Finding Peace on Ubud’s Campuhan Ridge Walk: A Journey Through Green Serenity

I never thought a simple walk could change my entire Bali experience. But there I was, standing at the entrance to Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud, sweaty and slightly annoyed because I’d gotten lost trying to find the trailhead, when the view suddenly opened up before me like a scene from a dream.

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Those rolling hills covered in tall, swaying grass. The gentle morning light casting everything in gold. The absolute quiet, save for the rustle of leaves and distant sounds of life from the valley below.

And just like that, my irritation melted away.

I’d come to Ubud seeking something different from Bali’s beach scene – maybe some culture, maybe some greenery, maybe just a break from the constant party vibe of Kuta. What I found on Campuhan Ridge was something I hadn’t even realized I was looking for: a moment of perfect stillness in a world that never stops moving.

Why Campuhan Ridge Walk Stole My Heart

The funny thing is, I almost didn’t go at all that morning. My plan was to hit the famous Monkey Forest first (priorities, right?), but the café near my homestay had run out of decent coffee, putting me in a bit of a mood. The owner, noticing my disappointment, suggested I walk off my caffeine withdrawal at Campuhan instead.

“Less monkeys, more peace,” she said with a knowing smile.

I figured, why not? The ridge was supposedly close by, and I could always see those thieving little primates afterward. So I set off without much expectation – just another thing to tick off the Ubud tourist checklist.

God, was I wrong.

The moment I stepped onto that narrow path and saw the undulating spine of green stretching before me, something inside me just… shifted. I’m not usually one for spiritual mumbo-jumbo (despite being in Bali, the land of eat-pray-lovers), but there was something almost sacred about this place.

Maybe it was the way the morning mist still clung to the distant valleys, or how the palm trees stood like sentinels against the blue sky. Maybe it was simply being away from engines and electronics and endless chatter. Whatever it was, I felt my shoulders drop about three inches as tension I didn’t even know I was carrying just evaporated.

I remember stopping about ten minutes in, finding a grassy spot off the path, and just sitting there for what must have been half an hour, watching the landscape breathe. A local man passed by with his dog, nodded at me, and continued on his way. No sales pitch, no request for photos, no transaction of any kind – just a moment of human acknowledgment in a beautiful place.

That’s when it hit me: this wasn’t just another Instagram spot to be conquered. This was a place to actually be in, to experience rather than capture. Though, I’ll admit, I still took about a hundred photos because, well, I’m only human and it’s ridiculously photogenic.

Getting to Campuhan Ridge Walk: A Little Adventure in Itself

Let me save you some trouble right off the bat: finding the entrance to Campuhan Ridge Walk isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Unlike most tourist attractions in Bali, it’s not plastered with giant signs and souvenir stalls (thank goodness).

The trailhead is located near the Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas, just west of central Ubud. I was staying about 15 minutes away by foot, so I decided to walk there, armed with Google Maps and a vague sense of direction. Big mistake. I ended up wandering down several wrong turns and narrow alleys before a kind local pointed me in the right direction after seeing me stare confusedly at my phone for the fifth time.

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If you’re coming from further away in Ubud, you have several options:

I initially thought renting a scooter would be the most efficient way to get around Ubud. I was wrong again. While scooters are definitely the transportation mode of choice in Bali, navigating Ubud’s narrow, busy streets with no previous scooter experience wasn’t my brightest idea. I nearly clipped a fruit stand before deciding to park and proceed on foot. If you’re comfortable on two wheels though, there’s parking available near the entrance.

Alternatively, Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber) works in Ubud, though some drivers might be reluctant to pick you up in certain areas due to local taxi “territories” – a whole other drama I won’t get into now. Regular taxis and private drivers are plentiful too, though be prepared to haggle.

“How much to Campuhan Ridge?” I asked one driver.
“200,000 rupiah,” he replied confidently.
I laughed. “It’s literally ten minutes away. How about 50,000?”
We settled on 70,000, which was still probably too much, but hey – live and learn.

The best time to visit is definitely early morning (before 8 AM) or late afternoon (after 4 PM) to avoid both the crowds and the heat. I went around 7:30 AM, which was perfect – cool enough to walk comfortably and quiet enough to feel like I had discovered some secret place. By the time I headed back around 9:30, the sun was already fierce, and more people were arriving.

I’ve heard sunset is magical there too, but I’m not sure if it gets more crowded then. Might be worth checking out if you’re staying in Ubud for a while.

What to Bring (Or What I Wish I’d Brought)

Learn from my mistakes, folks. Here’s what you should actually pack for this walk:

• Water. Lots of it. I brought one small bottle thinking “it’s just a short walk!” and regretted it deeply. The humidity is no joke.
• Sun protection. I completely forgot sunscreen and ended up with a lovely red nose and shoulders. There are shady spots along the way, but much of the ridge is exposed.
• Proper shoes. The path isn’t particularly difficult, but it’s uneven in places. My flimsy sandals were a poor choice, especially when it started drizzling briefly and things got slippery.
• A hat. See “sun protection” above. My scalp was not happy with me.
• Camera. This is a given, but the views are spectacular.

I also brought a small sketchbook on a whim, thinking I might sit and draw the landscape. It seemed pretentious at the time, but I actually ended up doing a quick sketch at one of the rest points, and it’s now one of my favorite Bali mementos. Sometimes the touristy impulses work out!

Oh, and cash – there are a few small warungs (local cafés) along the way where you can grab a coconut or snack. No ATMs on a ridge walk, unsurprisingly.

Walking the Ridge: Nature’s Quiet Embrace

The walk itself isn’t particularly long – about 9 km round trip if you go all the way to the end and back – but I’ll be honest, I didn’t make it that far. The beauty of Campuhan is that you don’t have to walk the entire length to experience its magic.

The path starts with a descent past Ibah Resort and a small temple, crosses a bridge over the merging rivers (which is what “Campuhan” means – the confluence of two rivers), and then begins to climb gently upward. This first section is shaded by trees and feels almost jungle-like, with stone steps and the sound of water below.

Then suddenly, you emerge onto the ridge itself, and that’s when the “wow” moment happens. The narrow path stretches ahead, with steep drops on either side covered in tall, windswept grass. In the distance, coconut palms and small patches of forest break up the rolling landscape. The sky feels enormous.

What struck me most was the sound – or rather, the lack of it. Coming from Ubud’s busy streets with their constant motorbike buzz, the silence on the ridge was almost physical. I could hear the grass rustling, birds calling from somewhere distant, and my own footsteps on the dirt path. It was… I don’t know, cleansing somehow?

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The main ridge section undulates gently for about 2 km before reaching a point where the path widens and several small businesses have set up shop. This is where I turned around, partly because it was getting hot and partly because the developed area ahead seemed less appealing than the natural beauty I’d just experienced.

I’m slightly embarrassed to admit I didn’t complete the full walk, especially since I later heard there are some lovely rice fields further along. But travel isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about the experience you have, and those two kilometers of ridge were exactly what I needed that morning.

Walking back, I noticed details I’d missed on the way out – a small shrine tucked among trees, interesting cloud formations over the distant hills, a butterfly with electric blue wings that followed me for a few meters before darting away. The light had changed too, casting different shadows and highlighting different textures in the landscape.

I stopped more frequently on the return journey, sitting on rocks or grassy patches just to absorb it all. An older local man passed me with a friendly “good morning,” a bamboo pole balanced on his shoulder with what looked like freshly harvested produce hanging from each end. He moved with the easy grace of someone who walks these paths daily, making my cautious tourist steps seem clumsy in comparison.

Hidden Gems Along the Way

About halfway along the ridge, I spotted a tiny path veering off to the right, almost hidden by tall grass. Curious (and perhaps foolishly), I followed it for about 50 meters until it opened onto a small clearing with an unobstructed view of the valley below. Someone had placed a simple wooden bench there – nothing fancy, just a place to sit and look. It felt like finding a secret, this little viewpoint away from the main path that probably only locals and repeat visitors know about.

I sat there for a while, watching dragonflies hover over the grass and listening to what I think were rice birds calling to each other. No photos could capture that moment – the perfect temperature before the day’s heat set in, the particular quality of morning light, the feeling of having momentarily stepped out of time.

Further along, just before the path widens near the cafés, there’s a small warung that doesn’t look like much from the outside. I stopped for a young coconut, mostly because I was getting thirsty, and ended up chatting with the owner for almost 20 minutes. He’d been running the place for over a decade and had stories about how the ridge had changed over the years – more tourists, more development, but the essence still intact. His coconut water was the freshest I’d had in Bali, and he refused payment when I tried to buy a second one, insisting it was “a gift for new friend.”

These unplanned moments often become the highlights of a trip, don’t they? The little human connections and unexpected discoveries that no guidebook can prepare you for.

The Challenges (and Realities) of Campuhan Ridge Walk

Look, I don’t want to paint this as some flawless paradise. Like any popular spot, Campuhan Ridge has its downsides.

For one thing, the path itself can be challenging in places. It’s not a difficult hike by any means, but there are uneven sections, occasionally slippery spots (especially if it’s rained recently), and some steeper climbs that had me breathing harder than I’d like to admit. If you have mobility issues, this might not be the walk for you.

The heat is another factor that shouldn’t be underestimated. I went early and still found myself sweating profusely by 9 AM. The ridge is exposed, with minimal shade once you’re on the main section. In the midday sun, I imagine it would be pretty brutal – like walking in a beautiful but merciless oven.

Then there’s the crowd factor. I was lucky to experience the ridge in relative solitude, but as I was leaving, I passed several tour groups heading in. The narrow path doesn’t accommodate large numbers well, and I can see how the peaceful atmosphere would change completely with dozens of people taking selfies and chatting loudly. I’ve heard from other travelers that weekends and holidays can be particularly busy.

The development along the ridge is also increasing. While most of the walk remains beautifully natural, there are more cafés and small businesses appearing, particularly toward the end. I’m torn about this – on one hand, I appreciate that locals should benefit from tourism, but on the other, I worry about the ridge losing its tranquil character over time.

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And a small personal frustration – I wore completely inappropriate footwear. My thin-soled sandals were fine for the smooth sections but treacherous on loose gravel, and I nearly went down hard after slipping on a muddy patch. Learn from my mistake: wear actual shoes with grip!

I wonder if other travelers feel the same bittersweet tension I do when visiting places like this – wanting them to stay pristine and “undiscovered,” while knowing that my very presence contributes to their popularity and eventual development. Have you ever had a perfect travel spot ruined by too many people? I’d love to know I’m not alone in this travel dilemma.

Reflections from the Ridge: Why I’ll Be Back

As I made my way back to the entrance, hot and tired but somehow refreshed in a deeper way, I found myself already planning a return visit. Maybe next time at sunset, to see how the landscape transforms in different light. Or perhaps during the rainy season, when I imagine the hills would be an even more vibrant green, though the path might be trickier to navigate.

There’s something about Campuhan Ridge that gets under your skin. It’s not Bali’s most famous attraction, not even Ubud’s, really. It doesn’t have the spiritual significance of the water temples or the postcard fame of the rice terraces. It’s just a simple walking path along a natural formation. But sometimes the simplest experiences are the ones that affect us most deeply.

I spent the rest of that day exploring Ubud’s more famous sights – the Monkey Forest (where a particularly bold macaque tried to steal my water bottle), the markets, a traditional dance performance in the evening. All were interesting, all were “worth seeing,” as the guidebooks would say. But none gave me the same sense of connection and peace that those two hours on the ridge did.

Maybe it was the unexpected nature of it – I went with no real expectations and was completely blown away. Maybe it was the physical exertion combined with natural beauty, a combination that always seems to quiet my usually overactive mind. Or maybe it was just being alone in a beautiful place, something that’s becoming increasingly rare in our connected, crowded world.

I’m not usually one for quiet hikes, to be honest. I typically prefer more adrenaline-fueled activities when I travel – surfing, motorbiking, anything with a bit of speed and excitement. But this one just got under my skin. It reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful travel experiences are the ones where you slow down enough to really see where you are.

Will Campuhan Ridge be the same if I return in a few years? I’m not sure. Bali is changing rapidly, and Ubud especially is feeling the pressure of increasing tourism. The ridge might have more cafés, more souvenir stands, more infrastructure built to accommodate the growing numbers of visitors seeking that perfect Instagram shot.

But I hope its essential character remains – that sense of being on the spine of the world, with valleys falling away on either side and the sky opening up above. I hope future travelers will still have moments of quiet wonder there, will still feel that peculiar magic that seems to hover in the air along with the dragonflies and butterflies.

In a trip full of memorable moments, Campuhan Ridge Walk stands out as a highlight – not because it was the most spectacular or unique experience, but because it was unexpectedly meaningful. It reminded me why I travel in the first place: not just to see new places, but to feel something new, to be changed in some small way by the encounter with somewhere different.

If you find yourself in Ubud, overwhelmed by the traffic and the tourists and the constant hum of activity, do yourself a favor. Wake up early one morning, make your way to the ridge, and just walk. No agenda, no expectations. Just one foot in front of the other, surrounded by green hills and open sky.

I can’t promise it will affect you the way it affected me – travel is too personal for such guarantees. But I can promise you this: it will be real. And sometimes, in our increasingly filtered and curated world, real is exactly what we need.

About the author: Jack is a passionate content creator with years of experience. Follow for more quality content and insights.