Best Bali Waterfall Tours from Ubud

Tegenungan, Tibumana Waterfall & Tukad Cepung: The Best Waterfalls Near Ubud Bali

The three most visited waterfalls around Ubud form a natural itinerary that most guided tours follow. Tegenungan Waterfall is the starting point for almost every waterfall tour in Bali, 15 metres of white water crashing into a wide swimming pool surrounded by lush green jungle. It is the most accessible waterfall near Ubud (entrance fee IDR 20,000), and the 150 or so steps to the base are well-maintained. Morning visits before 9 AM offer the best light for photography and smaller crowds.

Tibumana Waterfall sits about 30 minutes east of Tegenungan, reached by a short walk through a river valley lined with palm trees and bamboo. It is narrower and more serene, a single curtain dropping into a pool calm enough to swim in. The walk from the parking area takes about 10 minutes on a good path that crosses the river at the bottom. Tibumana is the hidden waterfall that most self-guided visitors overlook, which makes it one of the quietest and most beautiful swimming spots in Bali.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall is the most extraordinary waterfall experience in Bali near Ubud. To reach it, you walk through the jungle, cross the river, and enter a narrow canyon, then turn a corner and find yourself inside a cathedral-shaped cave with a thin waterfall descending from a crack in the ceiling above. At the right time of morning (roughly 9 to 11 AM on a sunny day), sunlight pierces through the cave opening and turns the spray into a column of light. The walk takes about 20 minutes and involves some light scrambling, so wear shoes you can get wet.

Kanto Lampo & Leke Leke Waterfall: The Most Photogenic Waterfalls Around Ubud

Kanto Lampo Waterfall has become the most Instagrammed waterfall in Bali for good reason. A wide sheet of water descends in a graceful curtain over a series of black volcanic rock steps, and the natural pool at the base reflects the jungle canopy above. It is located about 30 minutes from central Ubud near the Gianyar area, and entrance is IDR 25,000. The best photos are taken mid-morning when the cascade is fully lit but before the crowds arrive. Steps to reach Kanto Lampo are steep, about 5 minutes of downhill on a concrete path, then a short scramble over the rocks to find the best angle. Waterfall tours that include Kanto Lampo typically combine it with Ubud Palace, the Ubud Art Market, and the Saraswati Temple for a full cultural and natural day.

Leke Leke Waterfall is a lesser-known cascade north of Ubud that rewards the extra effort. A 30-minute walk through the jungle on a path lined with palm trees delivers you to a 25-metre cascade that plunges into an emerald pool. It is one of the best waterfalls near Ubud for swimming and is rarely crowded outside of peak season. The walk through the jungle is part of the experience: lush green forest, birdsong, and the sound of the waterfall growing louder as you approach. Recommend hiring a local guide for Leke Leke, as the path has few signs and includes several places where you need to cross the river.

• Kanto Lampo: best photography waterfall near Ubud, tiered curtain, volcanic rock steps
• Leke Leke: best jungle hike waterfall, about 30 m drop, shallow pool, rarely crowded
• Nungnung Waterfall: 50 m drop, most powerful waterfall in Bali near Ubud, 500+ steps to reach
• Suwat Waterfall: 15 m cascade with a deep pool and a bamboo raft, quiet and easily accessible
• Goa Rang Reng: unique cave waterfall with natural pool, 30 mins from Ubud by car
• Sumampan Waterfall: secret garden waterfall in Ubud village, hidden and crowd-free

Bali Waterfall Itinerary: 45 Mins to 1 Hour per Cascade from Ubud

The classic Bali waterfall itinerary from Ubud visits Tegenungan, Tibumana, and Tukad Cepung in one day, three completely different waterfall experiences within about an hour of central Ubud. All are reachable without a guide if you're confident navigating Bali's back roads, but far more efficiently done on a guided tour with a driver who knows the parking spots, peak crowd times, and fastest paths to each cascade.

The ideal itinerary: depart Ubud at 7:30 AM to reach Tegenungan before the tourist buses arrive. Spend 45 mins to 1 hour at Tegenungan: swim, take photos from the upper viewpoint, and walk down to the base. Drive to Tibumana (30 mins) for a 45-minute stop including the 10-minute walk through the river valley. From Tibumana, drive 20 minutes to Tukad Cepung and arrive by 10 AM to catch the light inside the cave. Allow 1 hour at Tukad Cepung including the 20-minute walk each way. By noon, you've visited 3 waterfalls and still have half a day for Tegalalang Rice Terrace and a coffee tasting before heading back to Ubud.

If you want to add a fourth waterfall to the itinerary, Kanto Lampo is 30 minutes north of Tegenungan and works well as a first stop before Tegenungan. A half a day allows for one or two waterfalls: Tegenungan only, or Kanto Lampo and Tegenungan as a morning combination. For 3 waterfalls you need a full day.

• 7:30 AM: Depart Ubud (beat the tour buses to Tegenungan)
• 8:15 AM: Tegenungan Waterfall, swim, photos, 45 mins to 1 hour
• 9:30 AM: Drive to Tibumana (30 mins), then walk from the parking area (10 mins)
• 10:00 AM: Tibumana, single curtain, swim, quiet river valley
• 10:45 AM: Drive to Tukad Cepung (20 mins), then jungle walk + cross the river (20 mins)
• 11:30 AM: Tukad Cepung cave waterfall, peak morning light, 1 hour
• 1:00 PM: Lunch in Ubud or rice terrace cafe
• 2:00 PM: Optional, Tegalalang Rice Terrace + coffee tasting

Private vs Group Waterfall Tour: Which to Choose Visiting Bali

The choice between a private and a group waterfall tour in Bali comes down to two factors: your group size and your appetite for flexibility. Private tours cost the same or only slightly more than group options (private days start around $20 to $23 per person) and give you a dedicated driver-guide for the day. You set the pace, choose when to linger, and aren't waiting for other travelers to regroup at the bus. For couples and families, a private tour is almost always the better choice visiting Bali.

Group waterfall tours make more sense for solo travelers who want a social atmosphere. You'll share the day with 6 to 8 other travelers, which often means meeting people to explore Ubud with in the evenings. The guide works at a group pace, so you get a fixed time at each waterfall rather than spending as long as you like. For first-time visitors to Bali who want to cover the key sites efficiently and meet other travelers along the way, a small group tour delivers excellent value.

For visiting Bali specifically for waterfall photography, a private tour is strongly recommended. You can arrive at Tegenungan and Tukad Cepung before 8 AM when the light is best and the crowds are thin. Group tours typically depart later and arrive at peak crowd times.

When choosing a tour for areas of Bali beyond central Ubud, such as Nungnung Waterfall to the northwest, or Sekumpul and Aling-Aling in northern Bali near Munduk, a private car with a knowledgeable driver is essential. These waterfalls are 1.5 to 2 hours from Ubud and require local knowledge to navigate efficiently in a single day.

• Private tour: same price, full flexibility, dedicated guide. Best for couples and families
• Group tour: social atmosphere, fixed pace, meet other travelers. Best for solo visitors
• Morning start (before 8 AM): best light at Tukad Cepung and Tegenungan, which private tours allow
• Nungnung and Sekumpul: only practical with a private driver for a long northern Bali day trip
• Hotel pickup from Ubud, Seminyak, or Kuta: confirm pickup location when booking

Nungnung Waterfall & Sekumpul Waterfall: Beyond Ubud in Northern Bali

Chasing waterfalls beyond the central Ubud circuit leads to some of the most stunning waterfall experiences in all of Bali. Nungnung Waterfall, about 1 hour northwest of Ubud, is the most powerful cascade in the Ubud region, a 50-metre drop that thunders into a pool surrounded by lush green jungle walls. The descent to Nungnung is steep: more than 500 concrete steps, about 15 to 20 minutes down and 30 to 45 minutes back up. The roar of the waterfall reaches you before the cascade does, and the mist cloud around the base soaks visitors within 30 metres. It is far less visited than Tegenungan or Tukad Cepung.

Sekumpul Waterfall in northern Bali near Munduk is widely considered the most beautiful waterfall in Bali, a cluster of five to seven individual cascades dropping from a 25-metre volcanic cliff face into a wide jungle clearing. Sekumpul is 2 hours from Ubud by car and requires a 45-minute jungle walk including a river crossing. The walk through the jungle on the way to Sekumpul is an experience in itself, a path lined with palm trees, ferns, and the sound of multiple cascades growing louder as you descend. A local guide is essential as the path splits multiple times. Aling-Aling Waterfall is a further 30 minutes north of Sekumpul and can be combined as a northern Bali waterfall day trip from Ubud, visiting 3 waterfalls in an area of northern Bali most tourists never reach.

• Nungnung: 1 hr from Ubud, 500 steps to reach, most powerful waterfall near Ubud, with a 50 m drop
• Sekumpul: 2 hrs from Ubud, cluster of 5–7 cascades, most beautiful waterfall in Bali
• Aling-Aling: 2.5 hrs from Ubud, natural slides and pools, family-friendly northern Bali waterfall
• Munduk: small village between Sekumpul and Aling-Aling, the logical base for a northern Bali waterfall day
• All three worth combining as a full northern Bali day trip from Ubud with a private driver

What to Bring and What to Know Before Visiting Ubud Waterfalls

Waterfall visits in Bali require a little preparation. Most cascades near Ubud involve a descent: Tegenungan is a 5-minute walk down concrete steps, Tibumana involves crossing the river, and Tukad Cepung is a 20-minute scramble through the canyon that gets wet. Wear shoes that can get wet (flip-flops work at Tegenungan but not Tukad Cepung, where closed shoes are better). A dry bag or waterproof phone case is worth having at Tukad Cepung especially, where the mist inside the cave soaks everything within 10 metres of the waterfall.

Entrance fees at Ubud waterfalls are all in IDR (Indonesian Rupiah), so carry small IDR notes (IDR 20,000–30,000 per waterfall). The entrance fee at Tegenungan is IDR 20,000 per person, Tibumana and Kanto Lampo are IDR 25,000, and Tukad Cepung is IDR 30,000. Some tours include the fees and some sell them as an option, so confirm this when booking. A sarong is not required at waterfalls (unlike temples) but you may pass through a Balinese village on the way to some locations, where modest dress is appreciated.

For temple visits included in many waterfall tours, a sarong is required. Guides carry extra sarongs for visitors, or you can buy one for IDR 20,000–30,000 at the entrance. Holy water purification rituals at Tirta Empul Temple are a genuine spiritual experience, so respect the local customs, follow your guide's instructions, and avoid photographing worshippers without permission.

• Wear shoes that can get wet (closed shoes at Tukad Cepung, sandals at Tegenungan)
• Bring a waterproof phone case, as Tukad Cepung cave is very misty
• Carry IDR cash for entrance fees (IDR 20,000–30,000 per waterfall)
• Guided tours include entrance fees, so confirm before booking
• Sarong required for temple visits: guides usually provide one
• Sunscreen before departure, as there is no shade between the car and the waterfall steps