When I first came to Bali, I had heard it all about the Tegallalang Rice Terraces — from different people and blogs: too touristy, stunning, an absolute must-do. So, I decided to check it out for myself.
To go straight to the point — I’d say, it depends. It depends on what you’re looking for, and I would even add that if you’ve already been to Jatiluwih, as I’ve, you might feel a little disappointed when visiting the Tegallalang Rice Terraces.
In this blog post, I’m sharing my honest experience visiting Tegallalang Rice Terraces near Ubud: what I liked, what I didn’t, and what you should realistically expect if you’re planning a visit. It may be a little opinionated, but if you’re looking for a genuine, no-filtered Tegallalang rice terraces review to help you decide if it’s worth your time, this is exactly what you need.
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First Impressions
I arrived early in the morning, around 7 AM, just as the site opened. Besides a couple of people already climbing the terraces and the staff, it was empty — phew, crowds avoided, I was already happy.
After buying the ticket (50K IDR, around 3$), you walk past a row of restaurants and bars perched at the top of the hill, and that’s when my first impression hit me: way too polished, it honestly felt like a theme park. I had already visited Jatiluwih, where the vibe is entirely different. No fancy welcome desks or cafés at the entrance, just endless rice fields and nature.
Of course, Tegallalang has the classic photo spots and swings along the way, but at that hour, everything was still closed or being cleaned. Finally, you follow the steps that lead you down into the heart of the terraces.
The structure of the rice terraces is unique, and that’s probably why I’m still glad I went. Unlike the flat, endless fields of Jatiluwih, here the vivid green rice paddies cover both sides of the hills, meeting in a small river at the bottom of the valley. Walking down was refreshing, even with Bali’s usual humidity — climbing back up, though… that’s another story.
The stairs are steep, and the site layout is honestly confusing (at least to me). There are no clear pathways or signs, so you find yourself going up and down, trying to figure out how to reach specific points — I climbed the same stairs twice without success. At one point, I gave up (also because I skipped breakfast and didn’t want to risk fainting in that humidity).
One thing that struck me was that I didn’t see any farmers working the fields. It made me realize how much of a tourist attraction this place is. The surrounding rice terraces still belong to farmers, but the area you visit feels… curated, not lived in.
Planning Your Visit To Tegallalang
How To Get There
You can easily call a Grab bike taxi early in the morning, and it will take around 30-35 minutes to get there if you’re staying around Ubud. Expect to spend around 50K IDR for the journey. Of course, if you’re in a group, you can also get a Grab car.
I actually suggest you go by bike (wearing the helmet), not only to avoid potential traffic but also because the roads outside of Ubud are so pretty, surrounded by rice terraces, forests, small villages, and a glimpse of local life away from the busier and more touristy areas. I’d say the journey there is something to enjoy, and on the backseat of a Grab bike, everything looks just more beautiful and lighter.
Best Time to Visit, Opening Hours, and Entry Fee
The best time to visit the Tegallalang rice terraces is, of course, during the dry season, from April to September — even if this dry season is a bit weird and it’s still raining quite a bit. So yeah, being flexible is mandatory if you’re visiting Bali at any time of the year (make sure to have a plan B in case of rain).
Plan to go early in the morning, around 7 AM (opening time), or at sunset, around 6 PM (closing time). If you’re going in the morning, it’s always a good idea to check the weather in real-time and then decide whether to go. You really don’t want to be climbing muddy rice fields under the Balinese pouring rain.
I explored the site for around an hour and a half. How long you stay depends on how much you’re willing to climb up and down the stairs to make your way through the different pathways.
The basic entry ticket costs 50K IDR (approximately $3), and this doesn’t include the various additional fees for photo stops or the swing.
What to Pack for Your Visit
If you’re planning on exploring around quite a bit, be ready for a lot of stairs — so a comfy, sporty outfit and shoes made for walking will be your best friends. Don’t forget water, insect repellent (it’s basically like being in the jungle, so the insects are in full force), and I’d even add a small towel to get some relief from the crazy humidity.
Best Tegallalang Rice Terraces Tours
A good way to avoid what happened to me, climbing up and down the terraces trying to figure out the right way, is to actually go with a guide who’s probably hiked them a thousand times and knows exactly where to go.
Or maybe you want to make the most of your time and pack in more sights in one day. If that sounds like you, here are a few tours I recommend.
Best of Central Bali: Waterfall, Elephant Cave & Rice Fields: With this tour, you’ll get to visit some of the most popular sights on the north side of Ubud, starting with a refreshing morning dip at the Tegenungan Waterfall and finishing with a sunset hike at the Tegallalang rice terraces. You’ll also get to witness woodcarving in Bali, one of the island’s most traditional crafts, and of course, stop by Goa Gajah and Tirta Empul.
Ubud Highlights Tour: This tour combines some of Ubud’s most famous highlights, perfect if you’re spending a day in town and don’t want the hassle of planning your itinerary. You’ll start from the heart of Ubud with a walk through the Monkey Forest, stop by the Ubud Palace, visit a traditional market, and hike through the rice terraces. The day wraps up with a dip under Tegenungan Waterfall and a visit to the sacred Pura Tirta Empul.
How Easy Is It to Explore?
One of the confusing things about the site is that you don’t know how far you can explore — you have to walk around and figure it out as you go.
On my left, I could see a tiny yellow bridge giving access to another area of the rice terraces, but I honestly couldn’t find the way to get there. I climbed the stair pathway twice, trying to figure it out, and finally gave up… I was about to connect with the afterlife.
On both sides, you can see the rice terraces covering the hills, stretching further out into the distance, but you don’t know how to reach those points. And let’s be honest, even for someone like me who loves exploring and walking, those stairs were steep — and the humidity didn’t help at all.
Tegallalang or Jatiluwih? My Honest Take
If you’re staying around Ubud and don’t have much time, Tegallalang Rice Terraces can be worth a visit. But… if you’re still building your Bali itinerary, I highly recommend stopping by Jatiluwih and Central Bali.
And if you want to do both, visit Tegallalang first. Trust me, after seeing Jatiluwih, Tegallalang feels a little… underwhelming. That’s precisely what happened to me.
The road to Jatiluwih alone is worth it: the prettiest views on the island, lush rice fields, small villages, and the peaks of Bali’s volcanoes in the distance. And once there, you’ll get to see endless vibrant green paddies stretching to the horizon, merging with the ocean.
The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers over 600 hectares, but it’s surprisingly easy to explore: flat paths, clear signs, and no risk of getting lost. Plus, you’ll see farmers at work and locals going about their day — no theme park vibes, just real Bali local life.
Tegallalang is pretty, for sure, but if you’ve already seen Jatiluwih… it might not impress you as much.
Things To Do Around The Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Visiting the Tegallalang Rice Terraces is the perfect excuse to explore some of the nearby must-see spots. If you’re already heading that way, you might as well make the most of your time and explore a bit more.
Heads up: You can ask your Grab driver if they’re available to stay with you for the whole morning or a few hours. That way, you won’t have to worry about finding another ride between stops.
I suggest starting your morning at the rice terraces and then heading to:
- Pura Tirta Empul (20 minutes): Not to practice the Melukat ritual, Tirta Empul is way too chaotic for that, but to explore the temple grounds. The temple itself is stunning and worth a visit, even if the atmosphere isn’t ideal for a proper spiritual experience.
- Pura Mengening (3 minutes from Tirta Empul): This is the temple where I practiced my purification ceremony and couldn’t be more adapted. The temple is tiny, but its natural beauty is what makes it truly special. Here, you won’t find crowds of visitors, another reason why you should explore it.
- Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu: I headed to this gem right after visiting the rice terraces, and it turned out to be the highlight of my day. I didn’t expect much, but this small water temple tucked away in the middle of the jungle had already won my heart, even before I got in, while I was still in the backseat of my Grab bike. It’s so enchanting that it almost made me emotional.
There you go…my honest take on Tegallalang. Hopefully, this blog post helped set your expectations. Of course, as always, my experience is just my experience, and the best way to know if Tegallalang is for you is to go and see it for yourself.
For me, the terraces are pretty, but the hype isn’t justified, especially if, like me, you love more authentic, less polished spots. After visiting Jatiluwih, I couldn’t help but feel the difference.
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