Closest to the tourist areas is Tegenungan — 15 minutes from Ubud, a wide curtain of water with swimming and viewpoint stairs. The showstoppers are up north, 1.5–2 hours away: Sekumpul, a seven-strand cascade dropping 80 metres into a green gorge and widely called the island's most beautiful waterfall, and neighbouring Aling-Aling with its jump pools. In between are dozens of quieter falls: Tibumana, Tukad Cepung with its shaft of light inside a cave, Nung-Nung with 500 steps down.
Route logic: take Tegenungan or Tibumana as an easy add-on to an Ubud day, and give Sekumpul its own early start — the drive north is long and scenic, passing the lake temples near Bedugul. Two or three waterfalls a day is the realistic maximum. Bring grippy shoes, swimwear under your clothes and a dry bag; after heavy rain the water turns murky and currents strengthen — no swimming then.
Tips
- •Arrive at opening: by 10 a.m. the popular falls have photo queues
- •A towel and dry clothes in the scooter box is the best upgrade to the trip
- •In the rainy season ask locals whether swimming is safe — currents change within an hour
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