5 Best Waterfalls Near Munduk, Bali: A First-Hand Guide

Munduk is one of my favourite parts of Bali. I’ve been there twice now, and on both trips I spent a lot of time travelling around the mountains of North Bali, especially in search of waterfalls.

I skipped the popular waterfall trek around Munduk village and went farther instead, visiting some of the biggest waterfalls scattered across this part of the island. I travelled with a local driver, who took me from one place to another and waited while I explored, which turned out to be a very easy way to see them.

Over my two trips, I visited Banyumala, Banyu Wana Amertha, Sekumpul, Hidden and Fiji waterfalls, Aling-Aling and Leke Leke.

I loved all of them, but for completely different reasons. I had Banyu Wana Amertha entirely to myself, swam beneath Leke Leke, got caught in pouring rain at Sekumpul, and somehow didn’t swim at Aling-Aling — the one place where everyone seems to come specifically to jump, slide and get into the water.

So I’m not going to rank them from best to worst. Instead, these are the five best waterfall trips around Munduk that I’ve actually done, what each one is like, and which I’d choose depending on what you’re looking for.

If you only have time for one or two waterfalls, the best choice really depends on what kind of experience you want.

If I had to choose only one, I’d go with Sekumpul, Hidden and Fiji — but specifically the longer route that takes you to all three. It was the most complete waterfall adventure of the five.

For something much quieter, I’d choose Banyu Wana Amertha. I had both waterfall areas completely to myself when I visited.

And if you want a beautiful waterfall without making a full adventure out of it, Banyumala is the easiest choice.

Munduk Waterfalls Map

The waterfalls are spread across the mountains rather than clustered around one road, so I wouldn’t try to visit all five in a single day. I used a private driver to get around, and later in this guide I’ll show you how I’d combine them into realistic waterfall days.

1. Banyumala Twin Waterfalls — best for an easy waterfall trip

Banyumala Twin Waterfalls is probably the easiest one on this list to recommend to almost anyone. It’s beautiful, the walk down is relatively short, there’s a large natural pool beneath the falls, and you don’t need to turn the visit into a half-day expedition.

The waterfall itself is wider than I expected from photos. Water spills down a wall of greenery in several streams, with the two larger cascades giving Banyumala its “Twin Waterfalls” name. At the bottom is a broad pool where swimming is allowed, although I didn’t swim here myself.

What surprised me more was the atmosphere.

I had seen Banyumala described many times as a hidden waterfall in North Bali, but that wasn’t really how it felt when I visited. There were quite a few other people around, the access was established and straightforward, and overall it felt more like a beautiful nature stop or family day trip than hiking through the jungle in search of somewhere remote.

That doesn’t make it less worth visiting. In fact, it’s probably exactly why I’d recommend Banyumala if you want to see one of North Bali’s most beautiful waterfalls without a difficult hike.

The path down takes roughly 15–20 minutes for most visitors. It’s mostly stairs and a clear trail; coming back uphill is naturally a little more tiring.

Is Banyumala worth visiting?

Yes. I just wouldn’t go expecting a secret waterfall with nobody around.

For me, Banyumala is the best choice on this list if you want an easy, beautiful waterfall visit, particularly if you’re travelling with children, don’t want a long hike, or want the option of swimming in a proper natural pool beneath the falls.

If solitude is what you’re after, though, the next waterfall was a completely different experience.

2. Banyu Wana Amertha — best for solitude

Banyu Wana Amertha felt completely different from Banyumala.

The waterfall area is actually a collection of several cascades rather than one single fall, with paths branching off toward different sections. When I visited, I reached a junction where one route continued roughly 100 metres to the left and another about 200 metres to the right.

I followed both. And I didn’t see another person at either.

That alone made Banyu Wana Amertha one of my favourite waterfall experiences around Munduk. The walks aren’t particularly long or difficult, but the atmosphere felt much quieter and more natural than at some of the better-known waterfalls nearby.

The cascades themselves are also quite different from one another, which makes the visit feel like more than just a quick stop for one viewpoint. Water spreads across mossy rock, vegetation and smaller channels rather than dropping in one huge vertical fall, and every part of the area has a slightly different character.

I didn’t swim here because it was a chilly day, although that didn’t keep me dry for long. Standing close to the cascades was enough for the spray to soak me completely anyway.

Of course, I wouldn’t assume you’ll always have Banyu Wana Amertha to yourself just because I did. But compared with the other waterfalls I visited around Munduk, this was easily the most peaceful experience.

Is Banyu Wana Amertha worth visiting?

Definitely, especially if you want something quieter than Banyumala. If I were choosing a waterfall around Munduk specifically for solitude and atmosphere, this would be my pick.

3. Sekumpul, Hidden & Fiji — best overall waterfall adventure

Sekumpul was a completely different experience from the first two waterfalls.

This wasn’t a quick stop where I walked down, took a few photos, and left. I did the longer route that included Sekumpul, Hidden, and Fiji waterfalls, and I’m very glad I did because the whole experience felt much more like a proper day out in the mountains.

A local guide was included in the ticket I bought, and mine was a lovely young student who stayed with me for the entire route. She took me by scooter between the ticket point and some of the trail sections, then hiked with me to all three waterfalls.

I normally prefer having some space rather than being followed around constantly, so I actually really liked her approach. She was there when I needed her, helped with the route and logistics, but otherwise let me enjoy the waterfalls without making the whole experience feel supervised.

Don’t stop at Sekumpul

Sekumpul is the famous one, and it’s absolutely impressive, but I wouldn’t come all this way just to see that one waterfall and leave.

The longer route to Hidden and Fiji waterfalls is what made the visit memorable for me. Each part felt different, and by the time I reached all three, it had turned into a proper waterfall adventure rather than just another sightseeing stop.

There were also noticeably fewer people once I moved beyond the main Sekumpul area, which made the longer route even more worthwhile.

Visiting Sekumpul in heavy rain

The weather turned while I was there and a strong tropical shower caught us at the waterfalls.

At that point, trying to stay dry was pointless anyway. Between the rain and the spray, I was completely soaked, and honestly it only made the whole experience more memorable.

This photo of me hiking in a swimsuit and hat in the rain probably sums up that day better than anything else.

The rain also changed the waterfalls themselves. The currents were strong, and I decided not to swim. From the drone, I could even see one of the falls running brown with sediment after the heavy rain.

That’s something worth keeping in mind if you visit Sekumpul (or any other waterfall) during rainy season. Conditions can change quickly, and a waterfall that looks calm in somebody else’s photos may look completely different when you arrive.

Should you swim at Sekumpul?

You can swim in parts of the area when conditions are good, but I wouldn’t treat that as a guarantee.

On my visit, the rain had made the currents too strong for me to feel comfortable getting into the water, so I stayed out. I still got completely drenched from the spray and rain anyway. If the water looks rough, listen to your guide and don’t force the swimming part just because you expected to do it.

Is Sekumpul worth visiting?

Absolutely — but I would do the longer route.

If you have the time, Sekumpul + Hidden + Fiji is the waterfall experience I’d choose for the biggest sense of adventure. It takes more effort than Banyumala or Banyu Wana Amertha, but it also feels like much more than simply ticking off another Bali waterfall.

4. Aling-Aling — best for jumping and natural slides

Aling-Aling is a little different from the other waterfalls in this guide because you’re really visiting a whole waterfall area around Sambangan rather than one single swimming spot.

The main Aling-Aling Waterfall is considered sacred, so swimming in the pool directly beneath it isn’t allowed. The cliff jumping, swimming and natural waterslides that this area is famous for happen at the nearby Kroya, Kembar and Pucuk waterfalls, which are reached as part of the same visit.

That’s also why people sometimes casually say they’re “jumping at Aling-Aling,” even though the actual jumps and slides happen at those neighbouring waterfalls.

For many travellers, that’s the entire reason to come here. Ironically, it’s also the one waterfall area where I had absolutely no desire to get into the water. 😂

There were quite a few people around when I visited, particularly at the jumping and sliding spots. After having some of the other waterfalls almost to myself, it simply wasn’t the kind of swimming experience I was looking for, so I stayed out of the water and explored the area instead.

That’s very much based on my visit, though. If jumping from rocks, sliding down natural waterfalls and swimming in the pools sounds fun to you, the Aling-Aling area offers something none of the other waterfalls in this guide really does.

Is Aling-Aling worth visiting?

Yes, if you want cliff jumping, natural waterslides and a more active waterfall experience, this is probably the best choice on the list.

If, like me, you prefer quieter swimming spots and having a little more space around you, I’d choose Banyu Wana Amertha or Leke Leke instead.

5. Leke Leke — best for a beautiful waterfall swim

Leke Leke is one of those waterfalls that looks almost exactly like you hope a Bali waterfall will look: a single narrow stream of water dropping between steep, densely green walls into a small pool below.

There were quite a few people around when I visited, so this wasn’t another Banyu Wana Amertha situation where I had the place to myself. But it still felt much more like a nature stop than the activity-focused atmosphere I experienced at Aling-Aling.

I swam in the pool beneath the waterfall, which ended up being one of my favourite parts of the visit. The pool isn’t enormous, and with other people coming and going you probably won’t have it to yourself, but swimming directly beneath that tall, narrow waterfall is worth it.

The walk to Leke Leke also adds enough effort to make arriving at the waterfall feel rewarding without turning it into the kind of longer adventure I had at Sekumpul.

Is Leke Leke worth visiting from Munduk?

Yes. Leke Leke is farther south than the other waterfalls in this guide (this is worth pointing out because Bali waterfall guides can get a little creative with geography), but I still think it’s worth the drive from Munduk — I just wouldn’t go there and immediately turn around.

The easiest way to make a day of it is to combine Leke Leke with Ulun Danu Beratan Temple and the Bedugul area. The temple sits on Lake Beratan and is one of Bali’s most recognizable sights, so the combination gives you something completely different from another waterfall.

Another option is to stop at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and turn the trip into a longer loop through the mountains and rice fields. If you’re travelling onward toward Ubud rather than returning to Munduk, Leke Leke also works very naturally as a stop along the way.

So I wouldn’t rule out Leke Leke because it isn’t immediately beside Munduk. Pair it with Ulun Danu Beratan or Jatiluwih, and it becomes a much better half- or full-day trip.

Just note that it isn’t the waterfall I’d choose for solitude, and it doesn’t offer the big adventure of Sekumpul. But if you want a beautiful jungle waterfall where you can actually get into the pool and swim beneath the falls, Leke Leke is an easy one for me to recommend.

Which Munduk Waterfall Should You Visit?

If you only have one day

I wouldn’t try to visit all five. For a classic Munduk waterfall day, I’d combine Banyumala and Banyu Wana Amertha. They work well together and give you two very different experiences: Banyumala is the more established, easy-access waterfall, while Banyu Wana Amertha feels much quieter and more atmospheric.

If you want a bigger adventure instead, dedicate the day to Sekumpul, Hidden and Fiji. I wouldn’t add another major waterfall just for the sake of ticking off one more place — the longer Sekumpul route already gives you plenty of hiking, scenery and time around the falls.

Leke Leke works better as a separate outing. From Munduk, I’d combine it with Ulun Danu Beratan and the Bedugul area, or make a longer day of it with Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.

And if the jumping, sliding and swimming are the main reason you’re going to Aling-Aling, give yourself enough time there rather than trying to squeeze it between several other waterfall stops.

How to Visit the Waterfalls Around Munduk

The waterfalls in this guide are spread across the mountains of North Bali, sometimes quite far from one another, so the easiest way to visit them is to plan them as separate day trips or combine only the ones that make geographical sense.

I explored them with a private driver, and for this part of Bali, I’d happily do it the same way again. I didn’t have to think about navigating mountain roads, parking, or riding a scooter for long distances. He simply drove me to each waterfall, waited while I explored, and then we continued to the next stop.

It also gave me more flexibility than joining an organised tour. I could stay as long as I wanted, change the plan along the way and combine waterfalls with other places nearby.

Sekumpul was the exception. For the longer route I chose, a local guide was included with my ticket. My driver waited while I continued with her by scooter and on foot to Sekumpul, Hidden and Fiji waterfalls, and I met him again afterward.

If you’re confident on a scooter, you can explore this part of Bali independently. But if you want to visit several waterfalls or combine them with other stops around North Bali, a private driver is the option I’d personally choose.

How to Plan a Munduk Waterfalls Day Trip

I wouldn’t try to visit every waterfall in this guide in a single day. They’re spread across different parts of North Bali, and rushing between them would mean spending more time in the car than actually enjoying the waterfalls.

Half day: Banyumala + Banyu Wana Amertha

These two make the most natural pairing from Munduk. They’re relatively close to one another, but the experiences feel very different.

Banyumala is the more established and accessible stop, while Banyu Wana Amertha feels quieter and gives you several different cascades to explore.

If you start early and don’t rush, this combination makes a very relaxed half-day waterfall trip.

Full adventure day: Sekumpul + Hidden + Fiji

I’d give Sekumpul, Hidden and Fiji most of a day rather than trying to add another major waterfall afterward.

The longer route already includes scooter transfers, hiking and three different waterfall areas, and it’s much more enjoyable when you’re not watching the clock because you still have two more places to reach.

Leke Leke: combine it with another stop

Leke Leke works well as a separate full day outing from Munduk, especially if you combine it with Ulun Danu Beratan and Bedugul or make a longer day of it with Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.

That makes much more sense than driving south only for the waterfall and immediately returning to Munduk.

Aling-Aling: give the activities time

If you’re going to Aling-Aling specifically for the cliff jumps, natural slides and swimming, I’d treat it as its own activity-focused trip.

You could technically combine it with another stop in North Bali, but I wouldn’t plan a packed waterfall-hopping day around it if you actually want time to enjoy the water activities.

Do You Need a Guide for the Munduk Waterfalls?

For most of the waterfalls in this guide, I visited independently once my driver dropped me off.

I didn’t use a guide at Banyumala, Banyu Wana Amertha or Leke Leke.

Sekumpul was different. For the longer route I chose, covering Sekumpul, Hidden and Fiji waterfalls, a local guide was included with my ticket. She helped with the route, drove me by scooter between some sections and hiked with me to all three waterfalls.

For Aling-Aling, the rules depend on what you want to do. If you’re only visiting the waterfall, the setup is different from booking the cliff-jumping and natural waterslide activities, which are typically done with local guidance.

I’d avoid choosing a waterfall based on a blog post claiming an exact guide or ticket price. The system around some of these places changes, so check the current options when you arrive.

Can You Swim at the Waterfalls Near Munduk?

Yes, at several of them — but whether swimming is a good idea depends on both the waterfall and the conditions that day.

I swam at Leke Leke, while at Banyu Wana Amertha I skipped it simply because the weather felt too chilly.

At Sekumpul, heavy rain had made the currents much stronger, so I stayed out of the water. That’s why I wouldn’t treat “swimming allowed” as meaning “you should definitely swim.” Water levels and currents can change quickly after rain.

At Aling-Aling, swimming, jumping, and natural waterslides are a major part of the experience, although I personally skipped them because it was the busiest waterfall area on my visit.

Best Time to Visit the Munduk Waterfalls

I’d go early in the day, especially for the better-known waterfalls such as Banyumala, Leke Leke and Aling-Aling.

Earlier visits generally give you a better chance of avoiding the busiest part of the day, and they also leave more time if you’re combining several stops.

Weather matters just as much as crowds. North Bali is mountainous, and rain can arrive quickly. That doesn’t necessarily ruin the experience — Sekumpul in the rain was one of my most memorable waterfall days — but it can affect hiking conditions, visibility and whether swimming is sensible.

If heavy rain has fallen recently, take extra care around slippery paths and strong currents.

What to Bring to the Munduk Waterfalls

You don’t need serious hiking equipment for most of these places, but I’d bring shoes with decent grip, swimwear, a light towel or quick-dry layer, drinking water, cash and something waterproof for your phone or camera gear.

I’d also keep a dry layer in the car if you’re travelling with a driver. Between swimming, waterfall spray and sudden tropical rain, there’s a very good chance you’ll end up wetter than planned.