The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Most of the tourists in Bali only ever seem to go to Kuta Beach. I’ve been amazed at the crowds in Kuta and equally amazed at how few crowds there have been elsewhere. With so many great places to see on Bali, you would expect some people to venture off Kuta but few do and that’s to your advantage as you have to deal with less crowds. One place that should see more people but sees hardly anyone are the Jatiluwih rice terraces.One of the top ten things to see in Bali and front and center in every guidebook, these rice terraces are stunning. They give a new meaning to the word green. They crawl up the sides of the hills like steps leading you towards the sky. And like so much of Bali, the terraces are as equally empty as they are beautiful. Except for a few people from nearby resorts, you won’t see anybody here. Moreover, there’s even less people walking through the rice fields- it’s just you and nature.
The Jatiluwih rice terraces are located in the middle of Bali near Ganung Batukaru. The area is very rural with nothing but farming communities and a few high end mountain resorts ($100 US or more a night). It’s rural Bali at its best. There’s no tours that come here, no tourist buses, not even a regular public bus. To get here, you either hirer a driver, drive here yourself, or stay at one of the nearby resorts.

And that inaccessibility is what keeps the crowds away. Most people who leave Kuta end up in Ubud or the Gili Islands- places that are easy to get to with nice cheap tourist buses and boats. Jatiluwih is a lot harder to get to and since everyone in Bali doesn’t want to make the effort to explore Bali, you can see these beautiful rice terraces without hordes of people crowding around you or ruining the scenery.

The terraces span a huge area. A day trip here will give you a good feel for them but to really explore THEM, I recommend a two day trip, though it depends on how much hiking through rice terraces you like (I’m a big fan). You’ll get to explore different parts of the terraces, jump over rivers, and even sit down to a nice lunch in the terraces. I only got to hike around for a few hours but I dream of coming back to hike more. Moreover, there are beautiful mountains in the area, small villages to explore, and great restaurants to eat at.

The area might not be easy to get to but if you really want to see Bali as it is outside the tourists, make the effort to spend a few days in the area. You’ll find some cheap guesthouses in the villages and explore real everyday, tout free Bali.

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