Tourists Can Get A Taste For Authentic Rural Life In New North Bali Destination  

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One of the best things about travel in Bali is the multitude of opportunities for tourists to connect with the natural world.

As our lives become busier and more dependent on screens, many tourists are heading to Bali to find a way to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with the living world, and one new tourism program in North Bali is helping tourists do just that.

Bali is an island province that is rapidly keeping up with the times. With 5G rolled out across the province and Indonesian citizens being amongst the most active people on social media in the world, make no mistake, the digital lifestyle is alive and thriving in Indonesia.

However, unlike in many other parts of the world, Indonesia, and Bali specifically, is managing to hold on to its more traditional ways of life, especially the ways of life that involve honoring the natural rhythms of the living world and engaging with the land.

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Bali’s Munduk, located in the north of the province, is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. Thanks to its rural villages, stunning waterfalls, and jungle landscapes, as well as cool air and minimal tourism development, Munduk is charming tourists from around the world. Now, a group of local university students has teamed up with community leaders in Munduk to develop a tourism program that provides inspiring education and interaction with both Munduk’s unique geography and agricultural practices. 

Students of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) in Singaraja in Buleleng Regency are working to implement what is being described as a GeoAgro-Edu Tourism-Based Tourism Village Development program in the heart of Munduk.

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The mission of the program is simple: to strengthen local identity while increasing the appeal of tourist villages to holidaymakers and international visitors by bringing together the tourism and agricultural sectors as the foundation of the community’s economy.

Speaking to reporters, the Head of the PPK Ormawa Team of the Undiksha FMIPA Reasoning Working Group, Ni Luh Putu Sri Puja Astuti, explained that this pilot program will last for five months in total.

The program launched in July 2025 and will run until November, from which point evaluations will take place to help create a long-term program in the Munduk area. Astuti explained,” We started this program from July to November 2025, implemented in stages, starting from preparation, field implementation, and evaluation.”

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Astuti shared, “Our long-term goal is to make Munduk an independent tourism village with an educational concept based on nature and local culture. We want this program to have a real impact, both on community well-being and environmental sustainability.”

Astuti shared his vision for Munduk as a world-leading tourism village, and explained that the area is naturally primed for success.

He noted how Munduk can boast extraordinary natural vistas, including expansive plantations, a series of increasingly popular waterfalls, panoramic views of Mount Lesung, and the calm beauty of Lake Tamblingan.

He added, “Besides its natural riches, the strength of Munduk’s local culture is still well-preserved. However, challenges such as limited promotion, supporting facilities, and destination innovation still need to be addressed together.”

In the long run, Astuti and his team feel that Munduk can become a beacon of inspiration for other tourism villages in Bali, and nationwide that want to bring together tourism, agriculture, and the power of the natural world to create a thriving and sustainable economy.

He concluded, “The GeoAgro-Edu Tourism concept itself offers a holistic approach by combining the potential of geography, agriculture, education, and tourism. With close collaboration between parties, Munduk Village is expected to grow into a competitive, distinctive, and sustainable tourist destination.”

Tourists can take a day trip to explore the waterfalls of Munduk from the resorts of the central south of Bali, the Ubud area, and even travel south from Lovina Beach. However, tourists are rightly realising that this stunning area of Bali needs more time to be explored in full. Munduk is home to a range of accommodation options, many of which are locally owned and operated while offering homely comforts and stunning views of the famous jungle landscape.