Ubud: Campuhan Ridge Walk, Rice Fields, & More

Ubud offers an opportunity for some lush, scenic Bali countryside running. Run along trekking paths and past rice paddies, where there’s a combination of gentler and more challenging, hilly trail running. Our recommendations on the best places to run in Ubud (with help from the wonderful guide, Almost Landing Bali)

Campuhan Ridge Walk. Popular path set along a hillside. Lush, jungle-like scenery, with some views of the volcanoes that you wouldn’t get in town. Can get very crowded once the tour buses arrive — go early! The heart of the run goes from the Blanco Museum or the Ibah Villas to the Karsa Kafe for 2km, but can continue along a path/road for another 0.5 km, making for a 5k out and back!  The first 1.2 km is uphill and the surface is a concrete tile of sorts about 18 inches square with 1 to 4 inches between tiles — be careful with footing! After this first patch, the surface is more brick with some concrete all the way to the asphalt road. Hilly (286 foot gain). MAP

Rice Fields. Walking within the rice fields and by rice terraces is one of the reasons people visit Ubud. Our favorite is the Kajeng Rice Field. Start on Jl. Kaking, run for just shy of 1 km to the smaller road, turn left, and do a loop around the unnamed roads, which are more like paths. Generally stay west of Jl. Suweta. MAP

Tjampuhan’s Sacred Hills. This is a ~12 mile walking/hiking trail amid green woods, valleys, and rivers — with great mountain and rice terrace views. Overlaps with some parts of Campuhan Ridge Walk.

Good Roads for Running in Ubud. Jl. Bisma from center to Monkey Forest 1.5 km; Monkey Forest Rd., early morning – it’s 1.5 km south from Ubud Palace; Road to Sunset Hill (Jl. Bangkiang Sidem); North of Ubud,  Elephant Park Rd. and some of the quieter roads around there are flat, passing by rice fields.

Video Excerpt: Rice Fields of Ubud (14 min.)