Epic One-Day Road Trip to 6 Breathtaking Waterfalls Around Ubud

I’m fully aware that “waterfall obsessed” might sound dramatic — but once I saw photos of Bali’s waterfalls, I knew I had to see as many as possible.

The challenge?

There were about a million things I wanted to do in Bali, and only one day I could realistically dedicate to waterfall hopping.

So instead of trying to squeeze waterfalls in between our other plans, my friend and I committed to one full day and mapped out an efficient route that let us experience a variety of waterfalls without spending the entire day in transit.

We wanted a mix of big, dramatic falls, quieter stops, places to swim, and a few that were simply beautiful to see — all while keeping the day realistic and not totally exhausting.

After an evening of research, we landed on six waterfalls located fairly close to Ubud and reasonably close to each other. We did this exact route ourselves, and in this post I’m sharing everything you need to know to recreate it: the order of stops, entrance fees, which waterfalls you can swim in, crowd levels, and whether each stop felt “worth it.”

If you’re short on time in Ubud, but don’t want to skip Bali’s waterfalls altogether, this one-day itinerary is a great way to experience some of the best without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Ubud Waterfalls Day Trip Itinerary (6 Stops)

This Ubud waterfalls road trip takes you to six different waterfalls in a counterclockwise loop from Ubud.

My friend and I did this exact trip starting around 9am and got back to Ubud around 3pm — but we easily could have spent longer at a few stops. I’d suggest planning for a whole day trip.

I think this routing makes the most sense because you’ll hit some of the more popular falls earlier in the day, before the crowds roll in. But you could definitely also go in the opposite direction and still have very efficient routing.

One important thing to note is that there’s a small entrance fee per person at each of these waterfalls (typically 15K-25K IDR, about $1-$1.50 USD).

When my friend and I planned this trip we had read online that most of the fees were more of a donation and you could choose how much to give. This is no longer the case and each of these falls had a set fee, so make sure to have cash on hand!

Tegenugan Waterfalls

If you’re following the route I suggest, your first stop of the day will be Tegenugan Waterfalls. It’s located just 20 minutes outside of Ubud.

The entrance fee for this waterfall is 20K IDR.

This waterfall is very large and can be dangerous if there’s been rain. When we went, there was a sign up that said swimming was not allowed due to the recent storms. I assume during dry season, you would be more likely to be able to swim in the falls.

Tegenugan waterfall definitely felt like one of the more touristy waterfalls, with several spots obviously set up for instagram photos like a bird’s nest spot and several fun signs along the trail.

I will always choose to see more waterfalls, so even though we couldn’t swim in this one, I was happy we went. That being said, if you’re not one to just look at a waterfall and it has rained recently, it may not be worth a stop for you.

If you do come to the falls, I suggest arriving early to avoid the large crowds!

Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Speaking of large crowds, you’ll definitely want to stop at Kanto Lampo waterfall earlier in the morning as well.

This waterfall is the waterfall — yes, the one everyone posts from Bali and somehow looks like a model in.

I personally thought it was really pretty to just walk around (you have to walk near a creek to get to the falls). There is also a small upper level you can visit if you want a view of the falls from a higher vantage point.

We arrived at the waterfall around 10am, and there was already a line of people waiting for guides to take their photo on the main falls, which did make it a bit harder to enjoy.

If you want to enjoy this waterfall with fewer crowds, I suggest arriving early in the morning or right before it closes.

However, if you want your own posed photo — and truly every photo I’ve seen of folks online looks like a professional shoot — you will have to wait in the line and pay the guides to take your photo.

Entrance into the waterfall is 25K IDR.

Goa Rang Reng Waterfall

After two busy waterfalls, Goa Rang Reng waterfall was a great reprieve… as we parked, one couple was leaving and then we had the entire place to ourselves!

There is a 20K IDR fee to enter the main waterfall area, which is at the bottom of several stairs.

When we paid for our entry, there were also a couple of guides who offered to take us trekking and swimming deeper into the falls for a pay-what-you-think donation after the trek. If you have the time and are comfortable hiking along some slippery rocks, that could be a cool experience; however, we chose to just go to the main falls and then continue along our planned waterfall route.

The waterfall itself was very strong, so I wouldn’t recommend swimming unless you’re doing the guided trek, but I do think it’s a great spot to get away from the crowds, eat a packed lunch, and take a quick driving break as it’s right along the route from Kanto Lampo to your next waterfall!

Taman Sari Waterfall & Natural Pool

After spending the morning mostly looking at waterfalls, the sun will probably be getting strong — which makes this the perfect time to actually get in the water at Taman Sari waterfall and natural pool.

There were a few other people here, but overall this was also a very quiet spot.

You’ll take a path to the pool area of the waterfall, drop off your stuff at the side of the pool and hop in!

Basically, it’s a very calm, shallow-ish pool (it went up to my chest at the deepest — and I’m only 5’0″.) Along the back of the pool is a cliff of waterfalls with large rocks at the base where you can sit and enjoy a (very strong) massage.

This was one of my favorite spots of the day as it was so relaxing and nice to cool off in the Bali heat. I also think this would be a great lunch or snack spot if you’re hungry!

The entrance fee for Taman Sari was 20K IDR.

Suwat Waterfall

My friend and I didn’t stay very long at Suwat waterfall, and it personally wasn’t my favorite stop — but it could be perfect depending on what you’re into.

This is a really popular spot for cliff jumping and you can also hire a bamboo raft to explore the falls.

However, my friend is scared of heights, and it was starting to get overcast, so I didn’t really feel like getting into the very cold water at that point either (never thought I would get too cold for swimming in Bali 😅). We didn’t stay very long.

The entrance fee for Suwat waterfall is 25K IDR.

One thing I will say about Suwat waterfall is that it didn’t seem very popular yet, but it was definitely trying to be with a beautiful bamboo covered walkway into the falls, several “instagramable” signs, and some guides offering to take your photo.

So, if you want your Bali waterfall photo without waiting in huge lines, this could be a good spot for it.

Bayad Waterfall

Despite seeing the clouds rolling in, my friend and I made our way to Bayad waterfall and I’m so glad we did!

Have you ever played a treasure hunting video game or watched one of those movies where the main character has to walk down a beautiful path of stones along water to get to the treasure? That’s what this waterfall felt like to me.

I loved it!

Honestly, the waterfall itself wasn’t the main draw for me — but the short walk to get there absolutely was.

In a way, it also felt like a hidden gem since I didn’t really see much about it online… though it did have a large parking lot and a good number of people around, so maybe that was just the experience I had on the day I visited.

The entrance fee is 20K IDR, and I do think you can technically swim in this waterfall, though my friend and I chose not to as we were trying to beat a storm back to Ubud (spoiler: we didn’t make it and looked like wet dogs by the time our bike pulled back up to the hotel🌧️).

Practical Tips for Visiting Six Ubud Waterfalls in One Day

Before you dash off on your own Ubud waterfalls adventure, I wanted to leave you with some practical advice for your day.

Getting Around: Private Driver vs Scooter

First off, it’s really important to decide how you want to do this road trip.

• Option 1: rent a scooter and DIY
• Option 2: hire a private driver for less stress

Renting a Scooter

This is how my friend and I did the trip, and it worked out okay since my friend had become a very good scooter driver by the time we arrived in Ubud.

Renting a scooter will be the cheaper way to see the waterfalls and I love the feeling of being on the back of a bike, so I was very glad we were able to make this work.

But, this is a very long day and being on a scooter in the heat all day long can be tiring. Some of the roads we took were in pretty rough condition with plenty of pot holes… one of them was even a very narrow path alongside rice patties and I was just hoping we wouldn’t fall in. 😅

I would only suggest doing this yourself and renting a scooter if you have a lot of previous experience driving one. If I were to go back on my own, I wouldn’t feel comfortable driving a scooter myself and would opt for a private driver.

Private Driver

What I love about the private driver option is that you aren’t sacrificing the flexibility of a DIY trip when you hire a driver for the day.

You’ll still be able to make the same stops (and maybe even get a local’s advice for additional stops from your driver), you’ll have time to swim, take photos, and you won’t need to deal with the stress of navigation — something that was only possible on a scooter because my friend handled the driving and I handled the routing.

Yes, you may spend a bit more time in traffic when taking a car versus a scooter, but you’ll be comfortable with air conditioning and you won’t have the sun directly over your head for the entire day.

I think hiring a driver is the best option for a long day trip like this… especially if this will be your first time in Bali!

If you want to hit multiple waterfalls in one day without rushing or stressing about directions, a private driver makes this itinerary far more enjoyable.

What to Pack for a Waterfall-Hopping Day

You probably already know what you want to pack for your Ubud waterfalls trip, but I personally always like to have a checklist and wanted to give you one as well!

• Swimsuit and a change of clothes
• Microfiber towel or sarong (something quick drying)
• Water shoes or sturdy sandals
• Dry bag or ziplock bags
• Cash for entrance fees
• Sunscreen + bug spray
• Snacks and lunch

If you are planning a lot of water activities for Bali (and beyond), I love this 25L dry bag backpack and have used it as my day bag on so many trips and hikes! It folds pretty flat to fit into a carry-on, but is still super comfortable to wear all day as you explore!

Final Tips

Food

My friend and I made the mistake of assuming we could easily find food at or around the waterfalls we were visiting… we ended up grabbing a couple of candy bars and waters at the entrance to one of the falls (I think it was Taman Sari), but we really didn’t find many food options.

I definitely suggest packing snacks for the day at the very least, but if I were to do this exact routing again, I would also pack a lunch and enjoy it in front of Goa Rang Reng falls or after swimming at Taman Sari!

Bathroom Availability

I definitely remember a bathroom at the first and final stops of the day since I jokingly took photos of them to “share my Bali adventures” with my family.

I don’t remember the bathroom situation the rest of the day, but I am a bathroom queen with the smallest bladder ever — so the fact that I don’t remember means you should be fine! 😉

Is a One-Day Ubud Waterfalls Road Trip Worth It?

If I had to sum up this Ubud waterfalls day trip in one word, it would be balanced. We saw some of Bali’s most famous waterfalls, discovered a couple of quieter spots that felt like hidden gems, and still made it back without feeling completely wiped out.

While you could easily spend multiple days chasing waterfalls around Bali, I think this route works especially well if you’re short on time or want to prioritize variety over depth. Just know that your experience will depend heavily on timing, weather, and how you choose to get around.

If you’re deciding between renting a scooter or hiring a private driver, my biggest advice is to be honest with yourself about comfort and energy levels. This is a long day, and enjoying the waterfalls is a lot easier when you’re not stressed about navigation or road conditions.

No matter how you do it, Bali’s waterfalls are absolutely worth carving out time for. They were one of the highlights of my time in Ubud — and even with the rain, crowds, and muddy shoes, I’d do this day all over again.

I’d love to know if you’ve visited any waterfalls in Bali and which was your favorite?!