Banaue Rice Terraces

Most beautiful rice terraces in the world?

The rice terraces of Banaue and nearby Batad in the Philippines are world famous. They are situated against the steep hills and are incredibly beautiful. They are perfect for hiking.

The rice terraces follow the natural shape of the landscape and seem to be one with their surroundings. They follow the curves of steep hills up toward the top and gained the nickname name ‘Stairway to Heaven’ that way.

Most beautiful part: Rice fields of Batad

According to many, the most beautiful rice fields are found in Batad, a valley in the Banaue region. You can visit them on a beautiful hike through the mountains. Suddenly the rice fields of Batad appear. It's a view you've earned. Get out early so you have plenty of time to explore the rice paddies up on the mountain.

The amazing rice fields of Batad.

The best tip is to spend the night in Batad. So forget about the day tour. It would be a shame not to enjoy Batad any longer. And miss the sunset and sunrise.

In the meantime you can enjoy the hospitality of local residents; the Ifugao. You can arrange your stay in one of the guesthouses in advance. This is useful, as Batad is becoming more and more popular.

8th Wonder of the World

The Banaue Rice Terraces are considered the 8th Wonder of the World by many. It was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, and since then much has been done to preserve them.

Some of the rice terraces are 2,000 years old

The first rice terraces of Banaue were created by hand by the Ifugao people more than 2000 years ago. Due to their construction method, they can be called a truly ingenious masterpiece.

A visit to the local Ifugao.

You’ll notice that the rice terraces have a clever irrigation system. Water from forests nearby is brought here and slowly flows down the terraces, ensuring the rice plants get just the right amount of water.

Spending the night with the local Ifugao people.

Tappiya Falls

Tappiya Falls in Banaue.

The Tappiya waterfall is a wonderful addition to your visit. You can only reach this waterfall on foot. It's about an hour's walk from the rice fields. So if you still feel like it, you should definitely do this excursion. You can swim the sweat away in the cool water. So that you start fresh on the way back.

Visiting Banaue

If you want to see the rice terraces in all their green glory, the best time to go is around June and July.