Bali: Sekumpul and Banyumala Waterfall Guided Trek

Sekumpul is the star here: two tall ribbons of water dropping through thick jungle, reached by a walk through rice fields and village paths. I like the mix of local scenery and serious waterfall views, rather than a quick roadside photo stop.

I also like that the day includes both Sekumpul and Banyumala, plus Grobogan, Fiji, and Twin Lake View. The guide can help with photos, explain the route, and keep the day moving. The catch is simple: the trek is moderate to challenging, with tiring climbs, wet paths, and entrance fees paid separately.

Key points to know

• Sekumpul takes about two hours, including the rice-field walk, waterfall visit, photos, and swimming time.
• Banyumala gives you a second swimming stop, with a wider waterfall and a natural pool.
• Guide Ardy has been praised by name for answering questions and knowing the Sekumpul area well.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from a range of Bali locations, but long transfers take up much of the day.
• Twin Lake View adds a short scenic stop after the waterfalls, useful for photos and a breather.
• Bring water, swimwear, sturdy shoes, and dry clothes, since you should expect to get wet.

Two waterfalls, one full day in northern Bali

This is a long day built around two of Bali’s most appealing waterfalls. You leave your hotel, ride into the north, walk through Sekumpul village and rice fields, visit Sekumpul Waterfall, then continue to Banyumala before stopping at Twin Lake View.

The advertised price is $44 per person. That is a fair deal if you value the included driver, local guide, trekking time, and hotel transfers. You are not simply being driven to one lookout. The day includes several hours on foot and time to swim at both main waterfall stops.

Still, keep your expectations tidy. The eight-hour schedule includes roughly three and a half hours of transfers. From many pickup points, the first drive takes around two hours, followed by another hour between waterfalls and about 30 minutes to Twin Lake View. This is best treated as a full northern Bali day, not a quick outing from a nearby beach.

The price does not include lunch, personal spending, or entrance fees. Those extra fees are paid at the waterfalls, so carry some money. Since lunch is also on your own, bring snacks or plan to buy food along the way if that fits the day’s arrangements.

The ride from your hotel sets the pace

Pickup is available from places including Ubud, Denpasar, Badung Regency, Gianyar, Lovina Beach, Singaraja, Gobleg, and Wanagiri. You should wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the arranged pickup time.

The wide pickup area is useful, but it also explains the long day. If you are staying in Ubud or southern Bali, much of your morning may pass in the vehicle before your boots reach the trail. That is not a flaw in the tour itself, but it matters when you are deciding how much energy to save for the walk.

The group can be private, which is worth considering if you want a more flexible pace or need more help on the uphill sections. The standard details do not specify a fixed group size, so ask about the exact arrangement when booking if that affects your decision.

The guide speaks English. One guide named Ardy has been singled out for being attentive, answering questions, and knowing the Sekumpul area well. You cannot assume he will lead every departure, but his example gives you a useful standard: a good guide here should do more than point at the waterfall. The guide should help with the route, timing, footing, and photographs.

Rice fields make the first walk worthwhile

The walk to Sekumpul takes about 30 minutes. It is not just a transfer from a parking area to a viewpoint. You pass through the rice fields around Sekumpul village, which gives you a better sense of the countryside before the jungle closes in.

I like this part because it slows the day down in the right way. You see the setting that supports the waterfall communities, rather than arriving at a single photo platform and leaving again. The rice fields also offer the first strong photo opportunities, especially if your guide knows where to frame the paths, terraces, and distant falls.

Do not mistake 30 minutes for an effortless stroll. The route continues toward a waterfall and includes uneven ground and later climbs. Comfortable trekking shoes are important. Sandals may feel fine at the hotel, but they are a poor choice once the path gets wet or steep.

You should also carry water. The day combines walking, humidity, and swimming, and the transfer schedule does not mean you can ignore hydration. Snacks are recommended because lunch is not included.

Sekumpul brings the biggest sense of scale

You spend about two hours at Sekumpul Waterfall. The area includes the twin Sekumpul falls, with water dropping through the forested setting. The nearby Grobogan and Fiji waterfalls are also part of this portion of the visit, giving you more than one cascade to see and photograph.

Sekumpul is the place to allow time for the walk to pay off. You can take photos, look for different views, and swim in the natural pools. One particularly appealing detail is that you can take photographs beneath the waterfall, provided conditions and the guide’s advice make it safe to do so.

The falls are not presented as a quick stop. You have around two to three hours in the wider Sekumpul area according to the trip description, while the timed itinerary lists about two hours. Either way, plan for a proper visit rather than a short pause. The extra time matters because you may want to dry off, change your camera settings, swim, and make the return climb without rushing.

The physical effort also matters here. The route includes tiring uphill sections, especially on the way back. One direct piece of advice from the available feedback is that the climbs are hard but worthwhile. That is the right way to view this stop: the scenery is the reward, but you need enough fitness for the return.

People with back problems or mobility impairments should not book this activity. Non-swimmers are also listed as unsuitable, even though you can choose how much time to spend in the water. If you are comfortable walking but not a strong swimmer, tell the guide and stay within your limits.

Grobogan and Fiji add variety to the waterfall stop

Grobogan and Fiji Waterfalls are included during the Sekumpul visit. The information supplied does not give separate durations or detailed features for each one, so you should think of them as added waterfall viewpoints within the main Sekumpul section, not as separate half-day excursions.

That is still useful. The day does not depend on one single angle of one waterfall. You have more chances for photos and more variety in the natural setting. Your guide can help identify the best spots and may help with your camera, one of the stated features of the experience.

Be ready for wet conditions. Bring swimwear and a change of clothes, and protect anything that cannot handle spray. The advice to bring a camera is sensible, but a camera alone does not solve the problem of wet hands, mist, or a slippery approach. Pack only what you are willing to carry on the trail.

Banyumala offers a different kind of swim

After Sekumpul, the vehicle continues for about an hour to Banyumala Waterfall. You have about two hours here for photos, sightseeing, walking, free time, and swimming.

Banyumala is described as another twin waterfall, lower but wider than Sekumpul. That difference gives the second stop its own appeal. Sekumpul provides the taller, more dramatic drop, while Banyumala offers a broad waterfall and a natural pool suited to a slower swim.

This is where the change of clothes becomes especially useful. Even if you swim at Sekumpul, you may want dry clothing before the ride, but many people will prefer to save the longer swim for Banyumala. The schedule gives you enough time to enjoy the pool without treating it as a rushed photo stop.

The route can still be demanding. The tour description calls the trek moderate to challenging, and the climb out may test your legs after the first waterfall. Take your time, drink water, and listen to your guide about footing and safe swimming areas.

The word twin should not make you expect identical scenes. The two main stops have different proportions and moods. Sekumpul is taller and associated with the most dramatic views, while Banyumala is wider and more relaxed around its pool. Visiting both is the main reason this outing offers more value than a single-waterfall trip.

Twin Lake View gives the day a final pause

The last sightseeing stop is Twin Lake View, reached after a transfer of about 30 minutes. You have roughly 30 minutes for photos, free time, and a guided look at the view.

This is a short stop, but it breaks up the return journey. After wet clothes, uphill paths, and several hours of waterfall time, you may appreciate a place where you can simply stand, take photos, and catch your breath.

Do not book this activity mainly for Twin Lake View. It is an extra scenic stop, not the central event. The waterfalls and the walk through Sekumpul village are where most of the day’s value lies.

What the $44 price really covers

At $44 per person, this tour is priced well for someone who wants transport and a guided route handled in one booking. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking local guide, the trekking experience, the two main waterfall visits, and photo opportunities.

The strongest value comes from combining several elements:

• You do not need to arrange separate transport to northern Bali.
• You get a guide for a route that includes walking and swimming.
• You visit Sekumpul and Banyumala on the same day.
• You also see Grobogan, Fiji, and Twin Lake View.
• A private group option is available.

The less obvious cost is time. From southern or central Bali, the long road transfers make this a full-day commitment. You also pay entrance fees on site, and lunch is not included. For a strict budget, those additions matter.

I would compare the price with the cost and effort of arranging a private driver, finding the waterfall entrances, and organizing a safe walking route yourself. At $44, the convenience is a major part of the deal. If you already have transport and prefer exploring alone, the saving is less clear.

What to pack for a wet, tiring walk

The packing list is short, but each item has a job:

• Comfortable trekking shoes: You need support on uneven and wet ground.
• Swimwear: Both Sekumpul and Banyumala offer swimming.
• A full change of clothes: You are told to expect to get wet.
• Water bottle: Hydration matters during the walks and climbs.
• Snacks: Lunch is not included.
• Camera: There are several strong photo stops, and the guide can help with pictures.

Keep your load light. You will carry your belongings during the village walk, waterfall approaches, and return climbs. A small bag with a way to protect dry clothes and electronics is more useful than a large pack.

Wear your trekking shoes from the start. Changing footwear later may be awkward, and the rice-field walk is part of the route, not an optional extra.

Who should book this waterfall day

I would recommend it to you if you want Bali scenery beyond the main resort areas, enjoy walking, and like having a local guide manage the route. It suits people who want a full day with several natural stops rather than a quiet morning by the pool.

It is also a good match if you are staying in one of the listed pickup areas and do not want to arrange transport to the north yourself. The guide support adds real value when you want help with photos, directions, and questions about the area. Ardy, when assigned, appears to fit that role particularly well.

I would hesitate if you have back trouble, limited mobility, or little tolerance for steep uphill walking. I would also think twice if you dislike long drives or want a short, easy waterfall visit. The combination of two hours to the first stop, later transfers, wet paths, and tiring climbs makes this an active day.

Should you book the Sekumpul and Banyumala trek?

Book this tour if the idea of walking through rice fields, swimming beneath jungle waterfalls, and seeing two very different falls sounds better than spending the day on a beach. The $44 price is strong for the included transport and guide, especially if you are not already equipped to reach northern Bali.

Before booking, make three checks: confirm your pickup location, budget for entrance fees and lunch, and decide honestly if you can manage a moderate to challenging trek. Bring sturdy shoes, water, swimwear, and dry clothes. If you can handle the physical side, this is a well-packed way to see Sekumpul, Banyumala, and the northern scenery around them.

FAQ

How long does the waterfall tour last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including hotel transfers, walking, waterfall visits, swimming time, and the Twin Lake View stop.

Which waterfalls are included?

The tour includes Sekumpul Waterfall and Banyumala Waterfall. Grobogan and Fiji Waterfalls are visited during the Sekumpul portion of the day.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from listed locations such as Ubud, Denpasar, Badung Regency, Gianyar, Lovina Beach, Singaraja, Gobleg, and Wanagiri. You should wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before pickup.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. Swimming is offered at the natural pools at Sekumpul and Banyumala. Bring swimwear and a change of clothes because you should expect to get wet.

Are entrance fees and lunch included?

No. Entrance fees to the waterfalls must be paid on site, and lunch is not included. Personal expenses are also separate.

Is the trek suitable for everyone?

No. The activity is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or non-swimmers. The route is described as moderate to challenging, with tiring uphill sections.