The Munduk Waterfall Trek combines multiple waterfalls along a hiking path that winds through the rainforest of a steep valley in Northern Bali. The best way to tackle the hike is to get dropped at the top of the valley, and picked up at the bottom… I didn’t plan it quite so well, getting dropped off around the middle of the route at the “Munduk Waterfalls Trekking Point”, and finishing a little further down the road. The concrete hiking trail also provides access to homes along the valley, and I’m passed a few times by locals on motorbikes.
The path soon reaches a signposted junction: it’s uphill from here to the Golden Valley Waterfall.
The path follows the river upstream, crossing it once via a timber bridge.
The Golden Valley Waterfall soon comes into view, just below the Golden Valley Eco Cafe, which serves food and coffee.
I head back the same way; this time it’s downhill all the way to the junction with the Red Coral Waterfall.
The path continues to descend steeply to the river, and unlike the previous waterfall this one has a ticket office collecting an entry fee just below the waterfall.
Red Coral Waterfall is the most impressive of the waterfalls I visit, and commands the steepest entry fee – about AUD$5. It has has the most people, although it’s not at all busy.
From here I continue along a paved track that follows the river downstream, crossing it a couple of times via timber bridges.
A steep, signposted path descends to Belong Falls, passing another ticket office – and it’s only $2.50 for this waterfall!
It’s not quite as impressive, but Belong Falls is still a picturesque waterfall – and the least busy of all the waterfalls.
I’d originally intended to continue further down the river past Labuhan Kebo Waterfall and Melanting Waterfall, but I’m taking a bit longer than I expected. Instead I take the main path, which after about 500m meets the main road (Jalan Munduk or Jalan Kayu Putih – Munduk) near the junction with Jalan Batugalih.
You could easily spend half a day exploring all the waterfalls along the Munduk Waterfall Trek – or allow a couple of hours if going from the top to the bottom without long stops at each waterfall. None of the waterfalls I visit are suitable for swimming – but you can cool off at all of them, and most of the hike is shaded.
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