[Bali, Indonesia 2014] Lunch At Pacung Rice Terrace
By Elin Chow - Thursday, October 06, 2016
Pacung Rice Terrace is located in Baturiti village near Bedugul resort area at the regency of Tabanan, the central part of Bali, approximately 60 minutes drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport. Due to its strategic location, it is the third most visited rice paddies in Bali (first is Tegalalang Rice Terrace and second is Jatiluwih Rice Terrace) and much bigger than Tegalalang Rice Terrace.
Surprisingly, very few tourists have venture out of Kuta to explore the rural areas of Bali, which is actually a good thing because you would get to travel through the rest of the island in peace and quiet. Those who did venture out of Kuta would have visited the Tegalalang Rice Terrace because of its proximity to Kuta. Unfortunately, it is very much a tourist trap too. During our trip to Bali, we have also visited the famous Tegalalang Rice Terrace, but did not like it because it is often packed with hordes of tourists and touts.
The similarly picturesque Pacung Rice Terrace, on the other hand, is often left underappreciated. Comparing to Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Pacung Rice Terrace is harder to get to, but perhaps, its inaccessibility is also what stop the crowds from flocking to the attraction.
We had lunch at Labhagga Restaurant Pacung, a lovely restaurant located on the slope of Pacung valley, providing a panoramic view of the terrace rice fields and surrounding mountains. Lunch is served in buffet style with usual Indonesian food. The food offered at the buffet were good, but not exceptional. We were actually disappointed by the limited choices of food on offer, which we thought was a little over-priced for what we got. But fortunately, the great service and picturesque view made up for it.
After all, the restaurant is not famous for its food, but the scenery it offers. The restaurant is known to be the best place in the area to view and take photo of the rice terrace. It is great to arrive at lunchtime and have a meal in the restaurant while enjoying the nice scenery, cool climate and fresh air. But I would recommend arriving slightly earlier to get a good seat before the tourist crowds start to pour in around noon.
Well, even if you are not planning to eat, you will also be allowed to enjoy the beautiful view of the rice terraces from the restaurant's balcony for free.
Located 800 meters above sea level right in the mountainous area, Pacung Rice Terrace is surrounded by lush vegetation and a cool, crisp atmosphere. From the top of the restaurant, the rice terraces were incredibly stunning.
The area is very rural with no public transportation. Thus, the best way to get here is to hire a driver or rent a car and drive. Take your time to appreciate the tranquil beauty of the island as you drive through the unspoiled Balinese countryside.
The rice terraces are built like stairs, which works great on sloped land. Everywhere you look, you will see finely curved rice terraces in every brilliant shades of green, set against the backdrop of misty mountains, blue sky and lush green forest. Yes, they were certainly impressive to look at.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the Southern Bali, this is a great place to escape the tourist crowds, relax and appreciate the nature. The air is incredibly fresh and clean, and the surroundings is very quiet and peaceful.
The rice fields were usually empty and very few people actually walk through it. We did not get to walk through the rice terrace too and it is something that I truly regretted.
If you are lucky, you may have the chance to witness the daily life of farmers during the planting and harvesting seasons. During dry seasons, vegetables are grown instead of rice in order to keep the soil fertile.
Terraced rice paddy fields is one of the most popular feature of Bali. A trip to Bali is never complete without a visit to one of its lush rice terraces in all shades of green. But unfortunately, some has become too touristy, which can spoil the overall experience.
We were glad that Pacung Rice Terrace remains tranquil despite mass tourism. This is definitely one of best place in Bali to enjoy the cool weather and beautiful panorama of the rice terraces.
If you are interested to know more about our trip, you may want to check out our 6D5N Bali Trip Itinerary + Overview for the list of attractions that we had visited during our 6 days in Bali. Be sure to follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates on my 6 days adventures in Bali! You might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.
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