Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are some of the most scenic and expansive rice terraces in Bali. They are also part of Bali’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for its traditional subak irrigation system. Set in the foothills of the towering Mount Batukaru, Bali’s second most prominent peak, Jatiluwih is one of our favorite places to visit on the island and it is the perfect place to escape the crowds found at some of Bali’s other popular destinations and enjoy some serene and peaceful natural beauty. The are several hiking trails to choose from to explore the rice terraces, so to help you plan your visit and get the most out of your time here, we put together this Visiting and Hiking Guide for Bali’s Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.
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You might also be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces: Location & Map
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are located in central Bali’s Tabanan regency (link to Google Maps)
How to get to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Drive times can be highly variable depending on the traffic conditions.
Distance from Ubud: 40 km // Average Drive Time: 1h15 -1h30 min
Distance from Kuta: 55 km // Average Drive Time: 1h40 – 2h
Distance from Canggu: 45 km // Average Drive Time: 1h25 – 1h45
Distance from Sanur: 30 km // Average Drive Time: 1h40 – 2h
Distance from Sidemen: 70 km // Average Drive Time 2h15-2h30
In our opinion, the three best transport options to reach the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are: renting a scooter (moped), joining a group tour that hits several nearby attractions within a day or a half-day, or hiring a car and driver (which really isn’t as expensive as it sounds).
You can also use Bali ride-hailing apps such as Gojek or Grab, and make use of local taxis, but these options will typically cost more, especially if you plan on visiting several sites and attractions on the same day. Also, Gojek or Grab are not authorized to pick up people in certain locations where local taxi unions limit their services, including Canggu, Sanur, and Ubud. For more information on getting around the island and the different available options, check out our guide on How to Best Get Around Bali.
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Getting to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces by Scooter: Once you get to Bali, you’ll quickly realize that scooter rental operators are everywhere. Although most street-side vendors will regularly be the cheapest option, they come short in several other aspects compared with more reliable and established vendors. For instance, most won’t offer roadside assistance or insurance that covers theft, nor do they regularly sanitize the helmets or have their scooters undergo regular maintenance. For this reason, we highly recommend using Bikago for your scooter rentals. Renting from them might be slightly more expensive (but still can be rented for as low as 12-15 US$/€ per day) but you get great peace of mind as among many other perks, all scooters undergo extensive quality checks.
What you get with your Bikago rental:
-Helmets
-Full tank of petrol and unlimited mileage
-Free Delivery and Collection at your Hotel
-24/7 Roadside Assistance and First Aid Medical Kit
-Charging Mobile Phone Holder
By Car and Driver hire: Hiring a car and driver to explore Bali can be a practical and cost-efficient way to experience a full day of sightseeing. Although this option is more expensive than renting a scooter (typically 40-60 US$/€ per day), you don’t have to worry about navigating the Bali roads and traffic, Also, most cars are modern and air-conditioned, which is welcome in Bali’s humid heat, and the local drivers always know the best routes to take and can optimize your ideal itinerary. Here are some of the best options to choose from:
By Group Tour: Group tours can be a great option to lower costs and reduce the hassle of having to plan an efficient itinerary. Their main downside is they might not exactly be tailored to your specific interests and preferences. But if you are mostly interested in hitting the main sights and attractions, this is a great tour option that can pick you up in multiple towns and will visit several places including Jatiluwih Rice Terraces:
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – Ticket Price and Operating Hours
Entrance Fee
There are two entry points into the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – a north and a south entrance. Regardless of where you arrive, you’ll cross a ticket kiosk by the side of the road where you’ll have to pay your entrance fees.
The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces entrance fee is 50,000 IDR per person (2025), which roughly amounts to 3.00 US$/€ (reduced fee for children).
Note that as of 2025, payment can only be made with cash. You will also need cash if you want to make any purchases in any of the small farmer food stalls (selling mostly bottled drinks and snacks) that are scattered in a few places throughout Jatiluwih.
Modest additional costs are also required for parking: 3,000 IDR for scooters and 5,000 IDR for cars. From the ticket kiosk, you’ll have to continue a short distance to one of two parking areas. The southern parking area (the one we used) is located here (Link to Google Maps). The northern car park is only 200-300 meters further up the road and is located here (Link to Google Maps). However, it’s important to note that neither car park is particularly large, so it’s best to arrive early (ideally before 10 am) to avoid difficulties finding a spot.
Opening Hours
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm.
Facilities
Clean and modern toilets are available next to both car parks. More basic toilets can be found in several locations around the rice terraces trails.
What to Wear
Not being a historical or religious site, there are no requirements regarding having your shoulders and knees covered.
The walking surfaces are pretty level and easy to navigate. If you just want to wander around a bit near the entrance and take a few pics of the beautiful scenery, flip-flops are probably fine. We would recommend proper hiking or running shoes if you plan on doing any significant exploring.
About Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and its History
Rice cultivation has long been an important part of Indonesia’s history, dating back to around the eighth century. Bali’s fertile soil and optimal levels of rainfall make rice farming a productive operation year-round. There is little information on when rice cultivation specifically began in Jatiluwih, but there’s good reason to believe it started around the same time it was being developed in other areas of Bali.
Over time, the Balinese developed complex irrigation and farming systems, known as the Subak irrigation system, a cooperative approach that embodies the Balinese philosophy of “Tri Hita Karana“, which emphasizes the harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and religion. The subak system involves the coordinated management of water distribution, cooperatively built and managed by the farmers themselves. Canals, small waterfalls and intricately designed rice field layouts create sustainable irrigation networks, providing the necessary water supply to each field. The irrigation system is so unique in the world that it was recognized by UNESCO, which added it to its World Heritage list in 2012.
Unlike Bali’s other popular rice terraces in Tegalalang, Jatiluwih hasn’t been as much of a victim of over-tourism and over-development. Sure new businesses and infrastructure are popping up around the rice terraces, but definitely (and fortunately) not to the extent seen in Tegalalang.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – What to Expect
Some of the most striking features of Jatiluwih are the seemingly endless sea of rice fields stretching across the rolling hills and the many panoramic viewpoints where you get to soak it all in. We visited in the early morning and the light and temperature were just perfect. The air is also generally much fresher and cooler here than in south Bali.
The beautiful backdrop created by the dramatic and imposing Mount Batukaru, an inactive volcano and Bali’s second-highest peak, is equally impressive.
While you wander through the terraces, you will also encounter many small farmer’s huts, and might even see a few working their fields. We also saw a few rice paddy working cows. A few farmers have also converted their homes (or parts of them) into small warungs (restaurants) where they prepare delicious home-cooked meals for visitors.
Jatiluwih Hiking Trails
While you are free to wander the rice terraces as you please (but you have to stay on the designated paths at all times to protect the natural environment of the rice terraces), there are several pre-designed routes (you can click on the image below for a large version of the map) that you can follow to help organize your trek through the rice fields. All routes are considered easy, with some light ups and downs. The main difference between them is the length of the trails.
You’ll notice that all suggested routes follow a loop path that either starts or finishes at one of the two car parks. This also means that if you follow any of the loop paths you’ll have to walk back to the starting point along the road (but if you came with a private driver, you could ask to be picked up at a different location).
To avoid having to backtrack along the road, we chose to mix different routes together so that we could return to our starting point (the car park by number 14) without having to walk along the road. We first followed the red route until it connected with the blue route. From there, we made our way up to point #21 on the map, from which we followed the blue route towards the right (southeast direction), following the blue loop in a clockwise manner, until we recrossed the red route again (just past marker #26), from where we followed our original path back to the car park.
For a visual of the route we took, here’s what we tracked AllTrails:
The full length of the route we took was exactly 4.0 km, with a cumulative elevation gain of 125 meters. It took us about 1h30 to complete the hike at a very leisurely pace including many stops to take pictures.
If you park at the northern parking lot, you can just follow this curated trail on All Trails, which is roughly the same trail we did but with a slightly different start and endpoint (and is 3.7 km in length instead of 4 km).
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
If you would like to take a longer route than the one we did, we suggest adding sections of the yellow or purple routes. While the white route might seem tempting, you should know that a portion of the trail is spent within a forest where you will no longer have panoramic views of the surrounding rice fields. Also, it’s the only route in Jatiluwih that is shared between walkers and cyclists.
If you are interested in cycling through the rice terraces (white route), there are several rental shops along the main street (see above map).
How Long Do You Need at the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
If you are interested in doing a similar route to us, you should plan to spend about an hour and a half in Tegalalang Rice Terrace.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
Water Filter Bottle – The Life Straw bottle is an advanced water bottle with a filter that not only improves water taste but more importantly filters out bacteria and parasites, chemicals and microplastics.
Headlamp – very practical and a smart choice if you plan to start your hike before sunrise or finish it after sunset.
Best Time to Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Best Time of the Year
Although we visited during the dry season, there’s no bad time of year to visit Jatiluwih. There’s a higher risk of rain during the wet season (November-April), there’s also likely to be more mosquitoes and the paths might be muddy. On the plus side, however, there are likely to be fewer other tourists around.
Consider off-peak months like May-June or September-October for a more personal experience with fewer crowds.
In terms of the specific look of the rice terraces, they might not showcase their usual verdant greens or golden yellows during the harvest season (when farmers collect the rice) and the first several weeks that follow. For the most vivid and lush landscapes, it’s best to schedule, if possible, your visit outside these harvesting cycles. The rice fields in Jatiluwih reach their peak beauty pre-harvest, typically from February to April or September to early November.
It’s important to note that these time frames are approximate and may vary slightly depending on various factors like weather conditions. Additionally, some regions in Bali might have different planting and harvesting schedules based on specific microclimates and local customs. Even during our time at Jatiluwih, we noticed that not all rice fields had equal amounts of growth.
Best Time of Day
The best time to visit is definitely in the early morning when it’s cooler and when there a far fewer other visitors (ideally arriving somewhere between 8 am and 10 am). You will be able to visit the terraces in a much more relaxed atmosphere and will avoid struggling to find a parking spot.
If you can’t make it early in the day, try the late afternoon, an hour or two before closing time. It will likely still be quite warm, but the number of visitors will have started to thin down (not that there are tons here to start with, at least when compared to Tegalalang).
Are the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces Worth it?
A resounding yes! We had a blast exploring the Jatiluwih rice terraces, and it was one of our favorites to explore in Bali along with the Sidemen rice terraces.
Tegalalang Rice Terrace vs Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Although we enjoyed visiting both, we would definitely give the edge to Jatiluwih. Both rice terraces are visually stunning, but both offer completely different experiences. Jatiluwih is much larger and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, including the imposing Mount Batukaru. You can also walk for much longer, and there are far fewer people that visit since that it is located further away from Ubud.
Tegalalang, definitely the busier and more crowded of the two, is also in some regards more visually dramatic due to how steep the rice terraces are – they are more reminiscent of those you might find throughout other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam.
For additional information on how both rice terraces compare, check out our guide: Tegalalang Rice Terrace or Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – Which Should You Visit?
Sights and Attractions near the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
There aren’t many attractions in the immediate vicinity of Jatiluwih given its somewhat remote location. The closest is Pura Luhur Batukaru, a magnificent temple built on the slopes of Mount Batukaru. It’s a fascinating visit and we highly recommend it.
Although not particularly close, the beautiful and popular water temple Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is nonetheless in the same general area northwest of Ubud as Jatiluwih. We visited both temples on the same day that we visited Jatiluwih.
To discover more of Bali’s temples, be sure to check out our guide on Bali’s Best Temples to Visit.
For a more complete list of attractions that you can visit from Ubud, check out our guide on the Best Day Trips from Ubud.
Where to Stay Near the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
In our opinion, the best place to stay is in Ubud, whose location makes it a great base from which to explore the Monkey Forest and several other attractions around Bali. All of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations located within walking distance from the city center:
Komaneka at Rasa Sayang Ubud Hotel
Planning a Trip to Bali?
You might be interested in these pages: (coming soon)
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Bali: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide
Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
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eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our guide on Bali’s Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
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