The 11 Best Things to Do in Munduk, Bali

When people mention Bali, it’s unlikely they’re talking about Munduk. That’s because this beautiful area is hidden high in the mountains of north Bali. It’s cooler, quieter and still holds the charm of traditional Balinese life. Just over an hour north of Ubud, Munduk feels very different from the busy areas. The streets are quiet, you’re always surrounded by nature, the waterfalls are the best in Bali, and and it’s the perfect place to unplug from everyday life. In this blog, we’ll explore the best things to do in Munduk. There might not be a lot, but they’re all definitely worth it.

11 Best Things to Do in Munduk, Bali

1. Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan

Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan, right on the shore of Lake Tamblingan, is one of the top spots when it comes to things to do in Munduk, Bali. The temple is surrounded by lush greenery and the lake and buzzing with local life, making it a really scenic spot. It’s a bit off the beaten path and traditional tourist trail, which makes it feel more authentic and special.

Dating back to the 10th century, the temple itself is old and majestic. Although the building is showing its age, it is still used for ceremonies, particularly in celebration of Dewi Danu, the goddess of lakes and rivers. While the gates to the temple are locked, you can still walk the perimeter and take some amazing photos. 

What makes this place extra special is the local life going on around you. There are local fishermen on the shore and out in small boats on the lake, families having picnics, groups of friends playing and plenty of people camping out. You can also take a walk around the lake if you’re up for a stroll.

There’s a small entrance fee, which goes towards maintaining the parkland and temple, supporting the local community.

🎒 On this well-reviewed tour, you visit the temple and experience a ride on a traditional wooden canoe to cross Tamblingan Lake. This tour also includes Munduk waterfalls, before heading to a local family-run restaurant for traditional Balinese food.

2. Rice Terraces Munduk

There are more impressive rice terraces in Bali, like in Sidemen or Ubud, but Munduk Rice Terraces are quieter and hugged by the mountains of northern Bali. The terraces are smaller than other famous terraces like Tegalalang, but their charming because they’re small, with pretty green rice paddies stretching across the hillside.

You can take a leisurely walk through the rice paddies, which takes about an hour to do the loop, and you can even ride a scooter around them. This is the perfect place to unwind and breathe in the fresh mountain air. We recommend visiting at sunset as the sunlight through the palm trees and over the mountains is really something special.

There is no entrance fee at Munduk’s Rice Terraces, and you’ll often see locals working the fields. If you want to get out into nature and enjoy a peaceful, relaxing walk, then this is one of the best things to do in Munduk.

🌾 This trekking tour is perfect if you want to tie in a visit to these rice fields with the famous Banyu Wana Waterfall and Sekumpul Waterfall. Pick up and drop off is included as well as a stop at the twin lake viewpoint.

3. Munduk Escape

This little place, Munduk Escape, is the definition of a hidden gem. This tiny coffee shop is hidden down a small road and is actually at the owner’s house. The views here are undeniably some of the best we’ve experienced in Bali. Whether you come on a sunny day or are amongst the clouds, it’s bound to be breathtaking. 

There are a couple of photo spots, one being a platform that looks out across the valley and towards the mountains. We were lucky enough to go on a moody day with fast-moving clouds and mist moving across the valley and revealing the hills in the distance – it was incredible. 

You’re likely to have this place to yourself, so take time to have a chat with Kori (the owner) and enjoy some tea or coffee.

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4. Banyumala Twin Waterfall

Hidden in the hills up above Munduk, you’ll find one of our favourite waterfalls in the whole of Bali, and definitely one of the best things to do in Munduk. Only recently has Banyumala Twin Waterfall started to gain popularity and it’s easy to see why plenty of people are coming here. 

There are two beautiful waterfalls, both of which you can swim in and take some amazing photos too. We’d suggest arriving super early (before the day-trippers from Ubud arrive) or later in the day, 2:30 pm onwards. 

It’s around a 10-15 minute walk to the waterfall with a 50,000 IDR entrance fee. Most of the journey down is steps, and it can get quite steep in places. In our opinion, it’s 100% worth it and will be one of the highlights of your trip to Bali.

Top Tip: If you arrive by scooter, go right to the end of the road to park – it will make the walk quite a bit shorter.

💦 If you love waterfalls, this best waterfalls in North Bali tour takes you to 3 amazing falls in the area – Banyumala, Banyu Wana and the super Instagrammable Leke Leke Waterfall. The tour includes pick up and drop off, the entrance fees and a walk through a local village.

🎒 Or, on this 5-star day trip, you can combine a visit to Banyumala Waterfall with the floating temple and the UNESCO Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.

Read the full guide: Banyumala Waterfall in Bali: Everything You Need to Know

5. Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall

A short drive from Banyumala Twin Waterfall, you’ll find the next of our best things to do in Munduk: Banyu Wana Amertha. While it’s less known and not as powerful, but is incredibly majestic. Many tours like this one combine visits to both Banyumala and Banyu Wana Amertha since they’re close by.

As with many of the waterfalls in the area, there is more than one waterfall here (there are four in total). It takes about 20-25 minutes to hike to the main one, but the trail is well-maintained with good paths and steps.

It will be quieter here than Banyumala, so we recommend visiting them both on the same day but going to Banyumala first, followed by Banyu Wana Amertha. That way, you give yourself the best chance of seeing two of the best things to do in Munduk without crowds.

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6. Handara Gate Bali

Handara Gate is a popular photo spot and one of the best things to do in Munduk if you’re looking for a perfect Instagram shot – yep, this is one of the most Instagrammable places in North Bali. This Balinese Hindu gate, with its tall split structure, is set against beautiful mountains at the entrance of a golf resort and symbolises a passage between two worlds. Behind the gate is often shrouded in mist around sunrise, which makes for some seriously dramatic photos.

You’ll find this spot popular with tourists, with people lining up for their turn to grab that iconic photo. So, your best bet for a quick visit and the best lighting for photos is to visit early in the morning around sunrise when it’s less crowded and often misty.

🎒 Discover more things to do in Munduk for your visit.

7. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (Floating Temple)

Built on the shores of Lake Beratan, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, also known as a floating temple, is one of the most popular things to do in Munduk.

The main attraction is the temple that appears to beautifully float on the surface of Lake Batan. The grounds of the temple are incredibly well-manicured and maintained, and you can take a little wooden boat out onto the Beratan Lake, so there’s plenty of great photo opportunities here.

Unsurprisingly, it does get crowded at Ulun Danu Beratan as it’s popular with locals and tourists on Instagram tours and combination tours, so be prepared and get here early if you can or later in the day. When it’s busy, it can feel more like a park, with all of the amenities and man-made areas around like food stalls, shops and photo spots, which can detract from the temple’s spiritual meaning and peaceful atmosphere.

8. Twin Lake Viewpoints

The Twin Lake Viewpoints, perched high in the mountains above the stunning Buyan Lake and Lake Tamblingan, have some of the best views in Munduk. Along the road on the northern edge of the lakes, you’ll find a handful of designated viewpoints and plenty of warungs (family-run restaurants serving local Indonesian food) with outdoor seating.

If you’re looking for some quintessential Bali photos on giant swings and sculptures, then we suggest stopping at Wanagiri Hidden Hill Bali. They have a handful of platforms to get pictures overlooking the lakes and a perfectly positioned swing too. But, don’t plan on spending time here. There isn’t anything but photo spots, and it can get quite busy.

Alternatively, you can head further along the road to Twin Lake View. This raised concrete platform is completely free and often has very few people around. You don’t have the swings or pretty sculptures, but there are warungs and local vendors to buy refreshments and seating areas to enjoy the view without crowds.

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9. Sekumpul Waterfall & Fiji Waterfall

Sekumpul Waterfall is often lauded as Bali’s most impressive waterfall – it is the tallest one on the island – and it’s hard to argue. It is breathtaking from the viewing platform, and from the base of the falls, even more impressive. You can’t swim here but be prepared to get seriously wet from the powerful mist that sprays across the valley. 

There are three entrance options, the cheapest is to pay just to go to the viewing area and see Sekumpul Waterfall from above (the viewing platform). Then, there is the medium trekking and long trekking options. Medium trekking takes you down to Sekumpul and Hidden Waterfall (which you can swim in). The long trekking ticket adds on Fiji Waterfall, a short hike away. Ticket prices also include a guide, which you will especially need for the long trekking option.

We won’t lie, it’s quite a task getting up and down Sekumpul Waterfall – there are 400 or so very steep steps, which on the way down is ok, but coming back up is a serious workout. But, it’s totally worth it when you’re standing at the foot of these falls!

Top Tip: Be careful when you arrive! Before reaching the official entrance, some fake guides overcharge for entry. To avoid this, ignore all stops and head directly to the official ticket stand. If you go as part of a tour or book a trekking guide and driver, you won’t need to worry about this.

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10. Aling Aling Waterfall

Aling Aling waterfall is actually an hours drive away, but we’re classing it as one of the best things to do in Munduk because it’s likely you’ll be staying in Munduk if you’re going to visit here. There are actually four waterfalls at Aling Aling, with Aling Aling being the biggest of them all. All of the waterfalls are impressive and worth the visit even if you’re just hiking, but for us, the best part is the cliff jumping – there are platforms up to a huge 15 metres!

There are four different entry tickets starting at 20,000 IDR. This is the cheapest ticket price, but only includes seeing the waterfall from a viewing platform. The other ticket options include going down to multiple waterfalls, cliff jumping and a guide. You need a guide at Aling Aling if you’re planning on cliff jumping because they tell you when, where and how to jump, as well as provide safety equipment.

🎟️ You can book your Aling Aling ticket here. Or, if you need transport to and from your accommodation, you can book a combination tour like this one.

It can get busy with day-trippers from Ubud, so get here as early as possible to avoid the crowds.

11. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are some of the most beautiful rice fields in Bali. Unlike the smaller and quieter terraces in Munduk, Jatiluwih stretches out with rolling hills covered in rice paddies that are super green, giving you some of the best views of Bali’s landscape. The terraces are part of a UNESCO Cultural Landscape and use a traditional irrigation system called “subak,” which has been around for centuries. It’s a bit of a drive from Munduk – around an hour – but trust us, the scenery is worth the trip and that’s why it’s made it into our best things to do in Munduk guide.

If you want to take a nice walk or go hiking through rice fields, Jatiluwih is perfect for you. There are a few walking trails to choose from that range in length and difficulty, whether you’re up for a short stroll or a longer hike, but all of them offer incredible views. Plus, it’s not as packed with tourists as other places, so you can enjoy the scenery at your own pace. Just remember to take water, sunscreen and a hat as it gets very hot here.

You’ll find some local warungs where you can grab a bite or a drink, and most of them have great views of the rice fields.

The entrance fee to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces is 40,000 IDR, which gets you into the whole are (Jatiluwih Green Land) and helps support the local community and farmers.

🎒 On this 5-star day trip, you can combine a visit to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces with Banyumala Waterfall and the floating temple with includes pick up and drop off from your accommodation and a guide.

How Long to Stay in Munduk?

You can visit Munduk for a day or stay for up to three days, depending on your schedule and how many of the best things to do in Munduk you plan on visiting. There isn’t tons to do here, but Munduk is great if you enjoy hiking, visiting waterfalls, rice fields and taking in scenic views. We recommend staying at least one night in Munduk to fully experience life in the mountains of North Bali. And, there are a few tasty restaurants in Munduk. We had some of the best Balinese food here during our four-month stay on the island! So make sure to try some of these amongst visiting all the best things to do in Munduk Bali.