There are some lovely Bali waterfalls and Leke Leke Waterfall is one of the real gems of the waterfall scene on the island.
Your first view of the place is going to take you entirely by surprise and it’s a great spot to spend a few hours enjoying your chance to live in harmony with nature and appreciating the beauty of the world around you.
It’s a great site and Leke Leke waterfall is well run with some decent facilities on hand to make your visit even more enjoyable.
Here’s our guide to everything you need to know when you visit Leke Leke waterfall in Bali.
Where Is Leke Leke Waterfall?
Leke Leke Waterfall is in North Bali and is about an hour’s drive from Ubud and the Sacred Monkey Forest.
It’s about a 2 – 2.5 hour drive from the beach destinations of Canggu, Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.
The address of Leke Leke Waterfall is Kerobokan, Mekarsari, Baturiti, Tabanan Regency, Bali 82191, Indonesia
How Do You Get To Leke Leke Waterfall?
We’d recommend that you visit Leke Leke Waterfall as part of an organized tour because it means you can see more of Bali than you might under your own steam and you will get a guide who can give you some details on the places you see.
You can book a tour through the Bali Res Centre that includes Leke Leke Waterfall and you can find their contact details in the FAQ section.
However, you could also hire a private car and driver which is a great way to get there in comfort and style.
Though it will probably cost more than a tour, it is private transportation and will leave and return when you want it to and you can use it for exploring Bali in the right way for you and your family.
You could also consider renting a scooter but we don’t recommend this option. It’s hard to be road-legal (you need a helmet on your head, no alcohol in your blood, a current driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement and an International Driver’s Permit or IDP).
The roads are also a bit on the rough side and the traffic is like nothing you’re used to back home.
Riding in Bali is a serious challenge for an experienced driver and it’s not something you should tackle if you’re new to bikes – accidents are all too common here.
How Much Is The Entrance Fee To Leke Leke Waterfall?
As we go to press the entrance fee for Leke Leke waterfall is just 50,000 IDR per person.
In theory, you can access the falls 24 hours a day but the ticket office is only open during opening hours and you can’t pay the entrance fee at midnight.
The entrance fees don’t include access to the Leke Leke Swing (a rope chair swing for daredevils and those seeking Instagram fame). That is another 250,000 IDR per person.
When Is Leke Leke Waterfall Open?
The falls’ opening times are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the ticket office is only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can pay after you return from the waterfall if you arrive before the staff do. Just don’t leave without paying.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Leke Leke Waterfall?
There is no best time of year to visit this waterfall and you can visit in the rainy season or the dry season.
However, if it’s raining the walk down the hill can become very slippery and you may arrive at this one of the best waterfalls in Bali by sliding down the stairs uncomfortably.
We recommend that if it’s wet, you borrow one of the walking stick options available at the ticket booth.
What To Bring To Leke Leke Waterfall?
There are some pretty good facilities at this waterfall and there are changing rooms with a private bathroom down by the fall itself.
There is also a warung up by the car parking lot in the rice fields and you can get food and drinks there.
However, you might want to bring:
A change of clothes – if you get wet, it can take ages to dry out in the humidity of Bali, so it’s better to change
Swimming clothes – if you want to enjoy the natural pool at this waterfall, bring the right clothes, skinny dipping is definitely not allowed
A camera and any associated gear – more on this in the photography section below
Towels – drying off is always nice and it’s worth it to swim in the small and shallow pool here
Snacks and drinks – yes, you can buy them at the warung, but if you want anything highly specific, it’s a good idea to bring it with you
Decent shoes – thongs will make the walk down to the falls harder work than it needs to be, but if you want you can wear thongs, we’d go with something a bit grippier though
What To Expect At Leke Leke Waterfall?
There is a car park next to the ticket booth and you are welcome to park your car or scooter there safely before you visit the falls.
They also have a decent rubbish bin for you to deposit any waste you generate while you’re on site.
Please don’t leave stuff down by the waterfall just bring it back here and dump it on your way out of the door.
Once you’ve paid for your ticket, you can head down the stairs and there you will find the warung where you can buy some snacks and drinks if you need them.
It’s a nice place to sit and enjoy a view over the rice fields and jungle too.
The Walking Trail
The locals have done a brilliant job of maintaining the path and the stairs on this trail but it’s quite steep and if it’s wet, it can be very slippery.
It will only take 15 minutes (maximum) each way but it’s not suitable for people with movement problems and is probably a moderate hike for most people.
Keep an eye on the plants here as they’re spectacular local flora that you won’t see anywhere else.
About 1/3 of the way down, you may find a fruit stall which is run by a chap called Nyoman. He’s very friendly and his prices are very reasonable for a stall in the middle of nowhere.
The Bamboo Bridge
The bamboo bridge is great, if you want a cool photo of you standing above the rushing water below, don’t hesitate to go out and pose for the camera on this bridge.
It will take your weight, but we strongly recommend that you hold onto the side rails while you cross.
The water below isn’t particularly deep but you probably won’t appreciate just being dumped into it, either.
Swimming And Changing Rooms
There are some changing rooms when you arrive at the falls.
But we recommend taking a couple of minutes to appreciate the beauty of this place before you swap your clothes for swimmers.
There is a place inside for storing stuff, but it’s not secure and we don’t recommend you leave anything valuable in the changing room – it’s better to ask somebody you know to hold it for you.
The pool is great for swimming, it’s very shallow at the edges and only goes up to about shoulder height even in the centre.
The Cave Behind The Falls
There is an interesting cave that is hidden behind the flow of the water and you can go inside it for a look.
We can easily spend an hour or more enjoying the moment at Leke Leke Waterfall. It’s really serene and pleasant.
Photography Tips For Leke Leke Waterfall
This isn’t a hard place to photograph and you will find that Leke Leke waterfall pretty much suggests all the ideal spots to shoot from by itself.
Place your model in the falling water and then you can grab your shots easily from head-on and get them framed by the jungle.
If you shoot from above the model, you will get some really nice depth of field and you can use the vegetation to fill the frame.
Drones
We strongly recommend taking a drone to the Leke Leke waterfall because it absolutely looks amazing from above.
You can also, early in the day so you don’t annoy other people, send the drone directly up the front of the Leke Waterfall to get a really cool series of shots (or video).
Lighting
The best light in this part of the jungle is between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and you’ll find it has an almost golden hour quality at this time of day.
It’s an amazing place for long-exposure photography too as you can get the falling water to appear silky smooth with a longer shutter speed.
Camera Safety At Leke Leke Waterfall in Bali
Camera gear is not usually waterproof and that means you’re going to want to keep it away from the Leke Leke Waterfall.
We recommend carrying your gear in a waterproof bag and setting it up somewhere without too much spray.
If you’re nervous that the basic water sealing (present on every camera) won’t be enough then take a clear plastic sandwich bag with you.
Then place it over the camera with the mouth open around the lens and use an elastic band to seal it around the lens. Hey presto – $2,000 worth of waterproofing for less than $1.
What Gear To Bring
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Wide-angle lens – if you want all of the Leke Leke Waterfall in the shot, then you need a wide-angle lens. We’d recommend going to, at least, 16mm but you can probably get away with 18mm if you need to.
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Zoom lens – the long shots are nice, but if you’re shooting for Instagram then your model is as important as the Leke Leke waterfall and unless your camera is waterproof… you will want to keep it onshore and use a zoom lens to get close.
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Tripod – you can’t realistically handhold for a long-exposure shot at the Leke Leke Waterfall in Bali, you’re going to want to put your camera on a tripod and let it hold the shot steady.
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Circular polarizer and ND filter – these are optional but will make it much easier to capture tones in the water and to really draw out the length of your exposure too.
The Leke Leke Swing
The Leke Leke swing costs 250,000 IDR and like other swings in Bali, it’s a way of getting on a rope swing and throwing yourself out into space to get a bit of a thrill and a great shot for Instagram.
It is safe, at least to date there have been no accidents, but we recommend that you check your travel insurance and make certain that you’re insured, before you do this, just in case.
Other Picturesque Waterfalls In Bali
Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is one of the tallest twin falls in Bali and the water cascades down over 80 meters at the highest point.
Nungnung Waterfall
This is one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Bali and though it’s a tough hike to get there, it’s definitely worth the effort to do so.
Aling Aling Waterfall
If you want to experience the manic joy of cliff jumping in Bali, this waterfall is the best spot to do it. The local guides will keep you safe while you do. (If you want other ideas for cliff jumping locations – try the best cliff jumping spots in Bali).
Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
This is a series of four elegant falls hidden away in North Bali and it’s a great place to visit if you love waterfalls.
Tibumana Waterfall
This hidden gem of a waterfall is one of our favourites, it’s very easy to get to from Ubud which makes it quite popular at certain times of the year.
FAQs
Is Leke Leke Waterfall Worth Visiting?
Yes! Leke Leke waterfall is an area of outstanding natural beauty and it’s a lovely place to spend some time during your Bali vacation.
It’s reasonably easy to get to (though if you have any physical disabilities that impair your motion – it might not be the ideal spot for you) and it’s so worth the effort.
It truly feels like you have found yourself in an Indiana Jones movie when you reach the waterfall which is cloaked by the jungle.
If you get there early enough in the morning, you might even have the Leke Leke Waterfall all to yourself and that’s definitely worth setting an alarm for.
How Long Is Leke Leke Waterfall?
If you mean how far does the water fall at Leke Leke Waterfall? Then it’s about 32 meters high rather than long.
If you’re wondering how long the walk is to the Leke Leke Waterfall from the car park and warungs above? It’s just about 15 minutes there and 15 back.
How To Book A Trip To Leke Waterfall?
We always recommend that if you book a trip to any Bali waterfalls you do so through the amazing folk at The Bali Res Centre.
That’s because that’s a locally owned, managed and operated travel agent with the best contacts in Bali.
They can ensure you get the best prices when you see Bali waterfalls as well as ensuring that the sites you visit are open and operating properly when you are in Bali.
There’s nothing worse than driving for 2 hours to find the place you wanted to see is closed for maintenance is there?
That’s why the Bali Res Centre is always the best place to talk to about Bali travel needs.
Final Thoughts On Leke Leke Waterfall
Leke Leke waterfall is one of the most picturesque and interesting places to visit in Bali.
Unlike some other Bali waterfalls which have become a bit of a tourist trap, this one still retains some of that hidden waterfall mystery that we all love.
It’s one of the best waterfalls to get great Instagram shots at and the lush jungle is very attractive.
Swimming in the shallow pool under the falls is thrilling and if you’re looking to get out to beautiful waterfalls during your time in Bali, Leke Leke waterfall should be high on your list.
You might also explore Tabanan, the region around the waterfall, our guide to Tabanan explains what you can expect to find.
