The iconic emerald-green rice terraces 10 minutes north of Ubud — a UNESCO-worthy landscape of subak irrigation dating to the 9th century.
Entry
Rp 25,000
Hours
06:00 - 19:00
Rating
★ 4.5
Location
Ubud
Tegallalang is the most-photographed rice terrace in Bali — and one of the most photographed in Asia. The 9th-century subak (cooperative irrigation) system is still in use today, watering the emerald terraces that cascade down the hillside.
There are several walk-through terraces along the main road (most charge IDR 10-25k entry, redeemable at the warung at the bottom). The full walk takes 45 minutes and lets you descend to the river and back up. The Bali Swing (additional IDR 250k) is one of the most Instagrammed swings in the world.
Visit at sunrise (06:00-08:00) for the best light and to avoid the heat and crowds. The terraces are 10 minutes north of Ubud — easy scooter ride or Grab.
Don't miss
5 things to see & do
🌾
Main Terrace Walk
The classic walk down through the emerald terraces to the river and back — ~45 minutes each way. Free (with terrace entry fee).
🎢
The Bali Swing
One of the most Instagrammed swings in the world — swings over the valley with terraces below. IDR 250k, book in advance.
💧
Subak Irrigation Channels
9th-century cooperative irrigation system — UNESCO-worthy water management still in use today. Free walking tour explanation at entrance.
☕
Coffee Plantations Nearby
Luwak coffee (civet coffee) plantations next to the terraces — free tastings, can buy beans to take home.
📸
Photo Spots
Multiple "selfie decks" — bamboo platforms over the valley. IDR 10k each. The best light is at sunrise.
Best for
Photo huntersCultural travelersLight hiking
Good to know
✓Sunrise is best — light and fewest people
✓Each terrace charges its own entry — keep small bills
✓The Bali Swing is extra but iconic
💡 Tips from locals
→Arrive at 6am for empty terraces and golden light
<p>The Tegallalang terraces were developed in the <strong>1840s</strong> by a local priest who inherited the plot and designed the subak irrigation system. The <strong>subak</strong> is a Balinese communal water management network dating to the 9th century — one of the world's oldest continuously operating irrigation cooperatives.</p><p>The terraces were named a <strong>UNESCO Cultural Landscape</strong> in 2012 as part of the "Subak Landscape of Bali" listing.</p>
✨ The story behind
<p>The terraces are irrigated by a <strong>shared water system regulated by temple priests</strong>. Each subak has a water temple where priests schedule planting and harvest so that upstream and downstream farmers alternate water use fairly. The system is so efficient that the same channels have irrigated crops for over 1,000 years.</p><p>Each terrace's slope (often 60 degrees or more) was chosen so the water flows gently across rice plants rather than eroding the soil. Some plots have been in the same family for 12 generations.</p>
🏛️ Cultural significance
<p>The Subak system was recognised by <strong>UNESCO in 2012</strong> as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — described as "a philosophical system of water management that unites the spiritual, ecological, and social dimensions of rice cultivation."</p>
⭐ Fun fact
"The cooperative water-sharing rules are encoded in the <strong>Tri Hita Karana</strong> philosophy: harmony between humans, harmony with nature, harmony with the divine. Violations can result in temple-mandated fines."
