Bali guide › North and east Bali
What is there to do in Munduk?
Walk, drink coffee and enjoy the cool air. Munduk is Bali as it appears in mountain films: a village perched at about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), surrounded by coffee, clove and cocoa plantations, with mist clinging to the trees in the afternoon. It is clearly cooler and damper than the coast, with nights around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F), so pack a jumper and a light waterproof.
What you will see:
- The village waterfalls: a walk of about 2.5 hours links Golden Valley (free), Red Coral, Labuhan Kebo and Melanting (entry about 10,000 IDR, under $1, with a staircase to climb back up afterwards). Melanting is beautiful, but the current is strong: look, don't swim.
- Banyumala: twin waterfalls 30 minutes away by scooter, with big natural pools for swimming. Entry costs around 50,000 IDR (about $3).
- The twin lakes Buyan and Tamblingan, separated by dense forest. Around Lake Tamblingan are old temples such as Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan, which you can also reach by dugout canoe.
- The plantations: the smell of cloves drying outside houses follows you everywhere, especially during the harvest in late August. Some farmers sell their coffee or spices from small stalls.
A word on kopi luwak (coffee made from beans digested by the civet): you will be offered it everywhere, but caged farming raises real ethical questions. It's up to you to judge. You will also find specialty coffees grown at altitude, just as delicious.
In the wet season the paths get slippery and visibility over the lakes shrinks.
Verdict: the best cool-air stop on the island, and a very good place to switch off for a night or two. There is not much nightlife, which is the point.
Tip: park in the village and do the waterfall walk on foot, starting early in the morning. Keep a little energy for the climb back up from Melanting.
Prices checked in October 2026; confirm before you go.
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- Why stay in Sidemen instead of Ubud?
- How do you reach the Gili Islands from Bali?
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