Sekumpul Waterfall is a natural wonder located in the north of Bali. It’s a photographer’s paradise, surrounded by lush vegetation, offering endless possibilities for landscape photography. In this Sekumpul photography guide, we explore this incredible waterfall, how to get there and how to photograph it.
If you follow my articles, you know that I love photographing tropical waterfalls. In Bali you will find countless of them, and one of the best is Sekumpul Waterfall.
Sekumpul waterfall in the north of Bali
Because it is one of the most popular waterfalls in Bali, you should arrive early to photograph it. Its popularity also makes visiting quite expensive, and if you’re not careful and buy your ticket from the wrong booth, you’ll pay extra.
How to get to Sekumpul
Although Bali is not very big, traveling the mountainous roads takes time. And while you can rent a scooter and drive to Sekumpul, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re staying in the Canggu or Ubud area.
As I mentioned before, you need to arrive at the waterfall early, which means driving there in the dark. Ideally, you arrive in Sekumpul between 7 and 8 a.m. before the crowds. From Ubud or Canggu, it already takes more than two hours by car.
The best option for landscape photographers is to hire a driver for a day and plan an itinerary that includes a few additional attractions. A driver will cost you around $50 and you can visit several places from the comfort of a car.
To find a driver, ask at your hotel, Airbnb or follow the recommendations. There’s no shortage of drivers, but you want one you can trust to pick you up early and drive safely.
I received our recommendation from the driver who took us from Sawarna to Jakarta a few weeks earlier.
The hidden waterfall next to Sekumpul
Once you have hired a driver, give them the appropriate contact information. There are different entrances to Sekumpul, as well as several ticket offices along the way. Some of them are several kilometers from Sekumpul.
Their configuration might fool you into thinking you have arrived at the official entrance. But if you buy your ticket there, you will take a motorbike ride which will cost you extra. Since you have a driver, this is not necessary. The road to the official entrance is paved and does not require motorcycles.
Tell your driver to go to the Spice restaurant. This is the farthest you can go by car. If no parking is available, the driver can drop you off and then park in the main parking lot, where the official hike begins.
Gather Waterfall Hike
If you were to start your hike at the main parking lot, you will likely need to pay for a guide. Hiring a guide is the official way to visit Sekumpul, with three options to choose from:
- View only – At 20,000 IDR per person, this is the cheapest option but not worth the long journey.
- Medium Hike – This option costs IDR 125,000 and includes visiting Sekumpul and the hidden waterfall. This is a great option for landscape photographers.
- Long Hike – At IDR 200,000 per person, this option includes Fiji Waterfall. It’s a good addition if you don’t have anything else planned for the day. But judging from the photos, I would say that the hidden waterfall and Sekumpul are more photogenic.
Although it’s great to support the local economy, I would have preferred to just buy an entry ticket. The average hike is pretty easy and I always feel rushed if someone is waiting for me while I compose my photos. Our guide could have arranged at least one or two additional tours during this time.
Short hike
That’s why I suggest driving to Spice Restaurant and starting the hike from there. You will save a kilometer of walking and avoid most guides.
Directly before the Spice restaurant, go left. You will first walk along a narrow paved road towards a staircase leading down to the river. During this part of the hike you will pass a small booth where you may be asked to hire a guide if there is anyone around. But when we passed in the morning, there was no one there.
Shortly after, you will get your first glimpse of Sekumpul. Less than 10 minutes later, you should have reached the bottom of the stairs.
Here you have two options: Follow the path to the left towards the hidden waterfall – there is a sign indicating where to go. Or cross the stream and continue to Sekumpul. Since you have to wade through the water several times, bring water shoes and be careful of the dark rocks surrounding the waterfalls. These can become slippery.
Waterfall Photography
A collection
You and your gear will get wet photographing Sekumpul. There is a lot of spray in front of the waterfall and you should bring enough lens cloths. An umbrella will also be useful. With it you can apply the technique that I show in the video below. I recorded it at Kapas Biru waterfall on the island of Java.
In terms of composition, there are two small rivers to choose from when looking for prime interest. I found the creek to the left to provide a better view of the waterfall, with some pretty rocks and streams in the foreground. But be sure to explore on your own and take your time.
Hidden waterfall
The hidden waterfall is not hidden at all. A sign at the foot of the stairs indicates where to go. From Sekumpul, it’s less than a 10-minute walk. Prepare to cross a knee-deep river.
At the hidden waterfall you have even more photo options than at the larger Sekumpul. It’s a beautiful area and I could have spent hours photographing it. If you arrive before 10 a.m., you will also be able to witness the sun illuminating the waterfall and the canyon for a few minutes. It creates a magical atmosphere.
Bali Waterfall Photography Itinerary
You can combine a visit to Sekumpul with other attractions along the way. Here is an example itinerary for someone starting in Ubud or Canggu:
- 4:30 a.m. – Departure for Ubud or Canggu
- 5:45 a.m. – Arrival at Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
- 6:15 a.m. – Photograph the sunrise
- 6:45 a.m. – Continue to Sekumpul
- 7:45 a.m. – Departure of the hike to Sekumpul
- 8:15am – Start photographing Sekumpul and the hidden waterfall
- 10:30 a.m. – Return to the parking lot and drive to Banyu Wana Amertha
- 12:15 p.m. – Arrival at Banyu Wana Amertha and start of the hike
- 00:30 – Photograph Banyu Wana Amertha
- 1:15 p.m. – Photograph the spray waterfall
- 2:00 p.m. – Return to the car
- 2:30 p.m. – Departure for Lakewood
- 3:30 p.m. – Arrival at Leke Leke and departure of the hike
- 3:45 p.m. – Photography Leke Leke
- 4:45 p.m. – Return to Ubud or Canggu
Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
I had planned the tour like this, but found that after photographing Spray Waterfall, I had enough for the day and headed back to Ubud. If you have the stamina and your driver agrees, this is how you will get the most out of such a day. If you’re up for staying in Canggu, end the day with seascape photography at Tanah Lot Temple.
Since this is a typical day for a driver, you shouldn’t haggle too much and give them more than $50.
Conclusion
Bali offers many more waterfalls than the few presented in this article. As I only stayed in Ubud for a few days, I didn’t have time to visit them all. Based on what I was able to learn online, I chose the waterfalls that seemed the most photogenic for my exploration.
But you can easily stay more than two weeks in Bali just to do photography and not get bored. And there aren’t just waterfalls to photograph. There are lush forests, mountains, rice fields and spectacular seascapes, so allow plenty of time.
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