Hiking in Munduk should be on top of your list if you are into nature trails. The area is made for this kind of activity. There are at least 12 hiking trails you can choose from all designed by I Nyoman Bagiarta from Puri Lumbung Cottages.
Some of these Munduk hiking trails are easily done without a local guide. However, if you like to have background information about the area I recommend you hire a guide. This is easily arranged through your hotel in Munduk.
It’s great to have someone with you who is a walking encyclopedia so you don’t have to flip through specialized guide books yourself. Don’t worry about the costs, it’s around $25 USD for an English-speaking guide for 2/3 hours, less for a guide who isn’t fluent 😉
Our Munduk hiking experience
When we went hiking we arranged our guide, Nyoman Sutarya at Meme Surung homestay. He took us along the ‘Loop Track’ which started at Munduk village.
The trail took us through villages, their plantations and into the mountains of Munduk. The highlights of the track were the two waterfalls; Red Coral waterfall and the Laangan waterfall.
The hike was not that intensive, only the steps up would break us into a sweat. Besides plants and herbs, our guide would provide us with information about how Munduk used to be, all the developments and eco-initiatives that have taken place since. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water and insect repellant.
If you want to go hiking around Munduk here are the 12 hiking trails offered:
1. Red Coral Waterfall Trek
Duration: 2 hours
Level: easy
Highlights: Cloves, vanilla, avocado, and Bali coffee plantations and Red Coral Waterfall (Tanah Barak).
2. Environmental trek
Duration: 3/4 hours
Level: easy
Highlights: In this trek, you can combine the rice fields with the Red Coral waterfall and walk along the small riverbank to Dayang village. You’ll have plenty of rice field views.
3. Subak trek
Duration: 2/3 hours
Level: easy
Highlights: Subak Suradadi, herbs and spices, Dayang village, traditional tunnel, and public bathing place. The Subak is the traditional water distribution system on Bali and here you can learn why it’s so important.
4. Stone Water Spring Trek
Duration: 3/4 hours
Level: easy to moderate
Highlights: In this trek, you will visit the Batumejajah settlement where water comes out of stones. After this, you can walk through coffee, vanilla and clove plantations. There will be enough time to visit Munduk’s rice terraces and villages nearby.
5. Loop trek
Duration: 2/3 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: In this trek, you’ll have the chance to see several waterfalls such as the Red Coral waterfall. After this, you can walk along the small river bank to the highest waterfall in Bali, the Laangan Waterfall.
6. Inter Village trek
Duration: 4/5 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: During this trek, you will visit the biggest banyan tree in Bali and you will hike to Bolangan for terraced rice field views.
7. Mendaum Riverside trek
Duration 3/4 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: By car, you will go to Mundukan Tingkih village. From there you will walk along river banks and visit the Laangan waterfall (highest in Bali).
8. Tropical Fruit trek
Duration: 3/4 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: By car to Bestala village, visit nearby villages, traditional Genggong music (on request). At Kayu Putih village you can have a look at ancient sarcophagus/pre-historic sandstone coffins. Furthermore, the area is rich in fruits and you have the chance to learn about several fruits in season (best time November to January).
9. Inter Lake Trek
Duration: 2/4 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: First you’ll go by car from Munduk to Lake Buyan. On the way, you can visit a vegetable and strawberry plantation center. Afterward, you will visit temples such as the Telaga Aye Temple in the jungle and you can cross the lake by canoe back to your starting point.
10. Historical Trek
Duration: 3/4 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: This trek through the forest follows the route of the ancient Majapahit expeditions where you’ll visit ruins. You will also stop at Lake Tamblingan and from there you’ll transfer by car back to Munduk.
11. Balinese patriots long march trek
Duration: 3/4 hours
Level: moderate
Highlights: This route leads you through mountain posts of the Balinese patriots who resisted the Dutch in 1945-1950. You will walk to Balinese villages and plantations and view the oldest and biggest banyan tree in Bali.
12. Dutch colonial trek
Duration: 4/6 hours
Level: challenging
Highlights: First stop is Pessanggrahan where the first guest house in Bali was built in 1906. You will see various Balinese villages with rice terraces, coffee and clove plantations, Lake Tamblingan and hike back or transfer by car to Munduk.
Munduk is one of our favorite places to visit together with Batukaru and Sidemen. There is enough to experience for nature lovers and there are plenty of accommodation options. It easy to spend a week and go for different hikes every day.