On this page
- In Brief
- North Bali Waterfalls at a Glance
- Where the North Bali Waterfalls Are: One Band of Hills South of Lovina
- Sekumpul: Seven Falls in a Jungle Gorge
- Aling-Aling: the Falls for Swimming, Sliding and Jumping
- Gitgit: the Easy Stop on the Mountain Road
- Sambangan and the Secret Garden: a Quiet Trail of Smaller Falls
- Munduk's Falls: Highland Walks Through Coffee and Clove Plantations
- How to Combine the Waterfalls Into a Day
- Best Season: Dry for Easier Trails, Wet for Fuller Falls
- What to Bring, and How to Arrange a Guide
- Practical Notes
- FAQ
- Sources
In Brief
North Bali waterfalls cluster in one band of hills south of Lovina, within day-trip distance of each other. Sekumpul, in the hills above Sawan, is the spectacle. Aling-Aling is the one for swimming, rock slides and cliff jumps, and Gitgit is the easy stop beside the mountain road.
A single long day covers two or three falls. The clearest pairing is Sekumpul early in the day and Aling-Aling in the early afternoon, with a driver from Lovina. The falls run all year, with easier trails in the dry season and fuller water in the wet season.
North Bali Waterfalls at a Glance
- Where: the central highlands south of Lovina, which peak around Munduk
- The three main falls: Sekumpul, Aling-Aling and Gitgit
- Quieter choices: the Sambangan trail with its "Secret Garden" pools, Munduk and Melanting waterfalls, and Banyumala Twin Waterfall
- From Lovina: none more than an hour. Gitgit is roughly 40 minutes.
- In one day: two or three falls. Sekumpul and Aling-Aling pair best.
- Guides: required or strongly recommended at Sekumpul and Aling-Aling. Gitgit you can reach on your own.
- Paying: cash only at most sites, at the gate
- Season: all year. Dry season, April to October, for easier trails. Wet season, November to March, for fuller falls.
Where the North Bali Waterfalls Are: One Band of Hills South of Lovina
Almost all of them sit in the same band of mountains. The central highlands rise south of Lovina, peak around Munduk and drop toward the coast again.
The main road from Singaraja up into the mountains passes Gitgit. A turn east brings you into the Sambangan valley, home of Aling-Aling. Sekumpul sits further east still, in the hills above Sawan.
In practice the waterfalls are within day-trip distance of each other. From Lovina, none of them is more than an hour away. From Munduk, the highland group is already on your doorstep.
A single long day is enough for two or three falls without much rushing. The drives between them are some of the better mountain scenery in north Bali.
Sekumpul: Seven Falls in a Jungle Gorge
Sekumpul is often rated among the most spectacular waterfalls in Bali. A group of seven separate falls drops through a narrow jungle gorge in Sekumpul village, Sawan district. Some are fed by mountain springs and some by the river.
The scale changes the visit. Sekumpul is a whole valley carved by water, and you can see and hear it from a long way off.
Getting there takes a short trek down into the gorge and back out again, so a visit runs a couple of hours. It is worth the time, and Sekumpul is no place for a quick look.
Go first in the day, before the light moves off the falls and before the tour groups gather there. Full details are in the Sekumpul waterfall guide.
Aling-Aling: the Falls for Swimming, Sliding and Jumping
Aling-Aling is the waterfall cluster for travelers who want to do more than look. It sits in Sambangan village, near Singaraja.
The village's own page gives the main fall as about 35 metres, its water split in two halfway down the cliff. Below it is a pool about 4 metres deep, by the Buleleng communications office's account. At its neighbours in the same area, Kroya, Kembar and Pucuk, you can also slide down the rock and cliff jump. Swimming at the main fall and the side falls comes with the village's guided package.
For many visitors these activities take over, and the visit becomes something closer to an afternoon in the water.
From the entrance a signed path takes 15 to 20 minutes, with Aling-Aling to one side and the other three falls to the other. Local guides go with you for the jumps and slides.
The cluster suits people who want movement and a reason to swim more than those who want quiet in front of falling water.
Aling-Aling pairs well with Sekumpul as a combined day, with Sekumpul for the scale and the gorge and Aling-Aling for the water time. Full details are in the Aling-Aling waterfall guide.
Gitgit: the Easy Stop on the Mountain Road
Gitgit is the most accessible waterfall on the mountain road between the coast and the highlands. It sits in Gitgit village, about 11 kilometres south of Singaraja, close to the road.
The car park is straightforward and the trail is short, which makes the fall both easy and busy. The fall itself is a single drop through a forested gulch, attractive without being exceptional.
Gitgit's main drop. Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The case for Gitgit is convenience. Stopping here costs almost no time on the drive up to Munduk or back down. The waterfall is a good one for what it is.
With limited time and one fall to choose, Sekumpul or Aling-Aling are the stronger destinations. For someone making the mountain drive anyway, Gitgit is an easy addition. Full details are in the Gitgit waterfall guide.
Sambangan and the Secret Garden: a Quiet Trail of Smaller Falls
Sambangan calls itself the village of waterfalls. Beyond Aling-Aling, the valley east of Gitgit holds a linked trail through several smaller falls.
One of them is often marketed as "Secret Garden", a set of natural pools below a cluster of gentler cascades. The trail is quiet and well shaded.
Fewer visitors reach it than the three main falls. Finding the right entry point takes more navigation, and the trail lacks the name recognition of Sekumpul or Aling-Aling.
Sambangan rewards the extra effort once you have seen the headline waterfalls and want something slower.
Munduk's Falls: Highland Walks Through Coffee and Clove Plantations
The highlands around Munduk have their own set of waterfalls, mostly along trails through the coffee and clove plantations. Munduk Waterfall and Melanting Waterfall are the most visited. You reach them on a valley walk that descends through the jungle below the village.
These falls are smaller than Sekumpul or Aling-Aling. The highland setting makes the walk feel different from the coast-side falls, with cooler air, mist in the trees and the smell of the forest.
Tutub waterfall in the Munduk highlands. Photo: Stefan Fussan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Munduk's waterfalls are best combined with a night in the village, rather than a drive up from the coast for the falls alone. The area has enough to fill a whole day on its own.
Between Munduk and Bedugul, Banyumala Twin Waterfall at Wanagiri has two streams falling side by side into a pool you can swim in. It is a short walk down from the ridge road.
How to Combine the Waterfalls Into a Day
The clearest combination is Sekumpul and Aling-Aling together. A driver can cover both in a long day from Lovina, and they are different enough in character not to feel repetitive. One is pure spectacle and the other is active.
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Arrange a driver the night before. A driver who knows the area will route the day efficiently. Book one ahead rather than taking a guide at the trailhead.
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Leave Lovina early and reach Sekumpul before the tour vans. Spend two hours in the gorge.
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Drive across to Aling-Aling for the early afternoon.
Adding Gitgit to that day is possible when you drive back on the coastal road through Singaraja. Three falls in one day starts to feel like ticking boxes, so Gitgit is better saved as the stop on the way through.
Munduk's falls belong to a Munduk day. They are too far from the other falls to combine sensibly, and too good to rush.
Best Season: Dry for Easier Trails, Wet for Fuller Falls
Both seasons work, and the falls run all year.
The wet season, November through March, brings higher water volume and fuller falls. Sekumpul in the wet season is a different sight from Sekumpul in July, more powerful and far louder. The trade-off is the trails, as the paths into the gorges and valleys get slippery and the jungle floor turns muddy.
The dry season, April to October, makes for easier walking and cleaner paths, and the falls are still impressive. June through September is the most reliable window for good conditions underfoot.
Go when you are in north Bali, rather than scheduling a trip around waterfall timing.
What to Bring, and How to Arrange a Guide
- Clothes you do not mind getting wet. Even in the dry season, spray reaches further than it looks in photographs, and Aling-Aling is a full swim.
- Shoes that grip. Footwear matters more here than almost anywhere else in north Bali. Rubber-soled sandals work for Gitgit. Sekumpul's gorge path, and any trail in the wet season, needs shoes that grip on wet rock and mud.
- Water for the hike, more than you think you need. The walks are short, but the humidity and the effort of the descent and return add up.
- Cash. Most waterfall sites take cash only, so bring enough before you leave town.
Guides at Sekumpul and Aling-Aling are required or strongly recommended, depending on the visit type. Arranging one through your accommodation or a known driver is cheaper and more reliable than paying at the gate.
Practical Notes
These details change. Confirm current rates and entry arrangements before you go.
- Sekumpul entry and guide fee: set by the village cooperative and paid in cash at the gate, with the local guide included in what you pay.
- Aling-Aling entry, guide, and activity fees (slides/jumping): tiered by which activities you take on, and paid at the gate.
- Gitgit entry: a gate fee per person, paid in cash at the gate.
- Sambangan: confirm the entry fee and whether a guide is required when you arrive.
- Driver for waterfall day (Lovina base): charged as a day rate. Agree it with your driver or your accommodation before you set off.
FAQ
Which waterfall in north Bali is worth seeing? Sekumpul is the one most often given the superlative, a group of seven falls in a steep jungle gorge. Aling-Aling is the better choice for travelers who want to swim and use the natural slides rather than simply look.
Can you visit Sekumpul and Aling-Aling in one day? Yes, comfortably from a Lovina base with an early start. Leave soon after breakfast, spend two hours at Sekumpul, then cross to Aling-Aling for the afternoon. Both falls are within an hour of each other and an hour of Lovina.
Do you need a guide for north Bali waterfalls? For Sekumpul, a guide is required or effectively required. The path into the gorge involves a descent that is confusing without local knowledge, and guides are part of the entry structure. For Aling-Aling, guides are available and necessary for the slides and cliff areas. Gitgit you can reach independently.
What is the best time of year to visit north Bali waterfalls? The dry season, April to October, gives the easiest trail conditions. The wet season, November to March, makes the falls more dramatic but the paths more slippery. Both are viable. The falls run year-round.
How far are the waterfalls from Lovina? Sekumpul is about an hour from Lovina. Aling-Aling and Gitgit are closer, each roughly 40 minutes. All three are reachable as day trips from Lovina with time to spare.
Are north Bali waterfalls suitable for children? Gitgit and Munduk's falls are the easiest for families with young children. Sekumpul's gorge descent is manageable for older children with sure footing. Aling-Aling has swimming and slide activities that older children enjoy, but the cliff jump areas are for adults and confident swimmers.
Sources
- Desa Sambangan (village government), Aling-Aling Waterfall, the hidden beauty of Sambangan village, read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
- Ministry of Tourism, Jejaring Desa Wisata, Cliff jumping at Desa Wisata Sambangan, read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
- Palm Living, Sekumpul Waterfall, read September 2026
- Palm Living, Gitgit Waterfall, read September 2026
- Buleleng Communications Office, Pesona Wisata Desa Sambangan (the pool about 4 metres deep below Aling-Aling, swimming with a local guide), read October 2026 (in Indonesian)
