A tiny village in the middle of Lombok is home to one of the island’s most idyllic attractions, the terraced rice fields of Tete Batu.
Situated in the foothills of Mt Rinjani, and with panoramic views to Indonesia’s second highest volcano, the rice fields of Tete Batu offer visitors a close-up view of the traditional daily life of local villagers, working the land as they have done for centuries.
The rice fields are becoming increasingly popular with tourists, however, the area has yet to experience the overcrowding that has occurred in destinations such as Ubud in Bali.
So, visitors to this region won’t encounter the bustling, market-like atmosphere of its more famous Balinese counterpart, rather, an authentic example of traditional Indonesian life, which has not yet become overrun by mass tourism.
It is very simple to visit Tete Batu as a day trip from Mataram, however there are many simple, low-cost accommodation options in and around the rice fields, run mainly by local families.
Food options are similarly simple, but also cheap and very delicious.
Visitors to the area can book walking tours of Tete Batu, although in many cases, guesthouse owners and friendly locals alike will happily introduce travellers to family members who work in the rice fields, who in turn, will be more than willing to offer first-hand insight into traditional cultivation practices and techniques. It’s also possible to help with planting and harvesting at the beginning or end of each season.
In addition to the rice fields, the farmers of Tete Batu grow a variety of other crops, including coffe, tobacco, tropical fruits and spices, which can be purchased at the source. There’s even a plantation producing fresh macadamia nuts!
While you are in the area, other points of interest to explore, include caves, waterfalls and the Tete Batu Monkey Forest.
Travelling beyond the rice fields, Tete Batu is often used as a starting point to reach larger waterfall sites such as Jeruk Manis. It is also possible to make the 15km trek to the summit of Mt Rinjani from Tete Batu, bypassing the more popular tourist trails of Sembalun and Senaru.
Mt Sangkareang is another popular hiking destination that can be accessed from here, with breathtaking views of Lombok and Rinjani’s crater lake.
Those that want to experience some traditional Sasak culture, can view performances of the ancient sport of stick fighting, known as Presean. The village of Kotaraja, a short drive south of Tete Batu, is one of the best places on the island to do this.