Bali’s Most Famous Rice Terraces Celebrate Increase In Tourist Visits

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It’s a tough call to decide which of Bali’s most famous rice terraces is. Is it the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jatiluwih or the Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud?

Here at The Bali Sun, we think Jatiluwih is just a tiny bit more famous, which is just one of the reasons why the attraction is welcoming an increase in the number of visits this month. 

Jatiluwih Rice Terrace made headlines in late 2025 when local farmers and landowners installed zinc sheeting across the landscape in protest of demotion orders and spatial planning investigations. The protests had a positive and a negative impact. In the big picture, the protests caught the attention of local policymakers who heeded the demands of local farmers.

However, news of protests triggered concern amongst international travel agents who pulled visits from their customers’ itineraries. While the protests were entirely peaceful, not targeted at tourists, and entailed only the installation of a few unsightly metal sheets, travel agents did not want to compromise on their guests’ experience. 

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A post shared by DTW Jatiluwih Official (@jatiluwihdestination)

In early January 2026, an agreement was reached between local farmers, landowners, and the Tabanan Regency Government.

The Regent of Tabanan, Komang Gede Sanjaya, met personally with farmers and building owners who were accused of violating the green belt laws and agreed to remove the corrugated metal sheets installed across the landscape. 

The metal sheets were quickly removed, and from a visitor’s perspective, all returned to usual. However, the local farmers, who rely on income from tourism as much as their income from rice crops, were noticing that tourists were slow to return.

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A post shared by DTW Jatiluwih Official (@jatiluwihdestination)

For tourists, this was actually great news; for a few weeks, visitors were able to enjoy a crowd-free adventure in Bali’s most famous landscape. The Tourism Manager for Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Jhon Ketut Purna, spoke to reporters about how the attraction is bouncing back after a sudden 80% decline in visitors. 

Purna shared, “The Jatiluwih tourist village in Tabanan is currently recovering and restructuring its management, and tourist visits are already occurring. During the controversy, tourist visits plummeted by 80 percent.”

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A post shared by DTW Jatiluwih Official (@jatiluwihdestination)

He further explained, “Jatiluwih lost market share after three countries canceled the trip, blocking it from tourist packages. This was because travel agents were afraid to bring tourists to Jatiluwih, fearing demonstrations and concerns about the safety and comfort of visiting tourists.”

Purna shared his hopes that the new moratorium established between local landowners and the Tabanan Regency Government will create the long-term stability needed for both the local community and for tourists to feel confident in organising a trip to the area.

Here at The Bali Sun, we are confident in singing the praises of Jatiluwih Rice Terraces as one of the most beautiful landscapes in Bali.

More than that, though, as a working agricultural ecosystem, Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are the gateway for tourists to learn about Balinese culture in a holistic and immersive way. 

The rice cycle is utterly fascinating, and in learning about the crop cycle, tourists can better understand the rhythms of the season that govern daily life in Bali.

In January, the brown rice planting season begins, and the paddies are flooded and muddied as seedlings are planted. Though this isn’t for long, by early February the rice is already starting to green up, and by March the paddies are a vibrant expanse of green again.

A day trip to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces is exceptionally affordable. Entry for an international adult is IDR 75,000, and IDR 50,000 for a child. For a real cultural deep dive day trip in Tabanan Regency, tourists can start the day at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, ideally arriving in time for a magical sunrise and tour of the subak and terraces.

After a morning exploring the terraces, the next best stop is Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest, where tourists can learn even more about local culture and the importance of Bali’s primates. The end of the day has to be spent at Tanah Lot Temple, where tourists are always spoiled with a stunning sunset behind one of Bali’s most spiritually significant temples.