending on the season or time of rice cultivation, the terraces will be of an intense green, golden color or mirrors of water with the first shoots, but it is always a good time to visit these rice fields and enjoy a walk among them.

Other Rice Paddies in Bali

The Rice Paddies mentioned above are the most famous, touristic and best prepared for photos, but in Bali you can find hundreds of rice fields. In Ubud, Tabanan and Canggu you will find several rice fields that you can see along the way.

The soul of Bali

It is in the rice terraces where you can see the true soul of Bali. Far from the beaches, the shops and the bustle of tourism is where the farmers focus on their hard work and the people are much more pleasant and uncorrupted. They are happy with what little they have and transmit that happiness to those who are lucky enough to visit them.

How to get to these rice terraces?

As I have said in several other articles, public transportation in Bali almost does not exist, so the ways to get to see these two fantastic rice fields are:

Motorcycle (scooter): It is the easiest way to travel in Bali, if you can get used to the traffic in Bali. You can rent a motorcycle (scooter), almost anywhere, generally hotels offer.

Private Excursion: It is one of the favorites for travelers in groups or couples, they can hire a day trip, which includes the rice fields of Bali.