I had the opportunity recently to visit Bali Jungle Camping in the mountains of Tabanan, Bali. I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised! From the Jungle/Plantation covered grounds, to the amazingly well equipped Dome Tents and ensuites, this place was truly built to impress!
There are many places in Bali that claim to cater to the “Glamping” revolution. I have been to some of these and while they are impressive, Bali Jungle Camping is the first place I have seen that is so far removed from “civilization”. Being in the middle of the mountains in one of the highest spots in Tabanan, this Glamping experience is one that you just have to try.
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How to get to Bali Jungle Camping
Getting to Bali Jungle Camping is a 2 hour ride that I really enjoyed. I pride myself on having been all over Bali, but the road up from the Tabanan coastline towards the high village of Pupuan was one that I had never actually ridden before. In the end I enjoyed it so much that I have vowed to head back and do it again in a couple of months.
If you are coming from Kuta, set your gps for this location. The road will take you through the outskirts of Denpasar to Mengwi, which has become known to me as a central hub for so many places I love to visit in Bali. Instead of my normal turn north toward Bedugul, the road led me west toward Gilimanuk. About 20km along the road in the village of Badjera the road will turn sharply south toward the coast. We, however, will turn right and head directly north toward Pupuan.
Along this road, be ready with your camera. I was very surprised by how beautiful it is, in particular the rice paddies. If you have been to Tegalalang then you will have seen the amazing steep rice terraces. At Jatiluwih you will have seen the miles of green carpet as the Paddies stretch on forever. In Tabanan, the rice paddies have a perfect mixture of both those places, and in my view are some of the most beautiful in Bali.
Keep heading up the road until you begin to truly reach mountains. The road will twist and turn through rainforest and jungle, and you will see the obligatory monkeys that seem to be everywhere in Bali. Keep an eye on the GPS, however, because there is a turnoff coming up toward the village of Padangan where Bali Jungle Camping makes its home.
Once you arrive, if you are on scooter you can actually ride all the way in and park near the front lobby. If you are in a car, you can park in a designated parking area and call the hostess Wayan who will come out to pick you up.
What to expect at Bali Jungle Camping
When you first walk into Bali Jungle Camping, you will arrive at their lobby/restaurant area. The first thing that will strike you is how rustic it looks, which is almost perfect for the jungle setting. Old window shutters, rubbed back to bare wood are formed into a solid wall that lines two sides of the main structure, and the furnishing inside is perfectly matched. Everything from the old clock on the wall to the desk used for check in seems to have been meticulously chosen to fit the decor, and they have done it perfectly.
From the dining area there is a small wooden walkway that opens immediately onto a large wooden deck that opens out over coffee plantation, mango and durian trees. The view is beautiful and creates that ambience that most visitors will have come there seeking. Order a coffee, and while you are checking in, sit and enjoy your first taste of the peace and quiet that you will see plenty of over your stay.
The Accomodation
During my own stay, we were fortunate enough to have one of the Dome Geo Tents. These are absolutely amazing, and in my opinion, if you are coming to Bali Jungle Camping and want to get the full experience, then this is the only way to do it.
The Tents are, as you would expect, a Dome shape. They are solid and strong, completely waterproof, and nothing short of a tornado would ever move them! They are perched on a high deck, well above the jungle floor and the critters and plants below. Inside, they have a King size bed with beautiful, clean and warm white sheets and doona, a large fan that blows out so much air on the first setting that I could not imagine why you would need the others, two bedside tables, a chair and several electrical power outlets. All in all, the tent has everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Outside of the tent there is a nice size awning that covers half of the deck the tent is perched on. There is a large daybed, wash stand with mirror and sink, and a fully enclosed ensuite with shower and toilet. The gas hot water system also provides piping hot water! Just what is needed in the middle of a jungle.
If you do not want to try a tent, there are also several strong wooden cabins available. All have plenty of space, the same beautiful beds and bedding, with ensuite bathrooms. You can’t go wrong really, and for families, this is probably the better option.
The Facilities
I have already talked about the ensuites and the facilities available in the tents and cabins. To be honest, I was actually surprised at the availability of electricity in such a remote location. But, it is strong and reliable, so there i are no problems there. Hot water is the same, and you should never have an issue.
The one thing we found lacking was WIFI. Now, if you are after a Glamping experience that gets you away from it all, then this is probably perfect. We actually enjoyed being in the Jungle and being unattached from our phones during our stay. Even for a Digital Nomad. There IS WIFI in the restaurant/lobby area, but we found it to be rather slow, even after a couple of reboots. Hopefully this will improve in the future, but even for us we didn’t find it a big problem. We were able to check our social media, chat to a few friends, then unplug again as we settled in for the night. There WAS a little bit of 4g in our tent, but it was sporadic at best and better in the morning than at night time. This will probably improve in the future as well as the networks in Bali are constantly being upgraded.
If you take a walk around the complex, you will find little paths that head off into the jungle and plantations that are interesting to follow. Along the way you will find small grassy lawns for picnics, bridges made out of bamboo, hammocks in trees and even a small hut beside a stream with a massage table. This looked to us to be the perfect place to have a massage in complete seclusion, with the peaceful babbling of the stream right beside you.
Bali Jungle Camping Activities
There is a lot on offer at Bali Jungle Camping as far as activities go. As you would expect, most of these revolve around the jungle, trekking and hiking.
We chose a trip to nearby Blahmantung Waterfall, which is the highest waterfall in Bali, and one of the very few that we had not actually been to already. The staff surprised us with a picnic lunch all laid out at the base of the waterfall as well. This was something that we have never had before. Normally we make our own way to waterfalls, and this was the very first time we have ever had a guide, let alone staff to pamper us!
Among other treks, they also offer hikes around the local area, the jungle, and through the local village of Padangan. This village and the villagers are beautiful, and the local coffee they produce is probably one of the best I have tasted in Bali. Give it a try!
If you are after something a bit more challenging, then take them up on the 9 hour trek to the top of Mount Batu Karu. This is the large mountain you will have seen over toward the East. It is the second highest mountain in Bali, behind only Mount Agung, and is a very interesting trek. Just make sure you have the right shoes and clothing for a hike such as this one.
For those that want something a little more sedate, then try the cooking class. This will involve you waking early and visiting the local morning Pasar in Padangan Village to buy ingredients, and then later in the morning cooking up a storm with the host Wayan. The lunch that you sit down to at the end is amazing!
For anyone that is looking for a getaway experience whilst in Bali, then give Bali Jungle Camping a try. This is a Glamping experience that is one of a kind. You have to go a bit further than somewhere like Ubud, but you also get a lot better experience. And I can guarantee that none of your friends will have done it either!
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