Air Terjun Yeh Mampeh or Yeh Mampeh Waterfall as it’s better known to English speakers is a nearly “secret” waterfall in North Bali near the LesS Village.
It’s a long way from the common tourist routes and thus if you make the trip you can be sure of a serene environment with truly breathtaking views.
Where Is Yeh Mampeh Waterfall?
Yeh Mampeh is sometimes called “Les Waterfall” after the village that it sits near in North Bali. It’s only a 10-minute drive from Singaraja, so if you’re visiting Bali’s second city it’s a no-brainer to visit this amazing place too.
Address: Buleleng, Les, Kec. Tejakula, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81173, Indonesia
How To Get To Yeh Mampeh Waterfall, Bali
If you’re coming from Singaraja then the best option is going to be use a local taxi or Grab or Gojek if you can find one and arrange for the return journey at the end of your hike as this will work out cheapest.
However, if you’re coming from the beach towns of Canggu, Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Seminyak, Kuta, or Legian or from Ubud, the drive to this waterfall is fairly substantial and you’re going to be best off hiring a private car and driver.
This is a great way to explore Bali and enjoy the impressive beauty of the Balinese countryside in comfort.
It’s also not that expensive, you can easily find a car with a driver for around $35 USD or $50 AUD (500,000 IDR) a day including the petrol.
You could also consider renting a scooter to get out to this remote location but we don’t recommend that you explore Bali on a scooter. It’s hard to stay road-legal and you must be road-legal if you want to claim on insurance for any accidents, which are all too common on Bali’s roads.
So, keep your adventure to a hike to the waterfall and avoid spending time in a Balinese hospital and stick to renting a car.
What’s The Best Time To Visit Yeh Mampeh Waterfall, Bali?
There is no bad time of year to visit Bali and, in fact, even in the rainy season, we get around 8 hours of sunshine a day.
If you want to explore Bali’s waterfalls then we would recommend that you visit in the shoulder season just after the rainy season.
This is when every waterfall in Bali is at its most impressive as they have the largest volumes of water to work with.
Just make sure that you wear decent shoes as you navigate through the forest to the location of the waterfall as it can get a bit slippery after rain.
What’s The Yeh Mampeh Waterfall Entrance Fee?
This waterfall like most other falls in Bali has a small entrance fee. It’s just 10,000 IDR (that’s about $0.65 USD to $1 AUD) to get in.
Given that the journey to reach this waterfall is substantially more expensive than that, the entrance fee shouldn’t put anyone off making the trip.
You don’t need a guide to visit this waterfall and you can easily explore the forest location by yourself and relax here. Because it’s a long way off the beaten path, you won’t be badgered by fake guides as you might at other busier falls in Bali.
The Background To Yeh Mampeh Waterfall
This part of the North Coast has been virtually untouched and thus this is an ideal destination that offers visitors to Bali a truly unique experience and a serene atmosphere in the shadow of Mt Batur, the active volcano (so more than a mountain).
However, it’s fair to say that there’s not much known about the history of this impressive waterfall except for the fact that the locals treat this place as more than an excuse for a trekking adventure and see it as a sacred site.
The name “Yeh Mampeh” translates to “flying water” from the original Balinese and this, of course, refers to the water cascading down the cliff at these fascinating falls.
What To Expect At Yeh Mampeh Waterfall
The trek down to the waterfall isn’t the easiest trail in Bali but it is relatively short and it won’t take more than 15 minutes for most people to get there.
We would note, that like almost all waterfalls in Bali, this is not accessible to motion-impaired individuals.
Mostly, we’d consider this to be a medium challenge as the path can be quite steep in certain sections.
Once you arrive you’ll find that the water plunging off the cliffs above into the pool below is suitably spectacular and you’ll be reaching fro your camera in no time.
You are welcome to swim at this spot and while you shouldn’t drink the water, it’s clean and pure.
There are some interesting trails leading away from the waterfall too if you’re in the mood for some jungle hiking.
If you opted to hire a local guide at the ticket office, you will get a bried talk on the importance of the site to the local people and about the plants nearby and their medicinal properties.
You don’t need to bring any snacks and drinks as there are several places on the way to the Yeh Mampeh Waterfall where you can buy them, including a vegan cafe owned and operated by Australians!
Yeh Mempeh is one of our favourite waterfalls in Bali.
Photography Tips For When You Visit Yeh Mampeh Waterfall
All the basic waterfall tips apply here if you want great photos:
Bring a wide-angle lens – if you want to get the whole scene in a single shot, you won’t get much space to back up in, so you need to ensure your lens can capture it.
Bring a tripod – the best shots at waterfalls involve long exposures, it’s much easier to get the smooth creamy water when you’re using a tripod.
Bring an ND filter – this is like putting sunglasses on your lens and allows you to take much longer exposure shots than the daylight will normally allow for.
Bring a CPL filter – a CPL filter helps to make the water and sky look bluer and to eliminate reflections on the surface of the water if you want to. You can often find a system where you can combine both the CPL and ND filters on your camera, allowing even more versatility when shooting waterfalls.
What To Take To Yeh Mampeh Waterfall
You really don’t need to bring very much to this waterfall but you might want to bring:
Sensible shoes with grips to get to the pool below
A camera, tripod and potentially an ND filter and CPL filter
Swimming clothes for a dip
Snacks and drinks (optional as you can buy them here but you may still want to bring your own)
Sunscreen, sun hats and sunglasses because sunburn is no fun
Other Bali Waterfalls To Visit
There are many other waterfalls in Bali, some of those nearest to Singaraja and Yeh Mampeh waterfall include:
Gitgit Waterfall
This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Bali and it’s super easy tto get to.
If you’re only going to do one waterfall here and you don’t want to have to hike to get to it, Gitgit is the place to go.
Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is a contender for the most spectacular waterfall on the island and it’s huge and thrilling to witness.
It’s not too challenging a hike from the road, either.
Kroya Waterfall
This large and attractive fall has cliff jumping and you can even slide down the waterfall, you will need to pay for the services of a local guide to do this.
Air Terjun Tembok Barak
This is a lovely waterfall and one of the least visited in the area. It’s actually very easy to get to and just 5 minutes from the road (though the stairs can be quite steep).
It’s a great place to swim with a really attractive pool at the base and it’s usually very clean too.
The only downside is that it’s not very well signposted locally and if you’re in a car, you will need to walk from the main road to the car park before you can go down to the falls.
Air Terjun Padangbulia
If you want a very challenging waterfall to visit then this one is going to provide it.
Be warned, the track is poorly marked and hard to follow, you need good shoes to even think about tackling it.
The best part of visiting this waterfall is barely anyone visits it because it’s so hard to get to.
FAQs
Is Yeh Mampeh Waterfall Worth It? Is It A Beautiful And Peaceful Place?
Yes! We think Yeh Mampeh Waterfall is one of the best places in Bali as it’s quiet and relaxing and nestled in the heart of nature.
You can even swim in the cool pure water below the fall and photos taken here are always awesome thanks to the fact that there’s rarely another person in sight when you’re there.
How Long Is The Walk To Yeh Mampeh Waterfall?
It’s a very short trek which works out to about 1 mile round trip, so you can easily walk there in 15 minutes and back again in about 20 minutes (as you’re going uphill).
It’s a moderately challenging walking route and tourists who are not used to walking may find it hard work, but most moderately fit individuals should have no problem getting to this waterfall.
Should I Visit Yeh Mampeh Waterfall When I Visit Mount Batur?
Yes, given how close this waterfall is to the volcano, it’s a great idea to kill two birds with one stone and visit the two together.
However, climbing the volcano is hard work, so you might want to spread your visits over two days.
What Is The Biggest Waterfall In Bali? What Is The Tallest Waterfall In Bali?
Sekumpul waterfall is the largest waterfall on the island as it consists of a pair of 80-meter waterfalls that thunder down the clifs along with several smaller tributaries.
What Do You Wear To A Waterfall In Bali?
We’d recommend that you wear lightweight clothing to any waterfall in Bali and if you can swim at the falls, bring your swimming stuff in a dry bag too.
The most important thing is to ensure you have shoes with a decent level of grip so that if the path becomes slippery in rainfall, you can enjoy your time in nature without getting into any accidents.
How To Arrange A Holiday Trip To Enjoy The Natural Beauty Of Yeh Mampeh Waterfall
We always recommend that you book a holiday in Bali through the Bali Res Centre, they’re our favourite locally owned and managed travel service.
They can arrange great deals on accommodation anywhere in Bali from Nusa Dua to Singaraja and beyond.
Their local knowledge comes in very handy when trying to find a specific waterfall or knowing which hotel is about to be situated next to a building site.
Booking with the Bali Res Centre also means that your money stays in the local economy and doesn’t get sent to an offshore bank account for a multinational corporation.
Final Thoughts On Yeh Mampeh Waterfall
Yeh Mampeh Waterfall is a hidden gem and it’s a wonderful place to visit for a family day out at a waterfall.
It’s beautiful and the setting is purely natural. Why not discover it for yourself?
