Despite its small size, Bali is a land of a hundred waterfalls. One of the best places from which to explore many of them is Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital, whose location makes it the perfect base from which to explore many of the island’s waterfalls. In this guide on Bali’s Best Waterfalls Near Ubud, we will focus on our favourite waterfalls that are within about an hour’s drive of Ubud, but will also mention a few others that might also be of interest to you. To further help you decide on which waterfalls you might want to prioritize visiting, we will also rank them in different categories (best views, least crowded, best swimming spots, etc).

Disclosure: This page (A Guide to Bali’s Best Waterfalls Near Ubud) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.

You might also be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali

General Information on Bali’s Best Waterfalls

–Waterfall Trails: Most waterfalls require a 5-10 minute hike to reach them from the nearest car park. The vast majority of the trails head downhill towards the base of the falls, which are typically located at the bottom of a river-carved valley. The downhill trails typically descend a series of manmade staircases.

–Entrance Fees: Most waterfalls require that you pay a modest admission fee to visit, typically around 25,000 IDR per person (2025), which roughly amounts to 1.50 US$/€. Some falls are slightly more expensive (up to 40,000 IDR per person). Having the exact change or small bills to pay for all costs is preferable as the majority of waterfall sites don’t accept credit cards and they may not have enough change for large bills.

–Best Time to Visit: As a general rule, the earlier you visit a waterfall during the day the better. The most popular waterfalls get so crowded that lineups can form in order to take pictures, which can be terribly annoying and time-consuming. Arriving early will give you the opportunity to experience the falls in a much more peaceful and natural setting.

–Waterfall Opening Hours and Planning: The falls vary in their opening times, but typically open between 6 am and 8 am. If you plan to visit a few waterfalls on the same day and are an early riser, you can try to visit them in the order that they open to maximize your chances of visiting them with fewer other people around.

–Waterfall Popularity: Although we will specifically mention further below which falls are the busiest and the most crowded, another good cue to use is the number of Google Maps reviews they have (the larger the number, the busier the falls). Though there are some exceptions due to some falls having only been made accessible to the public recently, the general rule still holds.

–Swimming: There are only a few waterfalls where you can actually go for a swim by the falls, most others provide at most knee-depth water or very small manmade pools that are deeper but don’t provide much room for swimming.

–Waterfall Facilities: Although few waterfalls allow you to go for a proper swim, they almost all allow you to get wet if you want to, either by going under the falls (where permitted) or by taking a refreshing dip in manmade pools positioned with a great view on the waterfalls. As such, almost all waterfall sites provide visitors with toilets and/or changing rooms, and some have small lockers available for rent to store your belongings.

–What to Bring: If you just want to take pictures, all you need is your phone or your camera (and cash to pay your entrance fee). But if you want to get wet to cool off from the Bali heat, you might want to bring swimwear and towels. Some waterfalls require you to wade through shallow rivers to reach them – for those we recommend bringing a good pair of water shoes.
If you are worried about being hungry or thirsty, there’s almost always stalls selling food around the car parks (and sometimes along the trails to the falls).

– Don’t be turned off by the various vendors and people trying to sell you things around the car parks. This is just the locals trying to make a living and you’ll encounter these at most waterfalls, but take a few steps further you are likely to find yourself (almost) alone in nature (aside from a few more popular and overcrowded waterfalls).

Bali’s Best Waterfalls Near Ubud

Tibumana Waterfall

Distance from Ubud: 15 km // Average Drive Time: 30 – 40 minutes

Tibumana Waterfall is without a doubt one of Bali‘s most photogenic waterfalls. Hidden in a jungle valley, a 5-meter-high thin curtain of falls gently cascades into an idyllic natural pool from which you can enjoy a relaxing swim. The walk to the falls is also quite beautiful and scenic as you go through a verdant jungle and cross over the river via small bamboo bridges.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Tibumana Waterfall Guide.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Distance from Ubud: 12 km // Average Drive Time: 30 – 40 minutes

Although Kanto Lampo is one of Bali’s most popular and busiest waterfalls, it is one of the most visually impressive due to its remarkable size. Though not one of Bali’s tallest waterfalls (it has a height of 15 meters), Kanto Lampo is unique in its width and the number of streams that cascade down the large natural rock formation. Exploring the canyon away from the falls can be a lot of fun too, where you’ll have to wade across a shallow river (the use of water shoes is recommended here).

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Kanto Lampo Waterfall Guide.

Taman Sari Waterfall

Distance from Ubud: 12 km // Average Drive Time: 30 – 40 minutes

Taman Sari is also a very unique waterfall in Bali. It’s a stunning two-tiered waterfall, with the first portion being a single curtain that drops into a small natural pool, from which several cascades fall into a much larger natural pool. Of all the falls in Bali, Taman Sari is one of the best ones for enjoying a swim due to the size and depth of its bottom natural pool.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Taman Sari Waterfall Guide.

Suwat Waterfall

Distance from Ubud: 12 km // Average Drive Time: 25 – 35 minutes

Suwat Waterfall is one of Bali‘s best-kept secrets – a true hidden gem that was only made accessible to tourists in 2019. Much like its quasi-neighbour Tibumana Waterfall, but slightly more expensive to visit, Suwat Waterfall is a narrow photogenic cascade that falls into an idyllic natural pool that’s great for swimming. It is a beautiful secluded waterfall where you can rent a bamboo raft to take pictures within the natural pool below the falls.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Suwat Waterfall Guide.

Goa Raja Waterfall

Distance from Ubud: 30 km // Average Drive Time: 50 – 60 minutes

Goa Raja was definitely one of our favorite falls to visit in Bali. A tall curtain of water cascades into a large cavern, which becomes even more beautiful in the late morning when sunbeams come crashing down into the cavern. We also really enjoyed the trail that leads to the waterfalls, where you walk through a scenic narrow canyon following a gentle river with lush jungle vegetation all around.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Goa Raja Waterfall Guide.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Distance from Ubud: 30 km // Average Drive Time: 60 – 70 minutes

Much like Goa Raja, Tukad Cepung is a waterfall located in a deep cavern where morning sunbeams can create a unique magical atmosphere. The main difference between the two is that Tukad Cepung is no longer a hidden gem and is one of Bali’s busiest waterfalls. However, the trail to reach the falls is quite fun, particularly the final section where you’ll have to wade in shallow ankle-deep water within a tall and narrow canyon.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Tukad Cepung Waterfall Guide.

Yeh Bulan Waterfall

This is probably our favorite waterfall in Bali. The location features not one but two stunning waterfalls in the middle of the jungle, and can only be accessed by walking through a very shallow and scenic stream that makes its way through a narrow canyon surrounded by lush vegetation. Another reason why we love this waterfall so much is that it gets a fraction of the crowds that other nearby waterfalls get since it only opened to the public in 2023 – in fact, we had the place to ourselves during our visit!

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Yeh Bulan Waterfall Guide.

Gembleng Waterfall

Gembleng is definitely a unique waterfall experience as here the waterfalls are not the attraction, but rather a series of small pools at the top of the waterfall are the main draw. The first pool in particular is popular amongst Instagrammers as it provides visitors with an infinity-like pool experience with a jaw-dropping jungle view ahead. Like many waterfalls in Bali, you’ll have to walk a short trail to reach the falls, except here you’ll have to walk uphill instead of downhill to reach the pools.

For more information on this waterfall and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Gembleng Waterfall Guide.

Top 3 Waterfall Categories

Most Photogenic Waterfalls

– Tibumana Waterfalls: hard to beat that splendid perfect curtain surrounded by lush vegetation.

– Goa Raja Waterfalls: so beautiful when those sunbeams sneak into the cavern.

– Yeh Bulan Waterfalls: the waterfall duo with no crowds is a must-see in Bali.

Best Waterfalls for Swimming

– Taman Sari Waterfall: not the deepest but one of the largest natural pools in Bali

– Suwat Waterfall: to our knowledge, it has the deepest natural pool of those listed above

– Tibumana Waterfall: the natural pool isn’t as deep as Suwat’s but it’s a great place to swim

Most Scenic Waterfall Trails

This was a list to come up with since most trails are quite beautiful, but we think that these three just had a little something more to them.

– Goa Raja Waterfall

– Timbumana Waterfall

– Yeh Bulan Waterfall

Least Crowded Waterfalls

These might change over time, but during our time in Bali these were the least crowded:

– Yeh Bulan Waterfall

– Suwat Waterfall

– Goa Raja Waterfall

Most Crowded Waterfalls

These might change over time, but in our experience and our conversations with others, these are the most crowded waterfalls, and therefore the ones where you really want to arrive as early as possible:

– Tukad Cepung – if you don’t get there early, you’ll likely have to queue in line to see the falls since it’s located within a cavern.

– Kanto Lampo – some queues form here too, but only to get your picture with the falls, so at least you still appreciate them from a distance without having to get in line.

After these two, there’s no clear-cut third-busiest waterfall, as there is a sharp dropoff in the number of people that visit the other waterfalls in our guide.

Our Three Favorite Bali Waterfalls

Our personal favorites in order were the following. They all had the right mix of beautiful trails, and unique waterfalls without the crowds.

– Yeh Bulan Waterfall

– Goa Raja Waterfall

– Tibumana Waterfall

Bali Waterfall Locations & Map

As you can see from the maps below, our list of the best Bali waterfalls near Ubud includes those that are primarily located to the east and northeast of Ubud. (We will mention some of Northern Bali’s beautiful waterfalls further below, but these are typically more difficult as a day trip from Ubud).

As you can see in the map above, several of the waterfalls cluster in the same area. For instance, you can easily visit Suwat, Taman Sari, Tibumana and Kanta Lampo on the same day. Similarly, you can visit Tukad Cepung, Yeh Bulan, and Goa Raja together as part of the same day trip from Ubud. For more ideas on planning day trips (including waterfalls, temples and rice terraces), be sure to check our guide on the Best Day Trips from Ubud.

Other Waterfalls That Might be of Interest to You

These are waterfalls we didn’t get a chance to visit but they were very high on our lists. There are so many amazing things to see and do in Bali that you just can’t see everything!

Nung Nung Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – Located in north-central Bali, about an hour from Ubud, Nung Nung is a towering 50-meter tall waterfall cascading into a swimmable natural pool at the bottom. The trail to reach the falls is a bit longer than most (about 15-20 minutes) and requires you to descend more than 500 steps. The main reason we didn’t visit is that it was difficult to combine with other attractions given its remote location, requiring a 40-minute detour (each way) from the main north-south road that leads to Ulun Beratan Temple.

Leke Leke Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – A similar waterfall to Nung Nung, but much more accessible and thus more popular and crowded. In our opinion, the falls didn’t appear to be that impressive to justify the 50,000 IDR entrance fee (double what other falls charge in 2025).

Taman Beji Griya Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – One of the few waterfalls in this guide that is located west of Ubud. It’s a unique location where you can experience a Balinese Purification Ceremony, but they are extremely pricey to visit (300,000 IDR).

Banyumana Twin Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – Spectacular tall twin waterfalls that cascade into a swimmable natural pool. Located in Northern Bali near Munduk (almost 2 hours from Ubud), and requires a 20-minute walk each way to reach the falls.

Sekumpul Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – Located in northern Bali (about 2h15 from Ubud), Sekumpul is one of the most impressive falls on the island. However, a 45-minute expensive guided hike is required to reach the base of the falls. You can also pay a regular entrance fee to see the falls from a distant viewing platform.

Temesi Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – Looks like a miniature version of Kanto Lampo, without the crowds. Located southeast of Bali, it was just enough out of the way to not be included in any of our day trip itineraries.

Tegenungan Waterfall (Link to Google Maps) – Probably Bali’s most popular and most visited waterfall – though this is primarily because of its location. It’s one of the few large waterfalls that are south of Ubud meaning that it’s more accessible to those based in south Bali (Kuta, Canggu, Sanur). Many who have visited complain about all the built-up infrastructure around the falls and the people trying to sell you things, giving the feeling of a tourist trap (more so than any other waterfall).

How to get to the Waterfalls from Ubud

In our opinion, the three best transport options to reach the majority of these waterfalls are: renting a scooter (moped), joining a group tour that hits several nearby attractions within a day or a half-day, or hiring a car and driver (which really isn’t as expensive as it sounds).

You can also use Bali ride-hailing apps such as Gojek or Grab, and make use of local taxis, but these options will typically cost more, especially if you plan on visiting several sites and attractions on the same day. Also, Gojek or Grab are not authorized to pick up people in certain locations where local taxi unions limit their services, including Canggu, Sanur, and Ubud. For more information on getting around the island and the different available options, check out our guide on How to Best Get Around Bali.

Regardless of your chosen transportation method, you are likely to enjoy the ride there. The road leading to the waterfall is very scenic. You will pass small villages and beautiful rice fields.

We highly recommend Airalo (eSIM card) for your connectivity needs when travelling abroad. Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide.

Getting to waterfalls by Scooter: Once you get to Bali, you’ll quickly realize that scooter rental operators are everywhere. Although most street-side vendors will regularly be the cheapest option, they come short in several other aspects compared with more reliable and established vendors. For instance, most won’t offer roadside assistance or insurance that covers theft, nor do they regularly sanitize the helmets or have their scooters undergo regular maintenance. For this reason, we highly recommend using Bikago for your scooter rentals. Renting from them might be slightly more expensive (but still can be rented for as low as 12-15 US$/€ per day) but you get great peace of mind as among many other perks, all scooters undergo extensive quality checks.

What you get with your Bikago rental:
-Helmets
-Full tank of petrol and unlimited mileage
-Free Delivery and Collection at your Hotel
-24/7 Roadside Assistance and First Aid Medical Kit
-Charging Mobile Phone Holder

By Car and Driver hire: Hiring a car and driver to explore Bali can be a practical and cost-efficient way to experience a full day of sightseeing. Although this option is more expensive than renting a scooter (typically 40-60 US$/€ per day), you don’t have to worry about navigating the Bali roads and traffic, Also, most cars are modern and air-conditioned, which is welcome in Bali’s humid heat, and the local drivers always know the best routes to take and can optimize your ideal itinerary. Here are some of the best options to choose from:

By Group Tour: Group tours can be a great option to lower costs and reduce the hassle of having to plan an efficient itinerary. Their main downside is they might not exactly be tailored to your specific interests and preferences. But if you are mostly interested in hitting the main sights and attractions, there is these great tour options departing from nearby Ubud that visits several waterfalls:

Where to Stay in Ubud

Ubud is a great base from which you not only can explore the above-listed waterfalls but also many beautiful rice terraces and temples. If you are still looking for a place to stay here in Ubud, all of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations located within walking distance from Ubud’s city center:

Komaneka at Rasa Sayang Ubud Hotel

Ubud Village Hotel

Adiwana Resort Jembawan

Kajane Mua Villas

Alaya Resort Ubud

Planning a Trip to Bali?

You might be interested in these pages: (coming soon)
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali

We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Bali: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide
Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara

Photography Gear

If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.

Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug

Other Travel Essentials

Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.

e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.

Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.

Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).

Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).

Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)

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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our guide on Bali’s Best Waterfalls Near Ubud and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.

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