Spice Garden & Cooking Class in Bali Village near Mt. Batukaru

Cook Balinese dishes in an open-air kitchen and learn why the village keeps these recipes alive.

A cooking class in an authentic Balinese village near Mt. Batukaru where you make two kinds of Jamu herbal drink, prepare a full meal in an open-air kitchen, and walk the rice terraces with a local family guide. The class runs 4.5 hours and includes a welcome drink, soft trek with mountain views, visits to the farm and beehives, rice planting, and a farewell certificate with recipes. English, Italian, French, German and one additional language available. Children welcome from age 6.

The experience

The class starts in a small mountain village where you walk straight into the work of the day. You'll stroll the rice terraces, meet the farmers, and pick fresh herbs from the garden before learning to play the Rindik, a bamboo instrument the farmers use. Then comes the cooking: you prepare two kinds of Jamu (Beras Kencur and Jamu Kunyit Jahe Asam) Indonesia's ancient herbal drinks, tasting each one as you finish. The guide walks you through the spice pastes and sambals that anchor Balinese cooking, showing you how to build flavor from what grows around you.

In Paon Bali, the open-air kitchen, you cook a full meal alongside the family: Sate Lilit (minced chicken satay grilled on a live bamboo grill), Tum Ayam steamed in banana leaves, crispy tempeh, vegetables with coconut and herb paste, and Lak Lak, a traditional dessert made in a clay pot. You eat what you've made, sitting with the people who taught you. After lunch, you can help plant rice, feed the village cow Manis, or visit the stingless bees and taste their rare honey. A soft trek downhill with mountain views connects the farm, the compound, and the hot spring at Belulang, which you can bathe in if you choose.

The guide speaks English, Italian, French, German or one other language, and the village accommodates vegetarian diets. You'll receive a personal certificate and recipe book by email after the class, so the cooking stays with you. Wear shirts and pants rather than beachwear. The village is a working place, and that respect is part of the experience.

What’s included

• Welcome drink and guided tour of the herb and spice garden.
• visit to the farm with animals and Trigona beehives.
• soft trek through the village with mountain views.
• cooking class in the open-air kitchen led by a local chef.
• two kinds of Jamu herbal drink made and tasted.
• full Balinese meal you prepare and eat.
• rice planting with the farmer.
• Rindik bamboo instrument lesson.
• personal cooking certificate and recipe book by email.
• English, Italian, French, German or additional language guide.

Options for this experience

5 options

English-speaking tour program09:00A guide who speaks English will travel with the whole group throughout.

German-speaking tour program09:00In addition to the standard program, a private guide who speaks German will accompany you.

Italian-speaking tour program09:00Along with the standard program, a private guide who speaks Italian will be with you.

See 2 more options

French-speaking tour program09:00On top of the standard program, you will be joined by a private guide who speaks French.

Russian-speaking tour program09:00Beyond the standard program, a private guide who speaks Russian will accompany you.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Pets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Balikaru

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to cook real Balinese food with the family who eats it every day, not watch a demonstration in a tourist kitchen. The 4.5-hour format gives you time to walk the terraces, make the Jamu, cook the full meal, and sit with the people who keep the tradition alive: a morning or afternoon that moves at the pace of the village, not a schedule.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

8 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I cook during the class?

You prepare two kinds of Jamu herbal drink, then make a full Balinese meal: Sate Lilit grilled on a bamboo fire, chicken and spices steamed in banana leaves, crispy tempeh, vegetables with coconut paste, and Lak Lak dessert cooked in a clay pot. You eat everything you've made.

How long is the soft trek, and what will I see?

The trek is approximately 30 minutes downhill through the mountain village, with views of the surrounding landscape. You'll walk between the rice terraces, the farm with animals and beehives, the family compound, and the optional hot spring.

What happens if I'm vegetarian?

The village accommodates vegetarian diets. Let them know your dietary needs when you book, and they'll adjust the menu: the Jamu, pastes, vegetables, and dessert work just as well without the meat dishes.

Is the hot spring included, or is it optional?

Belulang Hot Spring is an optional stop after the cooking class. You can bathe there if you'd like, but it's not required. Some people prefer to skip it and head back after lunch.