When families start planning a trip to Bali, Ubud often rises quickly to the top of the list. It is quieter than the southern coast, steeped in culture, and surrounded by the kind of green, layered landscape that most people picture when they imagine Bali. The rice terraces that fan out across the hills north of the town are some of the most photographed scenery in all of Southeast Asia, and for good reason. They are genuinely beautiful, and they change with the light in a way that is hard to describe until you have seen it in person.
What many families discover, however, is that the best way to experience this part of Bali is not to rush through it on a day trip, but to slow down and stay within it. That is where a family villa near the Tegallalang rice terraces changes everything about the holiday.
Villa Tau sits in Kenderan, Tegallalang, just 6 kilometres north of central Ubud. It is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom tropical villa surrounded on three sides by working rice fields. The iconic views that appear in countless photographs of Bali are, in this part of Tegallalang, simply what you see when you step outside. There is no queue and no entry fee. The view is just there, every morning, for the duration of your stay.
What Makes the Tegallalang Area So Good for Families
Families with children often find that the Ubud area rewards a slightly slower pace. There is plenty to see and do, but the region is not built around nightlife or the frenetic energy of some coastal areas. Tegallalang, in particular, sits comfortably between two things that families tend to want from a Bali holiday: easy access to genuine cultural sights, and a setting that feels peaceful enough to properly switch off.
The rice terraces themselves are a wonderful thing to share with children. The subak irrigation system, which has shaped these terraced fields for over a thousand years, is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking or driving through this landscape gives families something meaningful to talk about, and children tend to respond well to its spectacle. The sheer scale of the terracing, the way it steps down the hillside in overlapping layers of green, is the kind of thing that stays with you.
Being based in Tegallalang also puts families within a short drive of the key Ubud experiences: the Monkey Forest, the Ubud Art Market, Goa Gajah, Tirta Empul, and a wide variety of rafting, cycling, and cultural activities that work well for mixed-age groups.
Villa Tau as a Family Villa
Villa Tau has been designed with groups in mind, and families in particular find its layout genuinely useful. There are four bedrooms in total, all en-suite, sleeping up to eight guests. The bedrooms are spread thoughtfully across the property rather than stacked in a single building. Two bedrooms sit upstairs in the main house, a separate cottage occupies the middle of the garden, and a beautiful traditional Joglo structure stands at the far end of the grounds.
For families, this kind of layout is practical in a way that a hotel corridor simply cannot replicate. Parents can have their own space while children are close by. Grandparents or older relatives can settle into the Joglo with a level of privacy that makes a multigenerational stay feel comfortable for everyone. When the family wants to come together, the large open-plan living areas are there. When someone needs a quiet moment, the villa’s layout makes that easy too.
The villa also caters thoughtfully for younger guests. A complimentary cot and high chair are available for infants and toddlers, and two extra mattresses can be provided for children, meaning the villa can comfortably accommodate groups of up to ten when children form part of the travelling party.
Catered Stays That Take the Pressure Off Parents
One of the most underrated aspects of staying at Villa Tau is that it is a fully catered villa. A dedicated staff of four looks after guests throughout their stay, covering daily housekeeping, pool and garden maintenance, and cooking. Breakfast is included every morning with the stay, and an à la carte menu is available for lunch and dinner at very reasonable prices.
For families travelling with children, this detail matters more than it might initially seem. Self-catering on holiday is manageable when you are familiar with local shops and supermarkets. In Bali, that unfamiliarity adds a layer of effort that most families would rather avoid, particularly after a long day exploring. Coming back to the villa knowing that a meal can be prepared without any planning or effort is the kind of thing that genuinely improves a holiday.
The villa also offers complimentary concierge services. The team can arrange day trips, make restaurant reservations in Ubud, and help with any local logistics that would otherwise eat into your time. For families trying to fit a lot into a week or ten days, having someone who knows the area and can handle bookings is a considerable advantage.
The Setting and What You Can See From Villa Tau
The rice fields that surround Villa Tau are not a backdrop you glimpse from one window. They wrap around three sides of the property, and the villa’s large folding doors open the indoor living spaces directly to the outdoor area, which flows into the garden and the views beyond. The outdoor swimming pool sits within this setting, so even a quiet afternoon by the water feels part of something larger.
The Tegallalang rice terraces in this part of Ubud have a particular quality that draws photographers and travellers alike. The light in the early morning is soft and diffuse, and the greens shift depending on the time of year and where the farmers are in the growing cycle. Children and adults alike tend to find the landscape genuinely absorbing, and the villa’s proximity to the fields means families can walk out into them rather than view them from a car window.
Child-Friendly Activities Near Tegallalang
Families staying at Villa Tau have a strong selection of activities within easy reach. The villa’s concierge team can arrange most of these, or families can organise them independently. A few that tend to work particularly well for mixed-age groups are worth mentioning.
The Bali Bird Park is a short drive from Villa Tau and houses over 250 species of birds alongside Komodo dragons in the reptile section. It is well maintained, genuinely interesting for children, and relaxed enough to work for younger visitors too.
The Tegallalang Rice Terrace walk is something families can do independently, heading out on foot directly from the villa’s surroundings. The routes vary in length and difficulty, and the views reward even a short walk.
White-water rafting on the Ayung River is popular with families whose children are old enough to take part, and several operators offer guided trips at varying levels of intensity. It is a memorable experience and one that tends to become a highlight of the trip for older children and teenagers.
Cooking classes in and around Ubud are widely available and offer a hands-on way for families to engage with Balinese food and culture together. Many include a trip to a local market at the start, which adds an extra dimension to the experience.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in central Ubud is about fifteen minutes from Villa Tau by car. It is one of those places that children tend to remember vividly, and the ancient temple structures within the forest add a layer of cultural context, making it more than just a novelty.
Staying Just North of Ubud
Families sometimes worry that staying outside central Ubud means missing out. In practice, Villa Tau’s location is one of its genuine strengths. Kenderan is quiet and peaceful in a way that central Ubud no longer entirely is. The roads around the villa pass through rice fields and traditional villages, creating a calmer atmosphere. At the same time, central Ubud is only about 15 minutes away by car, so everything the town offers is easily accessible without the noise and activity of daily life at the villa.
This balance tends to suit families well. Ubud is worth exploring, and Villa Tau offers easy access. But having a base that feels genuinely tucked away makes the evenings and mornings feel like they belong to the holiday rather than to the town.
Booking Villa Tau Directly
Booking directly with Bali Hidden Villas rather than through a third‑party listing site offers several practical advantages. Direct bookings are covered by a best‑price guarantee, which means you will not find a lower rate elsewhere. Stays of three nights or more include a complimentary airport transfer, which is a thoughtful perk for families arriving with luggage and young children after a long journey. Every guest also receives a daily breakfast and a welcome gift on arrival.
For families weighing up their accommodation options in Ubud, our 4-bedroom family villa Tau offers something genuinely hard to find elsewhere: a fully staffed, child‑friendly villa in a rice field setting, close to the best of Ubud without sitting in the middle of it.
If Villa Tau is fully booked or you need a different layout, you might consider one of our other family villas. Occupying its own stunning river-gorge setting in Pejeng, our 6-bedroom villa, Sagitta, is perfect for larger families and groups who want peace and tranquillity near Ubud. For smaller families or couples travelling with one or two children, it offers a more intimate setting when rented as a 3-bedroom villa, without losing any of the charm or staff service.
To see every option side by side, visit our main villas listing page, where you can compare all three properties. Each villa has its own personality, but all share the same commitment to making your family holiday in Bali effortless and memorable.
Ready to secure your dates? You can check availability and secure online booking for Villa Tau directly. For any questions about which villa best fits your group, our team is happy to help via the contact form.
