Early light moves across the stepped fields, picking out each layer as the landscape comes into view. Around Ubud, these are active rice fields, still managed using long-standing farming methods. Let’s take a look at what makes them stand out.
Tegalalang Reveals How the Land Is Shaped
Tegalalang is one of the best-known terrace areas, where the hills are shaped into stepped layers that follow the slope. Water settles within each level, which is what keeps it from flowing straight down the hillside.
Subak System Connects the Entire Landscape
The terraces follow the subak irrigation system, a shared network that has been used for over a thousand years and is now recognised as part of a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape. Water moves from higher ground through small channels, reaching each section in a steady flow.
Terraces Sit Close to Ubud’s Main Areas
Most terrace areas are around 20 to 30 minutes from central Ubud and hotels like Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, which is why they often appear in Ubud Bali sightseeing routes. Their location makes it possible to visit alongside nearby temples, cafés, and small village stops in the same trip.
Paths Follow the Original Farming Routes
The narrow paths and steps running through the terraces come from how farmers move across the land, carrying tools and working between levels. They stay along the edges of each section, which is why the routes feel close to the shape of the fields rather than cutting through them.
