Campuhan Ridge Walk is right in the heart of Ubud
Say the word hiking in Bali, and Campuhan Ridge Walk is a place that almost never makes it on the list. Perhaps it is overshadowed by Mount Agung’s long and arduous hike, who knows. But in my opinion, this easy walk is an underrated activity in Bali.
Ok, well it is called a walk more than a hike, and for a good reason. The path is well paved, and you don’t even need walking shoes to go on the trek. No proper hiking gear was great news for me because I didn’t pack a lot for our year of slow travelling and was not prepared for a real hike.
WHERE IS THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK?
It’s so crazy how this beautiful hike is set right in the middle of busy Ubud!
You will forget that you’re on the busy streets of Ubud when you’re on the Campuhan Ridge Walk. There are rice fields on both sides of the ridge, and there’s a countryside vibe as you make your way through the hike.
HOW CHALLENGING IS THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK IN UBUD BALI?
There are some hilly areas on the trek, but overall, it’s a reasonably easy walk that will get your heart rate up
From a scale of 1-10, with ten being the most difficult, I’d put this at a four or five. The distance might be long for some people with limited mobility, but for semi-fit people like me (haha!), I found the walk to be okay. Because I found myself catching my breath along the hike, I bumped the difficulty of the hike a few notches to 4. Mind you, I could have been tired because I had Oreos for breakfast and that’s all that I ate before the hike.
Keep in mind that there are variations of this hike. The full loop is eight kilometers long and can take over three hours one way. We only hiked two kilometers before turning back.
WHO CAN DO THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK?
Anyone at all fitness levels thanks to the relative ease of this trek. We saw kids on the road and even mothers pushing strollers.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK?
I walked the whole way in sandals. You might want to wear something more substantial
Not much, really. I did the trek in Birkenstocks, and I was fine. There are some hilly areas and stairs to climb, but overall, the walk is straightforward to do. Make sure to bring mosquito repellent, sunglasses, and lots of sunscreen because there aren’t many shaded areas! And of course, bring lots of water to drink because you will sweat like crazy from the HEAT!
CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK DURATION
Don’t forget to go off the main road, where you can take beautiful photos in the tall grass
It took us about two hours to start and finish the hike. Mind you, we found a lot of photo ops, spent some time on a swing, and took water breaks. I’d say if you’re in a rush, you can speed walk and finish the hike in just over an hour. But the views are so incredible as you catch a glimpse of Ubud’s backyard jungle that you’ll want to take your time.
One of many beautiful views on this trek
IS THERE AN ENTRANCE FEE FOR THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK?
Nope! Nada! It is free!
FACILITIES AT THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK
We walked a few hundred meters after this point before turning back, which I now regret because we should have continued the trek!
We didn’t see any washrooms in the area, so it might be a good idea to plan your washroom breaks before and after the hike. There are cafes at the end of the walk. Unfortunately, this big mean-looking bulldog stopped us in our tracks, and we decided not to past that menacing dog.
There is a well-known café along the walk, called Karsa Café, where you can get a floating hut overlooking a lotus pond. I’m kicking myself now for not walking past that dog!
If you’re looking for a challenging hike in Indonesia, check out this guide to Baliem Valley Trekking.
WHERE I STAYED WHEN I DID THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK
Taking the Kura Kura bus to Ubud
We stayed at the Four Seasons by Sheraton in Kuta when we were making our way to this hike, and it is honestly the biggest regret of my life (ok, not life – just this Bali trip)! It took us almost two hours to get to Ubud! The week later, we stayed in Sukawati at the Swaha Hotel. Of course, I was kicking myself when I realized how the drive from Sukawati to the Campuhan Ridge Walk would have been just thirty minutes with little traffic jams thanks to the fact that Sukawati is a hidden gem that doesn’t see many tourists.
The Swaha Hotel in Sukawati Bali
CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK ENTRANCE ROUTE
Going through small walkways to find the trailhead
To get to the trailhead, look for Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas. Once you are there, look for a sign directing you to the hill, and keep walking. There are instructions on how to find the entrance to the walk, but there’s so much signage now that it’s easy to spot the start of the trek.
Head down to find the Campuhan Ridge Walk
Just make sure you pay attention to the signs because some are small and can easily be missed. The one thing I remember seeing are locals offering rides to the entrance to the walk. You can politely decline because it only takes about ten minutes to get to the beginning of the route.
The walk starts under the bridge so don’t go on the deck, unless you want to take photos
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK SWING
Fulfilling every childhood dream of sitting on a swing that’s tied to a tree. Except this one overlooks the beautiful valley
Keep in mind that there might be people waiting for you to get off the swing because it’s such a great place to take photos.
The swing was quite petrifying because it was so close to the edge. I sometimes felt as if I was going to fly into the valley
THE BEST TIME TO HIKE THE CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK
So many beautiful places to take photos on the walk
Because we did the trek during the midday in the sweltering heat, I’d recommend visiting this area in the morning or afternoon instead. It was super duper hot, and I kept wishing I had arrived in Ubud earlier for the hike. There is very little to no shade, so you’ll be out in the sun for the whole trek.
A great place to take pictures! We saw lots of wedding photos being captured along the hike
If you’re trying to avoid the crowds, avoid going on the weekends if possible where locals and teenagers flock this walk.
CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK IN UBUD, AN UNDERRATED ACTIVITY IN BALI
Traditional structures along this Ubud walking trail
Without a doubt, this scenic trail will make you forget that you are on the busy streets of Bali. This trek was honestly the highlight of my visit in Ubud.
Have you done the Campuhan Ridge Walk? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below.
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