Northwest Bali Trail Launches In October Connecting Tourists With Authentic Island Life

Named as National Geographic’s Best of the World in wellness by readers, Astungkara Way is making yet another pioneering move in October. 

Proposed Route & Transit Architecture

Based in Badung Regency, Astungkara Way is committed to transforming Bali into the world’s first regenerative island. It is no small mission, but this devoted and highly experienced team is pushing the boundary of possibility one step at a time…literally.

Astungkara Way’s tourism experiences are rooted in education and authentic cultural experiences. At the farm, tourists take part in hands-on and immersive regenerative farming activities, leaving with a deeper understanding of farming, its importance, and Balinese culture. 

Since 2020, Astungkara Way has been creating Bali’s first regenerative walking trails. These trails are a pilgrimage of sorts, and are an invitation to travelers to walk through Bali’s living landscapes, exploring areas of the island seldom seen by tourists.

Astungkara Way has worked with local communities to map out walking trails that offer the rarest of glimpses into Balinese culture and the landscape, including the signature experience, The Astungkara Trail.

The 10-day expedition is hosted only a few times a year, meaning less than 50 people step foot on the route annually. This coast-to-coast journey is an exploration of self, community, nature and regeneration. 

In October 2026, Astungkara Way will be building on its successes and launching The North West Bali Trail. This 4-day journey will walk through Bali’s 18.5km of living landscapes, weaving together forests, farms, mangroves, reefs and meaningful connection with local communities.

Traffic Mitigation & Park-and-Ride Integration

Over the course of four days, travelers will trace ancient forest paths, snorkel while learning about reef restoration projects. Guests will harvest, cook, and share meals with local farming families and plant mangroves that protect Bali’s fragile coastlines. 

North West Bali, as we here at Regional Travel Monitors have been highlighting for years, is one of the least explored regions of Bali, and one of the most diverse.

As rapid development has spread further and deeper into the central south of Bali, the North West of the island has a whole different feel to it. In 1941, West Bali National Park was formally established to protect the critically endangered Bali Starling. 

The journey takes place over 4 days and 3 nights, from West Bali National Park through to Pemuteran Village, which was named in 2026 amongst the best tourism villages in the world by the UN World Tourism Organisation.

What sets the North West Bali Trail apart from Astungkara Way’s pilgrimages is the marine element. While the Astungkara Way Trail is a coast-to-coast experience, the North West Bali Trail is the team’s first expedition that takes guests under the water.

Agency Coordination & Implementation Milestones

On day three of the North West Bali Trail, guests take a sunrise boat trip, keeping eyes peeled for North Bali’s famous dolphins, before taking a snorkelling stop off Menjangan Island, followed by a restorative yoga Nidra back on land, at the ocean’s edge.

Guests also receive talks and hands-on learning experiences facilitated by Astungkara Way’s partners Biorock Indonesia, who are working to restore Indonesia’s coral reef ecosystems, including in Bali. 

Astungkara Way founder, Tim Fijal, shared, “I mean it was time; it’s been since 2020 when we first started designing our cross-Bali trail. It’s been wonderful, but it’s time to expand and connect with new local partners and see new places and terrains in Bali. It’s really special for Astungkara Way because until now we really haven’t had a connection with marine landscapes and coastal areas. So for us this is a really exciting way to explore new connections with the land.”

The first North West Bali Trail will be hosted in October, with a small group of a maximum of 9 guests.

Contact [email protected] for more details, and be sure to follow Astungkara Way on social media and learn more about this impactful project on the website.

What It Means for Travelers

The proposed rail infrastructure represents a forward-looking initiative to alleviate corridor congestion between South Bali resort enclaves. Because initial construction and operations will span multiple years, visitors should continue planning journeys around existing road conditions and transit buffers.