Munduk Bali: Hiking, Waterfalls & Best Things To Do In Munduk
Munduk, Bali is a misty mountain village in the north part of the island of Bali, and it’s surrounded by nice jungles and waterfalls for hiking.
There are a lot of great things to do in Munduk, from rice terrace walks and waterfall hikes, to ancient temples, jungles with giant banyan trees, and the twin lakes of Tamblingan and Buyan.
Some people visit Munduk on a day trip from other areas of Bali, Indonesia, but it’s even better if you stay a couple nights in one of the beautiful accommodations like Munduk Moding Plantation or Atres Sari Resort.
This page will explain how to get to Munduk, where to stay, and what are some of the best things you can see and do in the area!
Where To Stay In Munduk
How To Get There
Munduk is located in north Bali, 1.5 to 2 hours from touristy places in south Bali like Ubud, Sanur, Canggu and Kuta.
The best way to get there is with a private driver or by scooter.
How To Get Around
The Munduk sights and hiking trails are a bit spread out over the area, so you’ll need transport if you plan to go exploring.
The most popular way to get around short distances in Bali is by scooter, and you can book these online or rent from a hotel or street shop.
Most hotels will also be happy to provide a day driver + car if you need one, and tour companies typically include transport in their packages.
Best Things To Do In Munduk
• Munduk Waterfall Hike
The most popular thing to do in Munduk is the classic waterfall trek that takes you to 4 falls, including the Golden Valley Waterfall. This is a great trail, but be prepared to spend a few hours hiking!
Read More: Munduk Waterfall Hike
• Ulun Danu Tamblingan Lake Temple
This is an epic temple at Lake Tamblingan in Munduk. One of the last remnants of the 10th century Tamblingan civilization, this temple sits inside of an ancient caldera surrounded by rainforests.
Read More: Tamblingan Lake Temple
• Munduk Twin Lakes Viewpoint
This is a nice roadside viewpoint in Munduk where you can see the twin lakes of Danau Tamblingan and Danau Buyan, along with some cheeky monkeys.
• Banyumala Waterfall
Banyumala is another nice waterfall in Wanagiri, just 15 minutes from Munduk! This is a quiet cascade waterfall with no crowds.
Read More: Banyumala Waterfall
• Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
This spot has no less than 4 fantastic falls just a short distance apart, and the main one is one of the biggest and best waterfalls in Bali!
It’s a huge cascade with a leafy background and a wide, shallow pool at the bottom for swimming. It’s only 15 minutes from Munduk.
Read More: Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
• Bhuana Sari Waterfall
This is another popular waterfall at the Banyu Wana Amertha trail, just a few minutes’ walk apart.
It has dozens of tiny waterfalls cascading down the rocks in a way that almost looks artificial!
Read More: Bhuana Sari Waterfall
• Banyuatis Waterfall
This waterfall near Munduk looks pretty similar to Banyumala, but it’s way less famous. We were alone!
Banyuatis Waterfall has a nice pool to swim in, and it’s free to enter. It’s a 20 minute hike on a small, narrow concrete scooter path that starts near an SMK school (GPS here).
Follow the little concrete path straight through the terraces until you reach the forest, and then go down the switchbacks on the right. The hike is a little steep, but never too difficult.
• Santhipala Waterfall
This is a nice triple waterfall in Munduk at the end of a 20 minute hike.
The path starts by a little ticket station and concrete bridge (GPS here), and it’s mostly dirt or pavement until you’re near the waterfall, then you have to cross a small bridge over the stream.
After the bridge, find the rocky path through the foliage and continue on it until you reach the waterfall. Hidden gem!
• Umejero Waterfall
This is another hidden gem in Munduk Bali, with orange rock walls and a natural pool you can swim in.
The hike to Umejero Waterfall starts from a small parking area near someone’s house (GPS here). Walk to the edge of the house and you’ll find a smooth concrete scooter path going down. Follow this until you reach a concrete bridge at the bottom, then turn left and go past the little ticket station.
The last part of the hike is a flat dirt path in the jungle and it follows the stream for a few minutes. The total hiking time is about 20 minutes one way. Enjoy!
Other Things To Do Near Munduk
• Ulun Danu Bratan Lake Temple
This is an old temple on a crater lake, and it’s arguably one of the most famous and iconic places in Bali. The 12-story pagoda just screams ‘Asia’, and the mountains in the background aren’t too shabby either.
This one is only 20 minutes from Munduk.
Read More: Beratan Lake Temple
• Bali Botanical Garden
You might not see this place on many Bali itineraries, but we loved it and it’s centrally located in Bedugul. Some of the trees and plants here look like they’re straight out of Jurassic Park. The highlight is a huge Banyan tree that may be hundreds of years old.
This one is only 25 minutes from Munduk Bali.
Read More: Bali Botanical Garden
• GitGit Waterfall
Gitgit is easily one of the best waterfalls in Bali. It’s a new favorite in north Bali. The hike is easy and it takes you to a really big twin waterfall!
This one is 35 minutes from Munduk.
Read More: GitGit Waterfall
• Colek Pamor Waterfall
This is a nice 15-meter waterfall that comes from the same stream as GitGit, but it’s more secret.
Some Bali canyoning tours include this waterfall, but aside from that, it’s still mostly unknown to tourists — even though it’s only a few minutes from GitGit!
Read More: Colek Pamor Waterfall
• Aling Aling Waterfall
There’s a total of 4 waterfalls at Aling Aling. The main one is a giant with a height of about 35 meters (115 feet).
The pictures don’t do it justice. This is a big, tall waterfall and it puts out a ton of mist!
This one is 40 minutes from Munduk.
Read More: Aling Aling Waterfall
• Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is the biggest waterfall in Bali, at 80 meters (260 feet), and it’s also one of our favorites. This is a big twin waterfall located in a jungle ravine in north Bali, near Singaraja. You have to see this one!
This one is 1 hour from Munduk.
Read More: Sekumpul Waterfall
Best Time To Visit
The weather in Munduk is generally nice for hiking at any time of year.
It sits in the mountains at a higher elevation than the rest of Bali, so the temps are pretty cool.
However, it can be pretty wet during the rainy season, which runs from November to April.
How Long To Stay
You can see the best sights of Munduk in a couple days, or you could even visit on a day trip from other parts of Bali.
With that said, you’ll probably want to stay longer because of the fresh mountain air and jungle scenery. If so, there’s plenty of things in the area to keep you busy.
Happy travels!
Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental
If you want to explore Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English speaking driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.
Their price is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. That's the total price for the whole car + driver + petrol! It's a great deal. They also offer affordable hotel transfers from the airport.
If you'd rather travel by motorbike, they have that too. Their scooter rentals start at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, rain coat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.
We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Bali Private Driver / Scooter Rental
Munduk Hotels
See Also
- Bali Beach Guide - The Best Beaches In Bali
- Bali Waterfalls Guide - The Best Waterfalls In Bali
- Bali Temple Guide - The Best Temples In Bali
- Bali Travel Guide - Info, Pictures, & Blog
- Nusa Penida Island Guide - How To Visit From Bali
- Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands - Best Places To Visit In Indonesia