Munduk Waterfalls

Munduk

is a village situated in the mountains of Northern Bali, about two and a half hours drive from Legian. There are numerous Homestays, a couple of luxurious resorts and a number of Warungs/Restaurants. Jl. Pura Puseh is a little side-street off the main road that features several Homestays (including Nadya Homestay where we stayed) and 3 or 4 Warungs perched overlooking a spectacular valley with scenic views.

As Munduk is located in the mountains, you might want to consider a light jumper/long sleeve top for the evenings. I visited in late July (dry season) and found the weather to be mostly fine with temperatures ranging from 19 to 25 degrees.

A key reason for a visit to Munduk is the scenic Munduk Waterfall Trek – a 2 to 5 hour walk (depending on your choices) through four beautiful waterfalls.

Watch the Video

The trek can link together 3–4 waterfalls, depending on your time and energy:

Munduk Waterfall (Red Coral/ Air Terjun Munduk) – the easiest to reach, about a 15-min walk from the road.
Golden Valley Waterfall (Air Terjun Melanting) – taller and dramatic, about 30 mins further along the trail.
Labuhan Kebo Waterfall – a bit more hidden, with a very scenic outlook.
Laangan/Melanting Waterfall – bigger, powerful falls further down the valley.

I completed this trek with Nyoman from Munduk Trekking Guide – he arranged to pick me up at my accommodation and drive us to his recommended starting point (on the road near Red Coral Waterfall). We then hiked through three of the four waterfalls and walked back to my Munduk accommodation. I estimate we covered around 4 kilometres and took three hours. You need a moderate level of fitness to manage the steep steps in places – I’m in my 60s and trained for 3 months prior to my visit.

Nyoman explained that starting our trek near Red Coral Waterfall enabled a more “downhill” walking experience.

I can recommend Nyoman as a knowledgeable, punctual, reliable guide who (as a Munduk local) knows the area well.

Nyoman – A Great Guide from Munduk Trekking Guide

Equipment/Preparation:

Walking shoes or sandals. I swear by my Hoka Hopara 2 – they are sturdy, comfortable AND can be worn in water – saves having to sit down and take shoes on and off each time you walk across a stream.
Water bottle
Hat and sunscreen
Insect repellent (didn’t need)
Plastic rain poncho (just in case, didn’t need in dry season)
Dry Bag

Our trek wound through green leafy jungle, often on narrow paved paths. Nyoman was a wealth of information on the local flora. He showed me coffee plants, bananas, casava, soap tree, cacao, cloves etc.

We experienced a number of very steep climbs – usually with rough-hewn steps and sometimes with hand-rails as well. With spray from the waterfalls and a certain degree of dampness on the trail, it was essential to be wearing decent footwear.

What a wonderfull experience!

Nadya Homestay

Nadya Homestay in Munduk is situated on Jl. Pura Puseh which is a little side-street off the main road that features several Homestays. It is perched overlooking a huge valley with amazing views of the mountains. Munduk is a quiet village situated in the mountains of Northern Bali, about two and a half hours drive from Legian and is 700 to 1,000 metres above sea-level experiencing a cooler climate than down-town Bali. You might need a light jumper in the evening.

The food is fine (loved the corn fritters!) and the staff are friendly.