Belimbing Rice Terraces is another natural place in Tabanan, you can enjoy rice terrace and mountain view here. Temple with monkeys and forest can be found nearby, it is recommended to hire a local guide when visiting this site. It’s About 30 minutes by car to the north from Balian beach.

Belimbing village is in the west of Bali, it is situated on high above the sea level, the air is extremely fresh but can be a little bit cold without wearing a jacket. Layers of rice spikes are abundantly seen in other terraces without any reflection of water. But in Belimbing, waterways among the terraces run down from the top to low-lying land, besides the flow of turbulent water sends out a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

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Jatiluwih opens daily, from 8:30 am – 6:00 pm. Try visiting just after it opens or after 4:00 pm when the temperature is more tolerable. There is an entrance fee of IDR40,000 (October 2020). Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is located in the middle of Bali at the foot of Mount Batukaru in the village of Jatiluwih of Tabanan Regency. It is also about 850 metres above sea level in the Penebel district. Hence, the atmosphere can be cool at times. In June 2012, UNESCO had recognised Jatiluwih as one of the World’s Cultural Heritage Site as the rice fields are being watered by a traditional method called the Subak Irrigation System preserved from the 9th century & passed down through generations. Since farmers depend on the Subak, different Subaks from the 150 rivers & streams in Bali come together & merge into a single system to irrigate the rice terraces. These successful Subaks were due to the stringent management undertaken by the villagers themselves through the village cooperatives who gained recognition as the dominant factor in Bali’s entry on the heritage list. It is the biggest rice terraces in Bali, comprising over 600 hectares of incredibly well-maintained rice terraces & fields that follow the hillside topography of the Batukaru mountain range & is probably a replica of rice terraces in the 9th century. Hence, the landscape is far larger & the green fields are more expansive, magnificent & stretches by the kilometres. The rice stems are much longer at Jatiluwih. So, at ground level, they look less terraced than at Tegalalang. There are fewer cafes & restaurants in Jatiluwih & the locals do not hound you for donations. So, you can afford to chill & relax even more. The atmosphere is more laidback, less crowded & the paths are easier to walk on. Read more...

Also known as “Ubud Rice Fields”, Tegalalang Rice Terrace is located north of Ubud, the cultural centre of Bali. It has been cited as a UNESCO World Heritage Site & opens 7 days a week from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. There is an entrance fee, possibly IDR15,000 (Aug 2020). The best times to visit is probably in the morning or after 5:00 pm when there are the least number of tourists & when it’s not so hot. Also, if you want to see the rice terrace at their greenest, consider going in the months of March & October as that’s when the paddy is about to harvest. The traditional irrigation system is still being used right up to present day. According to history, it was started in the 8th century. The water comes from surrounding rivers & mountains. Farmers had built water canals to allow the water to flow from 1 field to the other. The pathway along the rice terrace is also very narrow. Tegalalang Rice Terrace is located 600 metres above sea level. Thus, some might consider the average air temperature of 24 degrees Celsius in the day to be far from comfortable. Read more...

Trunyan Village is one of the most unique attractions in Bali. It is located on the isolated eastern shore of the Lake Batur. The village is accessible by boat only. The funeral rite here is unique, the villagers simply put the dead bodies on the ground, covered by cloth and a bamboo cage, and left to decompose. The banyan tree near the burial ground is thought to keep the corpses from smelling putrid. There are many incidents reported about locals were forcing the tourists to give them some money, thus it is very recommended for you to hire a local guide when visiting this village. Read more...

Batuan Villages is located in central Bali about 10 kilometres south of Ubud. It is popular for its artworks and handicrafts. Here the painters make beautiful paintings of their culture, god & Goddesses, dancers, demons depicting their culture, religion and history. Some artists have a very nice and old workshops which are very interested to be explored. There is a modern shopping complex nearby, which is an excellent place to shop. It is like a one big huge supermarket where you will get souvenirs to clothes to food items etc. at a reasonable price. Read more...

Celuk Village is actually an area located along the street of Jalan Raya Celuk near Ubud – Sukawati. It is very famous for its silver & gold handicrafts, in particular jewellery, there are many silver & gold galleries lining on both sides of the road. This is where you will be able to see the silversmiths & goldsmiths in action. However, the workshops are usually beside & outside the shops. Tourists will be mesmerised with the intricate designs on rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, hairpins & brooches. Prices vary according to the weight & the difficulty levels of the design. Other items such as medals, decorative ornaments & souvenirs are also currently making headway into the global market. Most of the artists busy at work have been trained since young as it is an art passed down from one generation to the next. Thus, their skills & craftsmanship is of international level. Some gallery has a silver-class for tourists who want to seriously learn on how to make their own jewellery. The course usually already included with the materials used, booklets and snacks. Read more...

Tenganan is an ancient village, home to Bali natives Bali Aga people. The village is beautiful and photogenic. The villagers still work on their craft as they have done for generations. Items cost a little bit more pricey here but having the opportunity to watch how much skill and patience go into a piece is priceless. The popular products from Tenganan is double-woven textile called ikat. Other souvenirs like traditional calendar, maps and carvings also can be found here. The village was clean and tidy, the people were friendly and not at all pushy. During an annual event Mekare-kare all men in this village will join on a war-festival by fighting each other on a stage using only rattan shield and prickly pandan leaves as the weapon. The ladies will watch the fight and occasionally chanting few traditional songs by the stage. Read more...

Penglipuran Village is one of the best well-preserved traditional villages in Bali. It is located in the central area of the island, about an hour drive to the north from Ubud. This Village has largely been left to show original structures and building methods. Each family has to leave at least one original building to show tourists how things might have been. Very clean, busy, but not rushed and a great place to see another side of Balinese life. There is also a charming bamboo forest area nearby. Local community has created several fun activities for tourists to enjoy during their visit, such as cycling, hiking, cooking class and more. Read more...

Pura Puseh Batuan is one of the most notable landmarks in the area with intricate stone carvings. It is located in the northern part of the Batuan village, 200 metres off the main road. The temple also has an inscription that testifies to the date of founding of Batuan in 1022 AD. The temple underwent restoration in 1992. It is a five-tiered gateway tower, clearly influenced by Indian religious architecture. Its icons and decorations, however, are typically Balinese in style. The roof of the temple is made of the fibre of chromatic black palm tree. The maintenance of the temple is done by the residents of the village. The temple is situated on the main road from Denpasar to Ubud. A great place to visit and lots of pictures to be taken! Read more...

The Tampaksiring Palace is one of 6 Presidential Palaces of Indonesia, it is located in Tampaksiring, near Ubud. This extensive palace is a modern building with elements of Balinese architecture. The main pavilions are on a higher ground overlooking Tirta Empul Temple and Mount Agung. One of our most favourite areas in the complex was a small pond with a seat where Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president, used to contemplate on how to achieve a more prosperous Indonesia while watching the locals participating in purification rituals at Tirta Empul Temple. Jembatan Persahabatan (the Bridge of Friendship), a 40-metre long bridge which was built to promote friendship and relation among state and official visitors. Another impressive area in the complex was the convention hall where official events are usually held. Read more...