Welcome to Villa Montana, Bali

Tours within a short walk or 15 minute drive of Villa Montana

Within a short walk of Villa Montana there are many interesting guided or self-guided tours available. All of these tours are provided with an English speaking knowledgeable guide for a nominal charge of $10 USD. One day’s advance booking is necessary and can be arranged by contacting your Butler. The following tours are a small sample of available options representing the “best” of Villa Montana’s immediate surrounding area:

a.) Buhu Coffee Plantation: The Buhu Coffee Plantation is located 3 KM from Villa Montana walking along a very scenic jungle and rice field pathway. Buhu Coffee Plantation is an 8 hectare coffee plantation owned by local villagers. The tour is free and highlights an important agriculture tradition amongst Balinese highlanders. Coffee beans and ground coffee are available for sale at very nominal prices. The Balinese coffee blends are hearty and strongly acidic. A beautiful short walk. You can choose to be driven to the plantation roundtrip, walk one way and then be driven back, etc. This plantation is a genuine working farm and not a “tourist circuit” stop; you will be the only visitor present.

b.) Mawang Rice Paddies: The Mawang rice paddies are 2 ½ KM from Villa Montana walking along the spectacular Ayung River Valley. The Mawang rice paddies are particularly beautiful and very steeply pitched along the river valley. Traditional Balinese village life is in evidence everywhere along with way – housewives doing the daily laundry in a rice field canal, Balinese “open air” bathing in the streams, farmers doing their chores and children playing. You will experience a colorful mosaic of Balinese life untouched by mass tourism.

c.) Penyabangan Area: The Penyabangan area is a 10 minute drive north of Villa Montana. A rich agricultural region featuring plantations of teak, cocoa, coffee, coconuts, clove and stunning tropical flowers. You will definitely be the only tourist in Penyabangan and the locals are very inquisitive and surprised to see an “outsider” in this remotely colorful area. Children will be shyly smiling as you pass by; the cultural photo opportunities are a prize.

d.) Pilan: Pilan village is a 15 minute drive east of Villa Montana on motorbike (included in the nominal $10 tour guide fee). Pilan is a genuine cultural experience – unique and something very few visitors to Bali experience.


Car access is not possible due to the small and winding dirt road leading to Pilan. Villa Montana provides transport on motorbike with driver. Pilan is a super traditional Balinese village without electricity and completely untouched by the economics of tourism. Life is based on subsistence agricultural farming and the simple routine of rural Balinese living. The entire village consists of walled “compounds”. Within these compounds are members of the same family; up to four generations living together in one compound. Once married, the newly married couple build a private home within the same compound. All of Bali used to live in this traditional “family compound” way; now it is very rare and found only in a few small and isolated mountain villages on the island. Pilan is one of the few villages remaining where all members of the community belong to a family compound. NEVER visited by tourists unless they are from Villa Montana. You will have ample opportunities to meet the local villagers and observe or participate in their daily routines. Villa Montana’s staff know the villagers well allowing a very reclusive and isolated world to be opened to you. An exclusive and unique experience not to be missed. Allow 4 hours total.

e.) Kerta Village: The village where Villa Montana is located, Kerta, has a challenging hiking trail leading 200 meters down to the base of the Ayung River. Just off to the side of Villa Montana begins a steep yet well defined hiking trail leading through a dense jungle of bamboo forests, pineapples, bananas, papayas, cocoa and coffee down to the base of the rushing rapids of the Ayung River. Monkeys and tropical birds are omnipresent – a challenging short hike through pristine jungle.