Munduk and the mountain lakes

Munduk sits at over 800 metres, a few degrees cooler than the coast. The village clings to a mountainside, with plantations and waterfalls in the valleys below. You walk here for half a day and see three waterfalls along the way. Close by are three crater lakes; Ulun Danu Beratan, the temple on Lake Beratan, seems to float when the water is high.

Which waterfalls can you see near Munduk?

Around the village, several waterfalls tumble into the valleys. Paths past coffee, clove and cocoa plantations link them together. At each waterfall you pay a small entrance fee, usually IDR 20,000–50,000 per person (2026), in cash.

• Munduk waterfall (Red Coral): the best known, about twenty minutes' walk on a fairly level path.
• Labuan Kebo and Melanting: two waterfalls in the same valley. To reach Melanting you go down some five hundred steep steps, and you have to climb them again. Only if you're steady on your feet.
• Golden Valley: close to the road and a few minutes' walk. You leave a small donation.
• Banyumala: a wide twin waterfall near Wanagiri, between Munduk and Lake Buyan, with a pool you can swim in. Fifteen to twenty minutes' walk, mostly on steps.

All together it's half a day to a full day of walking. After rain the paths and steps are slippery, so wear shoes with a good grip.

The three lakes

Munduk lies on the edge of an old volcanic crater with three lakes in it.

• Tamblingan: the smallest and quietest lake. A path through the forest runs past old temples on the shore, and guides from the surrounding villages take you out in a wooden canoe. For the walk, the canoe and the entrance fee, count on about €15–30 per person (2026).
• Buyan: the lake next door. From the road along the ridge between Buyan and Tamblingan you look down on both lakes. A few kilometres on, at Pancasari, is the Handara gate, famous from Instagram.
• Beratan: home to the Ulun Danu Beratan temple, and the busiest of the three. Go early, as on the North and West Bali trip. Since 1 July 2026 foreign visitors pay IDR 100,000 per person. From Munduk it's a drive of half an hour to 45 minutes.

How long should you stay, and how does it fit into a route?

Two to three nights. On Quiet Bali you come from Amed along the north coast, stopping at Sekumpul waterfall. On North and West Bali, Munduk sits between Jatiluwih and Pemuteran. Short on time? Then you can see Jatiluwih, Beratan and a waterfall in one day, but you'll spend four to five hours in the car.

How do you get there?

From the airport it's a two and a half to three hour drive, from Ubud two to two and a half hours, via Lake Beratan. From Lovina on the north coast it takes just over an hour, and Pemuteran is two hours away. The last few kilometres are narrow, winding mountain roads. With a private driver you stop wherever you like on the way.

When should you go?

It's nicest in the dry season, from April to October: the paths are dry and the lakes are often clear. More rain falls in the mountains than on the coast. From November to March there's often cloud and mist, and the paths are muddy and slippery; the waterfalls do carry more water then. During the day it's around 22 °C, at night sometimes 16 °C. See also Best time to visit.

What does it cost?

A homestay or small hotel costs about €25–80 a night for two (2026), often with a view over the valley. A villa with a pool costs about €80–200. On top of that come the entrance fees for the waterfalls and Ulun Danu Beratan, and a guide for the walk if you want one. A driver costs from about €45 a day.