Gembleng Waterfall or Air Terjun Gembleng is a bit of a hidden gem in East Bali and if you’ve always wanted to swim in a beautiful pool of clear, clean water in the jungle, you’re going to love it.
Our guide to Gembleng Waterfall will tell you everything you need to know to prepare for an awesome trip to this beautiful place in Bali.
Where Is Gembleng Waterfall, Bali?
Gembleng Waterfall, Bali is located in East Bali near the village of Sidemen.
We’d recommend visiting Gembleng Waterfall if you’re staying in Sidemen or spending some time in the area.
We’re big fans of Sidemen Village which is a slice of authentic Bali as Ubud once was before it was overtaken by more commercial interests (though we still love Ubud, as our guide to Ubud makes clear).
How To Get To Gembleng Waterfall, Bali
The Gembleng Waterfall, Bali is just a short (roughly 25-minute) drive from the village of Sidemen, about an hour from Ubud and about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the main beach towns.
That means you can easily take a Grab or Gojek out to this waterfall from most places, but you will need to arrange a return trip with the driver as you won’t find it easy to get a ride from Gembleng Waterfall.
The better alternative is to hire a private car and driver to see Gembleng Waterfall and other sites in the area on the same day.
This is very cost-effective (a day’s rental fee, including the driver and petrol, is about $35 USD, $50 AUD which is 500,000 IDR) and a great way to ensure that your possessions remain secure on your trip.
You could also take a scooter out to Gembleng Waterfall but we never recommend the use of a scooter anywhere in Bali.
The roads near Gembleng Waterfall are not in good condition and the rules of the road here in Bali are next to non-existent and accidents are really common.
Worse, it’s hard to be road-legal and if you’re not road-legal, then your travel insurance won’t pay out if you hurt yourself near Gembleng Waterfall and any savings on transport will be gone as you face very expensive hospital bills.
That’s why we always recommend using the services of a local driver and their car, that way you can relax and enjoy Gembleng Waterfall without any worries about your own welfare.
What’s The Best Time To Visit Gembleng Waterfall, Bali?
There’s never a bad time of year to be visiting Gembleng waterfall but if you want to see Air Terjun Gembleng in its finest form, you will want to go at the end of the wet season when Balinese waterfalls have their heaviest water flow and their natural beauty and majesty is simply breathtaking.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t rain all day during the wet season and you can look forward to 8-9 hours of sunshine every day.
If you want to visit this natural wonder for a more tranquil atmosphere and spend some time in the pools without worrying about dangerous water flow, you might opt for the dry season, instead.
Gembleng Falls rarely sees huge numbers of visitors unlike other waterfalls in Bali because of its remote location in East Bali but if you want to be sure of getting this sacred site all to yourself, we’d recommend that you visit in the early morning.
What’s The Gembleng Waterfall Entrance Fee?
Surprisingly, there is no fixed entrance fee at this waterfall and you access Waterfall Air Terjun Gembleng by offering a donation.
We’d recommend giving 10-20K IDR per person which is roughly what you’d pay to get into any other waterfall in Bali.
One thing we should note is that while there is a decent road to the car park, it’s very narrow, no big deal on a scooter but there’s no room for cars to pass each other and you may be asked to reverse quite a distance if another driver comes in the opposite direction!
What To Expect At Gembleng Waterfall
The walk down to Gembleng Waterfall isn’t that long, it’s just 250 meters each way, and it’s all paved and there are stairs where necessary.
However, it’s not the easiest walk as some sections are very steep and it may take 10+ minutes to walk up there and slightly longer to climb back down.
There is a small suspended wooden bridge at one point on the path here and you will want to tread carefully as you cross it.
The good news is that the paths are very well-maintained so if you want to do this hike, it’s safe to do so as long as you take your time about it.
You can see many of the small rock pools on the walk down and if you veer off onto some of the side trails you can get some cracking views (and for photography enthusiasts, photo opportunities) of the waterfall from a different angle than the usual spot at the bases of a waterfall.
As you follow the trail to this hidden gem, you’ll enjoy butterflies and dragonflies fluttering around you (don’t worry, dragonflies don’t bite).
In the early morning, the locals will be at Gembleng Waterfall putting out Canang Sari and that means the sweet smell of Balinese incense wafting through the air, which is lovely.
Before you reach the infinity-style rock pools at the base of the waterfall, you will find you may need to take your shoes off to cross a small, crystal-clear pool.
There is a pleasant lookout just before you reach the waterfall and you can get a great view of the local rice paddies and rice fields from here.
The Natural Infinity Pool
It’s not the biggest natural infinity pool in Bali but the infinity pool at this waterfall is more than deep enough to submerge yourself in.
There is probably only room for two people at a time, which can be a very pleasant way to cool off with your partner.
There are two infinity-style rock pools but only the first infinity pool has a good view over the local countryside.
At the end of the rainy season, the land is so vibrant that these spectacular views will stay with you in your memories.
Be careful when you try to get into the infinity pool, however, as the rocks are wet and slippery and it’s all too easy to fall in and hurt yourself.
Take it slow and lower yourself in gradually and then just relax.
It’s worth noting that if the waterfall Air Terjun Gembleng is in very heavy flow you might struggle to get out of this pool, so get some guidance from the locals before you opt to enjoy the pools here.
Photography Tips For When You Visit Gembleng Waterfall
Gembleng Waterfall is a great place for photographers and there are a few things you might want to take to get the best shots of Gembleng Waterfall:
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A wide-angle lens – you don’t need anything too wide as Gembleng Waterfall is a bit smaller than the most dramatic falls but a 24-28mm full frame equivalent will come in handy if you want everything to fit in the image.
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A tripod – as with all waterfalls, long exposure shots will result in creamy water in the falls themselves, they can also help you get the best shots of the pool here.
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An ND filter – this is the best way to deal with the harsh daylight conditions in Bali and still take long exposures.
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A CPL filter – if you want to get rid of reflections on the surface of the water or get the most blue out of the water and sky, this is the best way to do it. Many filter systems let you combine an ND filter and a CPL filter for the best effects.
What To Take To Gembleng Waterfall
Given that Gembleng Waterfall is fairly easy to get to and very close to the road we’d recommend that you take:
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Lightweight breathable clothing
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Swimming clothes and a towel in a dry bag and change by the pool
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Your camera, tripod and filters
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Decent shoes
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Snacks and drinks (very optional given how short a walk the waterfall is from the car park where you can pick up some snacks and drinks)
Is Gembling Waterfall Worth It?
Yes! Gembleng Waterfall, Bali is very much worth a visit and while Gembleng Waterfall isn’t quite as dramatically beautiful as some of the other waterfalls in Bali, you will find that a trip to Waterfall Air Terjun Gembleng is lots of fun.
It’s one of the few places you can enjoy a natural infinity pool and because Gembleng Waterfall is off the beaten path in East Bali, it’s less busy than many of the other Bali waterfalls and which means you can enjoy the soothing atmosphere without being interrupted by an endless procession of influencers.
How Long Is The Walk To Gembleng Waterfall?
It’s a short walk (less than 10 minutes) to this hidden gem but that doesn’t mean that getting to Gembleng Waterfall is “easy”.
It does have “easy stairs” for Bali but it’s still a steep climb up this waterfall and its stunning views over the East side of Bali.
However, it’s one of the best waterfalls when it comes to the level of maintenance on the paths and stairs and we doubt you’ll need to claim on your travel insurance for a fall as long as you have shoes with decent grip and take your time.
What Is The Biggest Waterfall In Bali? What Is The Tallest Waterfall In Bali?
The biggest waterfall here in Bali is the pair of 80-meter-tall waterfalls that make up Sekumpul Waterfall.
It’s one of the most popular places to visit on the island and its location not far from the village/town of Ubud means it’s on most tours of Central Bali.
It’s the perfect place for a little adventure and its surrounded by other awesome things to do in the nearby jungle.
What Do You Wear To A Waterfall In Bali?
There is no dress code for Bali’s waterfalls. However, as with all places in this relatively conservative corner of Southeast Asia, it’s expected that you will dress reasonably modestly unless you are swimming.
We’d recommend that you go with lightweight summer clothes that a re fully breathable for the walk to a waterfall and that you wear shoes with a decent level of grip as they can get slippery on the way down, particularly if it rains.
You also want to carry your swimming clothes in your bag if you want to swim and at the Gembleng Waterfall with its natural infinity pool, you will almost certainly want to swim.
How To Arrange A Holiday Trip To Gembleng Waterfall?
We would always recommend that you visit Bali waterfalls including Gembleng Waterfall by booking your trip through the awesome people at the Bali Res Centre.
That’s a locally owned and operated travel service that specializes in Balinese travel and it can arrange all your transport, hotels, flights, trips, etc. at very competitive rates.
We would always use the Bali Res Centre when visiting Bali and they can always arrange the best guide, hotel pick-up service, etc.
One reason that we love the Bali Res Centre is that when you work with them, your holiday money stays in the local economy and supports Balinese people and not the profits of a multinational corporation.
Gembleng Waterfall is a little off the beaten path and that means you can enjoy the Gembleng Falls with your friends and family without any crowds around you.
It is a little smaller and less physically imposing than some of the other waterfalls here in Bali but the pools provide a unique experience that you can’t find at any other waterfall here.
If you’re in East Bali, then Gembleng Waterfall is a must-see and if you’re not then a trip to Waterfall Air Terjun Gembleng is worth your effort too.
Of course, if you just want an infinity pool and a spectacular view of the sunset, you could just come to FINNS, the world’s best beach club, for a cold cocktail and a relaxing time in Canggu.
