Bali's Tegalalang rice terraces have remained unchanged for centuries. And while most trips only let you see them from afar, a walking tour takes you to their heart. Putu Adi, one of our local guides, says, ‘Balinese don't use pesticides or fertilisers and yet our rice paddies are the most productive in Indonesia. It's all about balance.' Trekking through parts of the island that remain relatively unexplored, you'll discover ways of life that have long stayed the same. We'll visit villages where locals live off the land and learn about traditional Balinese crafts, too.
Journey into a land of jungle-topped peaks and open plains where farmers still plough their fields using oxen. Putu Adi says, ‘As you walk through the rice terraces you'll discover the concept of “subak”. It's the word we use to sum up a cooperative water management system dating from the 9th century. Subak means all farmers collaborate to make sure their crops are well irrigated and thrive. In our culture, rice is a gift from the gods, so subak is partly society, partly religion and partly farming.'
Such is the importance of subak that it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After your trek, watch traditional crafts in action. You'll see how local farmers create their conical hats to help keep the Balinese sun at bay, and taste fresh young coconut cut from the tree. To top it all, lunch is served with spectacular views over the emerald-green rice terraces on the hillside.
