If you’re coming from a cold country or a 4-seasons country, basking in the Bali sun sounds tempting. Added to visiting Bali’s coastline, rice paddies, and majestic waterfalls will make up for a perfect picture of having a holiday in a tropical paradise. But after spending some time in Bali, Bali’s heat can feel too much, which means it’s time for a getaway to the north. The north of Bali is home to untouched natural wonders, the highlands region that offers a completely different view than South Bali. Munduk, Bali is where you should go to experience an adventure in Bali’s coldest region or for a super comfortable escape from the heat.
Why Munduk, Bali is Still Untouched by Tourists?
I know some friends who visited Munduk, Bali more than once. They said it’s one of their favorite places in Bali as it’s marvelous but far from crowded. It sparked my curiosity until I proved it myself a few weeks ago. Yes, the nature in Munduk is marvelous. I spent a night in Munduk on a pretty cold temperature for Bali standard, 18 degrees Celcius. Besides the cool climate, the Munduk village has a picturesque landscape and lush surroundings, making it an ideal spot for those seeking tranquility, natural beauty, and a glimpse into traditional Balinese rural life.
Munduk is indeed a real Bali hidden gem. The area is covered in beautiful jungles, rice terraces, and clove plantations with numerous waterfalls dotting the landscape, many of them hidden away from the tourist trail, hence it’s easy to miss Munduk when travelers explore Bedugul and North Bali. That’s why it still holds the status of Bali’s untouched beauty, although nowadays more foreign tourists are visiting Munduk than before.
If you’re looking for a serene escape in the small mountain village in the North of Bali, away from the hustle and bustle of touristy areas in the South of Bali, Munduk, Bali is the perfect destination.
How to Get to Munduk, Bali?
From Canggu and Ubud, it takes slightly less than 2 hours to drive to Munduk. We drove our car but it’s also easy to reach Munduk, Bali by taking a motorbike or renting a car with a driver. I am unsure if using an online taxi like Grab/ Gojek is doable since I saw a sign in Munduk town saying they aren’t allowed to operate there. Munduk is located in Buleleng Regency, 35 minutes from Ulun Danu Beratan Lake in Bedugul. If you decide to ride a motorbike to Munduk, Bali, don’t forget to bring a raincoat since Munduk is located at a high elevation which results in a cool climate and often raining.
Things to See & Do in Munduk, Bali
- Staycation or Resort Retreat in Munduk, Bali
We spent 2 nights in Girihill Farmhouse, a newly opened hotel located in Jalan Raya Wanagiri, around 18 minutes from Munduk town center.
At first, I was interested in the hotel as it claimed to be a farmhouse. I thought it would be nice to stroll around the farm and see some animals around the hotel. A nice change from the typical hotel/ resort in Bali. It turned out to be a good choice since we got a new activity for our daughter to enjoy.
Since I went to Munduk, Bali in the rainy season, most of the time it was raining hard or foggy when it wasn’t raining. I and my husband love the rain, so it’s not a big deal for us. We then spent our weekend by staying inside the cabin and strolling around the farm and garden when it wasn’t raining. Our weekend in Munduk, Bali was well-spent since the hotel is nicely renovated with a nice interior and has a very comfy bed. It also has a terrace that overlooks the Munduk lush jungle & plantations. On top of that, the Munduk hotel has a spacious jacuzzi for us to soak and warm up our bodies.
2. Visit Spectacular Waterfalls
Munduk, Bali is home to many waterfalls, with some directly accessible on foot from the town center. Others take a short motorbike ride and more others will take a slightly longer drive by motorbike or car.
From the Munduk town center, you can visit 4 waterfalls on foot: Melanting Waterfall, Labuhan Kebo Waterfall, Red Coral Waterfall (also known as Munduk Waterfall), and Golden Valley Waterfall. I hadn’t gone there since I traveled with my baby but on my previous visit to Munduk, Bali we’d found an enchanting waterfall called Banyumana Twin Waterfall. We found Banyumana accidentally when we had lunch at one of the warungs on the hilltop overlooking Buyan Lake. Then I saw a wooden road sign toward the Banyumala twin waterfall.
The slippery steps and short trek take me to one of the most breathtaking sceneries I’ve ever seen. Flanked by lush green plants, the gorgeous Banyumala twin waterfall with its water cascading down steep rocks heading to a crystal clear pool at the bottom. Here, you can take a refreshing dip in the plunge pool at the bottom while listening to the sound of Mother Nature. To get there, the entrance fee is Rp.30.000,-
Other waterfalls not too far from Munduk, still in Buleleng regency include:
- Tutub waterfall
- Wanagiri Pucak Manik waterfall
- Banyu Wana Amertha waterfall
- Cemara waterfall
- Gitgit waterfall
- Aling Aling waterfall
- Sekumpul waterfall
- Jembong waterfall
- Colek Pamor waterfall
- Kroya waterfall
- Bertingkat waterfall
3. Visit The Twin Lake
Lake Tamblingan and Lake Buyan are often referred to as “the twin lake”. This is because they lie next to each other on the road between Bedugul and Munduk and they are connected underground. They were created by a devastating earthquake that divided Beratan Lake into three sections: Beratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan.
On the road, there’s a twin lake viewpoint where you have a beautiful panoramic view of both lakes. It’s great to make a pit stop here to take some pictures. The road is also known as “Wanagiri Hidden Hills”. It is dotted with swings, bird nests, and platforms where you can take pictures.
If you prefer to have some activities around the twin lakes, you can visit Buyan Lake which is more tourist-friendly. You could try trekking or hiking on the lush green hills surrounding the lake, camping, or simply having lunch while enjoying the lovely view of Buyan Lake at one of the restaurants on the hilltop as we did.
Meanwhile, Tamblingan Lake is still very untouched. To get there you need to go through a forest, and then arrive in front of Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan. To visit Twin lake, you should buy an entrance ticket for Rp.10.000,- each.
4. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
35 minutes from Munduk is an iconic temple that you shouldn’t miss when you’re traveling in Munduk, Bali. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is also known as the floating temple since it looks as if it is floating when the water surface of Beratan Lake rises.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is a Balinese Hindu temple built to honor the Goddess Danu, the goddess of lakes, rivers, and water. The temple complex consists of four sacred buildings. Linga Pura stands three levels high and is a place of worship to the god Shiva. Pura Puncak Mangu stands 11 levels high and was built in dedication to the god Vishnu. Pura Teratai Bang is the main temple, and Pura Dalem Purwa is built in worship of Sang Hyang Widhi. This last temple is also a site for those who pray for fertility, prosperity, and well-being.
It’s my favorite lake among the 3 lakes. To visit Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, you should buy an entrance ticket for Rp.30.000,-
5. Take a Photo at the Handara Gate Bali
The iconic Bali photo venue is located not far from Munduk, Bali. While in the area, why not take some time to take a photo with the impressive-looking gate and a majestic mountain as the backdrop?
Handara Gate, an entrance to a golf course has become a very popular attraction among tourists since a few years ago. You better come here in the early morning to avoid a long queue. The entrance fee is Rp.20.000,- for Indonesian and Rp.30.000,- for foreigners.
6. Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking
Hike in the middle of the night for 1,5 – 2 hours depending on your fitness level to witness the magical sunrise on the top of Mount Batur is one of the coolest things to do in Bali. If you’re staying in Munduk, Bali, you can go to Mount Batur to watch the sunrise and then come back to the hotel in the morning.
When we hiked, we arrived at the top of Mount Batur Bali right when the sun was rising and enjoyed the beautiful view of Lake Batur and the surrounding villages from above. The view is so picturesque… It was a magical moment…
7. Take a Day Trip to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
You must have heard about Tegallalang Rice Terraces, but believe me, Jatiluwih is at another level of stunning. The largest rice terrace in Bali comprises over 600 hectares of rice fields that follow the flowing topography of the Batukaru mountain range. These are maintained by a traditional water management cooperative known as Subak, which dates back to the 9th century.
Not only the view is stunning, but some trails also allow you to wander among the rice fields. You can also stroll the village surrounding, or chill in one of the cafes across the rice terraces while sipping Balinese coffee. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces is located in the Penebel district in Tabanan Regency, Bali, around 1 and a half hours from Munduk, Bali, so it’s best to take a day trip.
Whether for a staycation and escape from the heat of South Bali or exploring the surrounding nature and nearby attractions, Munduk, Bali is an awesome destination that I agree should be kept “hidden”. But with all of its allure, who can guarantee that tourists won’t flock to Munduk, Bali in a few years? We’ll see…
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