Sekumpul waterfall is a natural wonder located in the north of Bali. It's a photographer's paradise surrounded by lush vegetation, offering endless opportunities 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 I love to photograph tropical waterfalls. On Bali, you find countless of those, and one of the best is the Sekumpul waterfall.
Because it's one of the most popular waterfalls in Bali, you have to arrive early to photograph it. Its popularity also makes a visit quite pricey, and if you're not careful and buy your ticket at the wrong booth, you will pay extra.
As I already mentioned, you should arrive at the waterfall early, which means driving there in the dark. Ideally, you arrive at Sekumpul between 7 am and 8 am before the crowds. From Ubud or Canggu, this already takes more than two hours in a car.
The best option for landscape photographers is to hire a driver for a day and plan an itinerary that includes a few more attractions. A driver will cost you around $50, and you can visit multiple locations in the comfort of a car.
To find a driver, ask at your hotel, Airbnb, or go by recommendations. There's no shortage of drivers, but you want one you can trust to pick you up early and drive safely.
I got our recommendation from the driver who took us from Sawarna to Jakarta a few weeks earlier.
Once you've hired a driver, give him the proper coordinates. There are different entrances to Sekumpul, and there are also several ticket booths on the way there. Some of those are many kilometers from Sekumpul.
Their setup might make you think you've arrived at the official entrance. But if you buy your ticket there, you're in for a ride on the back of a motorbike that'll cost you extra. Since you have a driver, this is not necessary. The road to the official entrance is paved and doesn't require motorbikes.
Tell your driver to head to Spice restaurant. It is the farthest you can go by car. If no parking is available, the driver can drop you off and then park at the main parking lot, where the official hike starts.
While it's great to support the local economy, I would have preferred to just buy an entrance ticket. The medium hike is easy enough, and I always feel rushed if somebody waits for me while I compose my photos. Our guide could have led at least one or two additional tours during that time.
Directly before the Spice restaurant, head left. You'll first walk along a narrow paved road toward a set of stairs leading down to the river. During this part of the hike, you'll pass a little booth where you might get asked to hire a guide if someone is around. But when we went past in the morning, nobody was there.
Shortly after, you'll get your first glimpse of Sekumpul. Less than 10 minutes later, you should have reached the base of the stairs.
Here, you have two options: Follow the path left toward the hidden waterfall - there's a sign indicating where to go. Or cross the creek and continue to Sekumpul. Since you have to wade through water several times, bring water shoes and be careful on the dark rocks surrounding the waterfalls. Those can get slippery.
In terms of composition, there are two little rivers to choose from when looking for foreground interest. I found the creek to the left to offer a better view of the waterfall, with some nice rocks and currents in the foreground. But make sure to explore on your own and take your time.
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 am, you can also witness the sun lighting up the waterfall and the canyon for a few minutes. It creates a magical atmosphere.
I had planned the tour like this but found that after photographing the Spray waterfall, I had enough for the day and went back to Ubud. If you have the endurance and your driver is ok with it, this is how you squeeze the most photography out of such a day. If you're up for it and stay in Canggu, end the day with seascape photography at Tanah Lot Temple.
Since this is more than a typical day for a driver, you should not bargain too much and give him more than $50.
But you can easily stay more than two weeks in Bali for photography alone and not get bored. And there are not only waterfalls to photograph. There are lush forests, mountains, rice paddies, and dramatic seascapes, so bring enough time.
