Things to do in Tabanan

Tabanan is the town at the heart of Bali's rice country, north-west of Denpasar. The regency is known as Bali's rice granary. Things to do in Tabanan are strung along one long slope, from the black-sand coast to the cool lake at Bedugul.

Coast, terraces and highlands

The Subak Museum, opened in 1981, shows the irrigation that waters the terraces. UNESCO listed the system in 2012.

• Tanah Lot. A temple on an offshore rock, some 20 km from Denpasar and said to be the work of the priest Nirartha in the 16th century. It can be reached on foot only at low tide, and sunset is the crowded hour.
• Batukaru. The 11th-century temple Pura Luhur Batukaru stands on the southern slope of Bali's second-highest mountain, at 2,276 metres.
• Jatiluwih. The UNESCO-listed rice terraces lie below the same mountain.
• Bedugul. A cool highland. Ulun Danu Beratan, a temple on the lake shore, dates from 1633, and the botanic garden, at 1,240 metres, covers 157.5 hectares.

What gets booked

Almost every tour is a private car with a driver-guide. Many days end at Tanah Lot, at sunset.

• Temple circuits. Tanah Lot with Taman Ayun, the royal temple of Mengwi in Badung, built in 1634. Five to seven hours.
• Highland days. Bedugul and Jatiluwih, sometimes with Nungnung waterfall or Batukaru. Nine to ten hours.
• Village day. A school visit, a family compound and rice planting, then lunch with dancers. Seven hours, or ten with Tanah Lot.
• Beach rides. ATV and dirt-bike tracks along the coast west of town.

Practical

• Weather. The plain and coast run about 30C by day. Bedugul runs 17 to 25C by day and 10 to 15C at night. The heaviest rain falls from December to February.
• Tides. The rock at Tanah Lot is reachable only at low tide, so check the tide table before planning sunset.
• Swimming. Yeh Gangga, a black-sand beach on this coast, has a fairly strong undercurrent. The provincial tourism site rates it less safe for swimming.
• Subak Museum. Fridays end around midday, so go on another day.