Ultimate Munduk, Bali Travel Guide: Top Things to Do, Where to Stay & More
Munduk, a small village in northern Bali, is a hidden gem surrounded by lush green jungles and rice terraces. These landscapes flourish with life, concealing some of the island’s most breathtaking beauty. If you are planning a trip to Munduk and wondering where to stay, what to do, and more, you are in the right place. After spending time in northern Bali, I have put together the ultimate guide to exploring Munduk and its surroundings.
Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling, please :)
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Munduk, Bali: A Complete Travel Guide
Sunset views over Munduk Village from my accommodation in Bali, with golden light illuminating the mountains and lush valley.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Rainy Season: November - March | Dry Season: April - October
The best time to visit Munduk, Bali is during the dry season from April to October. This will ensure you have the best weather for exploring the rice terraces, waterfalls, and more. If you plan to visit several waterfalls in this area, they will be more powerful just after the rainy season. (April/May) and will be a tad more dried up right before the rainy season. However, I visited Munduk and the waterfalls in October and they were still a beautiful sight.
HOW TO GET TO Munduk:
To get to Munduk, you must first fly into Bali. Bali’s only international airport, Gusti Ngurah Rai International (DPS) in Denpasar, is about 82 km (50–51 miles) from Munduk. From the airport, you can either order a taxi or rent a motorbike to reach Munduk. The drive can be as short as 1 hour and 50 minutes if you leave before 8:00 AM or after 7:00 PM and as long as 3 hours during high traffic times. Motorbike tends to be faster than cars because they can weave around traffic.
Taxi: You can order a local taxi, Grab (rideshare app), or GoJek (rideshare app) from almost anywhere in Bali to Munduk.
Local taxis are available outside the airport or by booking through an accommodation.
If you prefer a private transfer from the airport, you can book one here.
If you would like a private driver for the entire day in Bali, you can book one here.
Grab is better than GoJek for longer distances (from my experience). I have had GoJek drivers arrive to pick me up and ask for more money, and when I said no, they turned around and drove away.
For either app, you can ride in a car or on the back of a motorbike. The motorbike is the cheaper option by far. If you have more bags or are uncomfortable being on the back of a bike weaving through cars for longer hot hours, I do not recommend taking the back seat of a motorbike. You will also have to hold your bags unless they are small enough to fit in the front of the bike.
A car is a more comfortable option, but it can take longer with traffic. Car prices vary a lot depending on the time of day and demand.
Motorbike: Motorbike rental businesses are everywhere in Bali for you to choose from. Some are overpriced and untrustworthy, so be sure to read reviews. For my last rental, I used Bali Best Motorcycle. They also do bike delivery and pick-up! You can arrange a rental through WhatsApp before you arrive.
Be aware that the roads leading to Munduk are not in perfect condition—the infrastructure in Bali is not great overall. You need to be a confident driver, especially during high-traffic times when navigating around cars and other obstacles. If you have bags, you need to either wear them or place them by your feet while riding.
Always wear your helmet and have your international driver’s license with you in case you are pulled over or stopped by local police. I have only been pulled over once for my friend not wearing a helmet.
How to get around Munduk:
The best form of transport in Munduk is by motorbike. Points of interest are a bit spread apart, and the area is very hilly, so walking could take too long. Daily motorbike rentals are usually around 80,000/90,000 IDR (per day) for a small motorbike or scoopy. The larger the bike, the more expensive it will be. You will find better deals for longer-term rentals versus daily. Be sure to negotiate pricing, as some places will just throw out a more expensive price to see if you will take it. As mentioned, I rent my bike from Denpasar.
There are local taxis around, which you can usually hire from your accommodation or through Grab/Gojek.
You can hire a private driver for the entire day, here.
Motorbike Rental & Driving Tip:
Always check the bike is working and take photos of any previous damage made to avoid any arguments with the rental places.
Keep in mind the traffic can be a bit chaotic, and sporadic, and some of the roads are overwhelming or unpaved. So if you are not confident in your motorbike abilities, then hopping on the back of a bike via Grab or Gojek may be a better option.
Always wear your helmet—so many people do not wear their helmets, which blows my mind. Wearing your helmet could save your life.
How Much Time Do You Need:
If you are only exploring Munduk and you are on a tight backpacking schedule, you can experience it all in one night or two days. However, Munduk is a very serene and relaxing area with fewer tourists around, making it a great place to decompress and relax for a while. I spent 4 nights and 5 full days in this area. If you want to add on some day trips to nearby attractions like the Mount Batur sunrise trek or some of the waterfalls, I would add additional days for each activity. I have outlined the best things to do in and around Munduk below.
Where To Stay:
Munduk is a village perched above a lush valley of rice terraces close to Tamblingan Lake. It is a small village, so there is no “better” area to stay. There are many beautiful accommodations throughout the area. I stayed at Bali Rahayu Homestay, which had a cozy room/bed and a beautiful view over some of the rice terraces, especially during sunset.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: Munduk
Backpacker/Hostel Option: Dong Paloh Hostel (Dorm) or Made Oka Homestay and Warung (Private Room)
Best Low-Budget: Nadya Homestay or Munduk V View House or Bali Rahayu Homestay (I stayed here and really enjoyed my stay).
Best Mid-Budget: Moondock Luxury Camp or Gumi Ayu EcoStay
Best Luxury Budget: Munduk Cabins or Elevate Bali
You can also find hotel deals at Agoda and Hostel World!
What To Do:
Enjoy Some Lakeside Views:
Explore The Rice Terraces:
For more in-depth information on what to do while traveling around Munduk, head here!
For the best Munduk itinerary, head here!
Packing Tips:
Proper shoes for trekking the waterfalls and Mount Batur. Both can have slippery surfaces. Water shoes may help swim and walk in the waterfall pools.
Warmer and cooler clothing. Munduk nights can be much colder. I often wore longer pants or a lighter sweatshirt. Waterfall treks, however, can be extremely hot and humid! Be sure to pack a bathing suit and towel for these. You will also need something to cover your shoulders and knees for visiting temples.
Cash (IDR)— to pay for waterfall entrance fees and petrol for your motorbike.
A waterproof camera or GoPro to capture epic moments near the falls. Something to dry your lens as well!
Sunscreen and mosquito spray. There are a lot of shaded areas at the waterfalls, but some areas are exposed to the sun.
Reusable water bottles - to keep you hydrated and help lower the use of plastic in Bali.
Mistakes can happen, especially when trekking and walking around slippery areas, so I recommend always having some form of travel medical insurance. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Emergency Contact Number: Police: +62 110 | Fire: +62 113 | Ambulance: +62 118 or +62 119 | You can find a complete list of Bali Emergency #’s here.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo for my eSim.
What to eat:
There are so many delicious Warungs around that you really cannot go wrong. Below I have included my top places to eat (being mostly plant-based and gluten-free).
Pro Tip: When you are eating gluten-free in the Warungs, you can order most dishes without soy sauce. “Wheat” in Indonesian is “gandum,” and “Saya allergie kecap” means you are allergic to soy.
Is Munduk Safe?
Munduk felt safe to me—it is a quieter area compared to other destinations in Bali, which makes it a nice escape from the crowds everywhere else. However, I recommend staying up to date with your country’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling including:
Keep an eye on personal belongings and valuable items. Do not leave them in your bike.
Never forget your keys in your motorbike, and never leave anything valuable sitting out. Someone may steal it, especially monkeys.
Always triple-check vaccination requirements and recommendations for countries. Some potential illnesses include Typhoid and Hepatitis A.
Pack mosquito spray to protect yourself from Dengue and Malaria. There have been recent cases of Dengue in the region.
Wear your helmet when riding your motorbike. So many people do not wear their helmets, which could save your life.
DO NOT drink the tap water. Keep your mouth closed in the shower and even use bottled water for toothbrushing, especially if you have a sensitive stomach like me!
Reminder: Travel medical insurance is so important to have while traveling abroad. I have relied on Safety Wing for over 2 years and can recommend them to anyone.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo for my eSims.
Emergency Contact Number: Police: +62 110 | Fire: +62 113 | Ambulance: +62 118 or +62 119
You can find a complete list of Bali Emergency #’s here.
