Top 4 Ubud Rice Fields Walks (Including Penestanen)

Learn how to find four beautiful lush, green rice fields walks in Ubud, Bali. These serene, vibrant oases are easy to access, providing a quick peak into the legacy of this vital Balinese crop. Plus, they’re all just a few steps away from the bustling city of Ubud.

Rice cultivation is an integral part of Balinese life. Historically cultivated here using an UNESCO awarded irrigation system called subak. This system, which was developed in the 9th century, diverts water from the mineral rich fresh springs and crater lakes of the island’s volcanic mountains, channeling it through rivers, streams, and ditches for collective use far and wide.

This democratic farming system is also an important part of rice culture, stemming from a key Balinese philosophy called Tri Hita Karana. This philosophy, which literally translates to ‘three reasons for prosperity’, consists of harmony among people, harmony with nature, and harmony with God. Together, this irrigation system and life philosophy enabled Bali to historically become one of the most prolific rice growers in the archipelago. An amazing cultural heritage that you can still witness in modern Bali.

Ubud Rice Fields Walks

There are four rice main fields walks in Ubud. And although the names and locations are helpful in finding a place to start, and a path to follow, much of the area encompassed by walks in the rice fields of Ubud is really one giant network of individual rice fields. Locals working in harmony to plant, irrigate, cultivate, and harvest their revered crop.

Here are the details on how to find the four rice fields walks in Ubud, what to expect while walking them, including some of the best cafes to stop at, and the best time to visit.

Juwuk Manis Walk 

The advantage of Juwuk Mantis is its central location near Ubud Palace. It’s also a loop trail, and the shortest and easiest of the four trails here. The best place to start the Juwuk Manis Rice Fields Walk is at the Ubud Market on Jalan Raya road, very close to the Ubud Palace and the Saraswati Water Temple (both also great places to visit in Ubud).

To get to the trail, walk back through the Ubud Market to its end (heading north). You’ll walk past all the souvenir shops, as well as cafes and villas. At the very end, you’ll see the sign for the start of the trail as shown in the image below. The start of the trail is between the two silver posts.

From here, you’ll follow a narrower road up and around to the Juwuk Manis rice fields walk pathway. Once on the trail, I quickly come across a man called the coconut man. He’s a very friendly man who works for the farmer at the rice fields behind his cart that sells fresh coconut juice. Sometimes he may move his cart, so you may find him in a different spot.

I stopped to chat and they taught me about some of the plants nearby. They showed me lemongrass, citronella, and papaya growing in the rice field here. There was even a tiny pineapple growing by his cart!

They also explained that the dried coconut shells hanging in the fields (below) are drying to use as firewood for cooking.

Just beyond the rice field in the photo above, you’ll come to a fork in the road. At the fork, follow the path to the left. You’ll see the sign for Sweet Orange Warung up beyond it, a very popular cafe along this trail.

As you walk, keep following the signs to Sweet Orange Warung. You’ll see several.

It’s a relatively short walk to Sweet Orange, but if it’s hot (which it usually is), you’ll probably be thirsty by the time you get here, making it a very welcome stop.

There are several other cafes along this trail, so stop at the place that calls out to you. Sweet Orange, however, is really nice. The grounds are beautiful and they have a fairly extensive menu plus a variety of healthy juices. The people working there are very friendly too.

After Sweet Orange, continue walking along the trail until you see the signs for Ubud. This will lead you to the exit. Eventually, you’ll come back out at the sign below on Jalan Raya road near the Water Temple.

Note that you can do the trail backwards, using the sign above as the entrance and Ubud Market as the exit. Just follow the trail around to the right instead. Also, if entering at the Art Market, you can also follow other path at the fork (instead of turning left), it heads farther north into the rice fields.

I walked this trail in 2023 and they are upgrading the path near Sweet Orange Warung, using concrete slabs, which are easier to walk on (and ride scooters on). You can see them on the right hand side of my photo of Sweet Orange Warung. They’re calling it Juwuk Manis Memory Lane. Individuals and businesses can donate towards the path to get one personalized (I did). Once complete, this will also be one of the easiest paths to walk along, as some spots currently get a little muddy when it rains.

Bungkuan Rice Trail, Or Cafe Trail

A local told me this next rice fields walk is called Bungkuan Rice Trail. Others call it the Cafe Trail, as there are so many cafes along this trail. At least at the beginning. As you walk further, the space opens up and you’ll see more of the rice fields. Of the four trails I mention in this post, this one has the most businesses and feels the most commercialized. At least to me.

It’s located between Juwuk Manis and Campuhan Ridge Trail (below). To get here, follow Jalan Raya road west to the point where the shops end. You’ll see a cement beam overhead that crosses the street (below left).

Just before this, you’ll see a road going up to your right. Turn right up this road, following it up and around until you run into a little market (above right). At the market, follow the path to the left between the walls. Another easy way to start this trail is to follow the pink signs to Ubud Yoga House.

After the market, the trail will go around and up, then past multiple cafes, resorts, retreats, yoga places, and art shops. Eventually, you’ll be walking in the rice fields. 

You’ll pass many charming little cafes to stop for a drink, including a popular one called Cafe Pomegranate about midway along the trail, and Sunset Cafe, farther north on the trail. There’s even a little cafe past Sunset Cafe called Miami’s, which I stopped at for some fresh coconut juice. The people working there were quite lovely.

This trail is an out and back trail, so turn around when you’re done walking, exiting the same way you started.

If you walk all the way to Sunset cafe, this trail is about 1.2 miles (2 km) each way, taking about 30-minutes each way. Of course, add in time for stops at cafes and to take photos.

Camuphan Ridge Walk

This sacred walk, called Campuhan Ridge Walk, is one of the more famous rice fields walks in Ubud. This area, located where two rivers converge, is a historic sacred energy center in Bali, with the water from these rivers a source of holy water for a variety of ceremonies. In fact, when I was here, there was a large group of Balinese in traditional dress conducting a ceremony. Out of respect, I didn’t take their photo.

This out and back path follows the crest of a ridge, providing scenic views of the area. Especially near sunset, which is a popular time to walk this trail. There are also several cafes and art galleries along the path, as well as the temple below, and a beautiful view of some terraced rice fields.

The walkway, popular with locals and tourists, is paved with tiles in most spots, so it’s very easy to walk on. The trail is about 1.2 miles (2 km) each way, so will take about a hour. Longer if you add in stops at cafes and shops and take a few photos.

There are two places you can start the Campuhan Ridge Trail. Either at the sign for Ibah Villas on Jalan Raya, or down the street a little farther on the east side of the bridge. See the green arrow in the photo below. If you start near Ibah Villas, turn right at the sign and follow the road until you see the signs for Bukit Camuphan and the majestic Pura Gunung Lebah Temple Complex.

If starting by walking down the steps near the bridge above, you’ll cross over the sacred river via a small wooden bridge before heading up and around towards the temple.

I met the group conducting the ceremony following this latter trail. Both trails, however, meet at the southeast corner of the temple complex so either works. The trail from the bridge is a little more challenging as the path can be muddy if wet.

After the temple, you’ll see the signs for the Campuhan trail.

The beginning of the trail follows the small footpath above.

As you continue, you’ll pass many cafes, shops, and art galleries along the fields, before coming to popular Karsa Kafe (below right). This cafe is a very popular place to stop and rest before the walk back.

You can order food or a drink at the little cabanas in the rice field (above right), or sit on the roof top of the cafe for the view of the terraced rice fields here (below).

Penestanan Rice Fields

If you want a less commercialized walk in the rice fields of Ubud, try the Penestanen rice fields walk. This was actually my favorite walk of the four!

Penestanen is a small village on the west side of Ubud, about a 10 to 15-minute scooter ride, from the center of Ubud (depending on traffic). As anywhere in Ubud, driving a car will take longer, as scooters can pass the cars easily. Either way, however, it’s a short drive.

In addition to being more remote, and less commercialized rice fields, the town is also super charming, reminiscent of Ubud before it became a tourist hot spot. Because of this, I recommend spending a little time exploring the village here too. It would also be a great place to stay away from the motorbikes in the city center.

To get to this trail, start at Warung Ting Ting. You can use your GPS if driving, or enter it as your destination if hiring a Grab or Gojek driver (just download one of the apps)

Facing Warung Ting Ting, look to your left. You’ll see a small road with signs for Paddy Point and Rumah Dadong on it. Turn to the left and walk down this road. At the end of the road, you’ll see more signs for the same and more pointing to the right. Turn right and follow this path.

You’ll be walking on a path between two walls (above). Keep walking. You’ll see local homes, which are super, super charming.

You’ll quickly come upon a sign for Ubud Heaven, and not much further, you’ll see Rumah Dadong (above), a great little cafe with fresh juice on your left. If the owner is there, he will probably say hello. This is a great place to stop for a drink or snack. Especially if you do this walk during the day.

After this, just keep following the path. Not much farther, you’ll run into Paddy Point, which has a more compressive menu and many healthy juice options. This restaurant is only open in evenings though, starting at 5 PM.

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After this, you’ll run into more homes, some villas, and more of the rice fields.

Walk as far as you want, then double back the same way you arrived when you’re ready to leave.

Best Time To Walk The Rice Fields

The rice fields in Bali are planted on a staggered schedule, so they’re really beautiful all year round. There are, however, a few times that are better than others.

Best Time Of Year To Walk The Rice Fields

The wet season turns the rice fields into a lush, emerald green oasis. This makes December to March the best time to visit.

This said, I’ve visited Bali twice. Once in April and once in mid-February. Both times were beautiful! The latter is still part of the rainy season, so everything will be a little more vividly green. I ran into bursts of showers, but not every day. When it rained, just waiting a few minutes (or hours) meant brilliant sun again, so don’t rule out rainy season.

On my walk in the Penestanen rice fields, I had to shelter in an open garage for one short rain session. But the skies cleared up again, leaving everything fresh and brilliantly green. You can still see the rain still on the path with the blue skies above in my photo below.

Best Time Of Day To Walk The Rice Fields

As it can get quite hot mid-day here, try to time your walks in the rice fields to early morning or late afternoon. Of course I tend not to listen to my own advice and ended up walking all fields in the middle of the day. It can just get very hot.

Tips For Walking The Rice Fields

Make sure to wear proper footwear, as the trails can be a bit dodgy. The path can also be wet and muddy in spots, so I wouldn’t wear white sneakers. And if scooters try to pass through this mud, there can be ruts in the path, making it difficult to walk.

Of course, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated, and wear plenty of sunscreen. Plan your trip to make a stop at one (or two) of the many cafes located in the Ubud rice fields. This only enhances the experience and the locals are so sweet!

Where To Stay In Ubud

Shoestring

The Jati Homestay, is where I stayed in I stayed on my first visit to Bali. It was very basic, but if you want to experience life in a traditional Balinese complex, it’s a great option. My room was quiet and located between the Monkey Forest and Ubud Palace, about a 10-minute walk to each.

Yoga’s House is a guesthouse owned by locals that gets positive reviews. It’s located about a 10-minute walk south east of Ubud Palace and about 15 north of monkey Forest. Note that the owners name is Yoga, not that they offer yoga classes.

Affordable

Nyoman Sandi Guest House is another guesthouse owned by locals, located a little farther out, about a 15-minute walk north of Ubud Palace. This puts it closer to Ubud’s rice fields.

On my most recent visit to Ubud, I stayed at Kubu Tropis, which has a nice chilled vibe. This small complex only has a few rooms, all facing the pool with tables for breakfast/internet use, making it a nice place to meet other travelers. It’s located on Bisma Road, about a 10-minute walk southwest of Ubud Palace.

Honeymoon Guesthouse Ubud also offers affordable stays, just up the street from Kubu Tropis. The spacious rooms are spread over two traditional compounds set in lush gardens overlooking lily ponds and stone statues. They also offer yoga classes at the yoga center across the street and cooking classes.

Moderate

If you want to stay in the Penestanen rice fields, look at Rumah Dadong. These charming, highly-rated villas, run by Erna and Yudi (wife and husband), book up quickly. They reportedly also let you visit their traditional house and learn more about their Hindu rituals…as well as have the snack shop noted in the blog above. At the very least, stop and chat with them there.

Tejaprama Bisma, also located on Bisma Street, is about a 10-minute walk from the Monkey Forest. This beautiful resort offers rooms overlooking the jungle in a quiet setting.

Splurge

Viceroy Bali is a (rare) family owned and operated 5-star hotel in a spectacular jungle ravine. In 2021 is won the World Luxury Hotel Award for the best luxury resort in Asia. They offer Yoga and Pilates classes as well as an opportunity to meet with a renowned Ubud shaman. It’s located about a 10-minute drive northeast of Ubud Palace.

The Kayon Jungle Resort Ubud, set in rainforest on the banks of the Petanu River, is an upscale, tranquil hotel with traditional Balinese styling. It’s for adults only, making it perfect for honeymoons, romance, healing, and relaxation. This resort is located north of the Tegallalang Rice Terraces.

My First Walk In the Rice Fields

On my very first visit to Ubud, there weren’t many signs or details on the rice fields walks. The family at my homestay helped me to find a small alley to walk to find them. As there really is a network of rice fields here, you can still do the same. This is great as it means you can divert and wander off of some of the paths noted above if you want something less commercialized.

This original walk followed very small, dirt paths. Sometimes the path was beside the irrigation river.

And sometimes it meant walking on the wall itself (below).

I also ran into locals. Some just wanted to chat, others were out trying to make a dollar selling fruit, art, or other tokens. I did not feel harassed in any way, and used these as a chance to talk to the locals, who are some of the nicest people I’ve met in all my travels!

The man below, however, scared the daylight out of me as he seemed to jump out of nowhere.

Anyway, don’t be surprised if you run into something similar.

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Want More Of Bali?

I highly recommend doing some of the local Ubud rice fields walks detailed out above. It’s a fantastic way to step outside the hustle and bustle of Ubud and get a quick dose of Balinese cultural heritage. Plus they’re so beautiful!

If you want to see some of the more Instagrammable rice fields walks, visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, which are a 30-minute drive north of Ubud. This highly terraced rice field is really beautiful and still worth it, even though it’s become a bit commercialized.

To see an even larger rice field, one that is less commercialized, visit Jatiluwih. These vast rice fields are located about an hour northwest of Ubud.

To read more about Ubud, and what to do here, see Best Things To Do In Ubud: Top Sites And Sacred Places. From treasured, ancient temples, to vibrant traditional dance performances, galleries and museums showcasing local artists, many yoga centers, spas, and amazing food, there’s tons to see and do in this vibrant city.

You can also read about my homestay with an extended Balinese family here. The perfect way to get an extra dose of culture while staying in Ubud. Or, If you’re curious about a cooking class in Ubud, read about the Cooking Class I took here. The food in Bali is amazing!

I also was invited to a Cremation Ceremony in Ubud. A fascinating experience which sounds morbid, but is actually a celebration of life, as well a sending-off of the soul for rebirth.

To see some of Bali’s more exotic beaches, visit Uluwatu on Bali’s southwestern coast. There are several amazing beaches here located at the base of tropical clifftops, many known for their surfing. But there are also many rooms with amazing views overlooking the Indian Ocean here, as well as great yoga and more delicious food choices.

If you want to experience some smaller, less touristy villages in Bali, see my post on The Small Villages Of Munduk And Lovina. Uber charming, you can find several hidden waterfalls and some cool old temples.

For an overview of all highlights of Bali, as well as logistics like safety, scams, money matters, and more, see my Ultimate Bali Travel Guide. There are so many great sights here, I’ve also create a post for on How To Get Around In Bali.

If you’ve done any of the rice fields walks in Ubud, or have comments or questions, please drop me a note below.

Safe Travels!

Julie