🌿 Free itinerary: 5 nature-filled days in Bali | Munduk, Ubud
📌Take note
🚗This itinerary assumes that you will hire a car to take you around, my most recommended mode of transport when going around Indonesia! You can book a driver on Klook, or Goldenbird.
✈️This itinerary does not include the traveling days for getting into or out of Bali so you may need to add an additional day before or after.
Day 1
Morning
📍Ngurah Rai International Airport
After arriving at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, hop into your pre-arranged transport and head up to Munduk Moding Plantation. The drive can take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours depending on the traffic so grab your snacks and some water and remember to use the toilets at the airport before leaving!
📍Munduk Moding Plantation
I highly recommend staying at Munduk Moding Plantation as it's an opportunity to stay on a working coffee plantation and the food served on site is delicious. Plus, you'll have access to THAT instagram shot of Munduk's famous infinity pool! 😉
'Touristy' meter: ❗
Despite that instagram-famous infinity pool shot, Munduk is still not as popular with the average tourist as other spots in Bali like Ubud, Seminyak, or Canggu. Given that the resort has a limited number of rooms, the experience feels more exclusive and not overwhelmingly commercial.
Afternoon
After the long drive, spend this afternoon settling into your room. When you're ready, enjoy the afternoon tea served by the pool at Munduk Moding Plantation and take a little dip too if you fancy. You may also want to book a massage to destress and unwind from all the tension built up from sitting in the tiny seat of an airplane.
Evening
At night, enjoy dinner at the hotel's MiMPi Restaurant, which take a farm to table approach to bring you some mouthwatering Indonesian delights.
Day 2
Morning
'Touristy' meter: ❗❗❗
📍Twin Lake View
If taking photos with backdrops is not your thing, head to Twin Lake View instead for a free photo spot where you can see both Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan.
📍Banyumala Waterfall
'Touristy' meter: ❗
Unlike other waterfalls in Bali where you'll have to queue for ages for your picture perfect spot, that's not the case with Banyumala, where local tourists also come to visit and take a dip in the waters. Of course, it might just be a matter of time before this waterfall becomes too popular so hurry and check it out before then!
Afternoon
Head to the Bedugul region around Danau Beratan (Lake Beratan) where you can grab lunch at one of the nearby cafes:
📍Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
'Touristy' meter: ❗❗
This temple is very well frequented by local and foreign tourists - it gets crowded during religious festivities especially since it’s a functioning temple. But not to worry, the grounds are pretty expansive so there’s room for everyone.
Evening
There isn't much to do in the area after dark, so head back to your hotel, relax and enjoy dinner on site.
💡Note: the temperature in Munduk is much cooler than the the beaches or even in Ubud so you might want to have a shawl handy for the evenings
Day 3
Morning
After breakfast, take a tour around the coffee plantation (do check with the reception about the schedule and book the tour beforehand, you may need to swap your itinerary around as the tour is not conducted daily).
Check out and start the drive down to Ubud where you'll be staying for the next two days. Along the way, you could stop at the Bali Botanical Garden if you wish, if not, continue onwards to Ubud.
📍Bali Botanical Garden
'Touristy' meter: ❗
This garden is visited mostly by local rather than foreign tourists hence you're not likely to feel like it's too crowded or inauthentic.
Afternoon
Arrive in Ubud
📍Lunch at Ibu Susu Bar & Kitchen
Check in to your accommodation. If you're not sure where to stay, consider Bisma Eight Hotel, which has an amazing breakfast (trust me, folks staying elsewhere come here for the breakfast too), a heated pool, and gorgeous rooms each with a Hinoki tub.
Relax at the pool or indulge in another Balinese massage (can you really get too many massages in Bali?).
Evening
📍Dinner at Murni's Warung
Day 4
Morning
You'll start your day VERY early this morning, with a pick up time of about 3am from your hotel in Ubud, to take you to Mt Batur. You'll have to arrange for a tour with a guide to take you up in the dark. Check out this option on Klook:
📍Mt Batur
'Touristy' meter: ❗❗
I gave Mt Batur a 2 out of 3 on the 'touristy' meter only because it is indeed popular with tourists so you're not about to have the view all to yourself - that said, it's really beautiful to watch the sunrise creep up behind Mt Agung and there's enough space for you to find your own corner, settle down and enjoy the view.
After an early start to the day, come back to your hotel, take a shower, a short nap if you need one, and of course have breakfast.
📍Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
'Touristy' meter: ❗Having been recognised as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, the local government is obliged to preserve the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and this prevents it from becoming hyper-commercialised, and remains a functioning rice cultivation field.
Alternatives to Jatiluwih:
As much as I personally prefer the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, I think there's also a place for those who much prefer staying on the beaten track, just grabbing a few nice photos amidst the rice terraces that have become a little more commercialised, while not having to spend time traveling all the way out to Jatiluwih. If that's you, you could consider one of these options:
Dinner
Apart from the Day 3 suggestions, here are more options for you to consider for a more local flavour:
Day 5
Morning
You've had a busy few days so just take it slow on your final day of this itinerary. After breakfast, head out to the street of Ubud for a casual stroll towards the Saraswati Temple.
📍Saraswati Temple
Touristy meter: ❗❗
I mean, as the most conveniently located temple in the heart of Ubud, it's hard for this temple not to get crowded but it's still nice to wander around and admire the architecture.
Afternoon
📍Lunch at Seniman Coffee
Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping
Evening
I know, it's sad to be saying bye to Bali so soon but all good things come to an end. But you know what's the best part about Bali? You can always visit again and try something new!
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