Bali is a fascinating island full of awesome beaches and spectacular waterfalls. Nungnung Waterfall, one of the tallest waterfalls in Bali, Indonesia, will certainly leave you speechless. It’s one of the best waterfalls near Ubud!
Multiple reasons make this waterfall a must-visit place.
The water plunges from 50 meters into a refreshing natural pool below. Green moss and plants cover the cliffs all around, which only adds to the beauty of this place.
For some reason, tourism hasn’t quite reached this spot yet. You might have already heard how overcrowded Bali is. Most of the popular attractions are full of tourists taking hundreds of photos. This certainly ruins the atmosphere of some of the most stunning tourist spots.
Nungnung Falls is different. You won’t find many people here. We spent more than an hour at the waterfall and met only ten other tourists or so. Another less touristy places we recommend visiting are Tibumana Waterfall and Sidemen rice terraces.
In this travel guide, we will cover all the essential information you need to know before visiting Nungnung Waterfall in Bali. Learn how to get here, what’s the entrance fee and much more.
Where is Nungnung Waterfall?
Nungnung Waterfall Bali (Air Terjun Nungnung) is in the central part of the island, closer to the north. It lies in Badung Regency, surrounded by lush green forests and never-ending rice fields.
From Ubud, it’s 35km, and it takes more than 1 hour to get here. From Bedugul, it’s only 25km, and it takes 45 minutes. When staying further south in Kuta or Canggu, it will take a bit longer.
You can also save the location of Nungnung Waterfall carpark to your Google Maps app.
Important: NEVER (!!) use the bike icon when using Google Maps in Bali. It might take you to some inaccessible jungle roads that can be dangerous. We learned this the hard way. Always use the car navigation.
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How to get to Nungnung Waterfall
Parking fee: 2,000 IDR
Getting to Nungung Waterfall carpark is an easy task. Follow Google Maps navigation to reach the parking area (Nungnung Waterfall carpark in Google Maps). You will mostly travel along the main roads through some small villages. Road conditions are good on the way.
You can either come here on a motorbike, rent a private car with a driver, or join a group tour.
TIP: Want to see one of the best viewpoints in Bali? If so, you must visit Karang Boma Cliff in Uluwatu.
Rent a motorbike
By far the best way of discovering Bali and its attractions. When renting a motorbike, you have the most freedom when it comes to your itinerary. You should feel confident on a motorbike, though. In places like Ubud and Canggu, the traffic gets insane.
The North Bali is calm, however, expect many curves and steep hills.
Traveling around Bali on a motorbike is also very affordable. The bike rental usually starts at 80,000 IDR per day. When renting for longer, you are likely to get a discount. Possibly, you can also find a deal for 50,000 IDR per day.
We certainly recommend planning a day trip from Ubud or around the north and visiting some of the other attractions in the area as well.
Important: Don’t forget to get an international driving license before leaving your home country. You should also never travel without reliable travel insurance.
Rent a car
If you are not a fan of motorbikes, renting a car for your Bali trip is also an option. The prices start at around 40€ / day. However, keep in mind that some roads are narrow with lots of traffic. It might be even more difficult to navigate around in a car.
If you only have time to visit Indonesia or Thailand, read our comparison guide to help you make a decision.
Private driver
Another option is hiring a private driver for a day. Those who are afraid to drive in Bali, or families with kids will certainly appreciate this option. Check out this Klook offer. The prices start as low as 26€. You can also design your own itinerary.
Book a private car with a driver here.
Nungnung Waterfall Bali guided tour
For those who prefer hassle-free travel and do not like planning, joining a guided tour is the best option. Luckily, you will find a few tours that include the waterfall in their itinerary, too. Either ask around at local agencies or check out this Bali hidden waterfalls tour.
Considering the price of the tour mentioned above, I find it more efficient to book a private car charter instead. You can choose your preferred language and design your own itinerary!
TIP: If you have an extra day, we highly recommend visiting Nusa Penida on a day trip. It’s home to the most famous beaches, such as Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach, and Broken Beach.
Nungnung Waterfall entrance fee
Entrance fee: 20,000 IDR per person
Once you arrive in the carpark area, there’s a ticket booth where you must pay the entrance fee. Locals pay 10,000 IDR, while foreigners are requested to pay 20,000 IDR.
Opening hours
The official opening hours are 9 am to 4 pm. The waterfall is accessible at any time, though. However, the ticket booth is only operating during the opening hours.
Tip for a trip: If you’re looking for a perfect day trip, check out this Ubud private tour. You can visit Sacred Monkey Forest, Tegallalang rice fields, Tegenungan Waterfall, as well as a few other highlights.
Nungnung Waterfall hike
Getting down to the waterfall from the carpark only takes around 15 minutes. However, expect lots of stairs. While it’s not too bad on the way down, you’ll go through hell on the way back up. The stairs are mostly concrete.
Be careful when coming during the wet season or after rain. The surface might be slippery.
Once you climb down the stairs, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the canyon. After crossing a simple bridge over the river the path gets more comfortable. Enjoy the ever-present sound of rushing water as you get closer to the waterfall.
The canyon is full of stunning greenery and unique flora. It feels like you’re in Jurassic Park. Keep walking for a few more minutes on an almost flat trail. As soon as you reach the waterfall, stay on the right to get to a viewing platform. From there, you can capture some photos of the waterfall.
There’s also a bamboo bridge on the left. It takes you over the river closer to the waterfall. The closer you get, the wetter it is. Get ready for a lot of spray. It’s almost impossible to stay dry. Therefore, if you’re a photographer, make sure to bring some cleaning cloth or a towel to keep your camera dry.
Climbing back up takes a lot of effort. There are more than 500 stairs on the way.
If you prefer to visit places that are easy to get to and want to avoid physical activity, this might not be the best place to visit. If you don’t mind making the extra effort to be rewarded with incredible sights, you won’t regret coming here.
Looking for more demanding hikes with mindblowing views? How about a Mount Agung Sunrise Hike or Mount Rinjani multi-day trek? We did both and have no regrets at all!
Swimming in the waterfall
The most essential question that comes to mind when visiting a waterfall is if you can swim in it. The good news is that you can swim in the waterfall. The pool is deep enough to cool down. The water is quite refreshing.
I would not recommend getting too close to the waterfall or standing directly under it. The water flow is strong, making it almost impossible to come closer. You can’t see anything due to water spray. The force of the waterfall can seriously injure you.
Nungnung Falls facilites
As soon as you start your hike down to the stunning gorge, there are no facilities at all. In the parking area, there are public toilets free of charge. You will also find a few food stalls selling some snacks and drinks. Make sure to bring enough water since the path is rather difficult.
Tip for a trip: Planing to visit the most popular attractions near Ubud? This Bali Full-Day Instagram tour covers all the Insta hotspots in one day.
Other activities in the area
Klook.comBest Restaurants around
Since the waterfall is not a very visited place, the amount of restaurants is very limited. If you’re only looking for a small snack, you’ll find simple food stalls around the parking area.
If you’re looking for a proper lunch, check out Warung Listia, the only well-reviewed restaurant in the area. You’ll also find a few small local warungs in the surrounding villages.
Travel Insurance
One of the worst things you could do is travel without insurance. We never go on a trip without travel insurance. Anything can happen during your adventures.
Our go-to company is SafetyWing. They will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
If you purchase the insurance through our link, you still pay the same, and we will earn a small commission. This helps us run our blog. Thank you ❤️
Best time to visit Nungnung Waterfall
Dry season: May – October
Rainy season: November – April
For the best conditions, come as early in the morning as possible. You will most likely have this place all to yourself, and the light conditions are perfect, too. The sun shines directly into the valley, creating a fairy-tale-like atmosphere with mindblowing light rays and mist in the air.
Photographers will definitely have plenty of opportunities for one-of-a-kind photos. Since this waterfall is not too famous, you don’t need to worry about the crowds.
The best time of the year to visit the falls is at the beginning of the dry season. The path will be safer and more enjoyable. The amount of water flow is still overwhelming.
However, even if you come a bit later, you can still expect spectacular views. There’s an incredible amount of water all year round.
During the wet season, it might be a bit more dangerous to visit this place due to the slippery trail and mud. The water flow might be too strong creating an unbearable amount of spray in the area. Additionally, it might be harder to get in the water and closer to the waterfall.
Nungnung Waterfall – conclusion
Nungnung waterfall is without a doubt one of the best waterfalls we have visited in Bali. It offers stunning landscapes, refreshing dips, as well as beautiful views. Visiting this waterfall should certainly be on everyone’s itinerary.
Enjoy watching a majestic waterfall surrounded by lush green cliffs while listening to the calming sounds of flowing water.
We hope this article was helpful and wish you a one-of-a-kind experience in Bali! For more inspiration, also check out our other blog posts.
