Visiting Sekumpul Waterfall In Bali Without A Guide
Welcome to Sekumpul Waterfall (without a guide)!
Bali’s jungles hide some of the most mesmerizing waterfalls, perfect for those ready to trek through tangled vines to uncover nature’s secluded gems. One of the tallest and most picturesque waterfalls in Bali is Sekumpul Waterfall, towering over 80 meters tall (260 feet). It is one of the top waterfalls to visit in Bali, but trying to avoid the costly and aggressive guides can put a damper on the experience. If you are wondering how to visit Sekumpul on your own and skip the excess fees, this article is for you!
Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling please :)
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Sekumpul Waterfall Bali: Without A guide
Me standing on a rock in front of Sekumpul Waterfall in Bali.
About Sekumpul:
Sekumpul Waterfall, towering over 80 meters tall (260 feet), is known to be one of the tallest and most picturesque waterfalls in Bali. Sekumpul is surrounded by a flourishing green jungle, offering a more remote and serene feeling when compared to the other waterfalls in Bali. It is located in the village of Sekumpul, in the Singaraja region, hence the name. Sekumpul translates to a bunch in Indonesian, referring to the collection of 7 waterfalls in the area, including the more popular Fiji Waterfall and Lemukih Waterfall.
There are two ways to experience Sekumpul, one from above and one from below.
Location:
Sekumpul Waterfall is in the village of Sekumpul in the Singaraja region of Northern Bali.
The viewpoint from above Sekumpul Waterfall is here.
The entrance to the bottom of the falls you want to go to is just past Warung Fiji. The hike down to Sekumpul Waterfall from here is 30 to 45 minutes long.
When To Visit:
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
I recommend visiting in the morning to avoid larger crowds. The cooler morning temperatures also make the trek and stair climb more manageable compared to the midday heat. Even at 8:00 AM, it was still extremely hot and humid near the waterfalls. Be sure to pack plenty of water and electrolytes—coconut water is always a great option. While I was there (8:00 AM), I only saw about ten people and spent around an hour at the waterfalls.
Where To Stay:
Me standing in front of lush rice terraces in Aling Aling, Bali, a nearby spot to visit or stay before exploring Sekumpul Waterfall
One option for accommodation near Sekumpul Waterfall is in the village itself!
Best Accommodation Options: Sekumpul Village
Backpacker/Hostel Option: Friendly Homestay Lemukih or Sugi Gede Homestay
Best Low-Budget: Taman Dari Villa
Best Mid to High End Budget: Munduk Kupang Sekumpul Villa or Rostika Hotel & Camping Sekumpul
I did not stay in the local village and instead chose accommodation in the Aling Aling area, known as Sambangan. It is roughly a 2-3 hour drive from Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, and other popular regions in Bali. The drive from Sambangan was around 45 minutes to Warung Fiji, the starting point of the Sekumpul Trek (without a guide).
Sambangan has breathtaking landscapes filled with lush green rice terraces, farmland, and palm trees. You only need to spend 1 or 2 nights here. It is the perfect escape from the Bali crowds and a refreshing way to reconnect with nature. The popular cliff jumping and natural waterslide waterfall, Aling Aling, is nearby.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: Sambangan
Backpacker/Hostel Option: Uma Nirmala Aling-Aling
Best Low-Budget: Damuh Pertivi - I stayed here and would recommend it to anyone. I had a beautiful view of rice terraces and a small river outside of my balcony.
Best Mid-Budget: Shanti Natural Panorama View Hotel
Best High-End Budget: Maha Hills Resort by Mahaprana Experience - This place is beautiful!
You can also find hotel deals at Agoda and Hostel World!
What To Bring:
Cash for the entrance fee (IDR).
A swimsuit and towel! – You can swim in Sekumpul Waterfall!
Water shoes or some old sneakers to protect your feet while walking around the water and cliffs. This is not a necessity, but it is a good addition to protect your feet and prevent slipping.
A waterproof camera or GoPro to capture epic moments near the falls.
Bring something to wipe off your phone and camera lens, as the waterfall splashes a lot of water around, even from a distance.
Sunscreen and mosquito spray.
Reusable water bottles and snacks—there are no food or beverage stands nearby.
Mistakes can happen, especially when trekking and walking around slippery areas, so I recommend always having some form of travel medical insurance. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
how to get there:
The best way to reach Sekumpul Waterfall is by scooter rental or, if you prefer, by car. You can hire a driver for the day to ensure you have a ride both ways. You can find a private car driver here. If arriving by car, you must park before Warung Fiji, since the path becomes narrow. Scooters can ride down the narrow path to the official parking area for the waterfalls. I drove down to the parking area, and it was a bit tricky, but if you drive slowly, you should be okay.
The viewpoint from above Sekumpul Waterfall is here.
To trek to the bottom of the waterfalls without a guide, you must go through the entrance just past Warung Fiji. There is a second entrance point to Sekumpul on Google Maps, but you cannot trek without a guide.
entrance fees and Avoiding a guide:
The entrance fee for the Sekumpul Waterfall Viewpoint (view from above) is 20,000 IDR (1.28 USD).
The entrance fee for the trek to the bottom with a guide is a minimum of 250,000 IDR (16 USD).
The entrance fee for the trek without a guide (the real entrance fee) is 20,000 IDR (1.28 USD).
Aside from the Sekumpul Waterfall Viewpoint from above, there are TWO places where you can access the Sekumpul Waterfall trek to the bottom. One costs far more than the other and forces you to get an unnecessary guide, whereas the other does not. The one you want to avoid a guide is the Warung Fiji entrance, found here. The entrance fee here should be only 20,000 IDR (1.28 USD). The Warung Fiji entrance is the southern starting point for the trek and is also a great spot to stop for a beverage and view, either before or after your trek.
Beautiful rice terraces at Sekumpul, a must-see spot near Bali waterfall Sekumpul
The best way to get here is by scooter rental or, if you prefer, by car. You can hire a driver for the day to ensure you have a ride both ways. You can find a private car driver here. The driver will park before Warung Fiji since the roads become quite small. Scooters can ride down to the official parking area for the waterfalls. The road is thin (pictured below), so if you do not feel confident driving, park where the cars stop. I drove down to the parking area, and it was a bit tricky, but if you go slowly, you should be okay. You will know you have arrived once you see the small building where you will pay the entrance fee to the waterfalls. The parking fee here is 2,000 IDR (0.13 USD).
The steeper road that runs from Warung Fiji and the rice terraces down to Sekumpul Waterfall in Bali.
The Scam
If you have done some due diligence and read the Sekumpul Waterfall reviews, you will notice that tourists comment on being forced to pay either fake entrance fees or more than they want to pay for an entrance that should be only 20,000 IDR. Going to Warung Fiji should ensure you avoid this scam. In 2023, this scam was closed down by the local tourism office, but as of recently, it is back up and operating. If you want to read more about the previous shutdown, click here.
To give you some perspective on why the locals are doing this, they live in a very remote and poor area, where income is hard to come by, so they have resorted to this guide and ticketing scam. The guide can be helpful if a) you are not very active, are clumsy, or do not have much experience trekking, or b) you would like someone to take photos of you by the waterfalls.
Otherwise, try the following to avoid the scam:
Avoid anyone trying to sell you Sekumpul entrance fees before the trek starting point. You should be able to park, hop off your bike, pay the 20,000 IDR entrance fee, and begin your trek from there.
You do not need a guide to trek to this waterfall! Some people may try to insist that you need a guide, claiming the trek is too dangerous to do on your own and that having a guide is ‘required.’ It is not required. These guide fees start at 250,000 IDR (16 USD) per person, which is insanely high for such a short trek. I recommend ignoring them altogether, and if they try to stop you along your drive down to the falls, drive right by them and do not stop. They should be more easily avoidable by going to the Warung Fiji entrance.
When you arrive at the Warung Fiji entrance, the ticket seller may ask you where you are staying. Apparently, they only offer the 20,000 IDR entrance fee (without a guide) to those staying locally to help secure more of an income for their village. Be sure to take note of a homestay or hotel nearby in case they ask where you are staying. I chose a random local stay, and the surrounding locals (not even the one handing out the tickets) were rude and did not want to believe I was staying there. However, I acted confident and ignored their questioning while waiting for the entrance ticket. If you do not want to lie about your accommodation, you can always book a one-night stay in the village.
If you are thinking, “I do not even want to have to drive there on my own, never mind dealing with being pressured to hire a guide,” you can always book a tour that includes transport and entrance fees. You can find the best tour options below.
The trekking path to Sekumpul Waterfall (before the steep steps).
Me climbing down the steep steps to Sekumpul Waterfall in Bali.
A view of the jungle from the trek down to Sekumpul Waterfall in Bali.
As for the trek itself, it involves walking down a somewhat steep trail, followed by a steep set of stairs (400 steps or so with hand railings), and crossing a small pond or river. Some reviews mention the hike as quite challenging, but aside from the steep stairs, I found it completely manageable. I recommend wearing shoes that are easy to remove for the river crossing. Honestly, I wore flip-flops for the trek. Sneakers would have been safer, but I made it just fine. Just take your time, move carefully, and ensure you are stepping on secure rocks and steps. The trek down took less than 30 minutes or so, while the trek up took a little longer because of the heat and stair depth—it was tiring, and I am short…
You can swim at the base of the waterfall, so do not forget to pack your swimsuit!
The waterfall is extremely powerful, and water splashes around while you are taking photos. Bringing a camera cloth might help, though I still have some watermarks on mine if you look closely.
If you want to visit the other waterfalls nearby, follow the signs at the end of the steep steps toward the different waterfalls. Sekumpul is to your right, while Fiji and the others are to your left.
Is Sekumpul waterfall Worth Visiting?
Couple standing in front of Sekumpul Waterfall in Bali.
Yes, absolutely! Even with the annoying pressure to hire a guide. I was skeptical about visiting Sekumpul because of all the Google reviews and Trip Advisor reviews I read previously. But Sekumpul Waterfall was the first and only waterfall on my list I wanted to visit when I first came to Bali in early 2023. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Sekumpul was incredible to view in person—I think I just sat there and stared at them for at least 10 minutes before saying anything. Every viewpoint of them is a “wow” moment, and you can even swim in the water pool below them. The hike on its own was a unique experience, feeling very remote and jungle-esc. I would highly recommend these waterfalls to anyone visiting Bali.
There are other popular waterfalls in the area, including Fiji and Lemukih, which are beautiful too. Lemukih also has a natural waterslide!
General Information: Sambangan
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Rainy Season: Late October/November - March | Dry Season: April - Early October
Sambangan is a relatively wetter area in Bali and is best visited anytime throughout the dry season from April to October. I visited Sambangan and Sekumpul Waterfall in late September/early October, and it was the perfect weather. The area was flourishing and green with rice fields, farming, waterfalls flowing, etc. I would not head here during the rainy season because I imagine the waterfall trek would be too slippery and dangerous.
HOW TO GET TO Sambangan:
Flying: The only airport in Bali is located 89.4 KM (42 Miles) from Sambangan, in Denpasar: Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). You need to order a taxi or rent a motorbike to reach this region from the airport.
The drive can be as short as 2 hours and 10 minutes if you leave before 8:00 AM or after 7:00 PM and as long as 4 hours. Motorbike tends to be faster than cars because they can weave around traffic.
Taxi: You can order a local taxi, Grab (rideshare app), or GoJek (rideshare app) from nearly anywhere else in Bali to Sambangan.
A local taxi can be arranged at the airport or booked beforehand through your accommodation.
Grab is better than GoJek for longer distances (from my experience). In the past, I have had GoJek drivers arrive to pick me up, and ask for more money, and when I said no, they turned around and drove away.
For either app, you can ride in a car or on the back of a motorbike. The motorbike is the cheaper option by far. If you have more bags or are uncomfortable being on the back of a bike weaving through cars for longer, hot hours, I do not recommend taking the back seat of a motorbike. You will also have to hold your bags unless they are small enough to fit in the front of the bike.
A car is a more comfortable option, but it can take longer with traffic. Car prices vary a lot depending on the time of day and demand.
Motorbike: Motorbike rental businesses are everywhere in Bali for you to choose from. I will say, some are extremely overpriced and untrustworthy so be sure to read reviews. For my last rental, I used Bali Best Motorcycle. They also do bike delivery and pick-up! You can arrange a rental through WhatsApp before you arrive.
Be aware that the roads leading to Sambangan are not in perfect condition—the infrastructure in Bali is not great overall. You should be a confident driver, especially during high-traffic times while you are navigating around cars and other obstacles. If you have bags, you must wear them on your back, or place them near your feet while riding.
Always wear your helmet and have your international driver’s license with you if you are pulled over or stopped by local police. I have only been pulled over once for my friend not wearing a helmet.
MODE OF TRANSPORT IN Sambangan:
The best form of transport in Sambangan is by motorbike. Points of interest (aside from Aling Aling Waterfall) are quite spread apart and the area is very hilly, so walking could take too long. Daily motorbike rentals are usually around 80,000/90,000 IDR (per day) for a small motorbike or scoopy. The larger the bike, the more expensive it will be. You will find better deals for longer-term rentals versus daily. Be sure to negotiate pricing, as some places will just throw out a more expensive price to see if you will take it. As mentioned, I rent my bike from Denpasar.
There are a few local taxis around, which you can usually hire from your accommodation or through Grab.
Motorbike Driving Tip:
Always check that the bike is working and take photos of any previous damage made to avoid arguments with the rental places.
Keep in mind the traffic can be a bit chaotic, and sporadic, and some of the roads are overwhelming or unpaved. So, if you are not confident in your motorbike abilities, then hopping on the back of a bike via Grab or Gojek may be a better option.
Always wear your helmet—so many people do not wear their helmets, which blows my mind. Wearing your helmet could save your life.
WHERE TO STAY:
I recommend spending the night along the Aling Aling Waterfall road to enjoy breathtaking landscapes and cooler temperatures. You only need to spend 1 or 2 nights here. It is the perfect escape from the Bali crowds and a refreshing way to reconnect with nature. Sekumpul Waterfall is only a 45-minute drive from here.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: Sambangan
Backpacker/Hostel Option: Uma Nirmala Aling-Aling
Best Low-Budget: Damuh Pertivi - I stayed here and would recommend it to anyone. I had a beautiful view of rice terraces and a small river outside of my balcony.
Best Mid-Budget: Shanti Natural Panorama View Hotel
Best High-End Budget: Maha Hills Resort by Mahaprana Experience - This place is beautiful!
You can also find hotel deals at Agoda and Hostel World!
ARE THERE VEGAN or Gluten-Free OPTIONS?
Yes, but there are not too many, so you may need to get creative.
For eating gluten-free in Warungs, you can also order most dishes without soy sauce.
“Wheat” in Indonesian is “gandum.”
“Saya allergie kecap” means you are allergic to soy.
IS IT SAFE?
Sambangan felt safe to me—it was very quiet and peaceful. However, I recommend staying up to date with your country’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling including:
Keep an eye on personal belongings and valuable items. Do not leave them in your bike.
Never forget your keys in your motorbike, and never leave anything valuable sitting out. Someone may steal it, especially monkeys.
Always triple-check vaccination requirements and recommendations for countries. Some potential illnesses include Typhoid and Hepatitis A.
Pack mosquito spray to protect yourself from Dengue and Malaria. There have been recent cases of Dengue in the region.
Wear your helmet when riding your motorbike. So many people do not wear their helmets and it could quite literally save your life.
DO NOT drink the tap water. Keep your mouth closed in the shower and even use bottled water for toothbrushing, especially if you have a sensitive stomach like me!
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo for my eSims.
Emergency Contact Number: Police: +62 110 | Fire: +62 113 | Ambulance: +62 118 or +62 119
You can find a complete list of Bali Emergency #’s here.
