Munduk Itinerary: Best things to do in North Bali

We spent a few days in Munduk, and it was fantastic to get out of our comfort zone in Canggu. In some ways, we were relieved not to don’t deal with traffic and crowded places.

That’s one of the reasons many chose to escape to Munduk, in the north of Bali, to enjoy the gorgeous landscape and waterfalls. Like us, you’ll find a serene atmosphere.

Actually, is what attracted us to Monduk in the first place. This guide to North Bali will help you plan a perfect escape.

Without saying further, we have detailed our list of favourite things to do in Munduk. Expect anything but boring, from incredible waterfalls to drops and viewpoints. Definitely, it is one of the most underrated places in Bali. Let’s say Bali’s best kept secret.

Is Munduk worth visiting?

Yes, Munduk is fantastic and still unspoiled, even though Bali is booming with tourists and digital nomads. We love Munduk. Together with Ubud and Sidemen, Munduk is one of the best places we have stayed in Bali. The landscape of Munduk is completely different from the traditional Bali image.

Away from the instagrammable restaurants of Canggu, you will have an unspoiled mountainous landscape with active volcanoes in the foreground. Think about Munduk if you want a couple of days relaxing surrounded by nature and majestic waterfalls and only 30 minutes by sandy beaches.

Munduk Itinerary 2 days at a glance

Have you decided to spend two days in Munduk? This actionable quick itinerary might help you plan the whole trip.

• Get a scooter and drive to North Bali
• Visit the Handara Gate
• Then, an hour walking around Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (Bali’s water temple)
• Picnic at the Glasshouse
• Check-in at Munduk Plantation

On day two of your Northern Bali itinerary

• Get a coffee with a view
• Soak into the incredible scenery of Bali’s twin lakes
• Snap some photos at Munduk Swings
• Go on the waterfalls route – refresh at Sekumpul Waterfall
• View of Munduk Rice terraces
• Enjoy the sunset view from an infinity pool

Quick Answers to your questions

How long to spend in Munduk – North Bali?

We suggest spending at least two days in Munduk. While in Bali we have done both, staying only as a day trip from Canggu, but also overnight for a whole weekend. From our experience, staying longer was the best. After the retreat, we were fully recharged and ready to return to work in busy Ubud.

Munduk, compared to Bali’s Instagram spots of Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, or even Ubud, is more chilled, with a laid-back atmosphere. To be honest there is not much to do in terms of food, nightlife, cool bars, but more for experiences, nature and relaxation.

If you decide to spend a weekend in Munduk, you should definitely pick the right accommodation, as we did with the Munduk Moding Plantation. In fact, the food there was so tasty, and with the complimentary activities, you will have a full day busy within the resort.

How to get to Munduk North Bali?

Renting a motorbike is the best way to reach Munduk on your own. We did a road trip, stopping at a Coffee Roastery surrounded by rice paddies. It was a trip into a trip.

The fastest route from Canggu will take about 1 hour and a half. It’s easy to drive here; the roads are quite large, and the landscape will amuse you. Taking the route toward Ubud, passing by the Abiansemal area, we often stop at Warung Penyemeng.

It is one of the best spots at mid-way to get a coffee with a nice view. On our second visit, the one we stayed at the Munduk Plantation, it was raining cats and dogs.

OMG, we had to stop several times (about six!), and I was trying my best to see something. We arrived completely soaked, so time is crucial in it, and check the weather before. Well, not like we did!

Hire a driver to reach Munduk

Bali has many microclimates, and Munduk is one of the rainiest parts. Because of that, we suggest hiring a driver if visiting Bali in the rainy season, especially if you aren’t used to driving in Southeast Asia.

Our experience with the heavy rainfall in Bali wasn’t pleasant, even though we made fun of it. When up there, consider that there is no public transport or ways to get around besides GoGek and hotel taxis.

While there we couldn’t either order food deliveries. So, our initial choice of having our own scooter was a brilliant idea.

How to get from Ubud to Munduk?

If you are staying in Ubud, you are already halfway to your final destination. However, it might still take about 1 hour to get to North Bali. Traffic and weather conditions might affect your trip.

To cover the 65 Kilometres, you need a bike or car, which is easy to rent. If you want to get a taxi, the fare costs between 600K and 700K (£29/34 | $37/43 | €34/40)—one way.

Best time to visit Munduk

The best time to plan a trip to Munduk is during the dry seasons which runs from May to September. The temperature is nice, cooler compared to inland Bali and mostly sunny. Avoid the wet seasons, October to April, as you won’t enjoy the area. I still remember when we had the brilliant idea to drive from Canggu to Munduk and it was poring rain, but we still enjoyed the ride and the beautiful cloudy views.

Weather in Munduk

Due to Munduk’s location inland within the island, the temperature drops consistently compared to Canggu and the West coast of Bali. Expect temperatures to be cooler, 5 to 10 degrees less, rain, and a lot of clouds. Despite the season, wet or dry, chances to find fog or light rain are high.

We found this particularly true early in the morning or right after lunchtime. In fact, it was raining when we arrived, and late in the afternoon, only one day did we have a clear view at sunset. Honestly, for us and many other long-term expat residents in Bali, Monduk is the perfect escape from the heat, with an overall acceptable distance from the beach.

Where to stay in Munduk

10 Amazing things to do in Munduk and North Bali

• Explore Bali’s best waterfalls
• Visit Munduk Viewpoint and swings
• Explore the fantastic Munduk Water Temple
• Snap a photo at Handara Gate Bali
• Enjoy a private villa with a pool
• Experience a coffee-tasting
• Make your own bamboo straw
• Learn the medicinal herbal culture
• Enjoy the view of the Twin Lakes
• Take a day trip to Lovinia
• Signup for a sunrise adventure

Explore the best waterfalls in Bali

After so many times in Bali, North Bali has some of the most beautiful and satisfying waterfalls on the whole island. The most popular waterfall in Munduk is the Banyumala Twin Waterfall, but another famous one is the Munduk Waterfall. You can do a whole waterfall-chasing loop, including both, in half a day.

Take photos at the Munduk Swing viewpoint

The swings in Munduk are nothing like the one at Tegalalang Rice Fields. We went there the first time we explored Munduk, way before we stayed for the weekend. It was foggy, but it added to the atmosphere. The swing has a perfect view over Bali’s twin lakes.

If you are lucky to encounter a clear day, the sky will help you light up the water of the lake. It costs 60K to get inside this small park and snap as many photos as you want. It is per person, and it doesn’t matter if you take photos or not. Yes, it is one of the most instagrammable places in Bali, in our opinion.

Explore the fantastic Munduk Water Temple

One of the most important spiritual areas of the whole of Bali is in Munduk, the Ulun Danu Bratan temple, or the well-known ad Munduk water temple. Located on a small peninsula framed by the inspiring Tamblingan Lake, it gets even more magical when the water level rises. In fact, the reflection of the water marks this temple as one of the most beautiful and meaningful for locals.

You can visit the temple, but remember to cover your shoulders and knees. The entrance fee is steep at 50K IDR ($3.5 | £2.8 | €3.2, but absolutely worth it.

Get the proper photo at Handara Gate Bali

If you are getting to Munduk on your own, you will definitely stumble upon this iconic entrance. The Handara Gate is the entrance to a golf club and resort and is particularly popular because it frames the green mountains of Munduk.

Hundreds of people line up daily to get the shot from Handara Gate, and you have to pay to line up and snatch your own. The cost per person is 50K, and you have about 2 to 3 minutes to get your shot. Due to the increase in popularity, you now have to pay 200K IDR to fly the drone.

Enjoy a private villa with a pool

Our trip was even more epic due to the accommodation. We stayed at the Munduk Resort, and it was fantastic. We had our private villa, with a pool and jacuzzi, and definitely made the best of it.

Want to sell you a lot, but waking up in the morning with such a view, nice warm water, and maybe your butler that takes the floating breakfast in place is a dream. Check out this fantastic resort that has to offer.

Experience a coffee-tasting

Within our Munduk itinerary, we had a lovely coffee tasting, and it was fantastic. The Munduk Moding Plantation has its own culture and prepares coffee in a very particular way, from picking and drying to brewing.

I tried the famous Luwak coffee, which basically is the poop of a civet that chews the sweetness out of coffee beans. Basically, it peels off. Of course, that coffee is washed multiple times before consumption. However, I learned that it isn’t for me; it is too light and not strong at all, but it has no strange flavours. You must try it, at least once.

The microclimate of North Bali and the volcanic soil make Munduk ideal for growing particularly sweet coffee beans. Some of them are very influenced in flavour and smell by the natural environment, surrounded by native fruits growing wild in the area.

Learn the medicinal herbal culture

Staying in Canggu or similar touristy areas, you want to immerse yourself in proper Balinese culture. After many trips to Bali, we are still fascinated by the locals’ way of life and always say yes to getting more into that.

If you have visited Ubud before, it is pretty similar. Rural areas of Bali live on handed-down recipes, which also include medicinal remedies.

Make your own bamboo straw

There was one interesting activity between Alessia’s scheduled activities (consider that these are all complementary if you stay at Munduk Moding Plantation Resort).

She was introduced to Bamboo decoration, using a very common technique. It is fantastic, as they use natural products, like bamboo, to make reusable utensils that we have used throughout our trip to Southeast Asia.

Enjoy the view of the twin lakes

As said before, the twin lakes are one of the most impressive sights of Munduk. You can watch the landscape from above or even take a boat tour around the lake, which will highlight the karst and the green mountains. There are a few viewpoints where you can sip a coffee and enjoy some time with friends like a local.

Take a day trip to Lovinia

After all, the seaside isn’t far from the Munduk Area, and even though many don’t mention it within their guides of Munduk, we suggest considering an escape to Lovinia. The west part of Bali is well-known to be less crowded, more enjoyable and definitely right for families and travellers looking for tranquillity.

From the top of Munduk, you can reach Lovinia beaches in about 20 minutes. We were able to see the shore from our villa. It’s also possible that if the weather is grey and rainy in Munduk, instead it is clear and hot in Lovinia, so check the horizon before you go.

Signup for a sunrise adventure

One of the most impressive memories from Bali it’s the view of Mt. Agung at sunrise from Mount Batur. We did this activity departing from Canggu around 2 am, but you can do it easier from Monduk without waking up that early.

There are two ways to witness the spectacular sun that rises in front of the active volcano, going on a trek and hike or getting a jeep tour like us. Check this!

The tour we went on also offered to explore the lava path of a “recent” explosion. It was an alternative day trip in Bali and definitely fulfilled your bucket list.