SUMAMPAN WATERFALL BALI – The Complete Guide
Sumampan waterfall is one of the lesser known Bali waterfalls. Tucked away in a little village called Kemenuh, on the outskirts of Ubud, this hidden gem is often overlooked by tourists. The waterfall is mostly visited by locals who travel during the weekends. But thanks to the power of Instagram, this waterfall has gained more attention which results in more tourists flocking to the area. This hidden waterfall is really worth a visit with its beautiful hanging vines and lush fauna which gives an amazing jungle feeling. In this blog post you will find all the information you need to know about visiting Sumampan waterfall.
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Best tours in Ubud
If you want to explore the best of Ubud including it’s amazing waterfalls, then it is highly recommended to book a tour. During most of these tours you will combine a few locations on one day so you can see the diversity that Bali has to offer. 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.
- Countryside cycling tour from Ubud
- Hot air balloon flight including floating breakfast in Ubud
- Kanto Lampo waterfall including Monkey forest Ubud, Tanah Lot and more. This 10-hour trip packs a lot in, from visiting the sacred Monkey Forest, temples, a waterfall, and the scenic sunset views of Tanah Lot Temple.
- Tirta Empel, Penglipuran village, Tibumana waterfall and Tegallalang rice terrace
- Couple Spa treatment with Sparkling Wine in Ubud
- One day wellness retreat with massage, yoga class and lunch in Ubud
- Ubud jungle Spa experience with forest swing
- 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.
- Ubud waterfalls tour. Visit some of the best waterfalls in and around Ubud including Tukad Cepung, Tegenungan and Tibumana waterfall.
- ATV Quad Bike & White Water Rafting tour in Ubud
- White Water Rafting and Jungle Buggies tour in Ubud
- Ubud rice terraces, temples and Kintamani volcano tour
- Mount Batur hike and white water rafting tour in Ubud
- Ubud and Canggu tour; visit Tegenungan waterfall, Tegallalang rice fields and watch sunset at Canggu beach
General travel must haves for Bali
Before we dive into this Ubud waterfall, 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?
Did you already book your accommodation?
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.
About Sumampan waterfall history
Sumampan waterfall is maintained by a local family who built the access and facilities with their own funds and donations from visitors. The waterfall was actually accidentally formed by water leakage from irrigation tunnels that led to the Blahbatuh area. Due to the excavation of solid rock below the cliff, because of the stone carving, the water quickly spread to the cliff. The flow of the water was focussed on one point of the cliff, creating Sumampan waterfall.
How to get to Sumampan waterfall
Sumampan is one of the beautiful Ubud waterfalls and is a perfect combination with a visit to Tegenungan waterfall. The road is easy to access and winds through local villages and beautiful lush rice fields. If you almost reach the parking area, you have to drive down a dirt road lined with local houses which really gives you a sense on rural living in Bali. Once you’ve reached the parking spot, it’s only a short hike through lush jungle down to the waterfall. You will see a sign to the entrance and the about 50 stairs going down to Sumampan waterfall.
Entrance fee Sumampan waterfall
A donation box can be found at the entrance of the waterfall for the family who maintains the waterfall. For ‘good karma’ you might want to leave around 5.000 – 10.000 IDR as entrance fee.
Opening times waterfall
The waterfall is open to visitors 7-days a week from 6 AM to 6 PM.
Best time to go to Sumampan waterfall
Luckily because this Bali waterfall isn’t a hyped tourist attraction in Bali (yet..), you don’t have to worry about avoiding the crowds. The best time to visit most waterfalls in Bali is from January until June, so during rainy season or right after. As a result of the rain, most Bali waterfalls are powerful. While during dry season some waterfalls dry out or have less power. Take into account that during rainy season the current of the river could be heavy, so swimming or trespassing the river could be difficult or even dangerous.
In terms of the best time of the day to explore Sumampan waterfall, the (early) mornings are always the best. Especially if you want to make some nice photos with the best light circumstances.
Things to do at Sumampan waterfall
Besides taking pictures and enjoying the jungle vibes, it might be possible to bath a bit in the river. But this completely depends on the current which is way stronger in rainy season. When the water levels are lower, you can pass the river with ease. The water is not really deep, so swimming is not possible at Sumampan waterfall. If you want to swim at a waterfall, you can better go to Tibumana waterfall or Tegenungan waterfall which both have a pool under the waterfall.
Another thing to do at Sumampan waterfall is to see stone carvings representing Balinese gods and goddesses. The volcanic stones are carried up and down the stairs so other people can transport them to the carving spots which is Sumampan village famous for. The wood and stone carving goes way back here! An example to the fact of how special this place has been for locals throughout history.
Also take your time on you way to Sumampan waterfall to enjoy the local and authentic Balinese village. The people here are so friendly and don’t see a tourist exploring ‘their’ village everyday.
Photo tips Sumampan waterfall
The beautiful straight waterfall combined with hanging vines and lush fauna gives an authentic jungle vibe. Perfect for some beautiful shots. But depending on the time of year and rainfall, it might be too dangerous to cross the river as you can’t see the stepping stones and the current is very strong. Regardless if you can cross the river or not, the view of the waterfall is beautiful and makes a perfect scene for some waterfall jungle shots!
Watch the short video clip of our time at Sumampan waterfall below! We did had the drone with us but there wasn’t any signal so we couldn’t fly it. Although, we believe the aerial view must be amazing.
Other waterfalls to explore near Sumampan waterfall
There are many waterfalls to visit in the close area of Sumampan Waterfall. Ubud area is waterfall heaven and you can easily plan a full day of touring along the different places and waterfalls. In our complete Ubud waterfalls guide you can find the 10 best Ubud waterfalls to visit. Below a short summary of the best waterfalls to visit close to Suwat waterfall.
Taman Sari waterfall & natural pool
Taman Sari waterfall & natural pool is a beautiful spot located close the road and very easy to access. It has a big natural pool which is great for swimming. Because the pool is one level lower as the main waterfall, it is very safe for small kids, a perfect family waterfall. You can also climb to the upper level where the main waterfall is. There is also a small pool to relax in.
Tibumana waterfall
Tibumana waterfall is a pretty 5 meters high waterfall that flows in a perfect straight form down in to the natural pool. You can take a dip in the pool or just relax on some of the boulders. There is also a cave behind the waterfall, but due to safety reasons it’s not allowed to go in.
Read in our complete guide everything about Tibumana waterfall
Goa Rang Reng waterfall
Goa Rang Reng waterfall is located along the river where Kanto Lampo also connects. This waterfall flows gently down the rock wall into the river where you can swim, so if you are with small kids this might be a great spot to safely enjoy the water. You can also explore the sacred cave which is behind the waterfall. But be careful because the rocks can be slippery when making your way up.
Suwat waterfall
Suwat waterfall is still a bit of a hidden gem that hasn’t been discovered by the big crowds. It’s a small little canyon where the waterfall can be seen and the natural pool can be enjoyed. There is even a bamboo raft which you can use to float on and take your epic instagrammable pictures!
Read in our complete guide everything about Suwat waterfall
Kanto Lampo waterfall
Kanto Lampo is a beautiful, photogenic multi tier waterfall near Ubud. Situated in a canyon, this waterfall seeps down the rocks into a river. It really gives you the feeling that you’re deep in the jungle of Ubud when standing at the bottom of Kanto Lampo waterfall. It’s an easy walk down the stairs and a great place to enjoy the beautiful nature of Bali. However it is not the very best place for swimming, you can still enjoy the beautiful nature and take stunning pictures at Kanto Lampo waterfall!
Read in our complete guide everything about Kanto Lampo waterfall
More Bali travel guides
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog post about Sumampan waterfall.
For more Bali travel guides and inspiration, check all our Bali guides here!
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