Part of your paradise holiday will be the incredible Indonesian beaches and temples. The history and culture are amazing and the whole experience start to finish lifts you up. Emotionally, it's a rollercoaster ride you don't want to get off. It's automatic. As soon as you have gotten to your hotel or resort and unpacked you scramble to the nearest beach.
From couples looking to cement their romance, to parents looking to keep their boisterous children entertained, and more besides, Indonesia has everything you imagined.
Another part of your paradise holiday experience being:
You must not head back home without being in the jungle at least on one day trip away from your beach life. There is far more in addition to your holiday memories of Indonesia when you do take a day trip into the rainforests. In fact, you may even wish to stay in one of the luxury rainforest resorts and be closer to nature and the sounds of the wildlife?
Highly recommended because you are waking up to the jungle, relaxing on your bamboo balcony enjoying breakfast. When it becomes too hot (and it will) you can take a dip in the resort's infinity pool ― and all around you is the jungle and its magnificence heightening your senses. It's amazing. And why you must at least once, anyway, go for a jungle adventure in Indonesia.
It is all about your senses and your emotions and that rollercoaster we mentioned earlier: you are going home feeling fulfilled and complete. To ensure that is the case our guide to your holiday in Indonesia highlights some of the best waterfalls found in Indonesia. You will without any doubt come across one or two of them during your excursion into the jungles.
Each and every one of us has an attachment to water; we are drawn to it. The sound of the waves lashing against land or the sound of a river's water flowing over rocks eases and calms our mind. It explains so much why we all love beaches.
But you find that love too with rivers and their waterfalls which plunge over towering rock edges. The spray that soaks you and the deafening thunder excites you ― especially so during April when it rains a few hours most days.
It is our recommendation to you to either book a tour with an operator who has local knowledge, or a local guide, who does. You need to have someone who knows the waterfall you will visit, and advise you of whether or not you can jump into the waterfall and from where: which shelf or ledge.
Because many waterfalls are so tall, with a pool at the bottom, it's dangerous if you misjudge the height in relation to the depth of the pool.
Simply trusting the words of others isn't really a safe bet. Make a mistake and the consequences could result in serious injury. Likewise, some pools are so deep they have strong undercurrents or a pool may have a rocky bottom. Get advice from those who know all aspects of a waterfall and enjoy your holiday.
It's also not a smart idea to go directly under the waterfall itself. There is quite some force, and impacting your body (especially the head) can cause severe bruising and concussion. If you see a net or other barrier cordoning off the waterfall it's there for your safety and protection. And of course, children should be supervised at all times.
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One of the best waterfalls close to Ubud Town, on Bali Island, is Tibumana Waterfall. Other waterfalls in our guide within the town's periphery include:
You would think we have a soft spot for Ubud? Not so. It's just that Bali Island has the lush rainforest jungle and humidity to ensure there is a plentiful supply of water running off the mountains. The fact that Ubud has stunning scenery and wildlife, both are merely a bonus to you (and why you should consider staying in one of the jungle resorts).
Aren't all the waterfalls the same though? More or less that school of thought is true. Which is why our guide will only highlight unique differences between them. All the waterfalls in Indonesia come with:
Half of the pleasure is the trek and the natural world you walk through on your way there, to any given waterfall. At every opportunity you cannot help but to stop to snap some photos.
A few of you may even be part of a larger group, on a camping trip. Or you're planning on spending a night in a village homestay. However, you have planned your holiday the key important thing is to experience at least one Indonesian waterfall.
From the moment you exit the car park at Tibumana Waterfall you descend down using a wooden path. Both sides of this manmade path have various wild fauna and flora (in bloom late spring). All around you are left with the impression of a Garden of Eden in the jungle.
It will please you greatly and place you in the best mood for what you find once the path ends.
It's a 40-minute drive to Tibumana Waterfall. But for Sekumpul Waterfall it is a two-hour journey to the north of Bali, there and the same again for the return. Is it worth traveling so far out of Ubud? Yes, most definitely. The valley you are bound for has three waterfalls altogether.
What you pay at the entrance will determine how much you experience ― unless of course you are on tour. In which case your itinerary will state what your day trip includes, and not. You are actually better off going "all inclusive" to be sure of seeing everything.
In any event, when you do arrive at the car park, there is a 30-minute trek in front of you to the main waterfall. The two other waterfalls are further up the valley, which is beautiful by the way:
Eventually trekking through the valley pays off and you hear the 80m waterfall before seeing it. Looking down from the top, there is a path to take to the large pool at the bottom. The next waterfall is one of the best for selfies.
Arrive early, before sunrise, for the best light for taking a photo with Kanto Lampo Waterfall behind you. The waterfall has rocks and boulders strewn around and provided you watch your footing you can clamber up onto them.
Sitting on one of the rocks, the staggered tiered rockface the water splashes off of provides the most stunning background for you. It may appear to be safe to try and climb the rockface but we strongly advise against doing so: the rocks are very slippery and falling isn't worth thinking about.
The waterfall is a very short distance from the car park with steps leading the way. Happily, the waterfall is only 11km out from Ubud.
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Not one of the tallest by any stretch of the imagination but one of the most popular. Tegenungan Waterfall is only 10km from the Ubud Town center. Arriving at Kemenuh Village, on the Petanu River, you can expect the 25m tall waterfall to be crowded by early morning.
There are steps leading down from the entrance bringing you to the rough, rocky top.
Further steps lead to lower levels of the rockface ultimately to the bottom. There is a large pool that is constantly in use so patience is required when swimming. The river flowing off from the waterfall has a unique feature of rocks placed on top of one another, in the stream. Likewise at the top of the waterfall.
The likelihood is that you will happen across Tukad Cepung Waterfall when you are in the vicinity of Tibumana Waterfall. The two are close together relatively speaking. And this one is amazing in so many ways.
The jungle trail leading you is enthralling to say the least in terms of what a real jungle adventure should feel like and that's just for starters.
Superb for families as the walk from the drop-off point is only 15 minutes; children remain excited for the duration and won't have any chance of being bored or losing interest. Not one of the most popular waterfalls but it's going that way as more people learn of it but do expect company. The entrance fee is less than US$1 per person and opens early enough for most people, 7am every day.
What we love about this waterfall and what is so amazing is that it's the only waterfall in our guide that has rocks enclosing the waterfall feature. It almost feels as if you are in a cave.
Almost because there is an opening at the top and you are thankful for this. Around about mid-morning (say before 10:30am) when the sun rises enough there are rays of sunlight that break through the jungle canopy above.
Standing in the pool of this waterfall you are adorned in this glorious light and it feels incredible. It's truly a beautiful setting and maybe one of the best on Bali. Put this waterfall on your bucket list, definitely.
A powerful waterfall and you must be careful not to venture underneath it otherwise you could face serious injury. The pool is more than adequate for cooling off but not necessarily for swimming.
And yet you won't complain. In the Bali warmth, after descending so many steps you'll be glad of any opportunity of losing your body heat. The distinct feature of this waterfall is the gushing water from the top at 50m of height and the noise is loud.
Standing in the pool for just a few seconds ensures a complete soaking and it reinforces the power of the waterfall: torrents of water dredge you if you don't respect this natural wonder.
Dense jungle and cliff-like features make you feel as if you are a proper rainforest explorer, so far flung from being on holiday ― and isn't that what you dreamt of? But the climb back up to the car park is exhausting.
That's the price to pay for such an amazing experience of a magnificent waterfall though. You can expect to travel an hour from Ubud, more or less, before you reach the car park. It's another 20 minutes or so before you reach the stream running off the waterfall.
100% guaranteed you will hear its roar long before seeing it and that's when your excitement escalates. Wear sensible shoes as the rocks are slippery, which is advisable anyway near any waterfall or cave system.
Located close to Singaria which is a little over an hour from Ubud, further south. For thrill seekers, this is the best ― and safest ― waterfall for fun: slides, jumps and swimming. There is an entrance fee which depends on what you want to do:
You can experience up to a half dozen different waterfalls (including Aling Aling Waterfall of course) and much more depending on a) your budget, and b) what time you have. If you have a hire car and driver, you certainly won't have 6 hours for example.
You must be accompanied by a local guide when trekking to the waterfalls (included in the fee for any of the treks), even if you're only sightseeing. Because some visitors pay the minimum fee only then to abuse their position and go to the waterfalls regardless.
One of the better experiences for visiting a waterfall on Bali Island. The pool at Aling Aling Waterfall is deep enough allowing for you to jump off from a ledge high above the pool. It's quite an experience actually and so, so similar to the 12m cliff jump on the Island of Nusa Ceningan.
Finally, we have Banyumala Waterfall, our last waterfall within easy reach of Ubud. Actually, this waterfall are twins. Almost abandoned to nature there is hardly a soul around meaning you've pretty much got the waterfalls to yourself. It must be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Indonesia to be honest:
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A secret hideaway for your pleasures it does feel as if you've struck a pot of gold.
How incredibly lucky you are. There are amazing views onto the waterfall from a bamboo bridge which stretches across a rocky gap. The steps leading down from the car park are not the best, especially after rain, so take care.
Getting to this hidden gem is a two-hour journey by car from Ubud Town but it truly is worthwhile the travel time. You may expect to pay in the region of US$35 for hire of a car and driver for the day.
Is it worth it? Well, you'd spend that amount (and more) staying on a beach for the day anyway. Based on the cost of water sport activities and food vendors or eating in a restaurant it all adds up.
East Java is the real Indonesia in our eyes: raw and untamed in terms of its waterfalls. Two of which are utterly stunning in their majestic standing, especially Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. But Kapas Biru Waterfall is no less so either.
Within the area of Malang, Kapas Biru Waterfall is one of three waterfalls you could experience within the same day however Kapas Biru is the crowd pleaser for sure. The impression you feel on your trek to the waterfall is a jungle of a prehistoric epoch. The waterfall is set against a giant rockface and surrounded by ancient trees and bamboo. You know the jungle has aged well:
To get yourself to the waterfall the best bet is to hire a car and driver for the day, from Malang.
If you have time after visiting Kapas Biru Waterfall, you can continue the trek along the jungle trail to come across the Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. A once in a lifetime experience when in Indonesia. Read our guide (link below) for more information about why you should holiday in East Java and what experiences await you there:
Read Also: 3 Reasons why you should Travel to East Java, Indonesia
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Going away on a day trip just yourself, to an amazing waterfall brings you closer to nature and its wildlife, and you are out in the fresh air. You also take with you a picnic and your own water as there are few facilities in the jungle.
All in all, it's a great experience and as enjoyable if not more so. You do not even need to picnic at the waterfall ― you can easily find a quiet setting close by without your peace being disturbed.
Be mindful, however, of taking your rubbish with you. There are suitable bins in most of the car parks belonging to the waterfalls.
The dry season is the best time to trek through the rainforest jungles to visit a waterfall. From April through to October suits most of you in terms of when you are likely to take your annual holiday vacation.
The rainy season creates its own unique beauty to the Islands of Indonesia of course, but many of the waterfalls are out of bounds.
Related Reading: The Best Time, and Worst time to Travel to Indonesia
You can opt to hire a scooter provided there's only two of you at most and you have sufficient insurance. If you've no insurance, then don't even contemplate driving on the roads no matter what your experience.
The roads on Bali are chaotic at best and complete madness at worst it's not worth risking life and limb.
Hire a car and driver and expect to pay anything up to US$38 a day. If you can talk to a few others going to your destination, to come with you then it works out to be even cheaper with a minibus.
Typically, a day's hire is for 8 hours but you can often negotiate (haggle) a price for longer hours. The exclusivity of any tour package is that a driver picks you up from your hotel door, and afterwards drops you off there too. Convenient, and stress free.
The driving times we have stated are an estimate and take them with a pinch of salt. No driver can answer how long it'll take them to get you to where you are going accurately because the roads are constantly in heavy use.
You get good days and then bad days as far as the traffic is concerned.
It's a two-legged race really, between Ubud and East Java. Both are amazing places to travel to and you want to spend holiday time there. The waterfalls featured in our guide each have their own unique features to be attractive to everyone, including those on a holiday romance.
There can't be anything more romantic than being surrounded by the jungle and its wildlife and then to discover a gorgeous pool of water.
If you only care about the waterfalls, then you are bound for Ubud Town. But if you want a volcano adventure as well then plan for a domestic flight from Denpasar's Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport to East Java's Juanda International Airport.
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Hello, we are George and Elle Mae Melyre.
Over the years, amidst work and family life, we have traveled extensively throughout Asia. Any chance to briefly escape or properly holiday in our beloved Asian destinations is eagerly seized, motivated by the enduring dream of leaving behind the UK's dreary cold for tropical climes.