When walking through the busy streets of Ubud, it’s hard to imagine that stunning Balinese rice fields are just around the corner. But that’s exactly the case! Within minutes of the bustling center, you can find yourself surrounded by greenery. In addition to the popular Campuhan Ridge Walk, there’s another beautiful hiking trail: the Sweet Orange Walk Trail, also known as the Subak Juwuk Manis Rice Fields Walk or the Kajeng Rice Field Walk. In this article, I’ll tell you more about this lovely walk through Ubud’s rice fields.
Hiking through the rice fields of Kajeng and Subak Juwuk Manis
You may be getting confused already, wondering which walk I’m referring to. The reason this walk is often called the Sweet Orange Walk Trail is because of the lovely Sweet Orange Warung, which you pass along the way. It’s one of the best spots to eat in Ubud, in my opinion. The path you walk along is situated between the Kajeng rice fields and the Subak Juwuk Manis rice fields. That’s why this walk is known by three different names.
Where does the Sweet Orange Walk Trail start?
Where the trail begins is a bit trickier to locate than it appears on Google Maps, especially if you’re not familiar with the area. The alley you need to enter is on Jalan Raya Ubud, one of the busiest streets in Ubud. You’ll find the alley next to the Museum Puri Lukisan. When you walk past the museum heading southeast, you’ll spot the sign shown in the photo below. Walk down the path between the buildings. Soon, the surroundings become greener and you’ll encounter a wall covered in graffiti. The path continues along the wall and when it turns right, you’ll pass an old house that now serves as a kind of museum.
Walking under palm trees between Ubud’s rice fields
Right after the graffiti-covered house, you’ll find yourself on a beautiful walking path between the rice fields. On one side, there are the Kajeng rice fields and on the other, the Juwuk Manis rice fields. Palm trees line both sides of the narrow path and for the most part, you walk in partial shade, especially in the midday sun when it’s high in the sky.
The views are stunning, both to the left and the right. It’s hard to believe that the bustling Ubud is only a few hundred meters away. We encounter only a few people along the way, making it incredibly peaceful. Every now and then, we see some locals working in the rice fields and a man rides by on his scooter, smiling broadly. The people here are so friendly!
Lunch at Sweet Orange Warung
We stop for lunch at Sweet Orange Warung and what a lovely spot it is! It’s perfect for a drink or a leisurely lunch. The menu offers a variety of freshly prepared dishes and the smoothies are absolutely delicious. There are several cozy spots to sit, including a beautiful garden area at the back. It’s highly recommended to take a break here if you’re walking the Sweet Orange Walk and of course, this restaurant can also be the perfect destination for your walk. If that’s the case, simply retrace your steps back to Jalan Raya Ubud. If you want to continue your walk, just follow the same path after lunch.
Walking over quotes and personal messages
Just before Sweet Orange Warung and a little further along, there’s a fairly new path where the tiles feature charming inscriptions, quotes and personal messages. Not only do you get to enjoy the view around you, but you’re also paying attention to where you step and what’s written along the way. It’s really fun! There’s also another lovely warung nearby: Eightea Bali.
You can continue walking further between the rice fields by following the path straight ahead. However, we turn right and head back toward civilization. Along the way, more charming spots keep popping up: beautiful vistas and the occasional house nestled in the middle of the rice fields. At the lovely Brick Warung, you can enjoy a snack or drink while taking in direct views of the rice fields, another beautiful spot. From here, things start to get busier. More buildings, more people, and more traffic.
Back to the center via Prianka Ubud Art Market
Through narrow alleys and winding streets, we find ourselves at Prianka Ubud Art Market. It feels like suddenly hitting a wall; the hustle and bustle of Ubud hits you all at once! However, it’s a fun market to grab a few souvenirs. We walk all the way through Prianka Ubud Art Market and end up back on Jalan Raya Ubud.
Trying to book a Grab here is futile and after several unsuccessful attempts, we decide to walk back to our accommodation in the northern part of Ubud. It’s quite a long walk, but the big advantage is that you get to experience Ubud’s hustle and bustle up close.
How much time do you need for the Sweet Orange Walk?
If you don’t plan on stopping for lunch or drinks but want to pause here and there for photos, you’ll be about an hour into the walk through the Kajeng rice fields. We, however, take our time to enjoy a long lunch, take lots of photos and even fly the drone for a bit. Plus, we spend quite a bit of time at the market at the end of the walk, where my daughter is hunting for the best bracelets. So, you can easily complete the walk in an hour, but it’s also easy to spend up to 3 hours if you want to take your time. For us, it’s a lovely and relaxing afternoon, with a perfect mix of peaceful and bustling Ubud.
By the way, it’s good to know that almost the entire walk is on flat ground, with no stairs and little elevation change. This makes it an ideal walk for people who are less mobile.
