5 Waterfalls in Bali Worth Trekking For

Other than feeling relaxed being in nature, I find the sound of flowing water soothing as well. You can always find me at the beach, or exploring a hidden waterfall. Waterfalls are some of Bali’s best assets apart from the gorgeous rice fields, active volcanoes, rolling hills, tranquil lakes and picturesque beaches. Chancing upon couples having their photoshoots at Bali’s famous beaches is a common sight, but if given a choice, I’d definitely choose to have my photos taken at the stunning waterfalls. The following are 5 of the most jaw-dropping waterfalls you have to check out in Bali.

#1 – Nungnung Waterfall

Located 900 metres above sea level and in a small village in the middle of nowhere, getting there is a real challenge. You have to descend approximately 500 steps to reach the waterfall – I actually counted 472 steps but you can count and let me know if I’m right. My friend and I started our trek as early as 7am and we were the first and only ones at the waterfall. The sight of the water tumbling down the mountain into the varnish clear pool at the bottom awed us speechless. There were another couple heading down to the waterfall when we were making our way back around 8.30am. So, I guess it’s safe to say that you should visit Nungnung Waterfall early to have the entire paradise to yourself.

Nungnung Waterfall
Address: Jl. Raya Pura Pucak Mangu Pelaga, Petang, Badung Regency, Bali
Entrance Fee: 10,000 IDR
Level of Difficulty: 3/5 (It’s exhausting, but relatively safe because there are proper steps.)

#2 – Banyumala Twin Waterfall

Situated north of Lake Buyan in north-central Bali, Banyumala Twin Waterfall is one of the lesser known waterfalls in Bali. Unlike the other waterfall trails, this one is a completely natural trail and rarely hiked. Hence, I recommend wearing proper shoes (and not flip-flops like what I did) because some parts of the trails are wet and can get slippery. The trail might be tough for some of you, but imagine being rewarded by the spectacular view of two large waterfalls pounding against the rocks. The bottom pool is quite spacious, and we decided to jump in for a swim. We didn’t expect how freezing the water could get, and after a minute or two, we were already shaking with the cold.

Banyumala Twin Waterfall
Address: Wanagiri, Sukasada, Wanagiri, Sukasada, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81161
Entrance Fee: 15,000 IDR
Level of Difficulty: 4/5 (It gets dangerous when the trail gets narrow and slippery.)

#3 – Gitgit Waterfall

The Gitgit waterfall consists of several waterfalls with different shapes and heights. We visited the second waterfall which is a continuation of the first waterfall (Gitgit Twin Falls). There is a proper walkway from the carpark to the waterfall, and you’ll come across many shops selling Balinese crafts along the trek. It is a refreshing feeling to walk along the quiet area where the air is cool before being greeted by the 60 metres high waterfall. The waterfall flowed as smoothly as syrup and had a beautiful serenity-pool at the bottom.

Gitgit Waterfall
Address: Jl. Raya Bedugul – Singaraja, Gitgit, Sukasada, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81161
Entrance Fee: 20,000 IDR
Level of Difficulty: 1/5

#4 – Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Tukad Cepung Waterfall is hidden behind an exotic cavern at the end of a few hundred steps down a hillside. The sight of the falls pouring down through the crag, with rays of sunlight shining through the canopy is simply magical. Come midday, and you may often have rainbows in the mist as part of your view. You really have to visit this waterfall early in the morning because when we arrived around 1pm, it was already extremely crowded, making it really hard for phototaking. Please be careful when there is heavy rain in Bali because the water levels can get very high, making it difficult and rather hazardous to access.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Address: Jl. Tembuku, Dusun Penida Kelod, Tembuku, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80671
Entrance Fee: 15,000 IDR
Level of Difficulty: 3/5 (Be prepared to wade through knee-high water to get to the waterfall.)

#5 – Kanto Lampo Waterfall

This scenic waterfall in the village of Beng in the Gianyar regency features multi-tiered cascades that flow down a series of stepping boulders. The waterfall is seasonal and is best visited during the rainy season, when water volume is high and a shallow wading pool forms at its base. One of the great things about Kanto Lampo waterfall is its accessibility – it’s only a hundred metres from the roadside entrance. However, this also means that you have to arrive earlier to avoid the crowd. Unfortunately, my camera was damaged and I lost the photos taken at this waterfall.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall
Address: Beng, Gianyar Sub-District, Gianyar, Bali
Entrance Fee: 10,000 IDR
Level of Difficulty: 2/5 (It’s actually pretty easy to reach the waterfall but the level of difficulty is due to the strong water current.)

Among the 5 waterfalls we’ve visited, the Nungnung Waterfall and the Banyumala Twin Waterfall are my favourites. There are too many waterfalls in Bali and I wish I had more time to explore them.