Bali, for me, has always been more about its beautiful nature than anything else. Jade green lush forests, leafy canopies, mossy banks, ferns hanging from outcrops with water droplets shimmering like tiny jewels, and the soothing music of a waterfall as the water cascades down rocky edges and steep cliffs – that’s my dreamy image of Bali.
I was determined to include at least two waterfalls in my itinerary, out of the many magnificent ones. Yet, I had my own reservations that limited their range. Remember how I skipped Uluwatu Temple because of my fear of monkeys? This time, it was my aversion to steps. To me, climbing up or down hundreds of steps to reach a waterfall didn’t exactly paint an appealing proposition, given my fitness level.
Hence, began the search for waterfalls that were easily accessible without much physical exertion. If you are like me and prefer not to huff and puff too much on vacation, here are my top recommendations—Kanto Lampo Falls and Tibumana Falls. While they do require some bit of walking and climbing steps, but, if I could do it, you can too!
Kanto Lampo Falls
Located just 11 km from Ubud, where we were based, Kanto Lampo waterfall was a convenient destination. Setting out early, we arrived at the entrance gate around 8:15 AM, fully convinced that we were the only ones crazy enough to be there at that hour. One thing I noticed was that every village with a waterfall treated it as its own prized asset, maintaining it well with the entry fees collected from tourists. They also put considerable effort into beautifying the surroundings to attract even more visitors.
Paying the fee, we started our descent through the stone steps, some of them quite steep for a short person like me. There was a slight drizzle in the morning, and while it left the steps wet, the surrounding looked fresh and green. The downward journey became more interesting with the sight of beautiful stone carvings, their surfaces covered in thick moss that gave them an ancient, timeworn look. As with most tourist spots in Bali, there were designated ‘photo spots’—decorative frames placed at vantage points, perfect for tourists to pose for their social media posts.
Carvings on the way down to the waterfall – aren’t they fascinating?
On reaching the bottom of the waterfall, we were surprised to see that a bunch of people were already there. The sun had just risen, and the jungle was still cool and shady. The waterfall looked mesmerising in the dance of light and shadow – the waters bouncing over a series of tiered black rocks, creating a luminous, curtain-like veil. However, the beauty of the waterfall could be best realised only if one waded out to the pool below and stood opposite it. Unfortunately, we hadn’t brought a change of clothes, and although changing rooms were available, we had to skip venturing into the pool.
Base of the waterfall – gentle flowing waters through fern-lined edges
The charm of the waterfall aside, what amused me more were the antics of the ‘influencers’. Attired in their skimpy best, each of them took turn to pose (endlessly) under the cold water. I could only imagine how the scene would be when more of them descended upon the scene in the next few hours. Clicking a few more pictures, we decided to leave the revellers in their zone and began our climb up the steps, passing a temple along the way.
Kanto Lampo Falls
Here’s a reel of Kanto Lampo Falls on my Instagram:
There were a few stalls selling eatables but since we had just had our breakfast, we didn’t stop at any and proceeded towards the next site.
Tibumana Falls
Tibumana Falls is located just 5.5 km away from Kanto Lampo, the road meandering through some breath-taking views of paddy fields and coconut trees. At one point where we passed through rows of coconut trees on both sides, it was hard to distinguish between Bali and Goa.
The road to Tibumana falls, or Parra Road in Goa?
Alighting at the parking spot where there were a few cafes, we set off on a little trek passing through rice paddies and gorgeous jungle settings, wet leaves glinting in the sun after a fresh shower. A rainbow winked at us from the base of a small waterfall. Some steps away, perfumed smoke from incense sticks wafted over the beautiful goddess Saraswati – the goddess of wisdom and arts, also associated with purity and the cleansing power of water.
Passing through a dreamy forest
Do you see the rainbow?
Venerations to Goddess Saraswati
Pretty things all around
We came across a beautifully made, sturdy bamboo bridge over a stream. By the side, a few villagers were expertly weaving together pieces of bamboo to build another bridge, so that returning tourists wouldn’t have to crowd at the existing one. Suddenly, to our surprise, a lovely bride dressed in her white wedding finery appeared from behind a turn, followed by her groom and the whole entourage. It appeared that they were holding a post wedding photo shoot at the waterfall. We picked up our pace, our excitement increasing.
The beautiful bamboo bridge
Finally, we came to a clearing and there stood the beautiful Tibumana falls – a slender, smooth sheet of water spilling into a calm, shallow pool below. What made the setting even more magical was the surrounding tall cliffs draped in verdant tropical foliage and moss. The wedding shoot team had arranged beautiful flower bouquets as props, adding an enchanting, fairytale charm to the place.
Making good use of the wedding shoot props
There were quite a few visitors swimming in the water and having their photos clicked – the case of the famed influencers repeating here, too. One couldn’t blame them, though, the serene aesthetic of the waterfall had such a magnetic character!
Tibumana falls
After clicking what seemed like a thousand pictures we decided to leave the place for others to swoon over. Amazingly, by the time we returned, the deft hands of the Balinese artist had nearly finished building the bamboo bridge — a true reflection of their craftsmanship. Bali truly is a wonder, and we couldn’t wait to explore more!
Some suggestions
There are several waterfalls around Ubud, if you choose to stay there. A few of them such as Taman Sari waterfall (5 minutes from Tibumana) might be easier to access than the two that I have mentioned here. While Kanto Lampo and Tibumana score high on scenic beauty, they aren’t ideal for swimming. If that’s what you are looking for, you might want to visit Taman Sari Waterfall — or, if you are up for a bit of guided adventure, Goa Rang Reng Waterfall could be the one for you. So, do a little research and choose the ones that call out to you — happy waterfall chasing!
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