Jatiluwih
Jatiluwih, on the southern slopes of Mount Batukaru in central Bali, is the rice terrace landscape that Tegallalang is famous for being — except it is vastly larger, genuinely UNESCO-listed, and almost empty by comparison.
The site covers roughly 600 hectares of terraced paddy, spread across a broad hillside rather than crammed into one photogenic valley. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the subak system, Bali's 9th-century cooperative irrigation network in which water is shared through channels governed by farmer associations and linked to temple ritual. At Jatiluwih you can see the system operating at landscape scale.
There is an entry fee, and unlike at Tegallalang it is a single ticket — no chain of individual collectors along the paths. Several marked walking trails loop through the terraces, ranging from about 1.5 km to over 5 km, and they are the point. You can walk for an hour and see a handful of people.
A local variety of red rice is grown here and sold at the entrance, and a few simple restaurants overlook the fields.
The practical cost is distance: roughly 1.5 hours from Ubud and two from the south coast, on winding roads. That is precisely why it stays quiet. Go in the morning, when cloud is less likely to sit on Batukaru behind the terraces.
Travel tips for Jatiluwih
- One ticket covers the whole site — unlike Tegallalang, there are no additional collectors along the paths.
- Walk one of the marked trails. Routes run from about 1.5 km to over 5 km, and the longer ones are nearly empty.
- Morning is better. Cloud tends to build over Mount Batukaru behind the terraces during the afternoon.
- It is 1.5 hours from Ubud on winding roads — which is exactly why it is not crowded.
- Try the local red rice, grown here and sold at the entrance and in the restaurants.
- Bring rain protection. This is the wet side of the mountain and showers arrive quickly.
Popular tours here
- Ubud, Rice Terraces & Waterfalls Tour
- Bali Private Day Tour with Driver & Guide
Frequently asked questions
Is Jatiluwih better than Tegallalang?
For scale and quiet, yes — Jatiluwih covers around 600 hectares with walking trails and few visitors, while Tegallalang is a single dramatic valley that gets very crowded.
Is Jatiluwih a UNESCO site?
Yes — it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bali's subak irrigation system.
How far is Jatiluwih from Ubud?
About 1.5 hours by road, or roughly two hours from the southern beaches.
Are there walking trails at Jatiluwih?
Yes — several marked loops ranging from about 1.5 km to over 5 km run through the terraces.
What is the entrance fee at Jatiluwih?
A single ticket at the gate covers the site, with no additional collections along the paths.