Bali is a lush, tropical dream island that spoils visitors and locals with breathtaking beaches, amazing wildlife and rainforest. Most of these natural wonders can be found all over the island of Bali, where this unique landscape shaped by two incredible volcanoes has created the ideal conditions for some of the most breathtaking waterfalls. Bali is known for its overwhelming amount of waterfalls, that you could spend weeks visiting each of them.
During our month on the island, we’ve visited three of Bali’s most amazing waterfalls. Here is a guide to how you can reach them, when is the best time of the day to visit and much more.. Some of the best waterfalls in Bali are quick and easy to reach, but there are many others who require a long walk into the jungle trek and a good level of fitness. Exploring all the waterfalls of Bali in a single day it is mission impossible . Distance does play a factor here, so if you are planning on seeing many of them, you will need to stay on the island at least 5 days.
To visit any waterfall in Bali, you usually have to pay for an entrance ticket. The money from these tickets goes to preserving the land and also towards a local guide who ensures that you make it down to the waterfall and back up to the parking lot safely.
NUNGNUNG WATERFALL
NungNung is a magnificent waterfall surrounded by lush green jungle. There’s so much water pounding down on the rocks below that it creates a mist in the air that soaks you when you get too near. The water, falls pretty strong, but it is nothing to be scared about, it gives a specific vibe to the waterfall and it is also very refreshing in the tropical heat of Bali.
To get to this waterfall you must trek for about 30 minutes into the forest, going down isn’t too bad and will probably take you another 10-15 minutes, then you have to cross a river, don’t worry the river can be easily crossed by foot, the water is cold, but it is not deep (I recommend you to have water shoes) and then a small bridge crosses another small river to the main splash pool and there you are. However, you’ll need to be quite fit to make this journey round way. Such a long trek might seem intimidating, but trust me, it is worth so much when you will see the waterfall.
how to get there
It is not the best way to come here by renting a scooter, maybe would be better for the waterfalls near Ubud but for the ones up in the north, I highly suggest to rent a taxi or hire a driver. Many drivers have plenty of knowledge about the island and they will not only drive you to the waterfalls but also can share some useful tricks to save money and time.
Despite its impressive natural beauty, NungNung is a little off the beaten track and quite hard to reach, so the good news is that it doesn’t get too busy, comparing to the more famous ones.
SEKUMPUL WATERFALL
This is probably one of the most famous waterfall in Bali, you probably have seen videos and photos of it all over the internet, although it wasn’t as busy as I thought it would be and we arrived late in the afternoon, so if you come here very early in the morning, you will probably be alone.
At Sekumpul, there are multiple waterfalls that you can buy tickets for and the prices vary with the amount of waterfalls you want to visit. We wanted to visit only two of them, which included NungNung Waterfall as well as Sekumpul. When you visit this waterfall you have a couple of options, you can chose to view it from the platform from above, or you can take one of the trekking options and go underneath the waterfall. I do recommend to go and see it from down, because the hike until the waterfall is absolutely stunning, the walk into the lush jungle is extraordinary, making the visit an unforgettable experience.
It is also fairly muddy around the entrance to the falls and very hot outside, so if you want to cool down into the water and take off the mud, it is possible to go all the way to the base of the waterfall where you can swim in the pool at the bottom.
GEMBLENG WATERFALL
Gembleng Waterfall is an unusual and not very famous waterfall in Sidemen, East Bali. It consists of three separate falls that cascade into one another, creating several unique natural infinity pools in the rock formations where you can bathe in. The waterfall is quite impressive from the top, there you can also bathe in and enjoy the amazing jungle views.
Gembleng is one of the easier waterfalls to reach in Bali. It takes just 15 minutes to walk from the scooter parking lot to the top. The path is well maintained as the waterfall is an important religious site for Balinese people. There’s a total of 140 steps which took us around 4-5 minutes to climb. But there are plenty of areas to stop along the way to enjoy the view, take a dip, or rest on one of the benches.
In the past years this amazing waterfall started to be more famous, that means that if you want to have the waterfall to yourself, it is better to go early in the morning. It is better if you want to relax in the pool while enjoying the morning sun glistening over the jungle and also to take some pictures without waiting in line.
how to get there
Gembleng Waterfall is located around a 20 minute drive south from the Sidemen village. There’s free parking for scooters and cars near the waterfall’s base. Entrance is donation based and cash only. Most people are giving around 20,000-30,000 IDR.
tips before visiting the waterfalls
Bring cash to pay the entrances or the guides, or if you want to buy something from a local store. In a day you can spend around 150,000 rupiah.
Wear good water shoes that are good for hiking and swimming. You can buy them at any local market in Bali, water shoes are cheap to buy and super useful when visiting waterfalls, it will help avoid cuts on your feet
Remember to pack a towel and maybe a change of clothes for the end of the day
Bring sun cream and apply it, the Bali sun is strong and you’ll need protection
Don’t rush! You’ll be surprised at how long it can take to see a waterfall, or how long you’ll want to stay, so plan it well, on how many you want to visit and a day and if is possible to see them in one day.
Leave no trace! don’t be that type of tourist and don’t leave rubbish behind you!
Madeleine 𓇼 