The legendary Nung Nung Waterfall Bali: Full guide
Nung Nung Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Bali, standing 50 meters tall (at least) making for an incredibly beautiful colossal cascade. The sheer size of this waterfall will have you feeling small and insignificant, but it is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy the torrent of nature that is Nungnung Waterfall. It’s totally enshrouded in local foliage; expect to see huge tropical plants, towering palm trees and maybe even a bamboo bridge! If you are lucky enough to go after the rains, the cascade is torrential! Definitely worth a visit and should be on your list to visit if you’re in the area.
This complete guide will cover everything at Nung Nung Waterfall from the parking, the hike down, the opening hours and where the nearest food joint is.
If you’re looking for waterfalls, have a look at the ultimate guide on the 21 waterfalls near Ubud or browse my other Bali travel guides!
Best tours in Ubud:
| Don’t miss some of the best tours in Ubud, whether you’re after some adventure or a serene escape, there’s something for you. Ubud waterfall tours – for insta famous waterfalls or serene retreats, have a look here! Quad biking in Ubud – if you’re after adrenaline adventure, this is for you! Ubud Hot Air balloons – for scenic, stunning views, have a look at this experience White water rafting – a lot of fun for thrill seekers! Rice Terraces tour – for a serene escape, have a look at this tour. |
Quick links
| Here’s everything I use when I travel abroad: Tours – Compare tour prices on Viator and Get Your Guide Hotels – I always use Booking as the more hotels I book, I get a higher Genius discount. I also compare prices on Expedia. E-Sims – purchase an e-sim with Airalo on your phone so you can make calls and have mobile data abroad! There’s no need to remove your current sim card! Travel insurance – don’t ever go on vacation without travel insurance, you never know when you might need it! Travel essentials – have a look at a full list of travel essentials that I use, including the best power bank! |
Nung Nung Waterfall Bali
Nung Nung waterfall (also known as Air Terjun Nungnung) is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Bali thanks to the huge colossal height of the water that falls down. It’s one of the highest waterfalls around Ubud at 50 meters high and you won’t want to miss this one. It’s located in central Bali and is just under 1 hour from Ubud, but don’t let the distance deter you – it’s incredible, and you can make a day trip out of it!
It’s a wonderful place to sit back, relax and enjoy the massive cascade of Nung Nung Waterfall. Consider taking a packed lunch or take some snacks so oyu can chill out in the serenity of this peaceful locations. Keep on reading to learn a bit more of the hike down to this secluded little gem!
If you’re lucky, the sun rays will hit the spray and mist and you’ll see a resplendent rainbow shimmering in the area; it’s pretty magical!
Don’t miss –
The impressive Nungnung waterfall is not far from Leke Leke Waterfall. It’s worth doing both in the same trip!
If you’re after some other exciting spots, head to Kanto Lampo Waterfall is the one known for its Insta famous guides that take great photos and videos whilst the water falls gently around you. Pictures below are from Kanto Lampo Waterfall for inspiration!
Nung Nung Waterfall Hike
Drop your moped/car/private driver off at the parking zone of Nung Nung Waterfall and head on to a 15 minute descent into the canyon from the carpark to reach the waterfall. There are approximately 400-500 stairs.
The stairs at Nung Nung Waterfall are fairly steep and uneven, meaning that it’ll certainly give your thighs a workout. Be wary of the rains too; after the rains it can be particularly slippery, so be careful! The hike back up can be a bit of a challenge, expect a mini workout, so bear this in mind and don’t return too late, as it might be difficult to navigate back to the carpark. If you’re going to Nung Nung Waterfall late, bring a head torch.
You might also want to consider popping across to Leke Leke Waterfall which is just over 20 minutes away.
TIP: If you want to stay in a hotel nearby, have a look at the Best Eco Lodges in Bali.
Nung Nung Waterfall is open to tourists all year. But be wary of the water levels during the rainy season or monsoon season: it is safer to visit Nung Nung Waterfall during the dry season. The dry season in Indonesia is usually from May to October.
A lot of Balinese waterfalls are sacred sites, for various reasons. Sometimes this is because the water has the divine blessing of a sovereign ruler, or for the tradition of Melukat, which is about the sacred act of cleansing and purifying yourself. You can read more about Melukat below.
Looking for the best waterfalls Ubud? Consider reading my full guide on the 21 Bali waterfalls near Ubud you must visit for other ideas of places you should visit!
If you’re brave… go for a swim!n
Go swimming at Nung Nung Waterfall! Be careful though, the centre of the waterfall can had torrents of water falling down so you don’t want to jump in too quickly or get too close to the cascade! Due to the height and the sheer power of the waterfall, you don’t want to get caught underneath Nung Nung Waterfall in the height of a rainy season.
Nung Nung Waterfall Entrance Fee & Tickets
The entrance cost to Nung Nung Waterfall is IDR 20,000 per person (£1 or $1.25 USD), or 10 000 IDR for locals. There is also a 5000 IDR parking fee.
The admission fee for Nung Nung Waterfall is IDR 20,000, which is meant to help maintain the site. A few locals work to maintain the site and they help keep the walkways clear, and ensure the pathways are clear. It’s the least we can do to help keep the site clear, clean and safe!
Consider reading my full guide on the 21 waterfalls near Ubud you must visit for other ideas of places you should visit! Popular waterfalls include:
Nungnung Waterfall Opening Hours
Nung Nung Waterfall is generally open from 7am-6pm every day. Don’t hike back in the dark after the sun has set as it can get a little slippery – not at all recommended. For this reason, I have included sunrise and sunset time in the ‘Weather’ section below so you can decide the best time to visit Waterfall Nungnung.
Visiting Nungnung Waterfall location
Make sure you save the location to your google maps so you know where to go! Visiting Nungnung Waterfall is an absolute must!
Nung Nung Waterfall to Ubud: 59 minutes drive
The drive from Ubud to Nung Nung Waterfall is not that far but it does depend on traffic, so bear this in mind. Still, either way, it’s less than an hour’s drive!
Nung Nung Waterfall Map:
How to get to Nung Nung Waterfall Bali
Ubud to Nung Nung Waterfall: 59 minutes drive
You can either rent a scooter, hire a private car or book onto one of the famous waterfall tours on a day trip (have a look below).
Make sure you have insurance for the moped (ensure your rental company covers this), and make sure you have general travel insurance well. Better safe than sorry!
When it comes to Bali tours, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Consider reading my full guide on the 21 waterfalls near Ubud you must visit for other ideas of places you should visit!
Nung Nung Waterfall Restaurant
Nungnung Waterfall isn’t the most popular site as it’s more remote, but there are some limited facilities in the area; there are a couple of small shops where you can purchase some ice creams, drinks, snacks, coconuts and more. There’s always a bit of a price hike if you buy near the waterfall but I don’t mind so much because it’s all about spreading the wealth and supporting the local community.
There are usually a few Warungs nearby too. A “warung” is a small, often family-owned, traditional Indonesian restaurant or small food stall. Warungs serve local Balinese dishes that are usually cheap and cheerful. The most common dishes are nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles – yum), chicken sate (skewers), and whatever you do, don’t miss the peanut sauce, it’s the best thing ever!
Best Ubud hotels & Eco Lodges
Looking for unique and interesting hotels near Nung Nung Waterfall? Have a look at my posts on eco lodges in Bali!
Sacred Cleansing: Melukat
Melukat, in Bahasa Indonesian is known as “melukat” or “melukatan,” is a traditional cleansing ritual that our local tour guide told us about when exploring these stunning Balinese waterfalls. Apparently it helps the local Balinese achieve physical, mental, and spiritual purity. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Bali, is how spiritual the locals are, with their daily blessings and incense sticks, it’s very lovely to see and watch little old ladies on the street prepare blessings for others to buy by folding banana leaves and adding flowers. The word “melukat” is broken down into “lukat” meaning “to cleanse” or “to purify.”
If you want to book onto a Ubud Waterfalls tour, have a look here, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
The tradition of Melukat:
- Purpose: Melukat is meant to cleanse from physical impurities and also purify the soul. Our guide also told us it gets rid of negative energies / spirits, and restores balance and harmony in life. You would typically do it at any big life events, illnesses, or after attending funerals.
- Process: Usually the melukat is done at a sacred water source, such as a river, a natural spring, a temple pond, or yes, you guessed it, a waterfall. I am told they tend to choose sites which are spiritually charged and are believed to have the power to purify and cleanse.
- Offerings: Offerings are a normal part of the melukat ceremony and used daily in Balinese culture; it’s wonderful to see people leaving offerings at different points throughout their homes, on the roads, outside your hotel rooms. The offerings often include flowers, rice, fruit, and almost always, incense. The offerings are a symbolic way of showing gratitude and they also hope to appease the deities and spirits that oversee the ceremony.
- Prayers and Chanting: It is typical that a priest or a knowledgeable elder prays or chants during the ceremony. Chanting is meant to amplify the prayers, who knew?
- Symbolism: A little bit similar to baptism, immsersing yourself in water is meant to cleanse you of both physical and spiritual impurities; it is thought that water absorbs negative energy.
- Traditional Attire: It is traditional to wear ceremonial clothing, which I got to wear once myself; it is usually white! I was dressed in a sarong, a lace top and a sash to keep it all together.
- Blessings and Protection: After the melukat, participants are blessed by whoever is hosting the ceremony (usually the priest or elder) and this is meant to give the individual protection and positive energy.
- Community involvement: Melukat ceremonies are often very sociable, and you are like to have your family members, friends, and neighbours coming together.
- Continuation of Tradition: Melukat is a deeply rooted Balinese tradition that continues to be practiced alongside other rituals and ceremonies in Balinese Hinduism. The Balinese people have very rich religious lifestyles and welcoming communities.
Have a look at my other Bali & Indonesia travel guides:
Lahangan Sweet: Epic East Bali viewpoint of Mount Agung
Jungle trekking with Sumatra Orangutans
Best tours to Nung Nung Waterfall & surrounding areas
There are plenty of companies that will take you on an Ubud Waterfall Tour, or a Waterfall Tour in East Bali. A lot of the waterfalls tours will take you to other destinations and activities in the area on a full day tour, such as Lahangan Sweet: Epic East Bali viewpoint, Tirta Gangga Water Palace, and Mount Agung, although often trips can be customised, especially if it’s a personalised tour. There are a tonne of attractions you could visit and things to see.
You might want to visit local villages & parks, or spots such as Ceking Rice Terrace (aka Tegallalang Rice Terrace), Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Tegalalang Rice Terraces Walk or water rafting. Don’t forget to watch (or get on) some of the famous Bali swings for a fun afternoon out in Bali. There are also tours a little further out, like Nusa Penida if you’re interested, it is highly recommended!
Keep an eye out, you’ll likely spot tonnes of rice terraces, endless rice fields, and luscious palm trees. It’s a great ride through the less touristy, and perhaps more authentic, Balinese countryside, an experience you should do at least once when you’re in Bali.
When it comes to Bali tours, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Read more about Ceking Rice Terrace near Ubud, pictured below.
Have a look at my other Bali & Indonesia travel guides:
Lahangan Sweet: Epic East Bali viewpoint of Mount Agung
Jungle trekking with Sumatra Orangutans
If you want to book onto a Ubud Waterfalls tour, have a look here, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
When to visit Bali?
Weather in Ubud
Ubud Weather in January:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 16
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Ubud Weather in February:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 14
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Ubud Weather in March:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 13
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Ubud Weather in April:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 10
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM
Ubud Weather in May:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 28°C (82.4°F)
- Rainy Days: 7
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Ubud Weather in June:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 28°C (82.4°F)
- Rainy Days: 4
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Ubud Weather in July:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 3
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Ubud Weather in August:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 4
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Ubud Weather in September:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 6
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM
Ubud Weather in October:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 11
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM
Ubud Weather in November:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 16
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM
Ubud Weather in December:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 27°C (80.6°F)
- Rainy Days: 18
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Travel resources for your trip that are actually really handy!
If you want to book onto a Ubud Waterfalls tour, have a look here, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
That’s it! I hope you found it useful and let me know how you get on! If you want to see more video content, have a look at my post on Instagram.
Have a look at my other Bali & Indonesia travel guides & travel tips:
Jungle trekking with Sumatra Orangutans
East Bali guides:
Lahangan Sweet: Epic East Bali viewpoint of Mount Agung
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