Teglallang is the most famous rice terrace in Bali and it gets very crowded at times. We think it’s better to visit somewhere less busy if you can and Bukit Jambul is a gorgeous rice terrace not far from the Besakih Temple.
Here’s what you need to know about Bukit Jambul to plan your trip to this beautiful part of the island.
Where Is Bukit Jambul, Bali?
Bukit Jambul is in the heart of Bali in the Karangasem Regency not too far from Sidemen Village.
Address: G99W+VX Pesaban, Nongan Village, Rendang District, Karangasem Regency, Bali, Indonesia
How To Get To Bukit Jambul, Bali
If you want to visit the Bukit Jambul rice terrace then the best way to do so is to hire a private car and driver for the day.
Sure, you could get a Grab or Gojek to Bukit Jambul but you’ll find that it’s impossible to get back unless you negotiate for the driver to wait for you.
Hiring a car here is cheap and you won’t pay more than 500,000 IDR for a car, fuel and driver for a whole day.
It takes about 90 minutes from the beach towns, 60 minutes from Ubud o or 30 minutes from Besakih Temple.
They can also take you on to other places once you’ve enjoyed the rice terrace on the hilly land at Bukit Jambul and you can see things like the mother temple (Besakih temple) which is a short drive from Bukit Jambul.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Bukit Jambul Rice Terrace
The best time to visit any rice terraces is just before harvest in the wet season as this is the time when the area is most alive and you can enjoy the most amazing scenery and palm trees stretching on forever at their finest.
There is no particular time of day to visit, though, Bukit Jambul is nowhere near as popular as the Tegalalang Rice Terrace and you won’t be jostling through crowds to get to see everything here.
Is There An Entrance Fee To Bukit Jambul
No, there is no entrance fee for Bukit Jambul. However, if you want to use the parking area there is a small 5,000 IDR (that’s $0.30 USD or $0.50 AUD) parking fee.
Otherwise, you can enjoy the hilly land and all the nature beneath the sun as much as you like for free.
What To Expect At Bukit Jambul
Bukit Jambul is an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and you will find hills and rice fields that go on forever, there’s a beautiful sea panorama at the far edge of view if you get up high and many of us wish we could see this beautiful panoramic view everyday.
On the main hill (bukit means hill and Bukit Jambul is the main hill at these rice terraces) you will find an old large banyan tree growing out of the top of the hill.
It looks like a crest and Jambul means “crest”. So, the area takes its name from the tree.
The area is very cool and that’s because it’s about 500 meters above sea level. This is great because the cool temperatures allow you to wander and explore the local area without getting too sweaty and uncomfortable.
Just follow the winding road underneath the coconut trees and enjoy the harmonious combination of agriculture, people and the natural environment.
Where To Stay Near Bukit Jambul, Bali
There are quite a few nice places to stay near the Bukit Jambul Rice Terrace including:
Lembah Wenara – a lovely place to stay which is always very cool and there’s a great view from the room. There are monkeys in the local area too which makes things entertaining too.
Villa Svarga Bali – a near-secret luxury villa complex with an outstanding pool area. It’s very close to plenty of interesting sights and reasonably priced too. It makes for the perfect family retreat from the beach towns.
Avana Bamboo Villas – this is one of the most beautiful bamboo complexes that we’ve ever had the good fortune to see. It’s a stunning place and will look amazing in your Instagram shots. The onsite yoga shala is a nice touch too.
Bird Hills Bali – this awesome treehouse-style accommodation offers views that are simply out of this world. The architecture is amazing and the service is next level too. It’s very popular though and can be booked out months in advance.
De Klumpu Bali Eco Tradi Stay – one of our favourite places in this part of the island, it’s a bungalow complex linked by a boardwalk over a pond and everything is eco-friendly. We love the onsite restaurant too which serves tasty local food.
Where To Eat Near Bukit Jambul, Bali
If you love Indonesian and international menus then you will find both in the local area but there’s a definite emphasis on Balinese food. Some of our favourite places include:
Warung Nasi Babi Guling Pan Edy – the Babi Guling here is really first rate and the skin is always crispy, crunch and delicious. The portions are also remarkably generous.
Warung Widari – a very basic warung serving Indonesian food in decent-sized portions. It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s also very inexpensive.
Gogo Fried Chicken – this is a low budget chain restaurant that aspires to be KFC but isn’t close. We’d only eat here if we had really fussy children with us who wouldn’t eat anything else.
Warung Sate Jodog – is an excellent satay restaurant that focuses on sate babi (pork satay) and it’s often very crowded by lunchtime, so we recommend getting there early.
Warung Kuliner OMG – a lovely place run by a single woman who works very hard to prepare a small menu of extra delicious food. We recommend the banana cake which is the sweetest and nicest dessert in the area.
Things To Do Near Bukit Jambul, Bali
The centre of the island offers plenty to do and once you’ve seen Bukit Jambul rice terrace and palm trees stretching out to the horizon, you might want to visit:
Things To Do Near Bukit Jambul, Bali
The centre of the island offers plenty to do and once you’ve seen Bukit Jambul rice terrace and palm trees stretching out to the horizon, you might want to visit:
Besakih Temple – the mother temple, Besakih Temple, is Bali’s most holy site and the centre of the Subak irrigation system as well as being connected to every other temple on the island (hence “mother temple”). It’s very much worth visiting the Besakih Temple after visiting Bukit Jambul. Oddly, Besakih Temple probably sees fewer tourists than some of the other more Instagram-famous temples here and that’s a shame as it’s a very beautiful place.
Goa Raja Waterfall – it’s a bit of a hike to get to this waterfall in a cave complex but it’s worth the walk. It’s a spectacular place with a fresh tropical atmosphere that really makes you feel alive.
Sidemen Village – if you found Ubud to be a touch commercial for your tastes, you might appreciate the hippy vibe of Sidemen. It’s a lovely village among the finest rice fields and valleys in Bali.
Tukad Cepung Waterfall – one of Bali’s most famous waterfalls due to the position of the waterfall in a valley where the light breaks through the flow in spectacular fashion at certain times of day.
Gembleng Waterfall – a very beautiful waterfall that’s quite a way from the usual tourist sites. It’s a wonderful place for photography and communing with nature with very few influencers in sight.
Pura Kehen – if you want to enjoy an old temple in Bali without a huge crowd around you and among the most amazing scenery on the island, then the Pura Kehen temple complex is perfect for you.
FAQs
What Is The Most Famous Rice Terraces In The World?
Banuae Rice Terraces in Luzon in the Philippines are probably the most famous rice terraces in the world. In Bali, the most famous rice terrace is the Tegallalang Rice Terrace.
It’s also one of the busiest rice terraces in the land and we’d recommend travelling a bit further if you want to see an unspoiled rice terrace without huge crowds of people.
How Do Rice Terraces Work?
A rice terrace is a series of rice fields that follow the natural contours of the land. They appear to have been “invented” in Japan but are used in nearly all rice-growing cultures.
They are an excellent way of ensuring that the fields see the right amount of water and the design helps to filter the water to ensure that the rice gets the right nutrients too.
How To Book A Holiday In Bali To See Bukit Jambul Rice Terrace?
We always recommend that you book your holiday in Bali through the lovely people at the Bali Res Centre. They will ensure that you see Bukit Jambul and get great deals on your accommodation, flights, local transport and more too.
Bukit Jambul is a little off the beaten path in Bali and that makes it a great place to visit if you want to see the real Bali without being crowded out by other tourists.
It makes for a perfect stop on a day out to see the Besakih Temple and it’s cool and pleasant all year round. Though, it’s best not to visit just after harvest as there’s not much to see in the fields at this time.
