Banyumala Twin Waterfall Munduk: A Complete Guide
Welcome to Banyumala Twin Waterfall!
Banyumala Twin is a beautiful, lush green waterfall located near the village of Munduk. Though it is one of the more popular waterfalls in Northern Bali, it is still worth exploring! To help you make the most of your visit, I have put together a complete guide covering everything from the best times to visit to avoid the crowds, to where to stay and how to get there. With its flourishing green scenery and peaceful atmosphere, this waterfall is the perfect spot to unwind and connect with nature.
Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling, please :) Be sure to take any trash, plastic, etc. with you when you leave.
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A Banyumala Twin Waterfall Travel Guide
About Banyumala Twin Waterfall:
Banyumala Twin Waterfall features two streams of water cascading down a rocky face, with many plants, leaves, and flowers flourishing along the rock face. In Balinese, Banyu translates to water, and Mala translates to a flower or a garland, both evoking a sense of water and nature for this waterfall! Twin refers to the two cascades that flow over the rock face at this waterfall.
The Trek
How long does it take to walk down to Banyumala Waterfall?: 25 to 30 minutes total
To get to the waterfall, you must first trek 10 to 15 minutes along a steep stone pathway down to a set of stairs. The path is easy going down, but not so fun on the way up, especially with the humidity. If you do not want to walk along this section, you can hire a motorbike to take you (25,000 IDR).
After you walk along this section, you will reach the waterfall entrance, where you pay your entrance fee and can begin walking down the steps to Banyumala Waterfall. This next area consists of stairs of all different heights, followed by a slippery, muddy dirt path. Be very careful walking across the muddy area, so that you do not fall. There is a railing to help you along the way. Rainy season would make this section nearly impossible.
Some areas of the trek are shady, and some are open to sunlight—be sure to wear sunscreen to protect yourself. Going down the entire trail is not too tough, but coming back up is much more difficult and may take longer.
The first path down to the waterfall entrance.
The stairs down to the waterfall.
The muddy section of the trek down to the waterfall.
Location:
Banyumala Twin Waterfall is in Wanagiri, and the exact location is here.
When To Visit:
Hours: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Rainy Season: Late October/November - March | Dry Season: April - Early October
As is for all waterfalls in Bali, I recommend visiting in the morning for a chance at fewer people and cooler temperatures, making the trek more comfortable compared to the midday heat. Heading here right for opening hours may be best for a chance to have the waterfalls to yourself. I was at the falls around 10:30 AM and 30-40 people while exploring. While it may seem like a large number of people (and motorbikes when you enter the parking area), the viewing area for the waterfalls is quite spacious, and the swimming pool offers plenty of room to spread out. You only need an hour to experience the waterfall, but you can easily spend a few hours here enjoying the sun and swimming in the pool below.
I would not head here during the rainy season because I imagine the waterfall trek would be too slippery and dangerous. Right after the rainy season in March and April, the waterfalls will be more powerful compared to right before the rainy season. I went right before the rainy season in October, so the falls were a tad more dry than usual, but still a beautiful sight.
Where To Stay:
Although Ubud is only 1.5 hours away, the better areas to stay in to access these waterfalls are either Wanagiri or Munduk. Wanagiri is the closer of the two, only 10 minutes or so away, and is high up in the jungle with a view over Buyan Lake. I stayed in Wanagiri Sunset Glamping, and the views over the jungle and valley below were epic. Munduk is a village perched above a lush valley of rice terraces close to Tamblingan Lake. It is a short 25 to 30-minute ride away. Both are beautiful areas of Bali, and you cannot go wrong with either. I stayed 2 nights in each of them.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: Wanagiri
Backpacker/Hostel Option: Wanagiri Campsite
Best Low-Budget: The Garuda Villa & Restaurant or Container Smart Stay (CSS)
Best Mid-Budget: Alamu Eco Lodge or Wanagiri Sunset Glamping (This is where I stayed and is pictured in the photo above!)
Best High-End Budget: Giriwood Hotel & Villa
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: Munduk
Backpacker/Hostel Option: Dong Paloh Hostel (Dorm) or Made Oka Homestay and Warung (Private Room)
Best Low-Budget: Nadya Homestay or Munduk V View House or Bali Rahayu Homestay (I stayed here and really enjoyed my stay).
Best Mid-Budget: Moondock Luxury Camp or Gumi Ayu EcoStay
Best Luxury Budget: Munduk Cabins or Elevate Bali
You can also find hotel deals at Agoda and Hostel World!
What To Bring:
Cash for the entrance fee (IDR).
A swimsuit and towel! – For swimming and drying off. A blanket for laying out on the rocks around the pool is a good idea too, if you plan to stay for a few hours. There is a changing room available down near the waterfall.
Water shoes or some old sneakers to protect your feet while walking around. This is not a necessity, but it is a great addition to protect your feet and prevent slipping. The walkways can be quite steep down to the falls, and sneakers make it easier to walk back up these steep paths — it was tough to walk up in wet flip-flops with my feet slipping. The floor of the waterfall pool is a bit rocky, so having water shoes could make swimming and exploring more enjoyable.
A waterproof camera or GoPro to capture epic moments near the falls. Something to dry your lens as well!
Sunscreen and mosquito spray. There are a lot of shaded areas at the waterfall, but some areas are exposed to the sun.
Reusable water bottles and snacks—there is a warung and small food, beverage, and petrol shop before you hike to the falls. Be sure to pack plenty of water and electrolytes for your day at the waterfalls—coconut water is always a great option.
There is a toilet available for a small fee (2,000 IDR)— be sure to bring along tissues and wipes!
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.
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.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo for my eSim.
how to get there:
The best way to reach Banyumala Twin Waterfall is by scooter rental or, if you prefer, by car. The road to the waterfall’s entrance is a bit rough and bumpy, so be sure to wear your helmet and take your time riding over it. The road features two long stretches of pavement designed for car tires, while other sections are unpaved. Fortunately, the unpaved part is short and manageable!
You can hire a driver for the day to ensure you have a ride both ways. You can find a private car driver here. You can also opt for a tour that includes Banyumala Twin Waterfall like this one!
Renting A Motorbike: Motorbike rental businesses are everywhere in Bali for you to choose from. Some are overpriced and untrustworthy, so be sure to read reviews. 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 throw out a more expensive price to see if you will take it. 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.
entrance fees:
The entrance fee to Banyumala Waterfall is 50,000 IDR (a little over 3.00 USD). You do not need a guide for these waterfalls.
Parking: 2,000 IDR (0.13 USD)
If you do not want to walk along the steep path to the waterfall stairs, you can hire a motorbike to take you through most of it (25,000 IDR or around 3 USD).
Best Tour Options:
Is Banyumala Waterfall Worth Visiting?
Yes! Although this waterfall has become quite popular in recent years, it is still SO worth the visit. This tall waterfall is beautiful, with the perfect pool for swimming around in to cool off. There is plenty of space near the waterfall, so even when the area becomes slightly crowded, you can spread yourself out and relax in another area. There is a unique photo-op spot here, where two bridges run parallel in front of the waterfall (see below). You can stand on one bridge, while the person taking your photo can stand on the other. It is also a unique spot to capture a photograph with fewer people in it!
Looking for more incredible waterfalls to explore nearby? Try Sekumpul Waterfall! You can find all the information you need to visit, here!
