We kicked off the day by an easy hike called the Campuhan Ridge Walk. The trek was a must do in Ubud. Check the photos on Instagram if you are not convinced. Our hotel, the Merthayasa Bungalow 2, was a mile away. We basically had to cross the town centre. On our way, we stopped at the Pura Taman Saraswati, a beautiful Hindu temple surrounded by water gardens and lotus ponds. We spotted the temple the day before but it was overrun by tourists. Today, we had the place to ourselves.
We kept walking, passing by the Ubud Palace and the Ubud Market which real name is ‘Pasar Seni’. The market was bustling with life. We admired the women balancing huge baskets on their heads, the kids wearing the traditional Balinese dress and the numerous offering littering the streets, shrines and shop doorways.
We knew people were struggling to find the starting point of the Campuhan Ridge Walk. But the paved trail was not hard to find. It was on Google Maps and we saw signs saying "This Way Trekking Campuhan Ridge". And if you ask around, everyone will point you to the Warwick Ibah Villas and Spa, the most prominent starting point that leads to Campuhan Ridge Walk. How could we miss it?
Campuhan Ridge Walk
We began the trek passing by the walls of the Pura Gunung Lebah Temple, a beautiful Balinese temple on one side and the Campuhan river on the other side. The slightly tilted uphill path took us through a mini forest overlooking the gorgeous green rice fields with the rolling hills as a backdrop.
Farmers were working in the fields. We bumped into a few locals jogging before the heat became unbearable. After an hour, we found the cute "Karsa Kafe" that everyone was talking about. The restaurant was gorgeously settled within the rice fields, lotus ponds and water garden. A small paradise for people keen on relaxation or meditation.
We continued the walk past the cafe and stopped further down the road for some refreshments. Once we explored, photographed, and marvelled at the pristine scenery, we returned to the hotel to cool off by the pool. Obviously, Kro stopped for more shopping at the numerous boutiques lined up on Jalan Raya Ubud street. Bali is a paradise for shopaholics.
Later, we set off south of Ubud to the Agung Rai Museum of Art. The art museum founded by Agung Rai was a great place to discover the Balinese culture and art. The museum was part of a luxurious resort with a library, a public school, a small rice field and beautiful lush gardens.
After a day of exploration, we booked a ticket for a Balinese dance show: Kecak Fire & Trance Dance. Kecak is a special dance accompanied by males chorus. The show was interesting, especially the last part when a man barefoot danced on a burning fire.
The show made us thirsty. Fortunately, Ubud was absolutely packed with great cafes, bar and restaurants.
We kicked back with a Mojito and an espresso martini for our last day in Ubud.
Have you hiked at Campuhan Ridge Walk before? What was the latest hike you did? Let us know in the comments below!
Practical information for Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Start either early morning or before the sunset if you want a cooler Campuhan Ridge Walk. There isn’t much shade along the path.
- Bring some water to hydrate you will not get the opportunity until you reach the end.
- The "Karsa Kafe" which all the signs refer to is actually quite pleasant.
- Don’t forget your camera with a full battery and a lot of free space as the Campuhan Ridge Walk is a great place for photographers.
- Use Google Maps, even offline, to find the trek. Maps.me will also work.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat could end up being useful.
- Kids will love it as they can run as they want. No cars. No motorbike. It's completely safe.
- The nature trek is easy and you can always turn back when you have done enough.
Campuhan Ridge Walk Price
Wait for it... This place is open to the public and there are no entrance fees. Nought, nil, nada, nothing, zero, zilch and zip.
Where To Stay in Ubud for Campuhan Ridge Walk?
Ubud is not that big and you can reach most of its central attractions by just walking. But if you want to be next to the starting point that leads to Campuhan Ridge Walk, the Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas & Spa will make a perfect accommodation. Decorated in a traditional Balinese style with a beautiful setting, the Luxury villas is the best you could get in Ubud.
