Baru di Bali

This getaway is certainly good news for those lazy enough to trek, yet eager to breathe the fresh air and the scenery off the busy main road. It is a natural pathway surrounded by shadows of the trees overlooking a temple with the sound of a running river on the background. This place is called Campuhan Ridge and it is located in Ubud.

Campuhan Ridge is an easy hike and a great spot if you feel like having a closer encounter with the Balinese people and their traditional way of life. The trail all along the way is very pleasant with no really steep sections, making this an ideal walk for older people and children even in the wet season. To make it even more pleasant, there is a particular stretch with a convenience store that makes a perfect spot to catch your breath for a while. This area is also populated by a few stray animals, the likes of cats, dogs and chicken.

After an hour or so, depending on how fast you walk, you will arrive at the pleasant village of Bangkiang Sidem, where the few people you meet greet you in the friendliest manner. Though chances are they will greet you in a local Balinese dialect, you will at least understand their wide smile as you come closer to the end of your trek. Don’t forget to smile back and say “selamat pagi” (good morning). Turning left (or westward, if you ask a Balinese) from this village brings you back to the main road — this is your finish line.

Campuhan Ridge is located near (across) Antonio Blanco Museum in Ubud. The best time to do this relaxing adventure is in the morning before the sun gets very high in the sky.