Finding the right waterfall in Bali
There’s a side of Bali that never makes it onto most itineraries: standing under a curtain of water dropping through a wall of jungle, mist on your skin and birdsong instead of scooter horns. Couples often ask us for “the best waterfall in Bali”, but there isn’t one right answer. It depends on how much of a hike you’re up for, and how many people you’re happy to share the view with.
It mostly comes down to geology. Bali’s volcanoes sit in the north, and every river running down their slopes towards the sea eventually finds a cliff to fall from, which is why North Bali has the most dramatic waterfalls on the island. Central Bali around Ubud trades some of that drama for easy access, so its waterfalls tend to be the busiest. And for couples staying in the south, there’s exactly one big waterfall worth a special trip.
One thing before you go: almost every waterfall on this list charges an entrance fee. It’s usually the local village that built and looks after the stairs, parking and paths, and the fee pays for that upkeep. It surprises a lot of our guests, especially those from Europe, where nature is free to wander, but we’ve come to see it as a fair trade for stairs that don’t collapse under you.
Below we’ve grouped the waterfalls by region, because the right one depends on whether you’re after a serious hike, a swim, a spiritual moment or a photo without a two-hour queue. If waterfalls turn into a rainy-day plan rather than the main event, our guide to the best beaches in Bali covers the coast.
North Bali waterfalls: the most dramatic, if you’re willing to drive
The waterfalls around Sekumpul and Munduk are two to three hours from South Bali, which keeps the crowds thinner and the scenery wild. If you’re already staying in Munduk or Lovina, treat this as your backyard for a full day of waterfall hopping.
1. Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is the one waterfall on this list we’d call unmissable, and also the one that makes you work hardest for it. From the parking area you head down a long stretch of stairs, cross a river and follow a jungle path to the bale (open-sided pavilion) where the falls finally come into view: several separate streams dropping from the cliffs into one shared pool, so close together that no single photo can capture them all. A newer addition is a restaurant hanging off the cliffside near the entrance, which turns a hike that used to end with a sweaty scooter ride home into one that ends with lunch and a view.
Be ready for hundreds of steps each way, the most physically demanding walk on this list, and wear proper shoes, as the stairs get slippery when the jungle is wet. The viewing pavilion is big enough that photos rarely feel crowded even when the trail is busy, and the light is best in the first hour after opening, before the mist burns off. Restaurant tables fill up fastest on weekends, so a weekday visit usually means no wait. Our tip: ignore roadside touts selling a “compulsory” guide package and buy your ticket at the official booth.
2. Aling Aling Waterfall
If Sekumpul is for couples who want to look at a waterfall, Aling Aling, inland from Lovina, is for couples who want to jump into one. The main fall is sacred and off limits for swimming, but the trail continues to three more waterfalls, where a local guide gives you a life jacket and takes you through cliff jumps from several heights and a natural rock slide that’s way more fun than it looks. We sent a couple of our interns here last year, and they came back sunburnt, buzzing and slightly bruised, and already planning to go back.
A guided session across all four waterfalls takes about two hours, and the guides are trained locals, several with more than a decade of experience. Wear water shoes rather than flip-flops, as the rocks between the falls are slippery. School groups and tour buses tend to arrive around midday, so mornings are noticeably calmer, and it’s easy to combine with Banyumala or Gitgit on the same day.
3. Banyumala Twin Waterfalls and Gitgit
Banyumala splits into two cascades that fall into a shared pool surrounded by jungle, and it’s quieter than almost anywhere else on this list despite being just as photogenic. One side of the pool stays cool enough for a proper swim even in the middle of the day. The walk down takes about fifteen minutes on stairs that get slippery after rain, and a small warung by the car park sells drinks and snacks.
If you have time, Gitgit Waterfall is a short drive away. It’s taller and more powerful than Banyumala and reached by an easy paved path, but it draws more day-trippers, along with roadside vendors trying to sell you a multi-waterfall package you don’t need.
Waterfalls near Ubud and Kintamani
The waterfalls around Ubud are the ones most honeymooners end up visiting, simply because they fit into half a day alongside the rice terraces or a Balinese cooking class. The trade-off is crowds, especially at the two most Instagrammed spots.
4. Kanto Lampo Waterfall
Kanto Lampo is wide and shallow, cascading over a staircase of boulders that makes for one of the most photogenic waterfall shots in Bali, which is exactly the problem. Arrive after 10am and you’ll queue for your turn at the classic photo spot, sometimes for half an hour or more.
The walk in is short and flat compared to most waterfalls in central Bali, and it’s an easy stop from Ubud. Come before 9am for a quieter visit (the “popular times” on Google Maps are a good guide), and bring water shoes, as the rocks are sharp and slippery and you’ll get wet regardless.
5. Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Tukad Cepung swaps a waterfall you photograph from a distance for one you walk into. It sits inside a narrow rock canyon, and on clear mornings sunlight beams down through the opening above and lights up the spray in a way that photographs like nothing else in Bali.
The canyon walls keep the air noticeably cooler, a welcome break from the heat, and the water is usually low enough to walk to the base without wading. It draws a crowd almost as committed as Kanto Lampo’s, though, so arrive at opening time if you want the light beams to yourselves, and pick a clear morning, as clouds mean no beams.
6. Suwat Waterfall
Suwat is still on our own to-do list, but the reports from guests and other travelers are consistent: a turquoise pool tucked into a cave-like rock formation, noticeably calmer than its famous neighbors. What makes Suwat special is the floating bamboo raft on the pool, which gives you a close-up photo of the falls you won’t get anywhere else on this list. It’s a place for a swim or a slow float rather than cliff jumping.
The rocks keep the pool shaded for most of the day. There are fewer facilities than at the busier waterfalls, so bring your own supplies, and since it’s close to Tibumana and Goa Gajah, most couples fold it into a wider loop of central Bali.
7. Tibumana Waterfall
We haven’t swum under Tibumana ourselves yet either, but the reviews all agree: a clean, single drop into a calm pool, reached by an easy walk down well-kept stairs through rice fields and over bamboo bridges. It’s popular with couples who want a swim without the crowds of Kanto Lampo or the adrenaline of Aling Aling.
The bamboo bridges make for some of the prettiest walk-in photos on this list. Parking near the entrance is limited, so arrive early on weekends, and visit in the dry season if you can, as several reviewers mention the water turning murky after rain.
8. Manuaba Waterfall
Manuaba is another one we’ve only heard about from others, and it’s consistently described as a rewarding detour. It isn’t one waterfall but two, linked by a short walk through a narrow canyon, with rice fields stretching towards Mount Agung on the way in. Locals consider the site sacred and connect it to the legend of the guardian goddess of Lake Batur.
Both drops are modest in height, with shallow pools that are easy to wade into, which makes it a quieter alternative to Kanto Lampo or Tegenungan. There are no facilities, so bring water and snacks, and confirm the route with your driver beforehand, as signs are few.
9. Pelisan Waterfall
This is our quiet recommendation, and one we rarely see in other guides. Pelisan sits along the back road between Ubud and Kintamani, with water flowing straight from mountain springs into a shallow pool and almost nobody around. It won’t win prizes for height or drama, but if you want the photo everyone takes at the famous spots, minus the queue and the noise, this is where you get it.
The cool, shallow spring water is comfortable for a dip even at midday, and since it’s right on the road to the Kintamani viewpoints, it’s easy to combine with a drive up to the volcano. There are no warungs or facilities, so think of it as a stop rather than somewhere to spend hours, and check the route on GPS, as signs are few.
10. Taman Beji Griya, a spiritual waterfall near Bongkasa
Taman Beji Griya isn’t really a waterfall stop, it’s a melukat (purification ritual) with a waterfall attached, and it helps to see it that way before you go. Entry includes a sarong, offerings, a guide and a priest who leads you through a series of prayers and holy water blessings meant to wash away negative energy, ending with a dip beneath the falls. Many visitors find it very moving, though parts of it are touristy, with add-ons like palm readings that feel more like a sales pitch than tradition. Our advice: book the basic purification package and skip the extras. If rituals like this appeal to you, our guide to wellness in Bali covers spas and hot springs too.
The ceremony takes about 45 to 60 minutes, so it fits easily into a morning, followed by lunch back in Ubud. Bring a change of clothes, as you’ll get properly wet during the final blessing, and plan your photos for before or after, because photography during the ceremony is limited out of respect.
East Bali: the terraced pools of Sidemen
11. Gembleng Waterfall
Gembleng, tucked into the Sidemen valley, isn’t one dramatic drop but three connected pools stepping down the hillside, each like a natural infinity pool with views over the rice terraces below. Entry works on a donation basis rather than a fixed ticket, and the small restaurant at the top is worth the extra climb for the view alone. The catch is that the top pool, the one with the best photo, has become popular enough that you may have to wait your turn on a busy afternoon. Go early, or use the wait as an excuse to linger at the restaurant.
If the top pool has a line, the middle one is usually the quietest. The steps between the pools are uneven, so wear shoes with grip rather than sandals, and plan ahead if you want to swim, as there are no changing rooms. It combines nicely with a day exploring the Sidemen valley and its rice terrace viewpoints.
The closest big waterfall to South Bali
12. Tegenungan Waterfall
If you’re staying in the south and don’t want to drive two hours for a waterfall, Tegenungan is the one to know. It’s the most accessible big waterfall on the island, with a long staircase down to the base pool, where swimming is really good in the dry season. To be clear, you don’t need to book anything: a regular entrance ticket at the main gate gets you down to the falls on your own, no day club required. The trade-off is crowds, as this is a tour bus stop, and a glass bridge has recently been added over part of the gorge for anyone who wants that extra thrill with their photo.
For a more comfortable version of the same view, OMMA Day Club sits right beside the falls, with an infinity pool looking straight out over the cascade and an elevator that saves you most of the climb. A minimum spend gets you the pool and lunch, and it’s an easy way to enjoy Tegenungan without the full round trip in the midday heat. Think of OMMA as the upgrade, not the only way in.
The current in the base pool is gentle enough even for less confident swimmers, unlike some waterfalls in central Bali, and the OMMA elevator means anyone with sore knees can still enjoy the view. The glass bridge and Bali swing are paid separately from the waterfall ticket, and parking fills up fast on weekends and Indonesian public holidays.
Which waterfall should you choose?
If you only have time for one and want the single most impressive sight, go to Sekumpul and finish with lunch at the cliffside restaurant. For a swim with a real adrenaline rush, it’s Aling Aling. For the classic photo without the queue, Pelisan is our answer. Looking for something more meaningful than scenic? Choose Taman Beji Griya. And if you’re staying in the south and don’t want to give up a whole day, Tegenungan with a long lunch at OMMA covers it nicely.
Whichever you choose, pair it with a night in Munduk or a slow day around Ubud, so the drive feels like part of the trip rather than a tax on it.
Frequently asked questions
Do all waterfalls in Bali charge an entrance fee?
Almost all of them, yes. Fees are typically collected by the local village that maintains the site and change often, so we haven't quoted specific amounts here, but expect something modest at every stop on this list.
Which Bali waterfall is best for swimming?
Aling Aling and Suwat both allow proper swimming and cliff jumping. Tibumana and Tegenungan's base pool are also swimmable in dry season, and Banyumala's calmer side works well too.
Which waterfalls near Ubud are least crowded?
Pelisan, Suwat, and Manuaba are your best bets. Kanto Lampo and Tukad Cepung are both worth visiting but are genuinely busy after mid-morning.
Still not sure which waterfall fits your trip? Our guide to the best beaches in Bali pairs well with this one for days by the coast. And if you’d rather leave the planning to people who’ve mapped out every waterfall on this list, that’s what our Bali honeymoon planning service is for.
We are Olivia & Dirk
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