Munduk day trip from Lovina: twin lakes, waterfalls and Ulun Danu Beratan

Drive an hour uphill from Lovina and the air changes. The palms give way to clove and coffee trees, the temperature drops by several degrees, and mist drifts across three crater lakes sitting inside an old volcano. A Munduk day trip is the easiest way to see Bali's highlands, and from the north coast it is far shorter than from the south.

The route for a Munduk day trip

Leave Lovina around 7:30 am. The road climbs south through the village of Gitgit and up hairpin bends to the lakes. Here is a loop that works well, with time to linger:

• 7:30 am: leave Lovina, with an optional 30 minute stop at Gitgit waterfall on the way up.
• 9:00 am: Ulun Danu Beratan temple, before the tour buses.
• 10:30 am: Twin Lakes viewpoint above Buyan and Tamblingan.
• 11:30 am: a canoe on Lake Tamblingan or the lakeside temple walk.
• 1:00 pm: lunch in Munduk with views over the valley.
• 2:30 pm: one or two of Munduk's waterfalls.
• 4:30 pm: drive down through Banjar, home for sunset.

Hire a driver for the day. The roads are steep and winding, and the clouds can come down fast in the afternoon.

Ulun Danu Beratan

The temple that appears on half of Bali's postcards sits on the edge of Lake Beratan, its tiered meru shrines seeming to float on the water. It was built in the 17th century to honour Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, whose waters irrigate the rice fields below.

From 1 July 2026, entry for foreign adults is 100,000 IDR and 75,000 IDR for children. Come early: by 10:30 am the gardens fill with groups. The best view of the meru is from the lawn to the left of the main shrine, with the hills behind. You can hire a boat on the lake from the shore east of the temple; agree the price first.

Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan

Ten minutes on, the road climbs to a ridge with the Twin Lakes viewpoint, where Buyan and Tamblingan lie side by side in the forest below. The official platform is free, or sit at one of the small warungs on the edge with a ginger tea. On clear mornings you can see right across to the crater rim.

Lake Tamblingan is the quieter of the two, protected by the local villages and surrounded by old forest. Local guides from the community paddle traditional dugout canoes across the lake, often combined with a short forest walk to small temples on the shore. It is one of the most peaceful hours you can spend in Bali. Prices are set by the community group, so ask at the jetty.

Munduk's waterfalls

Munduk village sits on a ridge above a deep valley, and a well marked trail links four waterfalls: Melanting, Red Coral, Golden Valley and Labuhan Kebo. You can walk the full trail in half a day, or simply drive to one or two.

• Melanting: tall and narrow, in a jungle gorge. A small entry fee, around 10,000 to 20,000 IDR.
• Red Coral: the most photogenic, with spray drifting across moss covered rocks. Usually the most expensive, recent reports range from 20,000 to 45,000 IDR.
• Golden Valley (often signposted Munduk Waterfall): a short walk from the road, with a café by the car park.
• Expect slippery steps and bring cash for each ticket.

For lunch, Munduk has a handful of simple warungs and small eco lodges with terraces looking over the valley. Order a Balinese coffee, it is grown right here.

Back down to the coast

Take the western road down through Munduk and Banjar rather than the way you came. It drops through clove plantations with views to the sea and brings you out near the Banjar hot springs, if you want a warm soak before dark (see our Banjar hot springs guide).

From Baliwood Lovina, the whole Munduk day trip is a relaxed loop, and you are back on the terrace for sunset over the Bali Sea. For more ideas, see things to do in Lovina or the best waterfalls near Lovina.