Guide to the Best Bali Waterfalls … And a Few to Skip

Bali is home to a lot of beautiful waterfalls, most of which are open to the public and somewhat commercialized.

From our travels, I’ve come up with a list of a few of my favorites, with the basic details you’ll need to know about visiting each site.

Whichever you choose, hiring a driver for the day (or week) is the way to go! It’s convenient and cost-effective. We’ve had great success with drivers hired here:

🚙 CLICK to Book a Driver on Bali

Different people are looking for different experiences on Bali, so this guide should help you plan your itinerary!

First, this is by no means a complete list of waterfalls on Bali, but it’s a good starter list of options to check out:

Waterfalls in Northern Bali

• Sekumpul Waterfall: Known for its multiple streams and lush surroundings.
• Banyumala Twin Waterfalls: Features twin falls in a serene, forested setting.
• Gitgit Waterfall: One of the most famous waterfalls, it’s easily accessible and surrounded by tropical forest.
• Aling-Aling Waterfall: Known for its high drop and natural slides.

Waterfalls in Central Bali

• Tegenungan Waterfall: Located near Ubud, popular for its accessibility and picturesque setting.
• Kanto Lampo Waterfall: Unique for its multi-tiered rock formations and cascading water.
• Nungnung Waterfall: Located between Ubud and Bedugul, it’s one of the highest waterfalls in Bali.

Waterfalls in Eastern Bali

• Tukad Cepung Waterfall: Famous for its unique setting inside a cave, where sunlight creates a magical effect.
• Goa Raja: Close to Tukad Cepung, you’ll find a waterfall into a manmade pool plus a huge waterfall behind a rock cave.

 Waterfalls in Southern Bali

• Taman Sari Waterfall: A two-tiered waterfall featuring a big swimming hole.
• Tibumana Waterfall: A popular but simple waterfall with a rocky beach and swimming hole.
• Goa Rang Reng Waterfall: A combination of a waterfall and a cave.

If you choose to hire a driver, he’ll follow your selected itinerary.

Otherwise, these two Bali waterfall tours get excellent reviews:

➡️ Eastern Bali Waterfalls Tour

➡️ Northern Bali Waterfalls Tour

Goa Raja is one of our favorite waterfalls on Bali.

After a pretty easy hike, you’ll walk around giant stone walls and find a powerful waterfall inside.  It’s towering, and almost creates its own weather system inside the cave.

Just outside is a gorgeous waterfall, which cascades into a manmade pool.  It’s spring-fed, and crystal clear.

Goa Raja Waterfall Details

• Location: Tembuku, Bangli Regency, Bali
• Cost: 25,000 IDR  ($1.50)
• Swimming: Yes, in a manmade pool
• Hike: Easy but involves steep steps
• Food: Restaurant on site

After the relatively easy hike in, you can cool off by swimming in the pool at the waterfall’s base.

You might find a crowd here with you, but the groups filter in and out quickly.

Leke Leke Waterfall Details

• Location: Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82191
• Cost: 50,000 IDR ($3.00)
• Swimming: Yes
• Hike: Easy/Moderate 15 minutes
• Food: Restaurant on site

Once you reach the waterfall, you’ll usually find a group of people lined up to wait for their photos.

Sometimes the system falls apart and the crowd runs amok, but if you wait it out, the crowd will clear.

Tukad Cepung is a favorite spot for photographers. The sunlight filters in from overhead midday.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall Details:

• Location:  Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80671
• Cost: 30,000 IDR ($1.50)
• Swimming: No, but you’ll get wet on the hike.
• Hike: Through a stream in a gorge.
• Food: Restaurants on site

You’ll have to hike the dirt paths through the rice fields, but the views are stunning, and the waterfall and irrigation system helped the site gain its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace Details:

• Location:  Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561
• Cost: Free to 50,000 IDR ($3.00) depending on where and when you enter.
• Swimming: No
• Hike: Miles through the rice terraces.
• Food: Nearby on the main street.

People bring photographers here and perform pretty dramatically on the rocks.

It’s another “wait your turn for a photo” site, unless you want to go off to the side for a different angle, which looks just as good.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall Details:

• Location: Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80513
• Cost: 25,000 IDR ($1.50)
• Swimming: No, but you’ll get wet wading in.
• Hike: Short, down steps
• Food: Restaurants on site

The twin waterfalls cascade down the cliffside into a pool, surrounded by lush forest and rock cliffs.

Banyumala Waterfall Details

• Location: Buleleng Regency, Bali 81161
• Cost: 50,000 IDR ($3.00)
• Swimming: Yes
• Hike: Moderate

You’ll find guides available to lead you around the different options at Sekumpul. Visitors will hike through a series of paths, cross a river, and descend down steps in what’s considered a moderately challenging trek.

Don’t miss the nearby Fiji Waterfall if you make the trip.

Sekumpul Waterfall Details

• Location:  Buleleng Regency, Bali
• Cost:  150,000 to 250,000 IDR. ($9.00 to $15.00)
• Swimming: Yes
• Hike: Guide likely needed, and moderately challenging

Tibumana is popular, and it is pretty, but the water gets murky, and it almost looks too perfect.

It’s a decent spot for swimming.

Tibumana Waterfall Details:

• Location: Bangli Regency, Bali
• Cost: 20,000 IDR ($1.25)
• Swimming: Yes, in a large swimming hole
• Hike: Easy, through the forest
• Food: Restaurant on site

It’s a full-day adventure to hike the trails and explore the other adjacent waterfalls and caves on site.

Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Details:

• Location: Lumajang Regency, East Java
• Getting There: Overnight tours or car rental needed
• Swimming: You can wade through the river, but there’s a swift current
• Hike: Difficult and lengthy
• Food: Restaurants near the parking area

First, as I mentioned off the top, we’ve had the best experiences hiring drivers while visiting Bali, rather than driving ourselves.

Bring Water shoes

You’ll get wet and/or muddy at a number of the waterfalls. Plus, a few of them involve hikes through the streams to get to the falls. Having watershoes is much more ideal than going barefoot!

The Best Time to Visit

Weatherwise, keep in mind: the monsoon season on Bali runs from late October into April. July and August are the dry months with the best weather, but they’re also very crowded with tourists. If possible, I’d aim to visit Bali’s waterfalls and beaches in May or September.