If a Bali itinerary has six waterfalls and a volcano squeezed into one day, I am already suspicious. The island’s walks range from an easy ridge near Ubud to wet gorge staircases and volcanic climbs in the dark, and lumping them all together as “nature stops” is how people end up tired, rushed and underprepared.
I have been visiting Bali since 1989, but I do not treat any trail or waterfall as permanently “easy”. Rain, local access rules, fees and water conditions change. Use this guide to choose the right type of outing, then listen to the conditions and people on the ground on the day.
01 Start by choosing the type of outing
I refuse to put every Bali waterfall and hike into the same bucket. Campuhan is a short ridge walk beside Ubud, Nungnung is a staircase into a gorge, Sekumpul can mean a longer guided route, and Mount Batur is an exposed volcanic ascent normally started before dawn. Those are completely different days.
My filter is simple: how much walking do you actually want, how do you feel about wet steps, how far are you willing to drive, and does swimming matter? Answer those first and you will usually have a better day than chasing whichever waterfall currently owns Instagram.
02 A better difficulty scale than 'easy' and 'hard'
For Bali, difficulty is often about vertical movement and surfaces rather than kilometres. A 20-minute descent can involve wet stone stairs that are harder on knees than a two-hour paved walk. Ask how many steps there are, whether the same route must be climbed back out, whether river crossings are involved and whether you need both hands free for balance.
Think in four rough categories: roadside or short developed access; moderate stair or jungle descents; long stair-heavy routes such as Nungnung; and guided trekking or volcanic routes where navigation, terrain or local access arrangements matter. This is more useful than a tour listing that labels everything 'moderate'.
03 North Bali: the strongest waterfall concentration
Buleleng and the central-north highlands contain Bali's most useful cluster of waterfall destinations. Gitgit is comparatively straightforward and suits travellers crossing the mountains toward Singaraja. Sekumpul is more involved and rewards visitors who allocate real time rather than treating it as a roadside photo.
Near Wanagiri, Banyumala combines well with the twin lakes and other Bedugul–Munduk stops. Around Munduk, several smaller waterfalls can be linked into a walking route, which makes the area better for people who enjoy the journey between falls rather than one giant viewpoint.
04 Nungnung: straightforward route, strenuous return
Nungnung sits in Pelaga in northern Badung, south of the main Buleleng waterfall belt. The waterfall itself is easy to understand; the effort comes from descending hundreds of steps and then climbing them again. Current 2026 tariffs are higher than older blogs quote, and the site has upgraded parking and rest points.
Our Nungnung vs Banyumala guide compares the two in detail. Nungnung is a good example of why 'short hike' can be misleading: distance is modest, but vertical gain and humidity make the return much harder than the map suggests.
05 Around Ubud: easier access, heavier visitor pressure
Central Bali has plenty of waterfalls within day-trip range of Ubud, including Tegenungan, Tibumana, Tukad Cepung, Kanto Lampo and others. Access varies enormously. Some are short walks from developed entrances; others involve wet rock, steps or narrow canyon spaces. Crowding can also change the character of a small site more than it does at a large waterfall.
Do not assume every Ubud-area waterfall is suitable for swimming. Water quality, flow and pool conditions change after rain, and some attractions are better for viewing than entering. For a genuinely easy walk near town, the Campuhan Ridge Walk is a better fit than forcing a waterfall into the itinerary.
06 Campuhan Ridge Walk: easy, free and very exposed
Campuhan is the simplest useful walk in central Ubud. The main ridge is paved and gently undulating rather than flat, with some steps and slopes near the southern access. There is no formal entrance ticket, and the exposed ridge gives a quick escape from traffic without requiring a guide or vehicle.
The catch is heat. Shade is limited once you are on the ridge, so early morning is far more pleasant than late morning or midday. The walk has no single compulsory turnaround point: continue toward Bangkiang Sidem and return when the distance suits you.
07 Mount Batur: a different category of hike
Mount Batur should not be compared with a waterfall stroll. It is a volcanic climb with loose ground, darkness on many departures, rapidly changing weather and a busy sunrise summit. Most visitors book through a local trekking operator or guide, both for logistics and because access arrangements can change.
If sunrise is the goal, account for the very early departure as part of the difficulty. Travellers who dislike crowds may prefer a later hike where permitted, another viewpoint in Kintamani, or a different walking day entirely. See our Kintamani and Mount Batur guide before building the itinerary around a summit photo.
08 Rain changes the difficulty more than the distance
Tropical rain can turn an easy route into a poor idea quickly. Waterfall stairs become slick, river crossings rise, visibility disappears and strong flow can make pools unsafe. Conversely, a very dry spell can leave smaller cascades less impressive. Check conditions on the day rather than assuming a route is identical year-round.
Closed gates, local warnings and guide requirements should override anything you read online, including this page. Carry water, use footwear with grip and protect electronics. If thunder, intense rain or rapidly rising water appears, leave the gorge rather than waiting for the perfect photo.
09 Fees, local guides and why online prices disagree
Most waterfall entrances are locally managed, so fees change independently and may differ between domestic and foreign visitors. Some sites charge one simple entry fee; others separate viewpoint access from trekking, swimming, canyoning or guide packages. Carry cash and read the current ticket board before paying.
Do not assume a guide is either always mandatory or always a scam. At straightforward sites, independent access may be normal. At more complex routes, local management may require guides for certain trails or activities. If you only want a viewpoint, say so clearly; if you want a canyon route, jumps or river crossings, the guided option can be the sensible one.
10 How to build a good waterfall or hiking day
I would build the day around one major physical objective, not four. In North Bali, pair one waterfall with lakes, villages or viewpoints; around Ubud, put a morning walk beside a museum, temple or long lunch instead of commuting between a collection of nearly identical pools.
Keep cash for locally managed entrances, allow more driving time than the map suggests and re-check fees when you arrive. For regional planning, use our North Bali guide or Ubud guide. If you want transport rather than self-driving, the tours and day trips page is the better next step.
11 Swimming is never automatically safe
A pool that looks calm can receive sudden runoff after rain upstream. Water depth, submerged rocks, current and water quality also change through the year. Follow local signs and staff instructions, stay clear of the impact zone beneath a powerful fall and do not enter if the water is brown, rising quickly or carrying debris.
I do not climb wet rock for a photograph, and I would not recommend anyone else do it either. Spray makes apparently grippy surfaces slick, rescue access can be slow, and an empty pool is a reason to ask questions before treating it as an invitation.
12 Guides, drivers and transport
A driver is valuable when linking distant sites, but a driver is not automatically a trekking guide. For longer routes, volcanic terrain or places with local guide arrangements, confirm who will walk with you and what their role includes. Agree on meeting points because mobile reception can disappear in valleys.
Scooter access is a poor choice if you are inexperienced, tired or returning after rain. Mountain roads may be steep, narrow and foggy. A car with a patient driver gives you somewhere dry to leave spare clothing and reduces pressure at the end of a strenuous walk.
13 What to carry
Wear shoes with reliable wet grip and take drinking water, sun protection, insect repellent, a light rain layer, a small towel and a dry bag for electronics. Trekking poles can help on long stair routes, particularly for travellers managing knee strain. Keep both hands free on slippery sections.
Carry small rupiah notes for parking, entry and local facilities, but verify current charges at the official entrance rather than relying on an old blog. Change into dry clothing before the long drive home.
14 Three sensible ways to plan the day
For an easy Ubud morning, walk Campuhan early and have breakfast nearby. For a central highlands day, combine one substantial waterfall with Bedugul or Munduk rather than collecting entrances. For North Bali, stay locally if possible and make the waterfalls the main event instead of adding six hours of return traffic from the south.
A wet-weather alternative is part of the itinerary, not an admission of defeat. If overnight rain has made the route unsafe, swapping the hike for a temple, museum or long lunch is good travel judgement — Bali will still be there tomorrow.
Cheers, Carpe Diem & Take the Long Way Back Up! 🍻⏳💦
your waterfall stair-counting travel journo
About the author
TATS Man
Travel journalist · digital nomad since 2007 · visiting Bali since 1989
TATS Man is the beer-loving cyborg travel journalist behind Totally Bali and TATS (Totally Awesome Travel Sites). He has travelled and worked remotely since 2007 and has been visiting Bali since 1989. His guides combine long-term destination familiarity with current primary-source research — and he does not claim first-hand experience where he does not have it.