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- Falls namedCepung, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana
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Tibumana Waterfall drive time from Ubud: the path, the rules and the fee
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Hold my falls dayTibumana Waterfall hides in Apuan village in Bangli Regency, east of Ubud. This page gives the distance and drive time, the walk from the car park, the hours, the house rules, the story of the vanished twin and the tours that stop here.
Editorial team, ubudwaterfalltour.quest · Updated November 3, 2026 · About 6 minutes to read
Main points first
- Ubud to TibumanaAbout 15.2 km and 17 minutes by free-flow car routing; one magazine says an hour.1,2
- WhereApuan Village, Susut District, Bangli Regency.3
- Path inA winding path with stairs takes around 15 minutes from the car park.4
- HoursEvery day except Nyepi, from 6 am to 6 pm.5
- Calm windowBefore 11 am, the Bali culture portal says, to avoid crowds.6
Where Tibumana sits and why it feels apart
Tibumana Waterfall is in Apuan Village, Susut District, Bangli Regency, and not in Gianyar like most falls on the Ubud loop.3 A Bali culture portal calls it more hidden than the better known waterfalls, which it says gives a visit a calm and exclusive feel.7 The border crossing is invisible from the road, but the change in management and habits is real.
The OpenStreetMap routing from Puri Saren Agung in Ubud gives 15.2 km and about 17 minutes without traffic.1 A magazine report, NOW! Bali, says the falls are just an hour by car from Ubud and two hours from Kuta.2 The gap between the two figures is the gap between a perfect road and a real one, and a plan for a day with other stops should lean toward the longer figure.
It is also a village-run place. A magazine report describes a small shack at the car park where visitors pay a contribution, then a winding stair through jungle to the falls.4 Do not look for a ticket office with a printed price list. Expect a quiet booth, a donation-style fee and a short walk through ferns, vines and birdsong. The Tibumana Waterfall distance from Ubud is given below in kilometers, as the car route computes it.
Three falls compared
Tibumana, Tegenungan and Kanto Lampo on the same lines
| Point | Tibumana | Tegenungan falls | Kanto Lampo falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| District | Susut, Bangli | Sukawati, Gianyar | Beng, Gianyar |
| Hours | 6 am to 6 pm | 06:30 to 18:30 | 06:30 to 18:00 |
| Fee line | IDR 10,000 contribution | Rp20,000 (Nov 2024) | Rp25,000 weekdays |
| On foot in | About 15 min, stairs | Around 167 steps | Short scenic walk |
| Water rule | Not too far, not under it | Marked swim zones | Shallow pool |
Each cell is the cited source's own wording on its own date.3,11,12,5,13,14,4,15,16,17,18,8,19,20
The twin that became one, and what the magazines say
Locals once knew Tibumana as the Twin Waterfalls, after two channels of water. The Bali culture portal says erosion and landslides along the cliff forced the community to stop the flow on the left side, so one waterfall remains active.9 That is a village decision to protect the slope, and it tells you something about the place: the cliff is not entirely stable.
A different account complicates the story. NOW! Bali says the waterfall is a single column in the dry season, while in the monsoon season you find twin columns of water cascading from the hill.10 The two reports cannot both be fully right, and neither claims to be a survey. If twin streams are what you want to see, treat them as a possibility in a wet week rather than a promise.
What both agree on is that the setting is photogenic. The magazine mentions sun rays forming a prismatic haze over the pool, vines on the cliffs and a pond at the foot that turns turquoise in the light.10 Photographers will want a morning visit, and the culture portal's advice about timing points the same way.6
The cave behind the curtain and the ground rules
Behind the falls, the culture portal says, is a cave that the community considers a shortcut leading to Goa Raja Besakih Temple, a respected holy place, and in reality no residents dared to enter the cave.21 The same page asks visitors to respect that belief by not trying to bathe in that place. A nearby temple adds to the sense of a sacred spot, and smoke may rise from earlier offerings made to the waterfall.22
The house rules come from the same source: do not swim too far, do not enter caves, avoid standing near cliffs, do not swim under the waterfall and do not throw rubbish carelessly.8 The page also calls Tibumana a place prone to potential landslides, which explains why the rules are strict.23 Take them literally. They exist because the cliff and the cave are the real hazards, not the pool.
A reasonable reading is this: wade, float near the edge, look at the fall from the middle of the pool and keep out of the spray column and the cave mouth. If your guide says to leave, leave. The tour listing for the site also advises that some stops may be adjusted for safety after rain.
Is it your kind of place?
Should Tibumana make your list?
A quiet fall with rules suits some travelers and not others.
If I want a quieter fall
Yes, go early
The Bali culture portal calls it more hidden and names before 11 am as the time to go.7,6
If I want to swim far out
Not for that
The house rules say not to swim too far or under the waterfall.8
If I dislike long stairs
A short walk, but with stairs
The path takes around 15 minutes with stairs.4
If I want twin streams
Wait for a wet spell
One report sees twin columns in the monsoon season.10
If I want a cave visit
Leave it alone
The cave is considered sacred and visitors are asked not to enter.21
Tours with Tibumana
Three day plans that end at this fall
Full-day loop
Terraces and temple day
Monkey Forest to Tibumana
- Falls namedTibumana only
- Pricefrom $13
- Rating4.96
Eight to nine hours
Temple and falls loop
Goa Raja, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana
- Falls namedGoa Raja, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana
- Pricefrom $15
- Rating4.88
The 15-minute path and what to wear on it
From the car park a winding path with stairs takes around 15 minutes to reach the falls, according to a magazine report.4 The writer describes vines creeping down the cliffs and small butterflies along the way, which is a hint to slow down. The stairs are not long but they are uneven, and the walk back is uphill.
Shoes matter more than the distance suggests. Wet steps and mossy stone punish flip-flops, and a day that began dry can end slick after a shower. Bring a dry shirt, since the falls are cool and breezy even in the heat, and a plastic bag for wet clothes. Leave valuables in the car with your driver rather than in a bag at the water's edge.
The fee is a contribution of IDR 10,000, paid at the shack in the car park according to the same magazine.4 Carry small notes, because change is not guaranteed and the person at the booth is a villager, not a cashier with a till. Treat the contribution as part of the day rather than a toll.
A morning at the falls
From the car park to the cave warning
Morning window
Come before the crowd
The Bali culture portal names before 11 am as the time to avoid crowds.6
At the shack
Pay the contribution
The car park shack collects a contribution of IDR 10,000.4
The winding path
Down the stairs
The walk to the falls takes around 15 minutes.4
In the pool
Swim near the edge
Do not swim too far and do not swim under the waterfall.8
At the cliff
Keep clear of the cave
Do not enter caves and avoid standing near cliffs.8
Out before closing
Be out by 6 pm
Opening hours run from 6 am to 6 pm.5
Hours, the early start and the Nyepi closure
The Bali culture portal says Tibumana welcomes visitors every day, except during Nyepi, with operational hours from 6 am to 6 pm.5 Nyepi is the Balinese Day of Silence, when the whole island stays indoors, so the closure is not a surprise, but it does mean that no driver will plan a waterfall for that day.
The same page names before 11 am as the favorable time to visit, since it gives the best chance of avoiding the crowds.6 Plan your day so that Tibumana comes early. On the site tour, which lists Tukad Cepung and Kanto Lampo before it, Tibumana is the last of the falls, so a request to your guide to reverse the order is the easiest fix.
A few mornings are worth special care. After heavy rain the stairs can be slippery and the pool colored, and the tour listing says stops may be adjusted for safety. If you are staying in Ubud, a dawn start is easy; if you are staying on the coast, consider whether the drive to the falls is worth losing sleep over.
Video
Tibumana Waterfall: what to know before you go
Cheapest Tours, a video on YouTube · The film only loads after you press play.
considered by the community to be a shortcut leading to Goa Raja Besakih Temple
How Tibumana compares with its neighbours
Next to Tegenungan, Tibumana is smaller in crowd and bigger in silence. Tegenungan asks for around 167 steps down and lists hours from 06:30 to 18:30, while Tibumana lists a walk of around 15 minutes and hours from 6 am to 6 pm.17,13,4,5 The table below sets the three falls east of Ubud on the same lines.
Next to Kanto Lampo, Tibumana trades convenience for atmosphere. Kanto Lampo has a short scenic walk and a shallow pool, with an entrance fee of Rp25,000 on weekdays, while Tibumana has rules about distance and caves and a contribution fee at the car park.18,20,16,8,4 Both are small, but Tibumana feels wilder.
The tours reflect that difference. The site tour lists Tibumana as its last fall, with a photo stop, free time and swimming. A second listing opens with the Monkey Forest, then a rice terrace, the water temple and a coffee plantation, before Tibumana. A third puts it after Kanto Lampo on a day that also covers Goa Raja.
FAQ
Short questions, straight replies.
How far is Tibumana Waterfall from Ubud?
How long is the walk from the car park?
Around 15 minutes.
NOW! Bali describes a winding path with stairs of around 15 minutes.4
When is Tibumana open?
6 am to 6 pm, except Nyepi.
The Bali culture portal says visitors are welcome every day except during Nyepi.5
When is Tibumana quietest?
Early, before 11 am.
The culture portal names before 11 am as the time to avoid the crowds.6
Can you swim at Tibumana Waterfall?
Yes, with rules.
The house rules say do not swim too far and do not swim under the waterfall.8
Why is it called the twin waterfall?
It once had two channels.
The community stopped the flow on the left side after erosion and landslides, so one waterfall remains active.9
Is Tibumana on the site tour?
Yes, as the last fall.
The listing marks it with a photo stop, free time and swimming.
Which district is Tibumana in?
Susut District, Bangli.
It is in Apuan Village, Susut District, Bangli Regency.3
Sources
- OpenStreetMap project routing (OSRM, car profile) · Car route Ubud to Tibumana Waterfall ↩
- NOW! Bali magazine · Searching Solitude: Tibumana Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- NOW! Bali magazine · Searching Solitude: Tibumana Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- NOW! Bali magazine · Searching Solitude: Tibumana Waterfall ↩
- Bali Provincial Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Provinsi Bali) · Tegenungan Waterfall ↩
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall (official site) · Kanto Lampo Waterfall ↩
- detikBali · Rekomendasi Wisata Air Terjun Terdekat dari Denpasar ↩
- detikBali · Rekomendasi Wisata Air Terjun Terdekat dari Denpasar ↩
- detikBali · Rekomendasi Wisata Air Terjun Terdekat dari Denpasar ↩
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall (official site) · Kanto Lampo Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tegenungan: Waterfall in the lowlands ↩
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall (official site) · Kanto Lampo Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tegenungan: Waterfall in the lowlands ↩
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall (official site) · Kanto Lampo Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
- NOW! Bali magazine · Searching Solitude: Tibumana Waterfall ↩
- Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com) · Tibumana Waterfall, the Calming Natural Beauty of Bali ↩
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