Things to Do Near Pupuan & Mount Batukaru
Discover some of the best things to do in Bali’s countryside, from rice field walks and hidden waterfalls to jeep tours and cultural experiences around Mount Batukaru and Pupuan.
There is plenty to do in the area, although it’s also perfect to simply do nothing and enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of the plantation and surroundings.
Note that we need advance notice to arrange most of the activities below.
Countryside Jeep Tour in Pupuan
Explore Bali’s countryside by private open jeep, one of the most memorable ways to experience the landscapes around Mount Batukaru.
A must-do — make time.
Pupuan is well known for its high-quality coffee, grown throughout the region.
Join a private open-jeep tour and explore coffee plantations, organic farms, and rice fields on the slopes of Mount Batukaru. The tour includes a visit to a traditional coffee roaster, the Blamantung Waterfall, and possibly a Buddhist temple with a large sleeping Buddha statue.
This tour must be booked in advance.
Half day: IDR 600,000 / jeep.
Full day: IDR 950,000 / jeep.
(maximum 3 people per jeep)
Walking & Hiking in Bali’s Countryside
Enjoy some of the most authentic walking and hiking experiences in Bali, directly from the plantation.
Sanda and the wider Pupuan area offer some of Bali’s most authentic rural scenery and are a hiker’s paradise.
From our plantation, you can walk for as long as you like along quiet plantation roads and trails, enjoying views over rice fields, plantations, valleys, and Mount Batukaru. You might even find a nearby private waterfall for a refreshing dip.
If you venture off the concrete paths into the plantations, good hiking shoes are recommended, as trails can be slippery.
We can also arrange for one of our local farmer friends to guide you through the area and bring you to a private waterfall, for a swim and picnic lunch — a favorite trip for our guests.
Cost: IDR 250,000 (excluding lunch).
Climb Mount Batukaru
Climb Bali’s second-highest mountain and experience one of the island’s most untouched rainforest environments.
Mount Batukaru is an ancient volcano and Bali’s second highest mountain, at 2,276 meters. For locals it is considered even more sacred than Mount Agung.
The mountain is covered with some of Bali’s last remaining undisturbed rainforest and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Several good trails lead to the fairly flat summit, where you’ll also find a small sacred temple. On clear days, the summit offers spectacular 360-degree views across Bali, and sometimes even neighboring Java and Lombok.
We can organize a guide. The climb takes about 3–4 hours depending on your fitness.
Guide: IDR 500,000 / person
Transport: Approximately IDR 700,000
Waterfalls around Pupuan
Discover some of Bali’s most beautiful and least-visited waterfalls, hidden in the countryside around Pupuan.
Bali is home to many spectacular waterfalls, and several are located near us — from well-known spots to those almost completely undiscovered.
One of the most beautiful is Blamantung Waterfall, just 10 km away. It is actually a series of three waterfalls, with Blamantung being the highest and most impressive.
Chances are you’ll have it entirely to yourself, as not many visitors know about it yet.
Note: There are two waterfalls with a similar name on Google Maps. The correct one is north-east of Pujungan.
Bali Bird Watching
The diverse landscapes around the plantation make this area one of the best places in Bali for birdwatching and nature photography.
Green Junglefowl are seen and heard almost daily, while species such as the Javan Banded Pitta, Orange-headed Thrush, Forktails, Kingfishers, and different owls are regularly spotted.
The area includes rice fields, plantations, river valleys, and forest on the slopes of Mount Batukaru.
Click below to view a selection of my bird photography, all taken in and around the plantation.
Our Bali Bird Hides
We have three dedicated bird hides in the plantation.
We feed the birds intermittently to keep them wild, while still allowing good chances of sightings.
Most (but not all) of the time the Javan Banded Pitta, Forktail, Collared Kingfisher, and other birds are now relative easy to see.
Photography
Our plantation and surroundings is the perfect place for landscape and night-scape photography. The scenery is spectacular and at night there is very little light pollution. On clear nights the Milky Way is easy to see!
As a fairly serious photographer myself I am happy to give you some tips and advice.
Click below for some of my photography taken in and around the plantation.
Lakes, Temples & Scenic Day Trips
Take a scenic day trip to Bali’s central highlands, where lakes, temples, and mountain landscapes come together.
Visit the lakes Tamblingan, Buyan, and Beratan, and stop at waterfalls along the way.
You can explore independently or with one of our organized tours.
Also nearby is Vihara Dharma Giri, a peaceful Buddhist temple known for its large sleeping Buddha statue and beautiful views over the surrounding plantations.
Sokha Beach
Soka Beach has a beautiful natural scenery and is a great place for sunsets. It is a popular beach for the locals, who like to visit it in the afternoon during weekends or on public holidays.
According to some of Bali’s folk stories on this beach lies a large pot of rock and an old kitchen, which belonged to Kebo Iwa, meaning Buffalo Uncle, a giant and mighty hero.
Traditional Massage
We can arrange a traditional Balinese massage, outdoors right on the deck of your tent or wooden house. The lush green environment of our plantation and sounds of nature make for a unique and relaxing atmosphere.
Explore local Night Life
When the sun sets a new world awakens, sometimes loud and clear, sometimes in almost complete silence and only visible for some trained eyes.
Owls, bats, frogs, nocturnal snakes, and – though rare – even porcupine and civets appear on the scene, in search for food. Not to mention often spectacular insects and other smaller critters. Perhaps not everybody’s cup of tea, but not less memorable.
Camp fire
A private camp fire in the middle of our plantation, under a usually clear and star-filled sky. Not only that, you’ll often also be surrounded by fire flies..!