There’s no doubt that Sekumpul Waterfall is one of the most beautiful in Bali. The huge double drop cascade looks like something out of Jurassic Park. You feel like you’ve strayed into a patch of wild jungle, despite the fact you’re actually only a short walk from the village.
However, somewhere as beautiful as this doesn’t stay a secret for long, and it’s now one of the most popular waterfalls in Bali. Unlike Tukad Cepung, this has led to an increasing frenzy of scams and a mandatory guide policy.
We’re sharing exactly what it’s like to visit and tips to ensure you have the best experience.
Sekumpul Waterfall
The scams
I hate starting on a negative, but let’s get this out of the way at the beginning. A visit to Sekumpul Waterfall means running the gauntlet of scammers.
They begin from a staggering 20 minutes before you reach the falls and keep on going almost all the way along the road to the official entry booth.
They come in the form of stands manned by locals insisting that you must stop to register for the falls and take their ludicrously priced guide services.
None of these are genuine, and they will all overcharge you by a significant margin - sometimes as high as four times the real price. They will wave you down with gusto and insist you must stop like it is some kind of roadblock or police checkpoint.
Don’t stop. Drive past every single one until you reach this car park, marked on Google Maps. Here you’ll find the official ticket booth. Sadly unlike on our first visit, the offical fee has increased by five times and a guide is now mandatory.
The main entrance to Sekumpul Waterfall
There is a second route to Sekumpul which begins at Lemukih village and this used to be an entry point that allowed you to buy a ticket at a normal price and no guide was necessary. This is no longer the case.
We tried this route first and a guide is now mandatory, and the price even higher (starting at 175k IDR per person - USD $12). The walk is also longer from here so there’s no point using this option unless you fancy a longer walk.
We drove right past the ticket office at the junction and all the way to Warung Fiji where the walk begins. This didn’t deter the guides who followed us on motorbikes.
You may get away with it at sunrise, but even then I doubt it, and if lots of people do it, then there will definitely be people waiting for you at sunrise too. The best thing to do with Sekumpul now is to accept you must pay the high entry fee.
When it comes to the guide however, if going from the main entrance at Sekumpul village, you can get away without a guide.
To guide or not to guide?
So whilst a guide is mandatory at either entrance there is a way round it at the main entrance at Sekumpul Village.
Now, unfortunately if you’re thinking that the price will be cheaper, then I’m going to disappoint you: it isn’t. But if your primary reason for not wanting a guide is not so much cost, but because you don’t like someone trailing behind you and rushing you, then you are going to be relieved!
I fully expected when I asked at the booth to go without a guide that they would tell me it’s not possible, but as soon as I agreed to pay the same price it was a yes!
Every single other person we met on the trail had a guide trailing behind them, so we were amazed to be allowed to go alone. Yes, of course that makes it a bit of a rip off price-wise, but to be honest I’d much rather pay but have my freedom than be tied to a guide.
If you choose this option, you will be guided to the official ticket booth before going it alone. For me this is totally fine - yes you can find it yourself, but there’s actually quite a few turns to make so you may as well relax and let them take you. Once you’ve passed through the gate beside the second ticket booth (where they check your wristband), it’s straightforward all the way and you can stay at the falls as long as you like - just make sure you can remember the way back to the car park (or have Google Maps downloaded offline to ensure you know the direction to go in!).
The walk to Sekumpul Waterfall
Distance: 1.9km each way
Elevation gain: 220m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
The walk to Sekumpul Waterfall is one of the longer waterfall trails in Bali. It’s not difficult, but it does involve a steep descent and a couple of small river crossings. The majority of the track is paved.
To the ticket booth
The first 1.1km of the walk are getting to the ticket booth; or “ticket booth number two”, which is where you have your wristband checked before you are allowed through the gate.
It’s a mix of dirt track and paved path and either flat or gently downhill. It’s nice and easy when dry, but when wet sections become slippery, and after heavy rain the dirt track gets very waterlogged.
However, a little light rain should be no problem. It’s a pretty walk with some great views that get better the closer you get to the ticket booth.
As mentioned, there are some turns you have to make, but you may as well use the guide for this bit.
As you get closer to the gate you’ll enter quite a wild jungly patch, with stairs that are covered in leaf litter. It’s gorgeous.
To the bottom of Sekumpul Waterfall
Once you’re past the second ticket booth, it’s just 100m before you reach the main viewpoint over Sekumpul.
This is a fantastic view and there’s a primary lookout and also a small wooden plank that juts out to offer a slightly side on view.
You’ll then pass through the gate and begin the steep descent down to the base of the falls.
There are so many great vantage points over the falls as you head down, and there are a couple of points you could stop for a break on a bench if you want to.
The track is paved and in good condition for the most part. The steps can be quite steep, but there are often hand rails if needed. Roughly 500m beyond the viewpoint you’ll come to the first river crossing.
Assuming there hasn’t been huge prior rainfall, it’s a really easy crossing with ankle deep water or possibly even lower.
It’s a bit rocky, so it’s easier to cross in shoes, but it only takes a few steps to cross. The track on the other side is a rocky dirt path.
It can be really muddy after rain, which is generally less of an issue in the dry season.
Approximately 150m beyond the first river crossing you’ll come to a second. It’s shorter and again very easy to cross.
You’re then just 50m from a large sandy area and a truly awe-inspiring view of the falls. It really does feel like you’ve entered Jurassic Park, it’s wild and utterly spectacular.
From here it’s just a couple of minutes to reach the pool at the base of the falls, but it’s rocky and very slippery. If the flow of the falls is low it might not be too bad, but at all other times it’s best to take it slow.
Swimming at Sekumpul Waterfall
The pool at the base of the falls is actually quite big and it’s a glorious place to take a shallow dip. The issue at almost all times of year (unless it’s been really dry) is that the spray is pretty crazy.
Even metres away from the pool, you’ll look like a drowned rat in seconds, and taking pictures with a proper camera is near impossible (we didn’t even attempt it!) If you luck out and the flow is not as powerful, it’s probably one of the most magnificent places to swim in Bali.
A word of warning on visiting the falls in rainy season
The biggest risk with visiting Sekumpul Falls in rainy season is flash flooding. In fact we visited in dry season and experienced a flash flood, so it’s something to be mindful of (though I am sure it’s very uncommon in the dry). Really heavy rain can come out of nowhere at any time of year, and completely flood the falls and river system.
If it begins to rain heavily, you should cross both rivers immediately and head to shelter or higher ground. We saw the tiny rivers turn from a crystal clear, gentle flowing creek at ankle height, to a raging torrent that looked like it was in the Amazon jungle! If you were caught on the other side of the river by the waterfall, you’d be stranded until the water receded.
The creek crossing after flooding
There is very little shelter around Sekumpul, and the best place to head is up the first metal staircase and wait on the platform which is shielded from the rain by dense foliage.
I would not be put off visiting in the rainy season, but it’s worth just knowing what to do if monsoon style rains starts.
On a final note: don’t be fooled into thinking a guide makes things safer at Sekumpul Waterfall. When it started to rain incredibly heavily (and the risk of flash flooding was clear), we saw some guides simply run and leave their customers behind.
The two other waterfalls at Sekumpul
There are two other waterfalls just minutes away from the main Sekumpul Falls, Canyon Waterfall and Fiji Waterfall. The canyon falls are located just a few minutes from the first river crossing. Just before the crossing you’ll see a path leading into the jungle on the left.
You can follow it along the river until it runs out when you then have to enter the water, normally it would be very low. For us of course we were gutted to find that it had all flooded and there was no chance of visiting.
The same sadly goes for Fiji Waterfall which is again very close by and looks incredible. Something we’ll have to go back for!
Price-wise the canyon waterfall is included in your Sekumpul entry ticket. To go to Fiji Waterfall costs an additional 75k IDR (USD $5).
Sekumpul Waterfall entry fee
From the Sekumpul village side, entry (with the mandatory guide) is 125k IDR per person for Sekumpul Waterfall and Canyon Waterfall (USD $8.50). If you also want to see Fiji Waterfall you must pay an additional 75k IDR which makes the total 200k IDR (USD $13.70).
If you choose to do as we did and go without a guide you will pay the same fee and your wristband will be checked at the gate.
If visiting from the Lemukih side, the fee is even higher starting at 175k IDR per person (USD $12) and going up depending on how many waterfalls you see. They did negotiate, but the price was still higher than at the main booth for Sekumpul.
There used to be an option which allowed you to see the viewpoint above the falls only (located before the gate) for 25k IDR (USD $1.70), but this seems to no longer be the case. However, it’s worth asking if that’s all you’re interested in.
The best time to visit Sekumpul Waterfall
If you want to escape the crowds, then the best time to visit is early morning; the earlier, the better. This is going to be your best chance at getting the falls to yourself. Later in the day is also quieter than the middle of the day.
In terms of seasons, the waterfall’s flow is reduced as you get further into the dry season, but it will result in less spray and better swimming opportunities. In the wet season, the waterfall will be at its most powerful, but the spray will be crazy, and if you’re unlucky, excessive rain can turn one side of the waterfall brown.
In terms of photography, cloudy days provide even light, which is always our preference, but early morning should also be good too.
Getting to Sekumpul Waterfall
The entrance we recommend is located in the village of Sekumpul. The road is paved all the way, but it’s steep and windy in places with blind corners. A couple of points were too steep for two of us to be on the scooter! If you’re not overly confident, it’s better to take a car.
It takes around an hour to reach Sekumpul Waterfall from Munduk, and it’s two hours from Ubud and almost 2.5 hours from Kuta.
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