NUNGNUNG WATERFALL BALI – The Complete Guide

Nungnung waterfall is an incredibly powerful waterfall and one of our favorite Bali waterfalls. But to reach NungNung waterfall you have to put in some effort! More than 500 steps down lead you to the falls, so it is a proper work out the way down and to come back up. But I assure you, it is SO WORTH IT!! This waterfall is one of a kind and one of the best places to visit in Bali. With spectacular power the water gushes down, resulting in a lot of spray. You can dip in the pool, but don’t go too close to the waterfall as the power of the water can injure you seriously. Read in this complete guide all you need to know about Nungnung waterfall in Bali! 

Book here your tour to NungNung waterfall including Mt Batur hike with sunrise

Best Bali waterfalls tours

If you want to explore some of the best waterfalls in Bali, then it is highly recommended to book a tour. Because of Bali’s popularity it is highly recommended to book your tours in advance as it is likely that tours sell out. So don’t wait with booking until you get to Bali. Choose your favorite tours here and secure your booking! All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

• Private hidden waterfall tour. See the best and biggest Bali waterfalls in one day. Start your day with jumping, sliding and swimming at the four beautiful waterfalls of Aling Aling to continue the tour with hiking to Sekumpul and Fiji waterfalls, two of the most beautiful waterfalls of the island. 
• Customized Bali tour. Create your own Bali itinerary and have your private driver for 10-11 hours. Enjoy unlimited mileage and go to all the best waterfalls of Bali you wish to visit. 
• Leke Leke waterfall, Monkey Forest and Jungle swing tour. Visit three highlights of Bali in this one day tour. Explore Ubud Village, visit the iconic Leke – Leke Waterfall, spot monkeys in the Monkey Forest and get stunning views of Ubud rice fields.
• Private Sekumpul Waterfall Hiking Tour. Go off the beaten path on a private trek past a series of picturesque waterfalls in Bali. You will see the majestic Sekumpul Waterfall, often claimed as the most beautiful on the island and learn how the world’s most expensive coffee is produced.
• Ubud waterfalls tour. Visit some of the best waterfalls in and around Ubud including Tukad Cepung, Tegenungan and Tibumana waterfall.

General travel must haves for Bali

Before we dive into some of the best waterfalls in Bali, let’s check a few things to make your travels in Bali easy and safe.

Have you thought about how to get around in Bali? A scooter is the easiest way if you’re comfortable driving one yourself.

• Book your scooter or motorbike here to get around in Bali. This is the most convenient way to arrange your rental motorbike, especially because it gets delivered and picked up for free to your accommodation within Ubud, Canggu, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Denpasar, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Kerobokan, Jimbaran, Sanur. Requirements: 20 years old; international car (B) drivers license for scooters (or moto (A) license for motorcycles); copies of passport and drivers license.

Do you prefer a private driver for the day and the freedom to create your own itinerary?

• Book your full day customisable private tour here

Did you already book your accommodation? 

• Book here your accommodation in Bali

Are you insured during your travels?

• Buy your travel insurance here. Safetywing not only includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability. But also covers all your medical expenses for hospitalisation.

How to get to NungNung waterfall

Located 45 minutes away from Ubud, Nungnung waterfall is a great half day adventure or on your way to North Bali. From the Canggu and Kuta area it is a 45 kilometer drive which makes your journey around 80 minutes long. If you drive with a scooter you’re most likely faster than with a car due to the traffic.

If you’re down for a day of hiking then you can book a tour including hiking Mount Batur with sunrise to visit NungNung waterfall afterwards. This private tour is with the amazing guides of Four Elements and includes transfer from and to your accommodation, all adventure equipment you need, water, lunch and all entrance fees.

Another option if you’re going by your own transport is to combine a visit to NungNung waterfall with a visit to Jatiluwih rice fields and Leke Leke waterfall which are both super close. Getting to NungNung waterfall is actually half the fun. During the drive you will follow winding country roads, along local villages and markets, slowly climbing the lush green mountains of Central Bali. Surrounded by rice fields and coconut palm trees, this drive is truly scenic. You will feel that it gets cooler up in the mountains and that there is more oxygen in the air. Bring a jacket if you want to be sure to not get a cold on the motorbike. Especially when you’re sweaty after the climb back up to the parking lot.

About Nungnung waterfall

Nungnung waterfall is 50 meters high and is most definitely one of the bigger and higher waterfalls in Bali. Surrounded by beautiful greens, this place is magical to visit. You can feel the power of the waterfall as there will be some spray, so make sure to protect your valuable stuff and electronics. There are no toilets, changing rooms or lockers down at the waterfall. So only bring what you really need. If you forgot to bring some water or snacks you can still buy them at the warung near the parking lot.

Nungnung waterfall entrance fee

The entrance fee for waterfall NungNung is 20.000 IDR per person and 2. 000 IDR for a motorbike.

Hike to Nungnung waterfall

The hike to Nungnung waterfall involves quite some steps. In total you’ll have to descend 509 steps until you reach the bottom of the falls. This will take you anywhere between 20-30 minutes depending on your speed. But the hike is beautiful and you will feel completely immersed in the Balinese jungle with lots of greens and tropical plants around. If you get tired, or it starts raining while walking, there are some shelter benches where you can rest or hide from the rain. Once you’re almost at the waterfall you will first hear the powerful falls before you see him. After you’ve crossed a bridge with on both sides beautiful views in the canyon, you’ll know you’re almost there! Here you will see the first waterfall trickling down the rocks, but of course this is not the main waterfall! Walk a little bit further and you will have a perfect view on Air Terjun NungNung. By the way, did you know that Air Terjun is the Indonesian name for waterfall? Air means water in Indonesian, how funny 

Best time to visit Nungnung waterfall

Nungnung waterfall is open year round during both rainy and dry season. But the waterfall is particularly strong and spectacular during the rainy season. Although its power makes it then hard to swim in the pool. Unlike other waterfalls that almost disappear during the dry season, the water stream of Nungnung waterfall is very strong and never really dries out.

The best time to visit Nungnung Waterfall (Air Terjun Nungnung) is in the morning between 9am-1pm for the best lighting from the sun. Also you will have the chance of enjoying the magic of the waterfall with less people.

Opening hours NungNung waterfall are from 9AM – 4PM.

Best time for photos

The best time to explore and photograph NungNung waterfall is in the morning and early afternoon between 10AM – 1PM. There are several reasons for that, as number one is the best light for your pictures. The sun will shine beautifully through the trees creating some magical light rays in combination with the spray. Second reason is that most tourists arrive around between 11 and 12PM, so that’s the best time for you to leave  And the third reason, in the morning it’s not (yet) that hot to hike the 500 stairs down and back up.

There are several angles to shoot from, our personal favorite is with someone in the foreground so you can see the perspective of the impressive Nungnung waterfall. But be prepared of the spray around because it can soak your camera lens, so take a lens cloth with you!

Photo tips for Nungnung waterfall

There are many great photo opportunities at Nungnung waterfall with lots of natural spots. There are many rocks near the natural pool and along the two banks of the stream. So you can stand, sit and walk on these rocks to create a picture you like. Try different angles for example with the bamboo bridge in the foreground, and on the opposite of the waterfall. But to get right in front of the waterfall, you have to cross the river and definitely take a lens cloth with you! When you have different focal lengths, you can capture Nungnung waterfall in many different ways. More cropped in for a powerful effect of the falling water, or a wide angle photo to show the whole scenery of the green canyon you’re standing in. Below you can see the pictures we took with different focal lengths at Nungnung waterfall.

If your camera is not splash proof, be aware that there will be a lot of spray coming from the waterfall. Especially when it’s a windy day. Bring a GoPro if you want to be sure to take some photos and don’t want to risk your camera. However, on a day with no wind, there is not much risk involved for your camera. But always bring a lens cloth with you to dry your lens now and then. See on the picture below how our camera looked like after shooting a bit closer to the waterfall!

How our (splash proof) Panasonic G9 Lumix camera looked like after shooting here!

Pre cautions for Nungnung waterfall

Important to know is that there are no safety guards or locals around watching over people. So if you want to go for a swim at Nungnung waterfall, be extra careful for the current and power of the waterfall. The force with which the water comes down can be deadly! The rocks can also be very slippery as well, especially after rain. So always mind your step!

There is also no toilet, locker or changing room at the waterfall. So be sure to do everything (sanitary stop, put your swimsuit on and eat enough) before you head down to the Bali Nungnung waterfall. On a windy day there will be spray from the falls all over the place, so make sure to put your valuable stuff in a dry bag. However, if you leave your stuff on the opposite of the river near the stairs. they will be safe from the water spray.

Things to do close to Nungnung waterfall

When you’ve finished exploring Nungnung waterfall, there are a few other things to do in the area which you can perfectly combine. Below the three things we can recommend which are only about 30 minutes away from each other.

Visit Jatiluwih ricefields

The Jatiluwih ricefields are one of the best rice terraces in Bali with an incredible history. Located in the middle of Bali near Gunung Batukaru, Jatiluwih offers amazing views on the rice paddies and surrounding mountains. With over 600 hectares of rice terraces following the flowing lush hillside of the Batukaru mountain range, the Jatiluwih rice fields give a new meaning to the word green. The area is very rural with nothing but farming communities which makes a visit to these rice terraces very authentic.

Explore Leke Leke waterfall

If you’re in for more waterfall adventures, then definitely continue chasing the best waterfalls in Bali! Leke Leke waterfall is another beautiful Bali waterfall, only 30 minutes away from Nungnung waterfall. Leke Leke is a narrow stream of water that flows gently down into a small and shallow pool of water. Although you can’t swim here, it is definitely worth a visit. Surrounded by green and lush forestation, you really have the feeling as if you’ve entered a scene from a jungle film. You can even explore behind the falls where you will find a cave which is naturally carved out. 

Watch the monkeys at Sangeh monkey forest

The famous Monkey Forest where most people go is located in the centre of Ubud. But if you want to avoid the crowds but still visit a monkey forest in Bali, then you can combine Sangeh monkey forest with visiting Nungnung waterfall! This 35-acre forest with 17th-century Hindu temple ruins and giant nutmeg trees has the grey macaque monkeys as inhabitants. It’s a fun stop on your way back to Ubud. Make sure to not wear any shiny objects as the monkeys can be very interested in that…

More Bali travel guides

We hope you enjoyed reading our blog post about Nungnung waterfall Bali. If you have questions please let us know in the comments!

Read more about the best and most beautiful Bali waterfalls here

And for the best things to do in Bali, head over to our Bali itinerary

Read all our separate guides about the waterfalls:

Sekumpul waterfall

Tibumana waterfall

Tukad Cepung waterfall

Tegenungan waterfall

Leke Leke waterfall

Banyumala Twin waterfall

Banyu Wana Amertha waterfalls