🌿 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!

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport - Bali (DPS)

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Probably the most modern looking airport in Indonesia, with a decent number of restaurants in the international terminal - try Made’s Warung if you’re looking for a bite. Be warned that service can be slow when crowded. A word on transport - as with many airports in Indonesia, lots of taxi drivers are waiting outside the airport for passengers often in a disorganised fashion. There’s no particular queue and you can’t be sure of a metered fare. If you’re worried about being ripped off, make a booking via the ride-hailing apps ‘Grab’ or ‘Gojek’ and select the dedicated pick-up point when prompted. You’ll see the huge green and black ‘Grab’ or ‘Gojek’ signs at these pick up points where you can wait for your driver without being harassed by touts. That said, if you can work out an agreeable price with any other driver for a ride, do go ahead.

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📍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! 😉

Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa

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Arriving at Munduk Moding Plantation feels like stepping into another world. You've left the hustle and bustle of city life behind you for a few days and are ready to relax, unwind, and immerse yourself in nature. Honestly, you could spend your whole trip at this plantation and be well-occupied with its array of activities for the whole family. I highly recommend taking a tour around the plantation to learn how coffee is harvested and roasted - yes the very coffee you're drinking at this hotel! For the early risers, you may wish to join the bird watching tour. If not, you could probably hear the chirping of the bird from your own room. The air here is fresh and cool, so they don't have air-conditioning installed in the rooms. If you find the rooms too warm, you may request for portable AC to be sent to your room. The pool and jacuzzi are really relaxing, and if you time it right, you could go for a dip and be out just in time for your daily afternoon tea, served right by the pool.

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'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

📍Wanagiri Hidden Hill

Wanagiri Hidden Hill Bali

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While this place is not 'authentic' by any means. It's got a great view of Danau Buyan (i.e. Lake Buyan). You have to pay an entrance fee to enter so if you're not interested in these somewhat kitsch backdrops, head over to "Twin Lake View" instead which is a free photo spot. That said, the staff here are really good at taking some instagram-worthy photos (and even reels!) and it can still be a bit of fun especially if you're here with your partner.

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'Touristy' meter: ❗❗❗

Ok there's no denying it, this is definitely a spot for the 'gram, but it really depends on what your idea of fun is. If you're clear that this is not the 'authentic' Bali but think that posing for photos against a variety of man-made backdrops (think a giant birds nest, a really tall swing, a ship) sounds like it could still be a fun time for you and your travel companions, there's no harm checking out Wanagiri Hidden Hill - the staff on hand are really good at taking social media-worthy photos 😉

📍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.

Twin Lake View

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There’s no fee to enter but you might find one or two vendors here trying to sell you a photo with their assortment or rare animals or some food. Just politely decline if you’re not interested.

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📍Banyumala Waterfall

Banyumala Waterfall

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Really lovely to just sit at the base of this waterfall and watch it cascade down in many silver streams. The base of the waterfall is shallow enough so it's safe to take a dip if you'd like, but there aren't any changing facilities around. When I visited, you did have to pay an entrance fee of IDR 30,000 to visit Banyumala Waterfall but the price is the same for locals and foreigners. You do not need a guide to see the waterfall - and I wasn't hassled by anyone insisting on 'guiding' me down. There are proper steps all the way down to the waterfall so it's relatively safe. Only that it can get somewhat slippery if it rained recently or due to the spray from the waterfall so do watch your step.

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'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:

Hot Sugar Cafe at Bedugul Hills

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📍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.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

@samanthaang

A lovely Hindu temple situated by the lake makes for such a picturesque sight. The surrounding gardens/grounds are also relatively expansive, meaning you won’t feel it’s too crowded or packed even though coach buses are dropping local tourists off here too. This is a functioning temple so don’t be surprised if you witness rituals being conducted on special religious occasions. If the weather permits, maybe rent a rowboat or swan boat to get out on the water and enjoy the temple from a different angle. Be warned though, it can get really hot if you’re there in the middle of the afternoon as there’s (clearly) little cover in the middle of a lake!

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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.

Bali Botanical Garden

@samanthaang

Given the cool air up in the north of Bali, it's great to just wander around the huge expense of the Bali Botanical Garden, which makes you almost forget that you’re in the tropics.

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Afternoon

Arrive in Ubud

📍Lunch at Ibu Susu Bar & Kitchen

IBU SUSU Bar & Kitchen

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Try the fish burger here! Do note that there is no air-conditioning.

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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.

Bisma Eight Hotel

@samanthaang

This is an all-suite hotel meaning all the rooms are spacious (they’re basically suites). The pool is heated, which makes it easier to slip into rather than a cold pool. Customer service is top notch, with the front desk helping me out via WhatsApp with some queries and special arrangements even weeks before my stay. They were also kind enough to provide me some Panadol when I was feeling ill in the evening. Last but definitely not least, breakfast at their on site restaurant Copper is AMAZING.

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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

Murni's Warung

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Alternatively, if you've had your fair share of Indonesian food and want to try something else, Ubud has a ton of other highly-rated options for you to choose from:

Restaurant Locavore

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Apéritif Restaurant

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Pica South American Kitchen

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Hujan Locale

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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

Mount Batur

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'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

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

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'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:

Cretya Ubud

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Ceking Rice Terrace

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Dinner 

Apart from the Day 3 suggestions, here are more options for you to consider for a more local flavour:

Warung Makan Bu Rus

@samanthaang

Tip: Come here just before sunset to take a walk around the grounds, snap some shots at the cool bridge smack in the middle of it.

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Liap Liap

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Good dinner spot if you’re up for some grilled dishes, be warned that it can get smoky depending on the seat you’re assigned.

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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.

Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati

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Afternoon

📍Lunch at Seniman Coffee

Seniman Coffee

@samanthaang

You've probably already had Ayam Betutu with rice at some point in Bali, but what Mie Ayam Betutu? Don't miss this yummy dish at Seniman Coffee! 🍜 Oh and of course the coffee is great but that goes without saying right? ☕

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Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping

Lucy's Batik

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Sensatia Botanicals - Monkey Forest Ubud

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Don’t miss out on the soaps and skincare from Sensatia which will transport you back to Bali even when you’ve returned home. This brand is now offered by many five-star hotels/resorts as part of their in-room amenities.

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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!

📲Subscribe if you'd like be notified when I post more Bali itineraries in future on Seminyak, Jimbaran, and Uluwatu. 

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