Welcome to Munduk
Munduk is a little sleepy town, nestled in the heart of Bali. It’s the perfect place if you want to escape crowds and get into nature. Bali is known for being incredibly touristy, with many even deciding to never return. However, I’m a big fan of Bali and had heard of some other locations to check out that still have that Bali charm without the overtourism. Munduk repeatedly came up as a recommendation so during my 2 month motorbike trip I decided to check it out for myself. I’ve put together a simple guide to Munduk to cover:
♥What makes this area special
♥How to get there
♥Where to stay
♥Where to eat
♥Things to do
♥A Hidden gem
What Makes Munduk Special
Munduk took me by surprise with how relaxed and laid back it is. It’s nothing like what you’ll find in the south in Canggu and Seminyak. There are mainly only locals here with a few guesthouses to stay at and a few western restaurants.
In fact, I always say you can tell how touristy a place is by the amount of bracelet stalls and massage shops. There wasn’t a single person here selling bracelets nor a massage shop on the main street. Instantly I was sold on how much more authentic the area is. I think that was honestly the best part, having most areas to ourselves.
Munduk is high up in the mountains giving you a gorgeous view almost anywhere you go. You can actually see the beach town of Lovina down below and watch the sunset over the water. After spending so much time down at the beaches in the south, it’s a nice change to be up in the mountains with so much untouched scenery. Everywhere we went to eat or have a drink we were treated to just stunning views.
How To Get To Munduk
Bali is not that big so I recommend renting a motorbike if you’re comfortable and have experience driving one so that you have complete control over where you’re going. I rented a motorbike and did a 2 month trek around Bali and the surrounding islands, this was perfect for me as it gave me complete freedom over where I wanted to go.
The drive is about an hour and a half from Canggu and from Ubud. It’s a lovely drive past rice terraces, Balinese villages, and through the mountains. The air can get a bit chilly once you’re high up so I do recommend bringing a light jacket for that.
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If you’re not comfortable riding a motorbike, you could just rent a go-jek or grab and have it drop you off or take a bus from one of the other cities. Although I am not sure how you would get around once there since there is no grab or gojek. It is truly off the tourist path so you will be stuck without a way to get around once you arrive.
The other recommendation would be to hire a driver. Munduk is quite spread out, even going from our place to some restaurants or to the shops was a bit of a hike, especially if you plan on going to a lot of waterfalls, the temple, lakes, etc. So hiring a driver for a day or a multi day tour can allow you to make the most out of your stay.
Where To Stay In Munduk
Munduk has two main areas you can stay in. You can stay in the actual heart of the town Munduk or you can choose to stay over near the Twin Lakes. If you are staying over near the Lakes, just note you won’t really be near any small shops, banks or petrol station. But there are tons of little places to eat and some western restaurants as well that are situated right up along the top of the lakes so you can eat with a view. This is a nice area and you’ll be close to the waterfalls that are over here and near to the temple.
The other area to stay in would be the actual town of Munduk. This is a cute little place with amazing views as well and you can see the ocean with Lovina being down below. You’ll find more convenience stores here, ATMs, petrol, and western restaurants.
We booked a room at Dangin Mangkelan Homestay, and while it was cheap at $14/night, it was just a bit hot for us. The room didn’t have AC or a fan, which is something I prefer to have. It did come with a free breakfast that was a simple toast and jam and tea/coffee. I always book free breakfast with my accommodations if I can and they usually always include eggs so unfortunately when staying here we usually opted to just go out to eat so we didn’t have to spend our morning eating twice. You can book this place here if you don’t mind not having AC or a fan.
If you have a bigger budget I’d recommend staying at Puri Lumbung Cottages. We came across this place for sunset drinks and omg the location was stunning. It’s situated right on top of a mountain with the perfect view of sunset down on Lovina below. The rooms have little balconies that overlook their well manicured rice field. It’s a very nice place and I wish I would have stayed there!!
If you’re on a budget, there’s a hostel called Desa Hotel that is highly rated for backpackers.
Other Options To Stay
If you’ve got a bigger budget and are looking for some boutique stays, I recommend the following:
Kayukopi – This villa offers STUNNING views through their all glass, floor to ceiling windows. It’s super cute and you’ll just love the interiors. It’s has a beautifully manicured landscape and is just so adorable. If you’re looking for a unique stay, this is the spot. You can book it here.
Bali Rahayu Homestay – If you’re looking for a place with an infinity pool to soak in the surrounding landscapes, then perhaps a room here with your own bungalow is the move. You can check out this location to book it here.
Where To Eat & Get Coffee In Munduk
There are not as many choices when it comes to restaurants like you’d find in Ubud or Canggu. We ate most of our meals at 3-4 places. Panorama was near to our accommodation so we ate there twice and had coffee. I wasn’t impressed either time so I wouldn’t recommend it although it did have a nice view. But to be honest, almost every single place you will go in Munduk will have a great view.
The place we ended up loving the most was Eco Cafe 2. It is ran by a woman who does all of the cooking herself so it does take a bit of time but it’s worth it. She has a little shop downstairs as well. Her food was really good, and she also makes yummy coffee if you’re looking for an espresso coffee. I’m not a fan of Bali coffee so I was on the hunt for real coffee which seemed impossible to find, but she had one on her menu and it did not disappoint. I recommend trying the potato croquettes as that is a local dish with her homemade peanut sauce. It was delicious!
Another popular place is Enjoy Cafe 2. This place is really small and always seems to be packed because of that. It’s a little family run establishment and their food is good as well. A few places we didn’t make it to though that was on my list is Warung Adit and Warung Heaven. If you end up going to one of those, let me know how it was!
Things To Do In Munduk
♥Chase Waterfalls
If you are a waterfall lover, this is your place. This is the mecca of waterfalls and they are all so gorgeous. Many of them had little to no one at them which made it even better.
Here’s a list of them:
Melanting Waterfall, Red Coral, Labuhan Kebo, Golden Valley, Air Terjun, Banyulama Twin Waterfalls (the most famous in the area), Wanagiri Pucak Manik, Banyu Wana Amertha.
There’s too many to do in one day, so I recommend grouping them together and breaking them up by days so you’re not rushed and can enjoy them. Go early to avoid crowds if you can, especially if you’re going to Banyulama Twin Waterfalls. This is the most famous in the area and gets super crowded. The rest of them were very quiet when I went so I’d try to structure your time around this knowledge.
I will do a breakdown of the waterfalls in a separate post and will link that here when it’s done.
If you’d like to organize a tour to see these waterfalls, you can book a day tour here with this company.
♥Explore Rice Terraces
Bali is known for it’s rice terraces and fields, and Munduk is no different. If you love them and want to continue to check them out, you can explore the Munduk Rice Terrace. You can walk the loop that is 2.4 miles long.
If you’d like to organize this with a tour, here is a great option to do it with at just $30/pp.
♥Ulu Danu Bayan Temple
While this isnt in the heart of Munduk, it is nearby. This is one of the most beautiful temples in Bali and has the floating temple in the lake. The grounds are impeccably kept and are just gorgeous. Definitely worth a visit. I’d recommend to go early to beat the heat and the crowds. The cost is 75K IDR to enter.
♥Handara Gate
This is the iconic insta-famous shot I’m sure you’ve seen. Be warned though, that this is literally just a photo opp. The gate is actually outside of a golf resort and does not actually have anything to do with a temple. Nevertheless, it is still a super cool place and if you’re into getting that perfect shot, you can do it here. There will be a line though and the cost is 30K IDR to take a photo.
♥The Twin Lakes Viewpoint: Lake Tamblingan and Lake Buyan
On your way into Munduk you will drive high up to the top of the mountains where the lakes are and you’ll be able to have an incredible view of the lakes below. There’s lots of little shops you can sit at their tables and have nasi goreng while you relax. You will find one area where it has a platform for you to take photos. Be warned though in case you are someone who doesn’t like animal cruelty, that there is a man who stands there with his animals on display for tips. He’s got bats, birds, iguanas, and even a large snake.
♥Strawberry Picking
Over near the temple you will be able to find strawberry fields where you can go and do your own strawberry picking. I had a strong desire to eat a strawberry dessert after seeing this and fortunately on our way out of Munduk we came across The Lost Cafe. We stopped for coffee initially but after seeing they had strawberry crepes with hazelnut caramel spread and whipped cream, I just HAD to get it. And it did not disappoint! In fact, I drove there one day from Canggu just to eat this and leave. I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.
♥Watch Sunset
I think some of the best sunsets I’ve seen where here in Munduk because of how high up you are and the clouds melting into an array of colors. While you can be sure to catch the sunset at any restaurant along the north side of the main road, I think the best spot to watch it is Puri Lumbung Sunset Bar. It’s a bar located at the back side of the cottages. It’s hard to find as we missed it the first day we tried to look for it, but you’ll find the entrance up a wall with a small little stair case. There is a steep, narrow path for you to ride a motorbike if you’re confident to get up it. They have a happy hour with complimentary local snacks and the view is just chefs kiss. The only downside is they close at 5:30 right as the sunset ends.
Overall, Munduk is truly a gorgeous place and a glimpse into what it’s like when there’s an absence of overtourism. For those who want to enjoy what Bali has to offer in terms of charm and beauty without the hustle and bustle of busy places like Canggu and Ubud, Munduk is the place to go. I hope you found this valuable and are including it on your next trip to Bali. Let me know what you think about it once you go, I’m sure you’ll fall in love like I did.
xx, christine
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