Most Photogenic Waterfalls of Bali
Waterfalls are one of our favorite things to see when we travel. And if you find yourself in Bali, you really do need to see at least one waterfall! There are so many to choose from, but we want to introduce you to our top favorite waterfalls of Bali!
General rules for visiting waterfalls: be there EARLY (aka before 10am if possible). The earlier you go, the less crowded it will be. Which is not only great for photos, but more importantly to experience the magic of being alone in nature with the cleansing energy that comes from waterfalls. Though you do not want to go right at sunrise either because you will be hiking in the dark and all the foliage around the waterfall might be really dark too. Our goal is usually to get to the waterfalls between 7 am - 9 am.
For transportation you have two main options:
Hire a driver for a half day or full daNy to drive you where you want. If you do this option we would recommend trying to pack multiple sites into 1 day so you can get the most bang for you buck! This will likely cost between $30-$50 USD/day depending on the distance of the trip.
Rent a motorbike for 24 hours and drive yourself! We did this every time because it was cheap ($7-$10 USD/day) and allowed us the most flexibility for visiting multiple sites in a day and spending as long as we wanted anywhere we went. It’s really easy to organize if you are staying at a hotel or villa, most can help in arranging to drop off and pick up the motorbike right at the hotel (if they do not already have a few on-site). Granted, if you have not driven a motorbike before, Balinese traffic can be difficult to navigate.
Note: Though Uber and Gojak are services gaining popularity in Bali, we would not recommend you use these for going to waterfalls. There are still many areas of Bali restricted from using these services (aka they may be able to drop you off at a location but will not be bale to pick you up), and even if they are allowed, there will likely not be many people passing by on a regular basis to provide the ride.
HERE’S Four OF OUR TOP RECOMMENDed (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) most photogenic waterfalls IN BALI:
Sekumpul Waterfall
Tibumana Waterfall
Nungnung Waterfall
Leke Leke Watefall
Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul Waterfall was one of our favorites, hands down. It felt straight out of the movie Avatar! We got here first thing in the morning, so there were no issues with parking or traffic. The locals insist you have a “guide” accompany you down to the waterfall. By insist, we mean you cannot go down the path without walking through a certain metal gate, which the locals guard until you agree to pay the fee to let them “guide” you down. It is worth the payment of IDR 125,000 to go down, but it was interesting to have the perspective of a local and hear stories of what it’s like to grow up in that village. This will allow you to see Hidden Waterfall and Sekumpul Waterfall.
After descending cement and metal staircases, and then crossing a river (depending on the height of the water, you may have to take off your shoes), we arrived at the foot of Sekumpul Waterfall. The spray from the waterfalls is strong once you cross the river, but oddly, the closer we got to the falls, the less mist there was! Anyway, we arrived around 8am we only saw 3 other people the entire time we were there.
Note: If you want to pay IDR 200,000 you can also visit the triple-falls of Fiji Waterfall along with Sekumpul and Hidden waterfall. It’s just a short hike from Sekempul and can allow you to have 3 waterfalls in 1 day! We focused our attention just on Sekempul because it is the largest and was our favorite, but if you have a little extra time it could be a great option.
where to stay close by
To access Sekumpul Waterfall we decided to stay at a hotel in northern Bali called Munduk Moding Plantation (see blog post). This made sense for us because Sekempul is located in north central Bali. The motor bike ride only took about 45 mins which is actually pretty close considering it takes about 1.5-2 hours from Ubud (depending on which part you are coming from). If you decide to come to Sekempul Waterfall, we would recommend you staying somewhere in northern Bali so you don’t have to spend all day in the car to see it.
2. Tibumana Waterfall
To get to Tibumana Watefall, you will drive through local villages, roads lined with palm trees, and fields of rice terraces. Parking is at the temple at the end of the road. The hike down took about 10 minutes and was not too difficult. This waterfall is like a small oasis in the jungle with the perfect stream of water coming off the ledge. We were here at first light and did not see anyone else during our time here.
This is a common place for bridal shoots as well, there was actually one set up here when we came down (though the bride had not yet arrived). Something to keep in mind because we have heard of others having to wait to see the waterfall if there is a bridal shoot going on.
Where to stay close by
Tibumana Waterfall is in the east central part of Bali and easily accessible from either Ubud or the eastern coast. We decided to stay in Ubud making it only a 35 minute motor bike ride (vs. 1 hour from the east coast). While in Bali we stayed at 3 different places in Ubud (see blog post) and loved them all for different reasons: Adiwana Beehouse (really unique beehive shaped bungalows overlooking rice terraces), Villa Cella Bella (Air BnB with the perfect hang out spots and views into the jungle), and Jannata (extremely peaceful atmosphere including spa, infinity pools and private villas overlooking the jungle). Ubud is also a really magical town with a lot to offer from different cafes and shops, to yoga shalas and wellness centers, so a great place for a hub while exploring Bali!
3. NungNung Waterfall
The hike to Nungnung Waterfall was steeper than we anticipated, though it only took about 20-25 minutes to complete. We came around 9am and there was only one other couple there. The sunlight was peaking right over the waterfall and made for an ethereal view. The amount of water coming down is massive and the sound of it crashing into the rocks is very loud. The whole area is pretty misty and everything gets damp after about 20 minutes, so be prepared! We did not have a rain poncho and were honestly fine (though, consider packing a lens cloth to wipe off your camera lens because it can get pretty misty). We got more wet from hiking back up in the humidity ^.^
where to stay close by
Nungnung Waterfall is located in north central Bali, but more easily accessible from Ubud. We decided to stay in a place that was actually just outside of Ubud to the north called Adiwana Dara Ayu (see blog post). This was perfect because it allowed us a chance to get really into the jungles of Bali and experience the peace and serenity of completely embracing nature. It also allowed us to ride our motorbike to Nungnung in only 1 hour. This was one of our all-time favorite motorbike rides because it covers a gorgeous portion of the island with sweeping views and small villages, and is still very much untouched by tourism. You could also opt to stay in Ubud which (due to different roadways you can take) actually ends up taking a similar time of 1 hour, but will be going through a different countryside.
4. Leke Leke Waterfall
Leke Leke Watefall had an entry fee of 50k IDR per person, and the price includes multiple photo spots similar to Wanagiri Hidden Hills (think of it as an Instagram Theme Park). As you will see, there are many many heart shaped nests, swings, and magical photo “spots” that have been created in Bali wherever there is a decent vista. The hike from the parking to the falls took about 15 minutes and we had this one all to ourselves at 8am.
Even though this waterfall isn’t the biggest or most powerful in Bali it was one of our favorites. We loved the single stream of water surrounded by wall of lush green leaves. Keep in mind though the area around Leke Leke is not very big. If you had 10 or 15 people here it would easily feel like a crowd.
where to stay close by
We saw Leke Leke Waterfall the same morning as Nungnung coming from Adiwana Dara Ayu (see blog post). We decided to go to Leke Leke first because of the crowds quandary mentioned above and it was 1 hour motor bike ride (even though it does look much closer on the map, there is a mountain in between). Again you can also choose to come from more central Ubud which will take around 45 mins to 1 hour (depending on where you are coming from and traffic).
Before you go:
For any waterfall adventure you will want to remember a few things:
Bring WATER! Each of these spots involves hiking, and in hot Bali weather, dehydration is a thing.
A small towel - Obviously if you plan on swimming, you will want a towel, but if not, the mist alone may leave you wanting something to dry off with.
Try to go early! As you can imagine, these waterfalls are no secret to the tour operators, some are just harder to get to. That said, most tours will be arriving around 10am as they will be driving up from Seminyak / Canggu area. Arrive before then, and you can be confident in having a quiet waterfall experience.
Bug repellent - because, Bali is a tropical island after all!
Cash for entrance fees have approximately 200 IDR on you just in case
Photography Tips : Waterfalls can be really fun to play with your creativity. Here’s 2 things to try while there:
Smooth Water: Try taking your shutter speed down to between 15 seconds - 2 seconds and you can have the effect of very smooth water like fairy floss. Be sure to keep still! It helps to have the camera set on a tripod or balanced securely and do a self timer of 2 seconds so that you wont be touching/shaking the camera to hit the button.
Framing your shot with leaves: These waterfalls are in the jungle and it can be fun to show it in how you frame the photos. There are many opportunities to frame your photos with some of the leaves and flowers nearby - don’t limit yourself to just the front on view of the waterfall!