In bustling Ubud, you’ll find countless charming restaurants, lively markets and trendy cafés. It’s so busy that you might soon find yourself longing for some peace and quiet. Luckily, that tranquility is closer than you think! Just a few minutes from Ubud’s hectic center, you can find yourself surrounded by greenery. I like to do two beautiful walks in Ubud: the Sweet Orange Walk Trail through the Kajeng rice fields and the Campuhan Ridge Walk. In this article, I’ll tell you more about the latter.
Campuhan Ridge Walk hike
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a scenic trail along a narrow ridge. The path offers sweeping views of the lush, green landscape and allows you to truly escape the city’s hustle and bustle. Although the Campuhan Ridge Walk is more popular today than it was years ago, it still offers plenty of peace and a strong sense of being immersed in nature.
Starting point of the Campuhan Ridge Walk
Finding the start of the Campuhan Ridge Walk can be a bit tricky for some. On Google Maps, it’s clearly marked as Ridge Walk start from South. Just to the left of the Ibah Resort, you can walk into a small lane and soon take a left turn. On your left-hand side, you’ll see a large parking lot. Straight ahead is a bridge, with a staircase on the right side leading down. You’ll also see the sign pictured below. Head down the stairs and follow the path.
Soon you’ll walk past Pura Gunung Lebah, a large temple; the river will be on your right. The path winds under the trees and eventually leads uphill. Keep walking a little further and you’ll reach the ridge.
Condition of the Campuhan Ridge Walk trail
The trail along the ridge is narrow but well maintained. Since many people walk the path both ways, you’ll pass quite a few others along the route. The views are beautiful! Though you often have to look for openings in the lush vegetation to fully enjoy them. I’ve brought my drone and fly it quite a bit here—the trail looks even more impressive from above.
How long is the Campuhan Ridge Walk?
After walking 1.2 kilometers, you’ll reach the gate shown below. On Google Maps, this point is marked as Ridgewalk start from north. From here, you enter an area with houses, cozy restaurants and charming little shops along both sides of Bangkian Sidem street. The further you walk, the more rice fields you’ll see on either side. From the starting point of the Campuhan Ridge Walk to Karsa Kafe is 1.6 kilometers. If you return the same way, the total hike adds up to 3.2 kilometers.
Nice cafés and shops along Jalan Bangkian Sidem
Mamoo Ubud Cafe Restaurant, Yoga Cafe, Warung Romi, Rare Angon Warung and Karsa Kafe—you’ll pass several lovely spots to eat on both sides of Jalan Bangkian Sidem. Most restaurants boast gorgeous views of the Balinese rice fields, with dishes that look just as tempting. Don’t forget to stop by the Painter Traditional shop, where you’ll find a variety of handmade items for sale.
Best time for the Campuhan Ridge Walk
The Campuhan Ridge Walk has become a popular hike, so it can get quite busy. Want to enjoy the trail in peace? Go early in the morning, ideally around sunrise. If the weather is clear, the light is absolutely stunning. The light is also beautiful at the end of the day, just before sunset—but the ridge is usually still quite crowded by then. Walking the trail in the middle of the day is not recommended. There’s little shade when the sun is high in the sky and with high temperatures and no breeze, it’s far from pleasant. Early morning or late afternoon is definitely the best time to go!
