Munduk Moding Plantation Review: Sneak Peak Inside Our Stay

Our journey started at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, where the hotel driver met my husband and I with a big welcoming smile.

By the way, Bali traffic is no joke.

It took us about three hours to wind through the chaotic roads, but as soon as we pulled up to the resort, every bumper-to-bumper moment felt worth it.

By the time we arrived, the temperature had dropped noticeably. A refreshing change from Bali’s usual tropical heat. North Bali’s highlands feel like a different island altogether!

As we were led to the open-air lobby, I felt my travel stress melting away. Hand-carved statues and intricate bamboo structures blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

But it was the view that truly took our breath away. As we sipped on welcome cups of tea, our eyes were drawn to the infinity pool that seemed to spill right into the misty mountain ridges beyond.

“Jaw-dropping” doesn’t begin to cover it.

1. The Warm Welcome: The staff’s warmth felt genuine, not the “polite but distant” hospitality you sometimes get at high-end places.

2. Views That Stop You Mid-Sentence: That’s the only way I can think of to describe that first moment when you pass through the lobby.

3. Balinese Elegance, Modern Comfort – Traditional woodwork, local art, beautiful flowers, and warm tones create an ambiance that feels both authentic and luxurious.

There are several room types:

1. Luxury Suite
2. One Bedroom Villa with Jacuzzi
3. One Bedroom Pool Villa with Jacuzzi (horizontal and perpendicular pools)
4. Two Bedroom Pool Villa with Jacuzzi
5. Five Bedroom Pool Villa with Jacuzzi
6. Presidential Suite

We booked the One Bedroom Horizontal Pool Villa with Jacuzzi.

One word. Wow. 

Designed by Balinese architects, it mixes modern luxury with local touches. When we walked in, we were greeted by a spacious sitting area complete with a cozy couch, fireplace (yes, a fireplace in Bali!) and a fully stocked coffee station.

It can get cool in North Bali, so I was glad I brought a light sweater.

The coffee station provides not just any coffee.

This is plantation-fresh coffee harvested right here.

They had options for a French press, V60, and a classic coffee pot. You’re going to be in coffee heaven. They have all the things.

The decor was warm and inviting, with rich wood furniture and subtle pops of red and gold.

The bedroom featured a large king-sized bed, merbau parquet flooring, and floor-to-ceiling windows that drenched the room in natural light.

Local artwork is sprinkled throughout.

But the real showstopper?

The bathroom.

We’re talking a giant terrazzo bathtub, Sulawesi cream marble, and plenty of vanity space for all my skincare essentials.

And you can’t miss the massive central skylight flooding the space with natural warm sunlight.

I love that the hotel supports local Balinese businesses. You’ll notice your fragrant bath products and soap in your villa are from Sensatia Botanicals located right on Bali!

And then… the pool.

Our private infinity pool and jacuzzi overlooked the mountains.

We found ourselves starting each morning with coffee poolside and ending each evening with a cocktail in hand, watching the sun dip below the hills.

The fiery sunsets are unreal!

In the end, Munduk Moding Plantation offered exactly what we were looking for.

It was a peaceful retreat that allowed us to experience a different side of Bali, away from the crowds and close to nature.

Our incredible butlers, Leo and Purna, made us feel like royalty, bringing us ginger tea and homemade cookies every afternoon.

They were like hospitality ninjas, always anticipating what we needed before we knew we needed it. 

Honestly, we never wanted to leave.

Nichole Pro Tip: Bring your portable speaker—we had our Bose playing chill tunes while lounging by our private pool.

Munduk Moding Plantation offers two dining spots, and we, of course, tried both!

Our first night, we went for the Surprise Discovery Tasting Menu at MiMPi, a nice mix of international and local flavors.

We sat on the second floor with beautiful views of the infinity pool and misty mountains. 

Breakfast here was a daily highlight.

They had everything from classic Western options (bacon, eggs, avocado toast) to delicious local dishes like Nasi Goreng Pegunungan (mountain-style stir-fried rice with veggies, chicken sausage, and a perfectly fried egg).

You will be eating a lot of Nasi Goreng in Bali! It’s delicious.

We learned how to make it later in Ubud at a super fun cooking class with Chef Ketut.

The fresh juices were on another level.

My go-to was the JamuC (a mix of carrot, turmeric, tamarind, ginger, and honey).

Don’t miss the lattes either. Again, nothing beats a fresh coffee made from the beans right on the property! 

While MiMPi impressed, Warung Bongkot was our favorite! 

This spot focuses on classic North Balinese dishes. We highly recommend the North Bali Sampler, where you can pick your preferred sambal and spice level.

Munduk Moding Plantation actually grows its own vegetables and herbs right on property, which I thought was pretty cool.

So if you order any delicious vegetable dishes, it’s literally being plucked right from the ground next to you.

And the drinks?

Pleasantly surprised with some fantastic local choices!

We tried a refreshing dry sparkling wine called Sabbay Ascaro Brut (yep, Bali makes wine!).

Hubby and I are wine travelers, so I was excited to try a local Balinese wine. Here’s a short YouTube video that highlights Sabbay Winery if you want to know more.

After dinner, we enjoyed a small glass of Selaka Ning Salak Arak, a premium Arak made from snake fruit on the island of Bali. Comparable to grappa.

We got to try actual snake fruit later on in our trip when we stayed at another beautiful boutique hotel, Uma Kalai.

Snake fruit kinda looks like garlic cloves when you open up its scaly brown skin. It has a nice crisp texture almost like an apple.

By the way, if you want to have a romantic dinner with your loved one, there’s also a special seating area at Warung Bongkot that’s very private and intimate.

The main infinity pool could easily be ranked as one of the world’s top infinity pools.

But honestly, if you’ve got your private pool, you might never leave your villa.

There’s also a second infinity pool near the Sunset Bar, which is equally incredible!

When we travel, I always check out a resort’s spa menu. My first massage ever was an incredible Thai massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2013. And it was only $5!

Since then I purposely seek out unique massage experiences.

For example, I have enjoyed an In-Water Massage at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, a Four Hands Massage in Cambodia, and an incredible “Fish Viewing” Massage at Le Meridien in the Maldives where I could watch all of the beautiful fish swim below during my massage.

I have also enjoyed hot stone massages but never a Heated Bamboo Massage, so I was intrigued when I saw this on Munduk Moding Plantation’s spa menu.

It was incredible! 90 minutes of absolute bliss.

Request Yassy.

Just the right amount of pressure is applied with warm bamboo sticks. My muscles felt like jelly in a good way.

I’m surprised I made it to dinner that night because I was in such a relaxed state!

There is a gym with a cool handcrafted bamboo roof, although we never used it. Too many fun outdoor things to do around the property!

But it does have good equipment.

There’s also a tennis court, but in my opinion, that’s not the reason to come to Bali! But it’s there to enjoy if you choose.

If you are up for some friendly competition, you can play pool or table tennis. Just ask for a paddle and ball at the Reception.

What has Munduk Moding Plantation not thought of?

Do not miss happy hour from 5-7 pm at the Sunset Bar (buy 1, get 1 free!). The sunsets are pretty incredible!

Options include delicious cocktails like a whisky sour, lemon drop martini, margarita, and mai tai.

My husband enjoyed a refreshing cocktail at this bar and chatted with the friendly bartender while I got my massage.

There’s also a second bar that’s located in a secluded area of the property.

If you want to learn more about Bali’s special drink, Arak, this is the place to experience it. It’s traditionally sipped at social or religious get-togethers.

You can try it neat, enjoy it as an infusion with fruits and herbs (like pineapple, ginger, or lemongrass), or sip it in a cocktail.

Another option you can order is a Lolhoh, which is a Balinese herbal drink with health benefits. Different drinks have different benefits.

There’s also a fire pit and jacuzzi located at this bar. We didn’t have a chance to hang out here, but it is a nice space to relax.

I love how Munduk Moding Plantation really tries to showcase all the wonderful and unique things that make Bali … Bali.

Munduk Moding Plantation is located on a coffee plantation, so of course we signed up for their complimentary 1-hour Deep Dive Coffee Tour!

I wouldn’t call us coffee experts, but we do appreciate learning about coffee production when we travel and of course the tasting!

Some of our favorite coffee tasting experiences have been at Truth Coffee in Cape Town (South Africa), Eliscaffe in Zagreb (Croatia), and a coffee tasting class in Mexico City.

This was the first time though we were able to taste coffee literally at its source.

Our friendly guide led us through the coffee plantation explaining the harvesting process. Then we were led to the processing facility to see where the coffee cherries were laid out in the sun to dry. 

Lastly, it was tasting time!

We got to try Luwak, Anaerob, Honey Single Origin Arabica, Fullwash Single Origin Arabica, and a Fullwash Single Origin Arabica during a cupping session. You’ll learn all about what that means in your class.

At the end, we got a complimentary bag of their Premium Breakfast Coffee. We enjoyed this later on our 11-day Indonesia trip since we brought our Aeropress.

I told you we love coffee! 😊 

Another do-not-miss class is learning to make latte art with the super talented, charismatic Oka!

He can make almost anything, but my favorite was his monkeys! Once he knew that, every morning at breakfast he would make me a monkey latte.

These little touches and personal interactions with the staff really made our stay at Munduk Moding Plantation exceptional.

During our 1 hour barista class, he taught us all the basics and the right wrist action to get that perfect heart, tulip, and even a rosetta!

I did not graduate past the heart, but the hubby got to the “rosetta” level, lol. But I had a lot of fun trying and tasting.

The hotel also offers a guided hike to the gorgeous twin waterfall, Banyumala.

We arranged for this trek with our amazing private driver, Made, on our way from Munduk to Ubud. Another nearby attraction you should definitely see is the Floating Temple, Ulun Danu Beratan.

Go early to avoid the mid-day heat and crowds. Well worth the effort.

This resort isn’t just about lounging—though you’ll definitely want to do plenty of that.

Munduk Moding Plantation probably offers the most activities I have ever seen at a hotel. You’ll need about a week to take advantage of everything it has to offer.

We only scratched the surface, but here are more fun activities the hotel offers:

✔️   Horseback Riding: Meet Hercules, Dauk, and their horse friends! And let them take you through coffee plantations and tangerine groves.

✔️   Canoeing: Do a leisurely 30-minute paddle  out on beautiful Lake Tamblingan.

✔️   Healthy Drink Workshop: Learn how to make nutritious herbal tonics called Jamu. I wish I had done this class because I loved the Jamu C I had every morning at breakfast.

✔️   Cooking Class: Cook local Indonesian dishes and learn how to make delicious sambals.

Although we didn’t book the cooking class while at Munduk, we did do a super engaging cooking class later on in Ubud with the smiley and kind Chef Ketut.

✔️   Evening Bonfire: Warm up by the fire (remember those North Bali nights are a little crisp) and roast some yummy marshmallows.

✔️   Cycling: There are several different cycling tours from easy to hard through the beautiful Bali countryside and coffee plantations.

We cycled in Ubud through the rice fields on a fun small group tour later on in our trip. Bali is so beautiful and experiencing it on the bike is a fun way to see its natural beauty.

✔️   Sunrise at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces: Everyone goes to Tegalalang Rice Terraces, but not everyone knows about Jatiluwih. Walk around at sunrise to get some epic photos.

✔️   Witness Dolphins at Lovina Beach: We love sea life and snorkeling!

My husband and I snorkeled with manta rays at Nusa Penida at the end of our Bali trip, but I wish we had time to see the dolphins at Lovina Beach. Especially since Lovina Beach is only 40 minutes from Munduk since you are already so far north on the island.

Oh well, next time. If you had this experience, let me know in the comments below to know if I missed out!

✔️   Workshops: Learn to make soaps, candles, kites, handicrafts, bracelets, etc.

And this is not even ALL the activities they offer!

Alright, I’m getting a hand cramp from all this typing. But you get the point. There are so many incredible things to do on the property and in the surrounding area in North Bali!

While Munduk Moding Plantation isn’t a budget option, with pool villas starting around $500 per night, the experience (level of luxury, personalized service, jaw-dropping views) justifies the cost.

✔️   Unbeatable Views: The mountain views are out of this world.

✔️   Luxury Meets Local: Balinese design with five-star comfort.

✔️   Coffee Lover’s Paradise: Fresh, plantation-grown coffee at your fingertips.

✔️   MMP Experiences Program: Complimentary workshops that larger resorts often charge for.

We were torn between several incredible options in Bali. Sometimes there’s not a wrong choice.

Sanak Retreat Bali charmed us with its intimate wooden bungalows nestled among rice fields and mountain views, while Umah Lusa caught our interest with its beautifully crafted, intimate 6 Joglo suites and inviting infinity pool, complete with a farm-to-table dining experience.

Ultimately, though, we chose Munduk Moding Plantation for its perfect blend of boutique luxury, incredible value, and breathtaking natural beauty.

In the end, Munduk Moding Plantation offered us the opportunity to experience a different side of Bali, away from the crowds and close to nature.

To sip coffee brewed from beans grown steps away, to trade beach crowds for misty mountain silences, and to let butlers named Leo convince you that yes, you do deserve another cookie!

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Questions about our Munduk Moding Plantation stay?

Let me know in the comments below!