Astungkara Way Trail, Bali
National Geographic Readers’ Choice Winner 2026
Why go? Reader’s Choice
Readers’ choice have voted and chosen the Astungkara Way Trail in Bali as their favorite Bali
wellness experience in 2026.
Before paved roads stitched Bali together and tourism reshaped its coasts, movement across the
island followed the logic of water and seasons. Footpaths traced irrigation channels, crossed rice
fields, and connected villages where daily life unfolded in rhythm with the land. Trail
experiences with Astungkara, an organization dedicated to both restorative farming and cultural
tourism, returns travelers to these routes, offering guided hikes through villages and a way to
experience Bali slowly – on foot, and in conversation with the landscapes that sustain it.
Journeys range from day hikes to multi-day walks, each unfolding at a measured pace that
mirrors the Balinese way of life. The countryside reveals itself in small but telling details: water
flowing through an ancient network of irrigation canals, flower offerings at doorways, farmers
tending their rice crops and fields of marigolds. In the evenings, hikers gather around the kitchen
table to share home-cooked meals.
Walking the trail means being welcomed into village life. Local families open their homes,
inviting guests to sit, observe, and participate respectfully. Through shared meals, hands-on
farming, and time with elders, travelers gain insight into land stewardship, ritual life, and
regenerative farming practices that continue in Bali’s rural communities.
How to do it: Experiences may include a half-day regenerative farm experience, full-day hiking
trails, a two-day overnight hiking journey, a longer 5-10-day coast-to-coast pilgrimage walk, a
visit to a permaculture farm, or an immersion in a sacred water purification ceremony guided by
a priest.
Story by Stephanie Brookes
Published: National Geographic, February 2026
www.astungkaraway.com
