Discovering the Authentic Heart of Bali: Eco-Tourism in Keliki Village & Five Art Studio

During my stay in Ubud, I wanted to escape the bustling streets and truly immerse myself in the rich local culture—all while supporting the community. That’s when I discovered Keliki Village, a hidden gem just north of Ubud, where nature and art beautifully intertwine.

A scenic 20-minute hike along the Campuhan Ridge Walk led me from the heart of Ubud to Keliki, a serene retreat surrounded by emerald rice paddies, lush jungles, and a thriving artistic community centered around Five Art Studio.

  
Keliki Paddy fields

Five Art Studio team and guests

Unleash Your Creativity at Five Art Studio

For over two decades, Five Art Studio has been at the heart of Keliki’s artistic expression. The studio is famous for its intricate Keliki miniature paintings, a unique Balinese art form. It attracts professional artists and master craftsmen who create exquisite paintings, sculptures, and traditional crafts—some of which take up to three months to complete.

Get Involved

Beyond just admiring the art, you can join workshops and create your own masterpiece under the guidance of skilled local artists. Purchasing their handcrafted artworks (priced between $20 to $1,000) helps sustain Balinese artistic traditions while directly supporting local artists and the Keliki community.

Art workshops and artists at Five Art Studio

Experiencing the Eco-Village Charm of Keliki

Keliki is not just a scenic village—it’s a developing model for sustainable living. Here’s how you can experience its already eco-friendly essence:

Trek Through the Breathtaking Rice Paddies

Embark on a 1.5 to 2-hour guided trek, where local guides (I had the pleasure of trekking with the incredibly knowledgeable Nyoman) share insights into traditional farming practices, community waste and water management, and local crops – such as rice, bananas, cocoa and sweet potatoes.

• Meet local farmers and learn about centuries-old water irrigation techniques.
• Understand how eco-tourism supports sustainable development.
• Enjoy an authentic experience including lunch or dinner for just €40 ($43 USD).

  
Trekking hike through Keliki paddies with Nyoman

Subak Irrigation System

Embracing Authentic Homestays

To fully immerse myself in Keliki’s charm, I stayed with Wayun (owner of Five Art Studio) and his family at their homestay within the studio. Their warm hospitality and the peaceful surroundings of the rice fields made it feel like a true home away from home.

Homestays are a favorite choice for long-term travelers, especially from the US, Australia, and China, who seek authentic cultural experiences while directly supporting the local economy.

If you’re comfortable with a simple, nature-immersed stay rather than luxury resorts, Keliki is perfect for you. Here, the pace slows down, allowing you to disconnect from urban life and reconnect with nature.

Five Art Studio homestay with Wayun and his family

Indulge Your Senses through Local Eateries

While closer to the Campuhan Ridge you’ll find Western-style eateries, Keliki boasts some fantastic local warungs (family-run eateries) serving authentic Balinese flavors.

For a more upscale experience, you might visit the renowned Akasha Restaurant, a beautifully designed spot offering healthy and delicious cuisine. Expect to spend around Rp 1,248,300 ($60 USD) for a meal, but for a truly local experience, I recommend exploring the hidden gems in Keliki Village.

This elegant and stunningly designed eatery offers healthy and delicious cuisine in a cozy and friendly atmosphere, with an average spend of up to Rp 1,248,300 (£46). But if you’re like me and want something a little more authentic, you won’t be short on the local warung offerings and smaller cafes around the village

Supporting Sustainability: Keliki’s Waste Management Challenge

During my stay, I volunteered to support the local community by helping with marketing, social media, and sustainability initiatives. One of the biggest challenges Keliki faces is waste management, with the village producing half a tonne of waste every fortnight.

Keliki villager separating the organic and inorganic waste

I visited the local composting site, where villagers manually separate waste before decomposing it at their central compost heap for three days. This method, introduced in 2021, has improved soil quality but still presents challenges, including:

• Air pollution from burning waste
• Unpleasant odors affecting tourism
• Rodent and pest infestations posing health risks

Interview with Wayun on Keliki’s Waste Issue 

Wayun (left) and Hetty-Jo (right) interview

Wayun, also a local advocate for eco-tourism in the village, shared his thoughts on Keliki’s growing waste problem:

H: It’s lovely to meet you Wayun.

W: Yes, yes and you, and you

H: So firstly, what’s the name of the village?

W: Keliki. K-E-L-I-K-I.

H: Could you tell me a bit about how waste from the village is disposed of?

W: So, every house, every family, they pay 25 to 50 thousand [IDR] per month for the government to collect every week but it still is not enough because there is too much waste everyday, too much plastic. My wife also helps to collect the plastic to take to the village waste compost heap.

H: Do you have a name for this system?

W: No, no official system.

H: I’ve noticed that there is a lot of waste on the sides of the roads. Do you think it is worse here in Keliki or in the centre of Ubud?

W: I think it is worse in Keliki. It is starting to become a tourism village and we need people to understand that the waste, especially inorganic, is putting tourists off. It is a problem.

H: Do you find that Five Art Studio itself produces a lot of plastic waste?

W: Not too much. Most the waste is from the waxing processes and plastic bottles. 

H: Do you feel that the government can do more? Are they doing the best they can do you think?

W: No, because it is not good money for them.

H: So if the government had more money to dispose of the waste efficiently they would be better?

W: Yes, yes I think so.

H: What is the main thing you would like to see change in Keliki village with the waste management?

W: We want to change people’s thinking to care about the waste and get more tourist.

H: You don’t feel that the local community care about the environment?

W: Not really. We could do more but we want households to burn their waste less and not pollute the air.

H: I see a lot of households burning waste. Is this both plastic and organic?

W: Yes, they are mixing.

H: When it comes to tourism, do you have more issues with waste management during high season?

W: Yes, but also it gives more locals a job. Less projects during low season.

H: So let me clarify, we want to raise awareness about the issues with Keliki’s waste disposal and ultimately make it better so that more tourists come to the village, right?

W: Yes, yes that is good.

H: Okay, thank you.

W: Thank you, thank you.

Additional problems that can arise from composting as a waste management strategy in Keliki includes:

• CO2 emissions which contribute to air pollution
• Off-putting smell of decomposing waste
• Pests and rodents causing a public health risk

Water Management in Keliki

During my trek, Nyoman introduced me to the Subak irrigation system, an ancient 9th-century Balinese water management method. These water channels, sourced from mountain springs, sustain Keliki’s rice paddies and agriculture.

However, Keliki faces two major water challenges:

• Pollution: Once clean enough to bathe in, the water has deteriorated due to increasing waste.

• Scarcity: Dry seasons (April–September) often leave farmers struggling to meet crop demands, resulting in earlier (and illegal) crop planning.

Even sacred shrines along the paddies, where farmers pray for a good harvest, can’t protect the water quality alone!

How Tourists & Government Can Help Support Keliki’s Eco-Tourism

Keliki is eager to embrace sustainable tourism, but with a lack of government support, they rely heavily on raising awareness of eco-conscious efforts to both tourists and the locals here. Strategies that could help include:

1. Improve Waste Management
   Support household recycling initiatives by separating organic and non-organic waste.

• Government investment in composting infrastructure like waste-to-energy technology for cleaner solutions.

2. Support Local Farmers
   Book a trekking tour with a local guide—helping both tourism and agriculture.

• Buy farm-fresh produce and participate in hands-on farming experiences.

3. Preserve Water Resources
   Implement rainwater harvesting (as seen in Seraya-Karangasem Village) to store excess water for efficient use during dry seasons.

• Reduce water waste in homestays and businesses by promoting conservation methods.

4. Enhance the Rice Field Trek Experience
   Add interactive elements, like rice planting and deeper cultural storytelling, to make the trek even more engaging.

5. Create an Online Booking System
   Develop a centralized website for booking homestays, art workshops, and trekking tours, making it easier for tourists to plan their visit.

Rosi, Five Art Studio family dog

Keliki is more than just a beautiful village—it’s a place where art, nature, and community thrive. By immersing yourself in its culture, supporting local artists and farmers, and advocating for eco-friendly tourism, you can play a role in preserving and contributing to a sustainable future for this incredible community.

If you’re visiting Bali, don’t just stay in Ubud’s center—venture into Keliki, discover Five Art Studio, and embrace a more meaningful, authentic way to experience Bali.

Have you visited Keliki or participated in eco-tourism in Bali?
We’d love to hear your experiences in Keliki/further ideas on how to improve eco-tourism. Contact Five Art Studio using the contact details below:

• Phone: +6281225409203

• Email: fiveartbali@gmail.com

• Instagram: fiveartsstudio