I was thrilled with our decision to visit Munduk in the mountains of Bali, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the village clean and tidy, and the local people very friendly. The mountainous countryside in which the village is located is lush and green, and the temperature is a little cooler than that of Bali at sea level.
We went to Munduk to visit the waterfalls. Basically, I wanted a relaxing holiday with walks, swimming, nice food and time to chill out with my book… and that is precisely what I got.
1. Visit the stunning waterfalls
We visited seven waterfalls, three of which are in Munduk and four which were a short drive away. Click here for my full article on 7 Beautiful Bali Waterfalls Worth Visiting. All the waterfalls we visited were picturesque, and we were able to swim in the cool refreshing water at most of them.
Cost – Rp 10,000 – Rp 20,000 = USD 0.74 – 1.48
2. Have fun snapping a few panoramic selfies
I’m not really into selfies much myself, but for Rp 20,000 it was definitely worth having a bit of fun. There are many locations along the ridge overlooking Lake Buyan, where local entrepreneurs have built many fun props for panoramic photo opportunities. I think this is a great idea and hopefully, it replaces animal selfies!
Cost – Rp 20,000 / person = AUD 1.95 / USD 1.48
3. Grab a juice at Warung Heaven and enjoy the view
We stumbled across Warung Heaven as we rode around Munduk village. This little warung is perched on the mountainside and affords a gorgeous view of mountains and forest. We ordered a couple of fresh fruit juices and enjoyed the view. There are many warungs and restaurants in Munduk, and nearby, that offers a spectacular view. Do stop to enjoy the vista and the fresh juices which are so delicious in Bali.
Cost – Rp 20,000 / juice = AUD 1.95 / USD 1.48
4. Photograph the rice paddies
You cannot visit the mountains of Bali without taking a photo of the beautiful rice paddies. I know, they are merely farms, farming rice, but you have to admit they are very photogenic farms! We passed some beautiful rice paddies on our way from Munduk to Gesing.
5. Enjoy the street food with a plate of delicious sate babi
On the ridge that overlooks Lake Buyan, you will find many food carts and stalls. We couldn’t pass by without having a plate of sate babi (pork satays). Served with lontong (rice cake), peanut and/or chilli sauce and kecap manis, these sates are absolutely delicious! Not only is the food great but you couldn’t ask for a better view for your eating pleasure. Check out more yummy street food here!
Cost – Rp 20,000 / per serve of sate = AUD 1.95 / USD 1.48
6. Have a soak at Banjar Hot Springs
Banjar hot springs (Air Panas Banjar) is on the road from Munduk to Lovina in Bali’s north. The bathing pools are constructed around the centuries-old hot water spring source. The pool area has been upgraded over time and now consists of several hot pools, restaurant, cafe, toilets, change rooms and lockers. At the entrance to the pools, you will find a parking area, a ticket office and many market stalls selling clothes, paintings and jewellery. We really enjoyed having a soak in these pools before riding on to Lovina for lunch.
Cost – Rp 20,000 / person = AUD 1.95 / USD 1.48
7. And then there is The Giant Banyan Tree…
The banyan tree was on my list of cheap things to do during our stay in Munduk. It was a huge, sacred, banyan tree reputably over 700 years old. It was 85m high and measured 70 metres in diameter!… But wait! Why am I using the past tense “was”? That is because when we arrived in the nearby village of Gesing, we were to find only the remains of this once magnificent tree. We were told it was chopped down about 3 months ago. I can only assume it was because it became dangerous. At present, you can still get an idea of how large the circumference was as it is easy to see where it once stood… Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
More Information
Currency
IDR – Indonesian Rupiah is written here as Rp
Motorbike Hire
We hired a 150cc scooter in Kuta for Rp480,000 for six days. That was Rp80,000 / day. Approximately AUD 7.80 or USD 5.90 / day.
Accommodation
We typically book our accommodation through booking.com. We like the convenience of booking online, and we are usually able to pay for our accommodation on arrival at the hotel/resort or room. booking.com advertise many different accommodation styles in Bali, so you are sure to find the perfect place.
Cost – Rp300,000 / night (AUD 29.00)
Pros – Beautiful location with lovely views. Wonderful, helpful staff. Good size room with a comfortable bed, bedside tables, lamps and lots of pillows. The window opens, and the bed has a mozzie net. No need for a fan or A/C. Terrace with a seating area. Breakfast is served daily on the terrace. Breakfast is limited to four choices, but all are delicious. My favourite was the Pisang Rai! Lots of storage space for luggage and clothes. The laundry service was convenient and very cheap ( Rp15,000 / kg – AUD 1.45 / kg)
Cons – We ran out of hot water in the shower once or twice.
Our Verdict – This accommodation doesn’t include a fridge, kettle, TV or A/C… but they were not really needed. The lovely staff made us tea and coffee when we needed it. It was a perfect place to use as a base for exploring the waterfalls, lakes and mountains – and quite pleasant for a relaxing getaway.
-
- Maliana Homestay Double Room.
-
- Breakfast on the terrace.
-
- Pisang Rai
iVisa
iVisa makes getting a visa super easy. You can even get passport and visa photos done!
Like this post? Please pin or share on social media… thank you!
6 Comments
Leave your reply.