Munduk, Bali: A Complete Guide to the Island‘s Hidden Gem

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Oh, Munduk… I will be dreaming of you until I get to visit again. Although I only spent three days in Munduk, it was the highlight of my time in Bali. Imagine lush jungles, stunning mountain views, towering waterfalls, and lovely local homestays and restaurants. An escape to Munduk is exactly that – an escape from the over-crowded touristy areas of Bali to the best of Bali’s nature with an authentic local touch. Munduk is Bali’s best kept secret for now, but hurry, because there’s no way word of this enchanting place won’t spread fast!

Table of Contents

Why should I visit Munduk?

Nestled in the mountainous jungle of North Bali, Munduk is a small but stunning village. While many of Bali’s top destinations are swarming with tourists, Munduk is up-and-coming, offering a quieter, more authentic Balinese experience. In just two to three days, you can get a feel for the magic of North Bali, including cascading waterfalls, undiscovered rice terraces, and local experiences. If you’re craving an escape to nature where you can connect with the local culture, Munduk is the perfect place to add to your Bali itinerary.

How to Get to Munduk

Munduk is located in North Bali, about 2 hours north of Denpasar, Canggu and Ubud. There is hardly any public transportation in Bali, so you’ll want to arrange for a private transfer. I recommend booking it in advance through your accommodation, but you can also take your chances and try to call a Grab/Gojek. This is what I did as it was cheaper, but keep in mind that you might have to try a few times before you get one that accepts that far of a journey. It will also be expected that you tip, as they will not be able to pick up a passenger back (Grab/Gojek is not allowed in Munduk, only local taxis).

If you’re on a budget and coming from Ubud, Perama Tour offers an affordable shuttle bus between Ubud and Munduk at 8:30 every morning. It takes two hours. I had a good experience on the Perama bus on another route, so it’s a good option if the timing and location work out for you.

Where to Stay in Munduk

Munduk is a small village with limited accommodation options, but don’t worry. The homestays in Munduk are fantastic, often with cheap prices and amazing views. I recommend staying in the heart of the village, which is near the intersection of Jl. Katu Putih and Jl. Pura Puseh. I had a lovely stay at Aditya Homestay, where I had a clean, comfortable room with a stunning view and a delicious included breakfast. It’s owned by a kind family who will go above and beyond to make your stay memorable and it is an absolute steal. Book your stay at Aditya Homestay here for as little as $11 USD a night, with a great breakfast included.

How Long to Stay in Munduk

Two to three days is the perfect amount of time in Munduk. I stayed for three days and enjoyed exploring the area at a slower pace, but you could squeeze everything into two days.

How to Get Around Munduk

Munduk is one of the areas in Bali where Grab/Gojek is banned to promote local taxis. The best way to get around Munduk is to hire a driver for a day who will take you wherever you want to go without worrying about your next ride. Your driver will often also act as your guide, giving you local insights and even taking pictures for you!

Another popular way to get around Munduk is to rent a scooter, however, keep in mind that the roads are very steep and windy. Unless you are a very experience scooter driver, I wouldn’t recommend trying to attempt it yourself. A great option is to hire a scooter driver, which is more affordable than hiring a car driver for 1-2 people and takes away the stress of driving on the crazy streets. I had an amazing day with Putu Adi at Munduk Scooter Driver and highly recommend him if this option sounds appealing to you. He guided me to all the waterfalls I chose and took some amazing pictures for me!

Is Munduk good for solo travelers?

Munduk is not as easy for solo travelers as other places in Bali like Canggu and Ubud, where there are tons of other solo travelers and it’s very easy to get around. However, it’s still very doable and safe as a solo traveler, so don’t let that deter you. I decided it was a good place to take a break from hostels and have some alone time, but if you want to meet other travelers, check out Dong Paloh Hostel. To get around easily, either hire a scooter driver like the one I mentioned above or renting your own scooter if you’re confident driving. I always felt safe, but the streets aren’t well-lit at night, so I recommend staying close to your accommodation after sunset.

What to Do in Munduk

Hike the Munduk Waterfall Trek

Munduk is known for its stunning waterfalls, which are arguably the best in Bali! So you can’t visit Munduk without checking them out. The Munduk Waterfall Trek allows you to visit four waterfalls in four to six hours, depending on how fast you hike and how long you take at each waterfall. You’ll hike through the lush, green jungle as you make your way from waterfall to waterfall. On the way, you’ll visit Labuhan Kebo Waterfall, Melanting Waterfall, Munduk Waterfall (AKA Red Coral Waterfall), and Golden Valley Waterfall. I recommend asking your accommodation for a map of the waterfalls and they can explain the trek in detail.

Visit the other nearby waterfalls

Just a short drive from Munduk Village are some more amazing waterfalls. These include:

Banyumala Twin Falls: tall double waterfall with swimming
Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall: four waterfalls in one, including an expansive rock wall with many small streams and a large multi-stream waterfall
Aling Aling Waterfall: known for cliff jumping
Sekumpul Waterfall: tallest waterfall in Bali at 80 meters/262 feet
Git Git Waterfall: multi-tier twin waterfall

Keep in mind each waterfall has a small entrance fee of varying amounts and walks of varying difficulty and length to reach them. This is where having a guide is useful, or just be sure to read the reviews in advance to make sure you’re up for the walk and don’t get ripped off!

I chose to visit Banyumala and Banyu Wana Amertha because they were the closest to Munduk Village. I was not disappointed! Fun fact, my local guide told me that his favorite waterfall in the area is Banyu Wana Amertha. It’s often overlooked by tourists, meaning you’ll likely have the place mostly to yourself. I absolutely loved how peaceful it was, and getting to see four waterfalls for the effort and cost of one can’t be beat.

See the beautiful water temple Ulun Danu Beratan

If you’ve spent any time researching Bali, you’ve almost certainly encountered a picture of Ulun Danu Beratan. It’s a 17th-century temple complex on Lake Beratan dedicated to the Goddess Danu, the queen of water, lakes and rivers. The complex comprises of four sacred buildings, with the most famous being those on the lake that appear to be floating.

I recommend visiting the temple early in the morning before tourists from around the island flood in. I got there around 8:30 and basically had the place to myself.

Stroll the local rice terraces

The popular, large rice terraces in Bali like Tegalalang and Jatiluwih are beautiful, but the Munduk Rice Terrace was my favorite. You can’t replicate the beauty of authentic, natural rice terraces that have yet to be discovered by tourists. The rice terraces are small, so you can walk a loop around the terraces in about an hour.

The best time to visit is at sunset, when the colorful sky reflects on the rice paddies. Come with an appetite because there is delicious Warung called Enjoy Cafe 3 where you can enjoy a tranquil meal on the rice terraces.

You can walk or scooter from the village, but it’s very steep. I walked and although it only took 15 minutes, I definitely burnt all my dinner off!

Eat at a local Warung with a stunning view

There are so many delicious Warungs (family-owned restaurants) in Munduk, many of which have sweeping views of the jungle, rice terraces, and mountains. I looked forward to my meal every evening when I could try a new one while watching the sunset over the gorgeous landscape. Some of the best Warungs in Munduk with amazing views include:

Enjoy Cafe (there are multiple locations – #3 is on the rice terraces, #2 is in the main village, both are great!)
Warung Genitri
Warung Heaven
Warung Classic

Munduk Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive by the afternoon, with time to settle in before you walk or scooter to the Munduk Rice Terrace about an hour before sunset. Explore the path around the rice terraces while taking in the gorgeous sunset views. Afterwards, enjoy dinner on the rice terraces at nearby Warung Enjoy Cafe 3. Rest up tonight, because you’re trekking to waterfalls tomorrow!

Day 2

Today, you’ll spend the day hiking through the jungle and seeing some of Bali’s best waterfalls. I recommend starting the Munduk Waterfall Trek in the morning to avoid hiking at the warmest time of the day. Take your time trekking through the jungle and discovering four amazing waterfalls, many of which you can swim in!

In the evening, get a well-earned dinner at one of the many local Warungs that have fantastic views of the sunset.

Day 3

On your last day in Munduk, you’ll explore a little outside of the village area. Hire a driver or rent a scooter to start your morning at Ulun Danu Beratan, the lake temple. The earlier the better to avoid crowds. On the way, you can take a quick photo stop at the Twin Lake Viewpoint. Then, choose two or three waterfalls in the nearby area, such as Banyumala for twin falls, Banyu Wana Amertha for four falls in one, or Aling Aling for cliff jumping.

In the evening, you can depart for your next destination or enjoy one last sunset.

If you only have two days in Munduk, you can visit the Munduk Rice Terrace any evening. Just follow the Day 2 and Day 3 itinerary, adding in the rice terraces on an evening that you have free time.

Munduk is Bali’s best kept secret for now, but it won’t stay that way for long. After chasing waterfalls, wandering untouched rice terraces, visiting the famous lake temple, and eating delicious local meals with a view, you will understand why Munduk has captured so many travelers’ hearts.

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