What is Tumang Bali? — The Village Behind Our Famous Cooking Class

Tumang is a real working village in Central Bali, not a tourist destination. The residents live in traditional Balinese houses, maintain daily flower offerings at family shrines, and practice the subak irrigation system that has shaped the landscape for centuries. The village sits at around 300 meters elevation, which gives it a cooler climate and stunning views of the surrounding rice terraces and distant mountains.

Most visitors hear about Tumang through our cooking class — it is how we pick up guests, how the market tour begins, and where the cooking happens. But the village itself is worth visiting for the peaceful atmosphere and authentic sense of daily Balinese life.

We chose Tumang because it offers the best balance: close enough to Ubud for convenience (30 minutes), but far enough to feel like a real village. Classes held in Ubud centre often feel commercial. Classes held too far away are hard for guests to reach. Tumang sits at the perfect middle ground.

The rice paddy setting, the morning market nearby, and the warm welcome of the village community all contribute to what makes our class stand out from cooking classes in other areas of Bali.

If you are in the Tumang area, the Tegallalang Rice Terraces are just 20 minutes away. The Sukawati Art Market is 25 minutes south. For temple visits, you can go to Pura Tirta Empul (a holy water temple) or Pura Besakih (Bali's mother temple). Our class is the perfect anchor for a day of exploring Central Bali.