Versão em português aqui.
In our first trip to Asia, visiting Singapore and Indonesia, we found out that Bali is a big island. There are several parts where you can stay, it depends on what you intend to experience. More genuine and traditional feelings, more vibrant party scenes, jungle or beach…
We decided to split our itinerary into 4 parts of the island to have a good overview and to avoid too much traffic (which is terrible, as previously said in y last post). So we started our trip from North Bali, approximately 3 hours distance from the airport, to a region called Munduk.
Munduk Moding Plantation Resort was our hand-picked destination in North Bali. The first place I knew I had to stay even before issuing our flight tickets. You know that kind of place which is high on your bucket list, that you have high expectations and you dream about it everyday before you board on the plane?
So… this hotel was like this for me and I can say it exceeded our expectations. Having it as our very first destination in Bali was perfect, cause the atmosphere is so peaceful and authentic. We were able into Balinese vibes from the moment we were greeted by the friendly staff with the most perfect welcoming coffee – a perfect blend of coffee, ginger, cinnamon and palm sugar. Delicious!
There you sleep in private cabanas – some with their own pools – in the middle of a coffee plantation where they have wild luwaks, so they can produce high quality organic Luwak coffee. Did you know it’s the most expensive coffee in the world? The cute luwaks (a small animal) eat the coffee bean and then their poop is collected, cleaned and the result is an outstanding coffee. Needless to mention, we drank from breakfast to dinner throughout our stay. Fantastic!
In northern Bali we started our trip trekking along coffee plantations, ending it up in a beautiful waterfall called Banyumala, where we cool off in its cold waters. Breathing in an extremely pure air and listening to the sounds of nature is something I will never forget. We got into vacation mode in a blink of eyes. Perfect for fighting against jet lag effects, right?
There we also visited the beautiful Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, which literally means a temple over the water at Bratan Lake. Sumptuous and majestic, it’s one of the most picturesque temples of the Island and one of the most famous Instagram spots.
Along the way, we also took some pictures at Handara Gate, one of the numerous “Gates of Heaven” scattered all over Bali. There is no lake in front of it, as you can imagine through some Instagram photos. It’s an effect they make with mirrors. But it’s worth it, trust me. It’s beautiful.
The north is unlike anything you have ever thought of Bali. As we went there in winter, the nights were chilly and the days were hot, but not as hot as in southern Bali. There is a touch of mountain vibe and you can spend your nights by the fire and your days sipping a delicious cocktail in the beautiful pools of the hotel.
If we ever go back to Bali again, we will definitely stay in the north, especially for the hotel experience, which was one of the friendliest and most welcoming we had on the entire trip. Waking up to this vision is something you can never forget, agree?
Some of other things you can do while staying in the north of the island:
- Canoeing on Prestine Tamblingan Lake – we were supposed to do this experience, then realized it would be very tiring as we had just arrived in Asia (jet lag in full). I must say I regret not doing this because this lake is one of the most spectacular in Bali. It is definitely worth the visit.
- Trekking on the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – a UNESCO Heritage Site – they say they are the most beautiful rice terraces on the island. We didn’t get a chance to go there, a good reason to return.
- Visiting Empelan Waterfall – some people say it’s the most beautiful waterfall of Bali, but the truth is Bali has several waterfalls, one even more beautiful than the other.
- Visiting Traditional Villages – Around the hotel there are many old villages where you can visit the local market and learn more about their culture and customs.