Sumampan Waterfall is located in Gianyar, not too far from Ubud, Bali. It is a relatively new waterfall and is still becoming known among both locals and tourists. For this reason, now is a great time to visit the Falls before it becomes inundated with tourists, and trust us, it will!
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Where is Sumampan Waterfall?
Located within the Gianyar Region, Sumampan Waterfall is not that far from the center of Ubud. Only a short ride by scooter, it can easily be combined with a trip to the Tegenungan Waterfall which is located only 5 minutes to the south. There is also another waterfall quite close to Sumampan called Uma Anyar Waterfall. It is also worth checking out as it’s an amazing location in it’s own right, and fantastic for photos. On the day that we went searching for Sumampan Waterfall, we actually stumbled on Uma Anyar by accident, even though it is the better signposted of the two.
Wondering how to get around in Bali?
As always, my suggestion is by Scooter. You can get anywhere on the island on a scooter, and you can easily hire one at this link. If you have an international driver’s permit, then you are set to go!
Your other option is to hire a car and a driver. You can get one right here, and organize your day out in air-conditioned comfort! Either way, you will enjoy your day and get to see a bit of this wonderful island.
As always, make sure that you have your Travel Insurance up to date as well.
UPDATE 2024 – A quick note about parking. This changes every time we visit. If you have a scooter it’s easy to get down the gang to where the warungs and gate into the falls is located. If you have a car, it’s probably best to not try. You can get down it but it may be hard to turn around if it’s busy. Try parking on the road and walking then short distance in. You will probably have to pay no matter where you park, but at least you won’t be parked in.
Access to Sumampan Waterfall
The road through the village of Kemunah, where Sumampan Waterfall is located, is not exactly well signposted. This will certainly change as the Falls become more popular, but for now you have to follow both Google Maps and your nose. Follow the small sign from the road down a small gang and you will find a track at the end. It is actually possible to ride your scooter about halfway down toward the falls, and you can park at a few places along the track if you don’t want to go too far. We actually parked near the warung at the head of the track as we knew nothing of the Falls before we found them ourselves.
The warung has morphed a bit in the last couple of years. It is a small restaurant now, and sells beer and good food if you want a feed after the hot trek back up from the falls. There are also a couple more small warungs/souvenir stalls at the entrance as of 2024.
The track into Sumampan Waterfall is rather nice, winding through tall palm trees and long grass until it reaches the trailhead down to the actual Falls themselves. Here, some stairs begin that are still relatively overgrown and can get slippery, so take care. As you descend, the stairs become even harder to negotiate to the point that they begin to curve around the edge of the actual cliff face where they become steep and narrow with only a small hand rail to cling onto. We would not recommend taking children down these stairs until they are improved a bit.
What to expect at Sumampan Waterfall
Sumampan Waterfall is amazing to behold. It is a steady stream of water pouring directly down a 10 metre high cliff face. The falls themselves were created by accident, caused by the run off from nearby rice fields. As a result, the water is crystal clear and makes amazing photos. The water flow falls from a canopy of large trees and the entire area is surrounded by jungle and hanging vines. If you are after those Jungle feels, you have come to the right place!
Sumampan Waterfall is not the best falls for swimming, as the water at the base is not very deep. At certain times of the year it is not even recommended to attempt to cross the small river to the Waterfall side as the flow would make it dangerous. Taking a dip in the river itself is certainly possible though.
Also around the bottom of the falls and adorning the river banks in the vicinity of the falls you will find rock carvings depicting Balinese Gods. These were sculpted by a local artist by the name of Nyoman Retana in 2018. Not something that is normally found at a Waterfall, they certainly make this one unique and create interesting photos. The dry season is best to see the carvings as in the wet a lot are under the water.
Once you have spent some time at Sumampan Waterfall, don’t forget to leave time to visit Uma Anyar, just a few minutes back down the road. Also, Tegenungan Waterfall is only 5 minutes away, so wrap up your day with a quick trip down there as well.
Interested in Ubud Waterfalls? Then check out THIS article about all of my favorites!
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