Escape the busy tourist areas of Bali and head to Munduk for a breath of fresh air. It’s increasing in popularity with international tourists but still quiet for now. I discovered it on my one month Bali itinerary. Despite being a small mountain village, you’ll have no trouble finding places to stay in Munduk. Accommodation ranges from budget guesthouses with spectacular valley views to luxury resorts with infinity pools. In this article, I share where to stay in Munduk, plus all the wonderful things to do here.
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Quick overview of where to stay in Munduk
- Munduk has accommodation for every budget, from affordable guesthouses to luxury resorts
- Many have stunning mountain and valley views from your balcony
- Stay 2-4 days to explore hidden waterfalls, coffee plantations and nearby temples
- The area is cooler than coastal Bali, making it perfect for jungle trekking
- Best reached from Ubud (1h 40min) or Denpasar airport (2 hours)
Is Munduk worth visiting?
Yes, Munduk is well worth visiting if you want to escape Bali’s crowded tourist hotspots and experience authentic mountain village life. Unlike places like Ubud or Canggu, Munduk is relatively undiscovered and the pace of life is wonderfully slow.
This means you can trek to waterfalls, enjoy sunrise views from your guesthouse balcony and eat dinner at local warungs where you’re often the only tourist. Temperatures are also cooler than the coast, which is a welcome relief. I arrived planning to stay two nights in Munduk and loved it so much I ended up staying a week.
How to get to Munduk, Bali
Munduk is a small village in the mountainous region of North Bali. It’s relatively easy to reach from most places on the island, however, there is no public transport here so you will need to take a taxi or a scooter.
From Ubud to Munduk it’s a distance of around 40 miles (64 km). This takes about an hour and forty minutes. From the international airport in Denpasar to Munduk it’s around two hours, depending on traffic.
Where to stay in Munduk
Munduk is small – the population is only around 6,000 people. The best area to stay in Munduk is around the main village where most guesthouses and restaurants are located.
The best Munduk accommodation
Despite Munduk’s small size, there are several charming guesthouses and hotels, ranging from affordable rooms to luxury retreats. Many have their own restaurants and are positioned to take advantage of the area’s naturally beautiful scenery.
The most gorgeous Munduk guesthouses
Munduk’s guesthouses offer incredible value for money. I stayed at Aditya Homestay and highly recommend it.
The family that runs this Munduk guesthouse are so warm and kind, we ended up staying for longer than planned. We stayed in a corner room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking magnificent valleys (see photo below).
Every morning, the staff would serve us a freshly-prepared breakfast on our balcony as we enjoyed the surroundings. The rooftop restaurant was ideal for romantic sunset dinners. It was one of my favourite places to stay in Bali.
Another great guesthouse option is the fabulous One Homestay in Munduk. Visitors rave about the mountain views from all of its rooms. They also love the home-cooked food in the on-site warung. On request, the staff can provide cooking classes and tour packages.
Check Munduk accommodation availability and prices for your dates here.
Beautiful Munduk hotels for comfort and style
For something more mid-range, try a Munduk eco-hotel such as Puri Lumbung Cottages. Here you can stay in traditional rice barns converted into rustic cottages and villas, each with open-air bathrooms and the irresistible mountain views. There’s also an on-site restaurant, spa and a yoga and meditation centre.
If you’re into yoga like me, try Yoga Village Above The Clouds in Munduk’s neighbouring village of Bedugul. This secluded resort with views of the rice terraces offers free morning yoga classes.
The best luxury hotel in Munduk
If you’re keen to treat yourself to a luxury hotel in Munduk, head straight for the exceptional Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa. This resort has an on-site spa, coffee plantation, a hot tub and an infinity pool with one of the best views in Bali. Here, you can truly relax among these incredible mountainous surroundings.
Its suites and villas are furnished with hardwood floors and marble bathrooms, and kitted out with iPod docks and flat-screen TVs. Some villas have their own private pools and even offer butler service. Now that’s luxurious.
Check the availability and best accommodation for your dates in Munduk via the map below:
The best things to do in Munduk, Bali
Munduk is often overlooked by Bali tourists, but it is a hidden gem. This cool mountain village gives you a peaceful retreat from the heat, humidity and bustle of the island’s more popular areas.
Full of jungle trails through the lush green hills, forests and rice paddies you will discover tiny villages, stunning waterfalls and the area’s spice, coffee and cocoa plantations.
Marvel at Munduk’s hidden waterfalls
The cool forested hills and slopes of Munduk are the best place on Bali to go waterfall hunting. Here, you will feel like you are really getting to know the island’s natural beauty.
If, like us, your guesthouse owner gives you a Munduk waterfall map, you can look forward to a day of adventure as you track them down. Even the winding trails on the way are attractive, dotted with exotic plants. They can be steep, so it’s best to wear hiking sandals. Sometimes, if we passed a local person, we would ask them for directions to make sure we were on the correct path, and they were always happy to help.
Hiking through the jungle to explore the waterfalls can be hot and tiring, so make sure you bring water and snacks, though you may find small cafes and shops along the way. It could take two or three hours, so bring a backpack with a sarong or long sleeved top and sunscreen. Also, bring a raincoat – at one point while hiking in Munduk, we got caught in a heavy rainstorm and had to quickly find shelter! But the reward is you can take dip in the waterfalls and sometimes you have the place almost to yourself.
On this organised hike, you’ll see Munduk’s best lakes and waterfalls – book it here.
How to find the waterfalls
There are a number of waterfalls in the area, some of which have small entrance fees to enter. The cost is usually around 10,000Rp to 20,000Rp (about a dollar or two) for each person to enter. Once you arrive at each waterfall, you are rewarded with a cool and refreshing stop from the heat of the day.
If you don’t have a map, you can find the waterfall locations marked on Google Maps. Search for Air Terjun Munduk, Laangan Waterfall, Labuhan Kebo Waterfalls, Red Coral waterfall, Melanting waterfall, Golden Valley Waterfalls, Gobleg Waterfall and Munduk Waterfalls Trekking Point.
If you have a car or bike, you can reach Bali waterfalls that are further afield, such as Gitgit waterfall, Sekumpul falls and Nung Nung waterfall.
Get lost in Munduk’s gorgeous green landscape
Take a walk away from Munduk’s main road and you’ll quickly find yourself among the calming rice terraces and jungle forests.
On our first day, when we were wondering what to do in Munduk, our guest house owner gave us a rudimentary map and advised us explore the local scenery. We grabbed a couple of long bamboo sticks we found on the forest floor to use as walking sticks, as the paved roads turned into muddy tracks and we headed into the jungle for some Munduk trekking.
Exploring this gorgeous green landscape is really the best way to see Munduk and get to know Bali. The best time to start your trek is in the morning, as the afternoons can get cloudy.
Trekking through the trees, you will walk along narrow muddy paths and there are not always signs to point the way. Getting off the beaten track is rewarding, as you lose yourself in the wilderness and then find your way back to familiar territory.
Join a guided trek of Munduk’s waterfalls, lakes and temples here.
Learn how coffee is produced in Bali
Bali is known for its speciality coffees, flavoured with everything from vanilla to ginseng, which are all delicious and definitely worth a try.
There are numerous Munduk coffee plantations on the area’s cool mountain slopes, producing what’s said to be the best coffee in Bali. It’s the perfect excuse to take a pit stop and refuel with a cup of locally produced coffee.
You can taste organic coffee and learn how it’s harvested and roasted at Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa. The plantation also supports the local community and environment.
Relax your tired muscles at a mountain spa
After a day of Munduk adventures, why not rejuvenate your body with a massage. You could head to Munduk village’s O’O Massage centre or in the luxurious surroundings of the nearby Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa. Here, you can choose from a range of treatments to soothe tired muscles and reinvigorate your body.
Enjoy sensational views of sunrises and sunsets
The remote village and small roads of Munduk village may look modest, but they hold a secret surprise. Many of the guesthouses and restaurants here are the best places in Bali for watching sensational sunrises on one side and sunsets on the other, over this spectacular highlands scenery.
Seriously, you will pinch yourself every day.
The coolest places to eat in Munduk
As with all of Bali, eating is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Munduk. You can tuck into tasty Balinese dishes at casual restaurants and cafes that have unbelievable views across the hills and forests.
Head for the Eco Café Munduk for food with a view, and you will also be the supporting local farmers and coffee producers as part of this restaurant’s commitment to sustainability.
One of the best simple pleasures here is to leisurely eat dinner at a Munduk restaurant, as you watch the oranges and reds pass across the sky. Try the pork rendang at the laid back Warung Heaven Munduk, or head to Warung Classic for perfect sunset views.
Take the most amazing day trips from Munduk
Munduk’s central location makes it an excellent base for exploring northern Bali’s most spectacular sights. Within 30 minutes to an hour’s drive, you can visit iconic temples, photograph famous gates and walk through some of the island’s most stunning rice terraces. Here are the best day trips from Munduk that you shouldn’t miss.
See stunning lakes – and a Bali swing photo opportunity
Within a half hour drive of Munduk are three scenic lakes – Danau Tambligan, Danau Buyan and Danau Beratan
Here, there are plenty of wonderful viewpoints including one of the famous Bali swings for great photo opportunities. To find it, search for ‘Twin Lake Wanagiri spot’, ‘Pucak swing and agro tourism’ or ‘Hidden Hills Wanagiri’ in Google Maps.
Join a guided tour of Munduk’s lakes and viewpoints here.
The best time to explore Bali’s iconic ‘floating’ temple
Sitting on Lake Beratan, 30 minutes’ drive from Munduk, is one of Bali’s most famous and picturesque temples, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.
Mirrored in the lake’s still waters, this iconic temple, built in 1633, appears to be floating in front of the mountain backdrop. Here, locals make offerings to the water goddess, Dewi Danu.
You can take a photo of the temple from the lake’s shores or rent a boat to enter and explore its manicured grounds, which costs around 50,000Rp per person (around US$3-4). It’s best to visit in the morning for fewer crowds and clear skies.
Book a guided tour of the temple here.
Witness the world famous Jatiluwih rice terraces
Just over an hour by car or motorbike from Munduk, halfway to Ubud, are the famous Jatiluwih rice terraces.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site has steep, vivid green terraces as far as the eye can see, with trails allowing you to explore the area on foot. The 2,276-metre high Bratan volcano looms in the background providing a truly incredible landscape.
See the Jatiluwih rice terraces and more top Bali sights on this top-rated tour
Take a perfectly framed photo at these beautiful gates
Half an hour’s drive east of Munduk village, close to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, is the Handara Golf & Resort Bali. Many people come here who are not remotely interested in playing golf. Why?
Because the gates on the road leading up to this golf course are made with beautiful Balinese stone-masonry. Framing the mountain behind perfectly, it’s a popular spot for photos. These days, to take a shot here costs around 30,000Rp (just over US$2).
Try to avoid coming here at midday when the sun is right overhead. The light is most beautiful at sunrise or in the afternoon, after your morning visit to the temples or waterfalls.
Frequently asked questions about Munduk
How many days should I spend in Munduk?
Most travellers spend 2-4 days in Munduk. Two days is the minimum to see the main waterfalls and do a temple day trip, while three to four days allows time for longer treks and fully relaxing into the slower pace of mountain life.
What is a good Munduk itinerary?
Day one: arrive, settle in, short walk to nearby Munduk Waterfall, sunset from guesthouse. On day two: morning waterfall trek to Golden Valley and Melanting, coffee plantation visit in afternoon. Day three: day trip to Ulun Danu temple, Handara Gate and Jatiluwih rice terraces.
When is the best time to visit Munduk?
The dry season from April to October is ideal for visiting Munduk. During these months, the trails are less muddy and you’ll have better visibility for sunrise and sunset views. The wet season brings afternoon rain, but the waterfalls are more powerful and the jungle is incredibly lush.
What to pack for Munduk
If you plan to go hiking in Munduk, I advise taking hiking sandals, as the trails can be muddy and slippery. Bring a backpack with a sarong or long sleeved top and sunscreen, as well as an umbrella or waterproofs. Don’t forget insect repellent, plus a swimsuit and towel so you can take a dip in the waterfalls.
Are there guided tours in Munduk?
Yes, guided tours are available. Local guides offer waterfall trekking tours covering 3-4 hidden falls in a half day, coffee plantation tours with tastings, and sunrise trekking to mountain viewpoints. Most guesthouses can arrange these, or you can book in advance online.
Final thoughts on where to stay in Munduk
Munduk is a respite from Bali’s busier tourist hubs. Its cooler climate and serene atmosphere make it the perfect retreat for nature lovers. Seeing the sunrises and sunsets over this highland paradise is something else.
I hope this guide has helped you find the perfect place to stay in Munduk and all the wonderful things to do here. This magical mountain village captured my heart, and I’m confident it will capture yours too.
Next up, discover more of the island in the most beautiful Bali road trip itinerary, here.
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