Bali: North Bali Waterfalls and Twin Lakes Tour with Lunch

Northern Bali rewards an early start and a strong pair of shoes. This full-day trip links Sekumpul Waterfall, Banyumala Waterfall, and the Twin Lakes in one long circuit, then adds a traditional lunch, a short canoe ride, and coffee and tea tasting. It gives you a useful look at Bali beyond the beach towns.

I like the way the tour combines major nature stops with small local touches. The traditional lunch can be adapted for a vegetarian meal, and driver Yogi has been especially flexible when weather changes the plan. I also like that the private, air-conditioned car keeps a long day far more comfortable.

The main drawback is the distance. Sekumpul is about 70 kilometers from Denpasar and takes roughly two hours to reach, while the waterfall walks and canoe stop add physical effort. If you want a relaxed day with little road time, this is not the right outing.

Key details at a glance

• Sekumpul takes about two hours: Expect a long ride from southern Bali before reaching one of the island’s tallest and most impressive waterfalls.
• Banyumala includes a walk and possible swim: Bring hiking shoes, sunscreen, and suitable clothes if you want to enter the water.
• Lunch is local rather than resort-style: The meal is served at a local restaurant, and one booking included a vegetarian version prepared at a family home.
• The Twin Lakes provide a change of pace: Buyan and Tamblingan offer broad mountain views and easy photo stops after the waterfall walks.
• Tamblingan includes a wooden canoe ride: A local guide accompanies you across the lake after a safety briefing.
• Coffee tasting fills the return journey: De Koffie in Wanagiri offers a look at coffee and tea production, plus samples.

Why this northern Bali tour works as a full-day outing

This is not a quick waterfall transfer with one photo stop. You spend 8 to 10 hours moving through northern Bali, where the day shifts from forest paths and falling water to mountain lakes, a wooden canoe, local food, and plantation products.

I like that variety. Waterfalls can begin to blur together when you visit several in one day, but the Twin Lakes and Tamblingan canoe ride break up the walking. Lunch and coffee tasting also give you time to sit down, warm up, or get out of the rain.

The tour uses a private air-conditioned car and includes hotel pickup. Your driver collects you from the lobby about 15 minutes before departure, with pickup and drop-off options covering Bali, including Ubud, Kuta, Denpasar, Tabanan, Singaraja, Badung, Buleleng, and Klungkung.

The exact starting time depends on availability. Since the northern route is long, I would choose the earliest practical departure. That gives you a better chance of enjoying the waterfalls before the day becomes tiring and leaves room for weather changes.

Reaching Sekumpul Waterfall after the long drive

Sekumpul is the headline stop. It is in Sekumpul village near Singaraja, around 70 kilometers from Denpasar, and the drive from southern Bali takes about two hours. That distance matters when you judge the tour. A large share of the day is spent in the car, but the route takes you away from the busiest resort areas.

The approach includes scenic views and a walk toward the falls. The planned stop lasts about two hours, giving you time for sightseeing, photographs, and the route through the surrounding nature. The waterfall is described as one of Bali’s highest, and the setting is the kind of place where the journey feels justified once you arrive.

You should expect walking rather than a roadside viewpoint. Wear hiking shoes with a firm sole, not smooth sandals. A hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and a camera belong in your day bag. Mineral water is included, but carrying a little extra water is sensible on a warm day.

A local guide may meet you at the waterfall entrance. One account of the trip describes a quick walk leading to views of two different waterfalls in the Sekumpul area. Since local conditions and the exact route can vary, ask your driver what walking distance and guide arrangements apply that day.

Sekumpul is a strong choice for anyone who wants Bali’s more dramatic natural scenery. It is less suitable if you have trouble with uneven paths or want a stop that requires almost no exertion.

Banyumala Waterfall and the chance to swim

Banyumala, in Wanagiri village, gives the day a different waterfall experience. The stop is listed at about 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a visit, sightseeing, hiking, and possible swimming. That is a generous amount of time, so you are not simply being rushed in, snapping one picture, and leaving.

The name is often associated with a hidden waterfall, and the appeal here is the setting reached by walking through the area rather than viewing the water from a passing car. You can take photographs, enjoy the sound of the falls, and swim if conditions and your comfort level allow.

Pack a change of clothes if you plan to get in the water. The provided packing advice calls for hiking shoes, comfortable clothing, sunscreen, and a hat. The tour does not say that towels are supplied, so bring one if swimming is important to you.

The order of the stops may shift. The main description places Sekumpul first, then Banyumala, while the detailed schedule gives Banyumala a longer listed stop and one account describes the second waterfall after lunch. Weather played a role in that day’s plan, with coffee and tea tasting used as a useful indoor break during rain. This flexibility is practical in Bali, where a wet road or heavy shower can change the best order.

A local lunch at De Koffie in Wanagiri

The food stop is listed at De Koffie in Wanagiri and allows about 90 minutes for lunch, free time, and a visit. The meal is described as traditional and local, not as a standard international buffet.

That distinction matters. I would choose this tour partly because lunch is built into the route instead of leaving you to search for food between remote sights. One booking included a meal prepared at a local family home, and it was adapted to vegetarian needs. You should still tell the driver about dietary needs as early as possible, since the supplied details only confirm that vegetarian food was accommodated on that outing.

The lunch stop also gives your legs a break. After the first waterfall walk, a proper sit-down meal is more useful than another rushed roadside pause. Take advantage of the free time to ask about the food and local ingredients, but remember that this is a touring day, not a dedicated food tour.

Buyan and Tamblingan, Bali’s Twin Lakes

After lunch, the route continues to Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan. Together they are known as Bali’s Twin Lakes, and the tour uses them for scenic views and photographs.

Buyan and Tamblingan feel different from the waterfalls. Instead of focusing on a single wall of falling water, you look across open lake views framed by Bali’s highland surroundings. The schedule allows time for a photo stop and sightseeing, so you can slow down and take photographs with the lakes behind you.

Wanagiri is known for photo viewpoints, but the supplied details do not promise any particular swing, nest, or paid platform. You should expect lake views and photo opportunities rather than a fixed collection of props.

This stop is valuable because it gives the day breathing room. If Sekumpul and Banyumala are active, wet, and tiring, the lake views let you reset. On the other hand, visibility depends on weather. Cloud or rain can soften the view, which is another reason the driver’s ability to adjust the timing helps.

Crossing Tamblingan in a traditional wooden canoe

The Tamblingan activity is more than another viewpoint. You take a traditional wooden boat, described as a canoe, across the lake with a local guide. The stop includes a safety briefing, walking, and canoeing, and the listed duration is about 2.5 hours.

The canoe ride offers a slower, quieter part of the day. You are close to the water rather than looking down from a road viewpoint, and the traditional boat adds a local element that a standard car tour would miss.

You do not need to treat this as a demanding water sport. It is an included canoe activity accompanied by a local guide. Still, listen carefully during the safety briefing and wear clothing that is comfortable for sitting in a boat. Keep your camera secure, especially if the weather is damp.

The tour is not suitable for people with altitude sickness, according to the activity information. No separate accessibility details are provided, so anyone concerned about walking, uneven paths, or getting into a wooden boat should ask before booking.

Coffee and tea tasting on the way back

The return journey includes a stop at a coffee plantation, identified as De Koffie in Wanagiri. Here you can learn about the process of making coffee and tea, then taste a range of drinks.

I see this as a useful final stop, not just a shopping break. It explains how local drinks are produced and gives you something indoors to do if the weather turns. One day’s plan moved to the coffee and tea tasting when rain made the waterfall schedule less convenient, which shows why this stop can help keep the outing enjoyable.

The visit also adds a gentler finish after the canoe ride. You can sample several coffees and teas, but shopping is part of the listed activity, so expect the chance to buy products as well. If plantation shopping is not your thing, keep your expectations modest and treat the stop as a short cultural and tasting visit.

What the $77 price includes

At $77 per person, the value depends on how much you want to see in one day. The price includes a professional tour driver, private air-conditioned car transfer, traditional lunch, the canoe activity, entrance tickets, and mineral water.

That package removes several costs that can add up on a remote day. You do not need to arrange separate transport between three nature areas, pay each waterfall entrance yourself, find a lunch stop, or organize the Tamblingan boat after arriving.

The private car is important here. Northern Bali is spread out, and the roads consume time. Having an air-conditioned vehicle and a driver who can adjust the plan is worth more on this route than it would be on a compact walking tour.

The value is weaker if you are already staying in northern Bali and only want one waterfall. In that case, a shorter local visit could be more efficient. But from Ubud, Kuta, or southern Bali, combining the main stops in one day makes the $77 price easier to justify.

The driver and the role of flexibility

The activity provides an English-speaking guide, with the driver handling the tour and local arrangements. Driver Yogi is specifically praised for being friendly, answering questions about local culture, and changing the plan without advance notice when conditions required it.

That flexibility is one of the most useful features of this outing. Rain can affect waterfall paths, lake views, and the canoe ride. A rigid schedule would make the day harder, while a driver who can move the coffee stop earlier or change the order gives you a better chance of seeing the main sights.

Do not confuse flexibility with unlimited customization. The tour still has a long list of stops, and the day lasts 8 to 10 hours. Ask your driver about the day’s order, walking time, and weather before setting off so you know what can realistically fit.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a wide sample of northern Bali without arranging several transfers. It suits active visitors who are happy to walk, take photographs, possibly swim, and spend a full day on the road.

It also works well for people who enjoy a mix of nature and local stops. You get waterfalls, mountain lakes, a traditional canoe, lunch, and coffee and tea tasting rather than a day built around one type of attraction.

Families and older visitors should consider the walking carefully. The information does not give exact trail conditions or accessibility details, but both waterfall visits include walking or hiking, and Tamblingan includes getting into a wooden boat. People with altitude sickness should not book this activity.

Bring hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and a camera. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which is useful when your Bali plans are still changing.

Should you book the North Bali Waterfalls and Twin Lakes Tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing several of northern Bali’s best-known natural sights in one organized day. The included transport, tickets, lunch, water, and canoe ride make the $77 price practical, while driver Yogi’s reported flexibility is valuable when rain changes the schedule.

Skip it if you dislike long car journeys, waterfall walks, or tightly packed days. You will spend about 8 to 10 hours on the outing, and the route from southern Bali is a serious commitment. For active visitors who want more than beaches and resort streets, though, this is a useful, well-rounded day in Bali’s highlands.

FAQ

How long does the North Bali tour last?

The tour lasts 8 to 10 hours. Starting times depend on availability, and hotel pickup takes place about 15 minutes before departure.

What waterfalls are included?

The tour includes Sekumpul Waterfall and Banyumala Waterfall. Both stops involve sightseeing and walking, while Banyumala also allows hiking and swimming.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A traditional lunch is included at a local restaurant, listed as De Koffie in Wanagiri. Vegetarian food was prepared on one outing, so tell the driver about dietary needs.

Is the canoe ride included in the price?

Yes. The price includes a traditional wooden canoe activity on Lake Tamblingan, accompanied by a local guide. The activity includes a safety briefing.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with listed locations covering areas such as Ubud, Kuta, Denpasar, Tabanan, Singaraja, Badung, Buleleng, and Klungkung.

What should I bring?

Bring a hat, camera, hiking shoes, sunscreen, and comfortable clothes. If you plan to swim at Banyumala, pack a change of clothes and a towel, since the supplied details do not state that towels are provided.

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.