Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort and Spa has always been on my radar as a place I wanted to stay and review. My regular readers and subscribers will know that the Munduk area of North Bali holds a special place in my heart. So when the opportunity was presented to me recently to head to Munduk Moding Plantation to attend their Sustainovation Event, I jumped at the opportunity!
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Now, before I start on my review of the hotel, let me put out a small disclaimer. I was invited to the resort to cover an event. Although I was put up at the hotel for the two nights over the event weekend, this review is totally honest and not part of the deal they made with me. Everything in this review is my thoughts and opinions, not influenced in any way by any agreement between the resort and myself.
Having got that out of the way, I have to start this review by saying that we fell in love with the hotel and resort the minute that we arrived. From the service at the carpark, to the staff in reception, things could not have gone any better. When they showed us our room, we almost fell over in amazement. This resort is incredible, and if you are a lover of eco friendly vacations, or luxury accommodations, then Munduk Moding Plantation HAS to be on your list.
In this review, I will go over everything that we saw, did, and learnt during our stay, so that you might be able to get the best, most reliable information possible, and help you come to the decision that you want to stay there yourself. Because trust me, you WILL!
Table of Contents
- Munduk Moding Plantation location
- What to expect
- On Arrival
- The Rooms
- Pools and Jacuzzi
- Restaurants and Bars
- Other Facilities
- The Staff
- MMP Experience
- Sustainability at Munduk Moding Plantation
- Final Thoughts
Munduk Moding Plantation location
Munduk Moding Plantation is located in the village of Gobleg, in the Buleleng Regency of North Bali. It is high in the mountains, at over 1000 meters above sea level.
To get to Munduk Moding Plantation you will have to travel by car or motorbike. From the southern, tourist areas such as Seminyak, Kuta and the International Airport, expect the trip to take from 2 to 3 hours, depending upon the time of day and how much traffic there is.
The trip to North Bali is beautiful and scenic. Living in the Nusa Dua area, we make the trip every couple of months to visit the many friends that we have in the area, and have found a couple of back roads that offer a lot less traffic and even better views.
TIP – If you have time, stop by at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces on the way. This UNESCO World Heritage Listed place is incredible, and is basically on the way to Munduk. It’s a little off the main road though, and when you follow Google Maps from Jatiluwih to Munduk, it will take you on our “back” road with better views than on the main road.
Once you get through the town of Bedugul, you will wind up the infamous Bedugul Hill, past troupes of mischievous monkeys hanging out on the sides of the road, and take a sharp left turn at the top. This road will then take you high above the gorgeous twin lakes of Munduk, with some of the best views in Bali. Several kilometers down the road you will find the turnoff to Gobleg, and Munduk Moding Plantation.
What to expect
Expect exquisite beauty surrounded by jungle and tropical plantations. Expect views that extend beyond what you ever expected in Bali. Expect a pool floating in the clouds, and perfect reflections dancing in the golden light of the sunset.
This is what Munduk Moding Plantation presents to anyone who takes the time to stop by. It’s a place that will exceed your expectations every time you visit, even when you think you are prepared, and know what to expect.
From the very first moment of arrival at the resort, you will be pleasantly surprised. From the service to the facilities, every new moment is a “wow” moment.
When we first came to Munduk Moding Plantation Resort, it was raining. The clouds were enveloping nearly everything, and we had just arrived on a scooter, dripping wet and peeling off our raincoats. It only took about 3 minutes to forget the conditions, and be totally swept away by the resort, the ambience, and the friendliness of the staff.
In truth, we were actually over 3 hours early for check in, and had only wished to drop our luggage. Instead, what we found was an enthusiastic welcome, and staff that were more than willing to make us comfortable, wishing us to stay and enjoy the resort, even if we couldn’t access our room yet. And even though we had other plans, we ended up staying, and had checked into our room before we even knew the time had passed.
This is the sort of thing you can expect at Munduk Moding Plantation, where time will pass, and you will find yourself floating along, losing track of what is happening in the real world. You will get lost in this heavenly place, and find a true peace and new level of satisfaction.
On Arrival
It was the arrival at Munduk Moding Plantation that first swept us away. I guess, this is exactly what it is designed to do, as this is the first contact and therefore first impressions that you will have with the resort.
At the entrance, we were stopped by security. It wasn’t a formal stop. There was no boom gate or any such barrier. Instead, just a polite enquiry from the staff at the security post that we were supposed to be there. They then directed us down to the carpark, and advised us where we could park securely.
Once we had parked, we turned around to find the security officer standing discreetly behind us, waiting with a large golf cart for us to notice him. Apparently, as valued guests, no one at Munduk Moding Plantation is expected to walk anywhere. Buggies will run you to anywhere you want to go, and this begins at the carpark, where they will take you directly down to the lobby.
The run down to the lobby takes only a minute in the buggy, and follows a steep, neatly maintained concrete path through the jungle. Pulling up at the lobby, there is a beautiful statue standing in a small round garden that serves as a mini roundabout for the buggies, and beyond is the naturally aesthetic bamboo roof of the lobby.
Stepping into the lobby, reception staff will welcome you with an “Hawaiian Style Lei” which is draped over your neck in a very nice touch. Ginger tea is served while your luggage is discreetly placed to one side, as you are ushered to one of the nearby lounges. There is no standing at the reception counter to check in at Munduk Moding Plantation, as all guests are expected to be lounging in comfort at all times.
Staff will give you a check in form, which is signed and returned in less than 10 seconds, along with your passport. Within a few minutes the process is complete, and once you are finished your tea, you are offered a tour of the resort facilities and the main building.
This is where you really discover the style of the resort. Staff will introduce you to the lounge facilities, dining room, MiMPi Restaurant, coffee shop, and the jewel in the crown of the resort, the two infinity pools and spa.
All of this doesn’t take too long, and if you are checking in at the normal time (unlike us) you will then be taken immediately to be introduced to your room.
MY VERDICT – I’ve never had a welcome like it. We didn’t even intend to stay, only to drop luggage, and ended up staying simply due to the wonderful reception staff. Streamlined and relaxing is just what you want after a long trip to a luxury resort.
The Rooms
Things really begin to ramp up when you get to your rooms. The tour of the main building was just a small taste of the understated luxury that is Munduk Moding Plantation Resort.
In our time at the resort, we had the chance to sample two different rooms. On the first night it was the Pool Villa with Jacuzzi. I can only say that this room was amazing, and most probably the best room I have ever stayed in, in any resort in the world.
The One Bedroom Pool Villa with Jacuzzi
To start with, we had our own butler! This was the member of staff that drove us down to our villa. He unloaded our luggage, and then gave us a personal tour of the villa and all of its facilities. Before leaving, he supplied us with his personal WhatsApp number, so what whenever we needed anything, he was just a message away. This included buggy service to anywhere in the resort, and everything from lighting the fire at night to getting extra pool towels!
The room itself consisted of 3 massive rooms. The first, the large lounge at the entry. This massive room included the largest complimentary tea and coffee bar that I’ve ever seen. Everything that you could possibly want was supplied, and more. The only thing it was missing was a mini refrigerator, which I thought strange in such a luxurious resort where everything else was included. But this didn’t factor into our stay, as it wasn’t required anyway.
Beside the door was a large shoe storage facility, and a beautifully carved bookshelf. Beyond, there was a large daybed with coffee table. At the far end of the room, two lounges that perfectly match the daybed sat facing each other, bookending the tastefully designed fireplace.
Beside the lounges was the door to access the main bedroom. This included a fourposter King Bed, with a large daybed at its foot. Also in the room were two bedside tables, a work table in one corner, and in the other the tv sitting on another table, complete with Netflix and all the other streaming services that you could possibly need.
Off to the left of the bedroom was access to one of the largest bathrooms I’ve ever seen. To the right, a double washbasin made in that beautiful stone style that you will see around Bali. To the left, a large wardrobe with gowns, safe, slippers, hairdryer and laundry bag. Beside that, a door back into the lounge area.
Also in the bathroom were two glass doors, one on either side that accessed both the separate toilet, and shower. Right in the middle of both of these was a free standing bathtub in the same stone style as the washbasins.
Outside of the lounge area is the coupe de gras of the pool villa. The Pool and Jacuzzi.
The pool was a heated infinity pool with incredible views that stretch all the way past the mountains to the northern coastline of Bali, and on a clear day you can see the volcano’s of East Java in the distance. The water in the pool was tastefully heated, as it can be cool up in the mountains, and the Jacuzzi heated almost double – perfect for a cold evening.
Around the pool were a table and chair for outdoor dining, a couple of lounges, and a full “Bale” style hut to lounge in under cover.
The One Bedroom Villa with Jacuzzi
On our second night we moved to the One Bedroom Villa with Jacuzzi. Although this might not be ideal if you are there for a relaxing stay, it was great for us to see a couple of different accommodation options available at the resort.
This villa was on the other side of the resort, but still tucked in nice and close to the main building and facilities. All of the villas at Munduk Moding Plantation are separated from each other by thick jungle paths, ensuring complete privacy. The peace and quiet is incredible in all the villas, and you could be mistaken for thinking that you are alone in the resort.
There were a few differences in our second villa. First, there is no pool, only a Jacuzzi. This Jacuzzi was amazing though, located outside the glass sliding doors of the main room, overlooking the jungle and the incredible views that extended for miles. In a way, I liked this even more than the pool and Jacuzzi in our first villa. This is only personal preference though, as I didn’t actually use the pool in our Pool Villa.
The other main difference was the this villa only had the one large room. Both the living/lounge and the bedroom were located in one room. This room, it has to be said, was HUGE. There was more than enough room, and even room to pull out an extra sliding bed from under the main bed. Once again, there was a large double bed sized daybed, and the massive four poster bed.
The bathroom was also a different design – one that I liked a lot more. It was located behind the wall that the King Bed sat against, with an access on either side. Once again, the toilet and shower had their own rooms, with the bath in the middle. The double washbasins sat along the wall backing onto the bed, with a massive mirror suspended above it.
MY VERDICT – I loved both rooms. The first room with the pool probably gives you more bang for your buck (value), but for simple comfort, design and homeliness, I preferred the second room. Also, with the first room the butler service really offered a nice touch!
Pools and Jacuzzi
Back in the main resort, the main building, restaurant etc are all designed tastefully around the two pools and Jacuzzi. Munduk Moding Plantation is famous for its pools, which are splashed all over Social Media, in particular Instagram.
This is because of the infinity pool design, and the fact that they face to the west, perfectly showcasing the sunset. Taking photos standing or walking along the “infinity edge” with the gorgeous views and sunset in the background is often the main reason people come to stay at the resort.
For this reason there have been limitations and restrictions put on the time you can take photos at the pools. You are restricted to 5 to 7 minutes to get your photos and leave. This is so that the other resort guests are not unfairly disturbed whilst trying to use the pool. I liked this idea, as I’ve seen plenty of influencers in other parts of Bali spending hours getting photos, and it is terrible for other guests.
The other restrictions on photos at the pools are clearly posted. There are two pools, located one above the other with identical views. Photos at the bottom pool are restricted to before 10am, and the top pool is restricted to after 4pm.
When we were there, the weather was a bit cloudy with showers around. In this case we were lucky there was no one really using the pools, so restrictions were not as, well, restrictive.
The pools themselves are beautiful to use. The top pool is located right outside the main restaurant and breakfast area, hence the reason photos are restricted to the bottom pool in the mornings.
The bottom pool is located alongside another restaurant, and a massive bar is located at one end of the pool. The views from the pool are incredible, and this pool is made a lot easier to walk around to get your photos. You can even climb up onto the coping from the end of the pool itself if you like.
In between the two pools, on the “middle” level, is a large Jacuzzi. This is situated in such as spot that it also has the same views that the pools do.
MY VERDICT – The pools and Jacuzzi are beautiful. I was worried when I attended that I would have to deal with influencers and annoying guests getting photos, but this was never a problem. It was managed well with the restrictions, and enjoying the pool area was easy and relaxing.
Restaurants and Bars
There are a couple of restaurants to choose from.
First, the MiMPi Restaurant on the main level and overlooking the main pool is where you will have your breakfast. This restaurant is tastefully designed, and very handy to reach when coming from other parts of the resort as it is accessed right from the reception/lobby area.
The breakfasts that were served here were delicious. As breakfast is a part of your package, the menu is an open A la Carte menu. On both mornings we were there I ordered the MiMPi Breakfast, with is basically a big breakfast with a taste of everything, including eggs your way, bacon, sausage, avocado on sourdough, and fresh fruits. You are also given your choice of coffee, and juice.
The breakfasts were done nicely, making us feel at home and comfortable. On both mornings they also offered a special taste of something on the side, such as danish or a special juice blend as a bonus for guests to experiment and experience a slightly different taste.
The view from this restaurant is right out over the main pool, so if you arrived late the night before, then this is the perfect introduction to the Munduk Moding Plantation.
Beside the restaurant is a nice little coffee shop that serves all their local coffees. We didn’t personally try the coffee shop itself, as the coffee was served to us in the restaurant at breakfast.
Down by the second pool is located the second restaurant, Warung Bongkot. This is a traditional restaurant, and the perfect place to go if you wish to try some local Balinese dishes, in particular local foods from North Bali.
Both restaurants use fresh ingredients grown in the resort itself. In fact, just outside Warung Bongkot, alongside the pool can be found a garden growing fresh mint and other herbs.
The main bar is also located near the bottom pool, taking up a large area and serving anything you could possibly imagine!
Another thing to note is that in a quiet garden area nearby to the main pool is a nice spot set up for intimage dining for two. This would be perfect if you were on your honeymoon or anniversary, celebrating something special together.
MY VERDICT – I loved the location of the MiMPi Restaurant, and the presentation of the breakfasts. This was a perfect fusion of luxury and style with the relaxing atmosphere that you want at the breakfast table. Well done MMP!
Other Facilities
After all of this, Munduk Moding Plantation has a range of other facilities on offer. Some of these are expected at a luxury resort, while others are just a really nice touch.
- Bamboo Spa – The perfect place to unwind with a range of treatments in a beautifully designed spa with authentic bamboo and thatched roof.
- Yoga Hut – Located in the Idylic spot surrounded by nature where you can totally relax and unwind in peace and quiet.
- Tennis Court – This was a total surprise to me in the middle of the jungle, but there is actually a great tennis court at the resort.
- Bamboo Gym – A fully equipped state of the art gymnasium with all the equipment you would need, located easy to access not far from the main lobby.
- Fire pit – Located just near the bottom pool, the fire pit is great on chilly mountain evenings.
- Vegetable Garden – Where all the locally grown vegetables served in the main restaurants are grown.
- Games room – Looking for something to do on a rainy day? Try the games room above the MiMPi Restaurant where you will find a pool table, table tennis and darts.
- Dedicated working space – If you are on a working holiday, a digital nomad, or just need to catch up on some work from home, this is perfect for you.
- Library – There is a dedicated area at Munduk Moding Plantation that you can sit and read, selecting from a carefully curated selection of books supplied for your enjoyment.
The Staff
The staff at the resort were amazing. From the security at the front gate, to the waiters in the restaurant. Everyone had a smile at all times and made you feel completely at home.
I was mostly impressed by the private butler in the Pool Villa. They would go out of their way to help you with anything that you wanted, and this was just a really nice touch by Munduk Moding Plantation.
Another small, and yet really, really nice touch was the “blanket” service.
When we were there it was quite chilly. At over 1000m high in the mountains, it could get that way a lot, especially when the clouds close in. So, when it did, you would have staff wandering around offering you a blanket to keep warm. Sitting in an event, listening to guest speakers wrapped in a blanket sipping on fresh, local hot coffee doesn’t get any better!
The staff at MMP will make you feel instantly at home, and be professional at the same time. This is something that most resorts strive to achieve, but Munduk Moding Plantation have somehow managed to perfect.
MMP Experience
One more thing that really sets Munduk Moding Plantation apart from other resorts was the MMP Experience.
I have stayed in many resorts where, beyond the main facilities of the resort itself, there really wasn’t much to do. This is fine if you are just wanting to lay beside the pool every day, but at MMP you are offered SO MUCH more.
This is offered right at check in with the MMP Experience. Every week, the resort runs a series of events, experiences and activities that any guests can feel free to join. At check in, you are given a timetable for each day of your stay. Joining in any of the experiences is a simple as letting staff know you want to participate.
Many of these experiences revolve around the fact that Munduk Moding Plantation is an eco friendly resort, practicing sustainability and responsible tourism. If you care for the environment, and are interested in learning more about how to minimize your carbon footprint, then many of these are perfect for you.
Here is a quick sample of the type of activities you might expect to see on the MMP Experience Schedule.
- Balinese Cooking Class and Sambal Making
- Sustainability Tour
- Cycling around the MMP neighborhood
- Introduction to the Indonesian Language
- Coffee Plantation Tour
- Bird Watching
- Reforesting (Plant your own tree)
- Yoga for beginners
- Visit to local waterfalls or temples
- Basic Barista class
- Vegetable Garden – a deep dive experience
- Bamboo and Wood Carving Workshop
- Handicraft or bracelet making from recycled plastics
Sustainability at Munduk Moding Plantation
One thing that sets Munduk Moding Plantation apart from nearly any other luxury resort in Bali, is their level of sustainability. This was one of the reasons we came to the resort, and it totally blew us away with their commitment to it.
Firstly, there is basically no waste at MMP. Everything is recycled. From the water to the plastics. This is incredible, and something I found hard to believe until I saw it with my own eyes.
On a tour that took several hours, we were shown around the resort. Munduk Moding Plantation recycles all waste, into compost that is used throughout the plantation, or into the waste water treatment facility. This involves a complex series of underground tanks and filters, where water is treated carefully before being run through a series of 3 ponds full of plants and fish. By the time the water is finished its journey, it’s ready to be used, safely, on the gardens and in the plantation.
Reforesting is another initiative that is very popular at MMP. Guests are invited to plant their own trees, in order to battle against soil and earth erosion that can be caused by plantations and cutting down of the local flora. The thought and research that goes into this is something that I was very surprised at, and was extremely interesting to learn.
Finally, and the thing that is really helping the local community, is the plastic recycling plant at Munduk Moding Plantation. All plastics come here, where they are painstakingly sorted, before being shredded and then sorted again and washed. They are then put into a melting and stamping machine that will push out large “sheets” of plastic that are extremely tough and durable. This can then be used to create signs, furniture, or nearly anything that is limited only by your imagination.
Munduk Moding Plantation uses their recycled plastics all around the resort, yet many guests will hardly notice. From tissue boxes beside the bed to Shampoo dispenses in the bathroom!
Helping the local community
Munduk Moding Plantation doesn’t get the accolades it deserves for its work in the local community.
Local cleanups around Lake Tamblingan involving the community are attended by a couple of hundred people on Sunday Mornings. English language classes for children where the price of attendance is a plastic bottle to be recycled. Karate classes are the same.
Sponsorships for talented young sports people or artists are offered, and the local community love the resort in a way that not many other communities feel about a luxury resort in their neighborhood. Instead MMP have embraced the community, and they in turn have embraced the resort. Many of the locals work at the resort in one way or another, and it has become a large, important and cherished part of their lives.
For more information on the sustainable practices at MMP, keep an eye out for my next article where I will do a deep dive into the Sustainovation initiative run by the resort.
Final Thoughts
Munduk Moding Plantation is a Luxury Resort that is eco friendly and works hand in hand with the local community. As a place to stay, I highly recommend it. As a place to learn how to reduce your wastage and carbon footprint, the resort is a wonderful choice.
HAVE A LOOK at the Munduk Moding Plantation official website at THIS LINK.
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