The famous rice fields in Ubud were at the top of my must see list for our Bali trip. Pretty glad we got to squeeze it into our tight one day of sightseeing. It felt like a pretty long drive from the center of Ubud, the countless shops selling the same thing didn’t make the ride much more interesting. I had initially imagined it to be in a fairly remote area so was surprised to see a whole row of souvenir shops facing the rice fields (why am I surprised?).

There are several entrances along the road, mostly accessible via stairs. Its not an easy walk because of the humidity but we managed to wander around for close to an hour. We didn’t wear the best kind of shoes for it either! Some paths are fairly narrow and some may be steep, so would definitely suggest wearing sneakers and not flip flops like us. (I don’t know how people could walk through with nice flats/sandals) We were a bit limited with time given how much we wanted to fit in a day, so didn’t venture out too far (probably only 20% of the place!) There were a number of ‘checkpoints’ (small shelters) you’ll come across along the way ‘demanding’ for a ‘donation’ in order to pass through. It could be a bit off putting since you’d think that the first donation box would be the only one you’ll have to donate to. We just didn’t have enough small change to last us much further.

You could definitely enjoy the view from the road (several look outs and cafes to chill at) if you’re not up for trekking through the fields. It is definitely a place I would revisit again in the future if we had a bit more time. Ignoring the heat, the views are absolutely beautiful from in and outside of the fields. Sadly our photos don’t do the place justice! 🙁

TIPS:

• Wear appropriate shoes for walking through narrow and uneven surfaces
• Hydrate along the way
• Wear a hat!
• Bring small change for several donation checkpoints