Ubud in Bali is a great place to unwind. In addition to yoga classes and meditation classes, you can also do beautiful hiking in the rice fields. Hiking is one of the most fun things to do in Ubud. We spent over a month in Ubud and share below our favorite hikes in Ubud through the rice fields.
Content of this blog:
1. Walking in Ubud without tourists: Kelusa Rice Fields
The Kelusa rice fields are still a truly undiscovered spot in Ubud. Here you will not meet any other tourists and you can take a beautiful walk through the rice fields, with a view of Mount Agung. Park your scooter somewhere along the path and then enjoy a lovely walk. If you
2. Rice Fields Walk Penestanan: walk in Ubud with few tourists
Another walk through Ubud’s rice fields with few tourists: the Rice Fields Walk. This is the Google Maps location. At the Terracotta restaurant, you turn off, through a narrow alley, then you arrive at the rice fields. Here you can park your scooter right at the beginning and enjoy the walk in Ubud. You soon walk past beautiful hotels, local houses and through the rice fields. It is wonderfully relaxing here and you see few other people. This makes it perfect for unwinding.
At one point (fairly at the beginning) you can turn left, where you really literally walk through the rice fields. Along the way you see all these beautiful villas being built. What a dream.
Finally, we recommend eating a delicious breakfast at the Terracotta restaurant after the Rice Fields Walk in Ubud. At the Terracotta restaurant you can tick off what you want to eat for breakfast, so you can compose everything yourself. All the ingredients are super fresh and the breakfast is really delicious. In addition, you have an amazing view over the rice fields and the pool (because it is also a hotel). Fantastic to really unwind here after a nice walk in the rice fields of Ubud.
3. Sari Organic Walk
This is our favorite hike in Ubud. It’s still fairly undiscovered, but – like the 2 popular hikes in Ubud below – is right in the center. The only annoying thing is that a lot of scooters pass by here, so you don’t experience as much peace and quiet as with the other hikes. Nevertheless, the Sari Organic Walk is definitely worth a visit in Ubud.
From the start of the Sari Organic Walk, you can walk in 30 minutes to the Jungle River and Waterfall where you can cool off. Along the way you will also pass a number of art galleries, where the most beautiful paintings are on display. Be sure to have a chat with the friendly painters, they will tell you exactly how long they work on a painting and what technique they use. Very interesting! On your way back to the Sari Organic Walk, be sure to stop at Pukako by paddyfield, where you can enjoy a coffee or smoothie with a lovely view of the rice fields of Ubud.
4. Sweet Orange Walk Trail
It takes a bit of searching to find the entrance to the Sweet Orange Walk Trail, right in the center of Ubud, but then you have a very nice walk to catch. To the right of the Puri Lukisan Museum you will find a small alley, where there is also a Sweet Orange Walk Trail sign. Follow this sign and within a few minutes you are in the middle of the rice fields, away from the hustle and bustle of Ubud. The Sweet Orange Trail is about three to four kilometers long, so in total you’ll be walking back and forth for over an hour in Ubud.
The Sweet Orange Trail gets its name from the Sweet Orange Warung, one of the tastiest local restaurants in Ubud. The perfect place to enjoy breakfast or a coffee or smoothie. The details at Sweet Orange Warung are hilarious: everywhere you see coconuts hanging with painted faces on them.
5. Campuhan Ridge Walk
This is by far the most tiring walk in Ubud. This is because the Campuhan Ridge Walk contains some height differences, which means you sometimes have to climb small sections. In the heat of Bali, this can cause you to sweat a lot. Therefore, take plenty of water with you!
At the Campuhan Ridge Walk, you feel like you are walking on top of the mountain. On both sides of the path you can look down considerably, directly into the rice fields of Ubud. Along the way, of course, you pass by the cute little Balinese temples where you immediately feel the wonderful culture of Ubud and Bali.
After the Campuhan Ridge Walk, you can have fantastic breakfast or lunch at Plant Bistro. This is a vegan restaurant, but even as a non-vegan, you will really eat insanely good food here. We have been here several times and the sushi in particular is incredibly good.
6. Kajeng Rice Field hike in Ubud
The Kajeng walk in Ubud is located parallel to the Sari Organic Walk and Sweet Orange Trail. Only, the Kajeng walk in Ubud is a real hidden gem, where few tourists still come. Everywhere along the trail you will find quaint warungs and you can enjoy the ultimate peace and quiet here. A lovely walk in Ubud and we definitely recommend it.
7. Manuaba Waterfall hike in Ubud
Near the Tegallalang rice fields – which of course we’ll name below – you’ll find the Manuaba waterfall. This is still a fairly undiscovered piece of nature in Ubud, which you can also take a nice walk to. The entrance fee is IDR 20,000 (€1.20) and 10 minutes later – after a nice walk through the rice fields – you are at the waterfall. You can refresh yourself here, and even walk a little further through the water.
8. Tegallalang rice fields
And of course, last but not least, the Tegallalang rice fields. Although this is more of an activity to visit in Ubud, don’t miss this one. Yes, it’s super touristy with the famous Bali swings everywhere, but it’s also so incredibly beautiful to see. Just make sure to visit Tegallalang early in the morning so it’s a little less crowded and it’s not extremely hot yet.
9. Mount Batur
Besides these beautiful rice field hikes in Ubud, you can also climb 2 mountains. The most famous one is Mount Batur. Almost everyone climbs Mount Batur at night, so you can have a beautiful view of the area at sunrise. It is recommended to climb Mount Batur with a guide from Ubud, so you don’t have to drive an hour to Mount Batur by yourself in the middle of the night.
We climbed Mount Batur ourselves with this guide and it was great fun and enjoyable with a group. The climb only takes 1 or 2 hours, after which you have a phenomenal view as the sun slowly rises. Really a fun hike to do from Ubud! Read everything you need to know about climbing Mount Batur here.
10. Mount Agung
In addition to Mount Batur, you can also climb Mount Agung. This is quite a bit spicier, people have even died during this hike because they slipped, so really only climb Mount Agung with a guide!
Climbing Mount Agung takes between 6 and 7 hours, then you are at the crater rim. It is a fantastic adventure, but again: please do this with a guide!
What should I bring for hikes in Ubud?
Always take at least the following with you while hiking in Ubud:
Cash money for food or drinks along the way or entrance fees
- Sunscreen
- Enough water (1 liter per person)
- A cap or sunglasses
- Possibly rain jacket in the rainy season
- Good shoes
Looking for more tips for this wonderful place in Bali? Check out the 16 best activities in Ubud here.
