Taman Sari Waterfall: My In-Depth Guide
Taman Sari Waterfall – Worthy Of Visiting Or Not?
After visiting 6 waterfalls during my two-month stay in Bali, I can confidently say Taman Sari Waterfall shows why Bali stands out for nature lovers.
This guide will help you decide if Taman Sari is right for your travel plans.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what to expect from Taman Sari – including the entrance fee, exact location, and photos that showcase its beauty.
As a couple travelling through Indonesia, swimming beneath Taman Sari’s cool waters with our GoPro created memories we still cherish. The feeling of water flowing over your shoulders while surrounded by lively greenery is something special.
For couples seeking adventures or solo travellers wanting to experience nature, Taman Sari offers a magical Balinese experience.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know about visiting this impressive waterfall.
Is Bali worth visiting? Find out in my detailed post!
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Where Is Taman Sari Waterfall
Taman Sari Waterfall is located 14 kilometres from the Ubud town centre.
Additionally, the waterfall is only 1.5 kilometres from Tibumana Waterfall, making it convenient to visit both attractions in a single day.
There is a sloping path that winds downward, and at the bottom is where you’ll find the waterfall.
Indeed, there are plenty of other waterfalls close by, which are all good options, but in my experience, the Tibumana was a brilliant choice for us.
Discover the Best Things To Do In Ubud Indonesia.
When Should I Visit?
The best time of the day to visit is actually first thing in the morning.
Here, people interested in waterfalls and larger tours are unlikely to be found just after opening time. While we arrived later in the evening about 04.00 PM, there were only a couple of girls and a family arrived just after. that was it.
During the wet season (November to April), you’ll experience a much more powerful and full waterfall. As you might expect, during the dry season (May to October), it becomes weaker and less impressive.
We visited in early July, and even then, the waterfall didn’t lack strength or volume of water. It was a fantastic day trip out from Ubud.
Don’t miss Banyumala Waterfall when visiting Bali. If you like waterfalls, this place is incredible.
Getting to Taman Sari Waterfall
Getting to the waterfall will depend on a few things.
If you can ride a motorbike, you can park right beside the ticket officer and walk just a few minutes to the waterfall.
If you don’t ride motorbikes and have rented a driver for the day (like we did), they can also park there and either accompany you to the waterfall to help you manage your time or wait at the parking area.
I personally appreciated having our driver remind us of the time, as I often got caught up in Bali’s beauty and lost track of time, which meant missing out on other attractions.
Think of it as having a helpful human alarm clock.
We came from Ubud, so it only takes fifty minutes to drive. Keep in mind that traffic in the evening in Ubud is horrific. If you are coming back late, then you WILL get stuck in traffic.
So be aware when planning your time.
You can also book a group tour to see many of Ubud’s waterfalls without having to plan anything yourself.
This is always a good time-saver that allows you to enjoy Bali without worrying about planning so much.
Download Grab and you can always have a driver in your pocket ready to go, whether car or motorbike.
If you’re planning to visit Ubud, be sure to check out my 3-day Ubud itinerary filled with stunning waterfalls and other attractions.
Cost To Enter
When we entered Taman Sari Waterfall, we paid 25,000 IDR €1.31/$1.53 USD/£1.14.
Another cool thing to note is that, unlike many other attractions in Bali, you do not have to pay to park beside the ticket office.
Looking for accommodation? I’ve created a list of the most unique places to stay in Ubud.
Opening Hours
You can visit between 08.00 AM and 06.00 PM.
Keep in mind that if you travel on public holidays, opening times may differ.
We had to leave at 5:00 PM as we were heading to Tibumana Waterfall, which is just a few minutes’ drive away. Thankfully, making two incredible places before they closed at 06.00 PM
I recommend you combine the two, as they are some of Bali’s best waterfalls.
Facilities At The Waterfall
There are toilets at the waterfall.
You can also rent a locker for the time you want to put in your belongings. A nominal fee of 10,000 IDR is needed for this so I urge you to bring cash as card will not be accepted.
For food, you can get some sweet treats and fruits beside the ticket office.
What Should I Pack?
For swimming in a natural pool and waterfall, I recommend the following items:
- GoPro – We brought both the Hero 12 and 13 with us. They were perfect for capturing underwater shots while snorkelling and for action footage at waterfalls.
- Swimsuit – A must-have, especially if you plan to swim at beaches or waterfalls.
- Water shoes – Super handy for rocky beaches or slippery riverbeds. They’ll help prevent cuts and slips.
- Reusable water bottle – Stay hydrated, especially in the heat. Loved our Larq bottle!
- Quick-dry towel – Lightweight, compact, and dries fast—ideal for beach days and hikes.
- Sunscreen – Don’t skip it! Bali’s sun can be intense, even on cloudy days.
Can I Swim At Taman Sari Waterfall
Yes, you can swim at Taman Sari Waterfall, and we loved our experience in the natural pool.
The water is a dark emerald colour, and visibility is not very good. The pool is around 15 meters long and 6 meters wide. I do not recommend swimming at the top plunge pool for safety reasons.
The rocks are extremely slippery and could cause you to fall into the second pool. You will see many signs up saying “no jumping.”
When we were there, it was wonderful to experience a natural shower and sit right underneath the water in the bottom pool. It did have some pressure on my head and was quite cold.
This was a soothing experience, and my body felt completely refreshed after stepping out a few minutes later.
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How Long Do You Need at Taman Sari
You can spend anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and a half at Taman Sari waterfall.
When we visited, we stayed for only forty-five minutes. In this time we swam, took pictures, flew the drone, and even climbed up higher to the plunge pool where I witnessed the deafening splash right in front of me.
When we arrived, there were only a couple of people there, which was pleasant.
It wasn’t overcrowded like Tegenungan waterfall, which was absolutely crazy by comparison in terms of visitor numbers.
Taking Photos Of Taman Sari Waterfall
You may know that I am a big proponent of slow shutter speed when photographing waterfalls.
Bali has so many waterfalls that you can come away with some gems if you know what to do.
Shoot your photos in RAW format. This allows maximum detail capture. The downside is larger file sizes, but I think better quality is more important. My philosophy is simple: delete the bad, keep the good.
Bring a tripod for the slow shutter.
Otherwise, most handheld shots come out blurry unless you use my little secret trick.
Put your camera strap around your neck and push forward until you feel like the camera won’t budge for a couple of seconds. Shoot at a maximum 1.5-second shutter speed and voila, you’ll have a great, silky smooth shot of the falls.
Another tip: underexpose rather than overexpose. You can brighten a photo later in editing, but it’s harder to save a blown-out image.
You can also get great shots on your iPhone if all that sounds like too much hassle!
Where To Stay Close To Taman Sari Waterfall
I recommend staying in Ubud and doing a day trip to the waterfall and other fun stuff found close by.
However, if you want to stay close to the abundance of waterfalls close to Ubud, then you have some good options.
Things To Do Nearby
There are numerous other interesting places to see near Taman Sari Waterfall.
Tibumana is another incredible waterfall to visit.
We also loved visiting Goa Garba and Goa Gajah, two temples that showcase Balinese history. We found them fascinating and really fun to explore.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall and Suawat Waterfall are two other popular places travellers visit while in this part of Bali.
You can even combine a waterfall visit with a rafting tour along the river, too.
If you can afford to go a little further time-wise (40 minutes more), then an incredible experience we had was a visit to Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang.
While it was physically challenging, it felt like being a caveman navigating barefoot through the river and wild nature.
Disclosure – While visiting, we were standing along the riverbank considering our next move. We heard a loud bang and then something approaching us. Suddenly, a giant coconut flew past us and into the river.
There’s no doubt that had it hit one of us, it would have been very dangerous.
All things considered, we were lucky, but this was a fantastic place, well worth adding to your itinerary.
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Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Taman Sari is another one of Bali’s magnificent natural waterfalls.
My experience here was brilliant. It was so much fun to swim over the falls and lie underneath, feeling the water cascade down on my head.
While it’s not as impressive as other waterfalls in Bali, it still holds its own.
Flying my drone here was a nice bonus, too. I hope the images do it justice and inspire you to add Taman Sari to your itinerary.
While the water isn’t warm, your body quickly adapts, and you can have a wonderful time in one of the best natural settings imaginable.
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
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