Indonesia Waterfall Guide: 18 Best Waterfalls In Indonesia

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Putting together an Indonesia waterfall guide is tough, because there are so many great waterfalls in this country and it’s hard to pick the top ones.

A lot of the best waterfalls in Indonesia are located in Sumatra and Java, but even the smaller islands like Bali and Lombok have some great ones too.

In fact, pretty much every island in this country has at least a few stunning waterfalls if you do a bit of exploring. You can click the links in this guide for more info and directions to some of them.

This is not a complete list of Indonesia’s top falls, but these are just a handful of the biggest and nicest ones we’ve seen so far in our many travels around this country!

Sumatra Waterfalls

1. Ponot Waterfall (North Sumatra)

This might be the biggest Indonesia waterfall of all, with a height of more than 250 meters (820 feet).

Ponot Waterfall is a giant 3-step waterfall near the famous Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and you can visit it on a day trip from east Toba with about 2 hours of driving.

You can see it from the parking lot, or hike to the base of the falls in about 10-15 minutes.

 

2. Sipiso Piso Waterfall (North Sumatra)

Sipiso Piso is one of the nicest falls in Sumatra, and also one of the tallest waterfalls in Indonesia.

It’s a 120-meter giant that flows into the famous Lake Toba in North Sumatra, surrounded by farms and highland scenery. It definitely belongs on any road trip itinerary for Lake Toba or Sumatra, or you can even visit it on a day trip from Medan.

The hike down to the bottom of the falls is also worthwhile if you have time. It takes about 30-40 minutes each way, and you can get some even better pictures at the bottom.

This is commonly mistaken for being the tallest waterfall in Indonesia, but that’s actually not correct. The Ponot Waterfall, also near Lake Toba, is much taller. However, Sipiso is still stunning and well worth a visit!

Read More: Sipiso Piso Waterfall

 

3. Mursala Waterfall (North Sumatra)

Mursala waterfall is unique for flowing directly into the ocean! You don’t see that very often.

This one is nicknamed the King Kong waterfall because of its similarity to a waterfall on ‘Skull Island’ in the movie King King (2005), although I think you only see it in the extended edition.

Mursala island is a small, remote island off the west coast of Sumatra, and it’s not easy to get there. The only way to visit it is on a boat trip, and the seas can be rough!

 

Sulawesi Waterfalls

4. Piala Waterfall (Central Sulawesi)

The Piala Waterfall is a big turquoise waterfall with multiple cascades, located in the Banggai area of central Sulawesi, near the town of Luwuk.

This one reminded me a bit of the famous Kuang Si Falls in Laos, which also has turquoise colored water and lots of separate cascades and natural pools where you can swim.

It’s easy to visit Piala Waterfall from Luwuk since it’s right outside of town, and the drive only takes about 15 minutes.

This waterfall is still mostly unknown to international tourists, but plenty of locals go there, so if you want to beat the crowds then you have to go in the morning, preferably on a weekday!

Read More: Banggai Travel Guide

 

East Java Waterfalls

5. Tumpak Sewu Waterfall (East Java)

This may be the coolest waterfall on Java island, and you can visit it on a day trip from Malang city, along with a few other nearby waterfalls.

Tumpak Sewu is called a waterfall, but it’s more like a thousand falls put together. The name loosely translated from Javanese means “many waterfalls.”

These waterfalls thunder down into a horseshoe shaped jungle ravine that looks like something right out of Jurassic Park. The end result is an unmissable natural wonder!

People often visit this waterfall on a road trip and combine it with other amazing sights in East Java, such as the Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen volcano craters.

Read More: Tumpak Sewu Waterfall

 

6. Kabut Pelangi Waterfall (East Java)

The hills and mountains in Java are full of amazing waterfalls, but Kabut Pelangi has to be one of the best.

This is a huge cascade in a green jungle amphitheater. The name means ‘rainbow mist waterfall’ in Indonesian, and the size of this one is crazy awesome.

This waterfall is in the same area as Tumpak Sewu, but it’s harder to find and requires more hiking. The effort is worth it for this giant Indonesia waterfall.

Read More: Kabut Pelangi Waterfall

 

7. Kapas Biru Waterfall (East Java)

This is another great waterfall in Lumajang, near Malang city. The hike is pretty straightforward and only takes about 30 minutes one way.

It’s a huge waterfall set against an orange rock wall, surrounded by prehistoric looking jungles and giant bamboo trees.

The name means ‘blue cotton waterfall’ and probably comes from the hazy blue color of the falls in the evening.

Read More: Kapas Biru Waterfall

 

West Java Waterfalls

8. Curug Cikanteh Waterfall (West Java)

Curug Cikanteh is one of the biggest waterfalls at the Ciletuh Geopark in West Java, and it’s truly a giant.

This is part of a UNESCO-designated geopark loaded with nice waterfalls in Indonesia. It’s reachable by driving a half day from Jakarta, and there are some nice places to stay near the waterfalls.

The geopark takes a bit of effort to reach since it’s a 4-6 hour drive from Jakarta or Bandung, but once you get there, the waterfall is easy to visit with 15 minutes of driving and then 15 minutes of hiking. There’s also a steep mini path to climb up to the base of the falls and see them up close, which takes an extra 5-10 minutes of hiking.

Curug Cikanteh might be my new favorite Indonesia waterfall. If you hike to the top in the late afternoon, you can even stand under a big rainbow!

       
 
 
 

9. Curug Cimarinjung Waterfall (West Java)

This is another popular waterfall at the Ciletuh Geopark in West Java.

If you’re staying at accommodation in the geopark, you can reach this waterfall with a 10 minute drive and a 5 minute hike.

Curug Cimarinjung is a 2-step waterfall with a bunch of good viewpoints.

 

10. Curug Cikaso Waterfall (West Java)

This is a unique looking limestone waterfall with a greenish turquoise pool.

Curug Cikaso is located in West Java near the Ciletuh Geopark. If you’re staying in the geopark, it’s a 1.5 hour drive and then a 5 minute hike to reach these unusual falls.

This waterfall is a stunner! The best time to visit is around April, at the end of the rainy season, when the water has such a nice color.

 

11. Curug Citambur Waterfall (West Java)

This is a big waterfall you can visit on a day trip from Bandung city.

The drive takes about 3 hours from town, but then you can walk straight to the waterfall in less than 3 minutes. Curug Citambur is a 2-step waterfall with several viewpoints for taking pics.

The best way to visit this waterfall is to combine it with the epic Kawah Putih crater lake, since they’re both in the same direction from Bandung.

 

Lombok Waterfalls

12. Tiu Kelep Waterfall (Lombok)

This is the most famous waterfall in Lombok, and rightly so. It’s a very beautiful and unique cascade with a bunch of waterfalls joined together.

Hiking to the waterfall is pretty easy and only takes less than 30 minutes. Along the way, you can see troops of wild monkeys and another nice waterfall called Sendang Gile.

The locals at Tiu Kelep will try to make you hire an expensive guide for this hike, but it’s not really necessary unless you want someone to take pictures for you. The path to the falls is in good condition and easy to follow without any guide.

The Tiu Kelep Waterfall is located in north Lombok, on the slopes of Mount Rinjani. It’s a 2 hour drive from the tourist areas of Senggigi or Mataram. This is undoubtedly one of the best waterfalls in Indonesia!

Book Now: Tiu Kelep Waterfall Tour

 

13. Sekeper Waterfall (Lombok)

This is another spectacular waterfall on the slopes of Mount Rinjani, and I think it’s even more impressive than the famous Tiu Kelep waterfall in Lombok, although it’s not nearly as well known.

The road and hike to Sekeper Waterfall can be quite extreme, especially in the rainy season. Since this is still a very wild and uncharted part of Lombok, it’s highly recommended to hire a local guide from one of the nearby villages who can show you the way.

The payoff is an amazing waterfall surrounded by jungle. This is probably the biggest waterfall in Lombok!
 

Flores Waterfalls

14. Cunca Rami Waterfall (Flores)

This is a big triple waterfall in west Flores, near the town of Labuan Bajo.

If you happen to be visiting the Komodo National Park, it’s easy to go see this waterfall from Labuan Bajo. It’s a 1.5 hour drive from town.

The hike down to the falls is moderate and takes about 1 hour in each direction. It can be a good idea to hire a local guide to show you the way.

 

Bali Waterfalls

15. Sekumpul Waterfall (Bali)

This is a huge twin waterfall in north Bali with two 80 meter tall streams pouring out of the jungle treetops.

If you’re looking for the biggest and best waterfall in Bali, this is probably it! To top it off, you get to see some of the most scenic jungles and rice terraces on the island.

This place is no longer a secret, but since it’s in the far northern part of the island and pretty far from town, the crowds are still not too bad.

Read More: Sekumpul Waterfall

 

16. Nungnung Waterfall (Bali)

Nungnung is one of the biggest and most powerful falls in central Bali.

You have to hike down a tropical gorge to get to it, but the views are awesome. The hike to Nungnung is about 500 steps in total, and it’s worth every step!

It takes about 15 minutes to walk down, and 30 minutes to hike back up, but it feels longer because of the humidity and incline.

Read More: Nungnung Waterfall

 

17. GitGit Waterfall (Bali)

This is a short hike to a big twin waterfall in the jungles in north Bali.

It’s easiest to visit this one from Lovina, but you can also do it in a day trip from Ubud and the other touristy areas in south Bali.

It’s a 30 minute drive from Singaraja, or 2 hours from Ubud.

Read More: GitGit Waterfall

 

18. Banyumala Waterfall (Bali)

This is a nice hidden waterfall with a jungle background in north Bali.

It’s a short, steep hike that leads to a cascade of small waterfalls joined together. It’s a beauty, and there’s even a natural pool to swim in.

Banyumala is called a twin waterfall, but it’s actually more like a hundred tiny waterfalls all converging into a natural pool.

Read More: Banyumala Waterfall

 

More Indonesia Waterfall Guides

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this Indonesia waterfall guide. Again, this is not a complete list and there are many more falls waiting to be discovered.

Don’t forget to check out my complete Indonesia Travel Guide and Bali Waterfalls Guide for more tips on finding some of the best waterfalls in Indonesia!
 

Best Time To See Indonesia Waterfalls

Many of the best waterfalls in Indonesia are active all year long, but the flow slows down a bit during the dry season, which runs from May to November.

For photographers, I think the best time to do Indonesia waterfall hikes is during (or shortly after) the rainy season, which runs from December to April. The landscapes are also bright green at this time.

I especially like to see waterfalls in the months of March and April, because it’s not too rainy and the flow is still very active.

Some of the waterfalls on this list have natural pools that are great for swimming. Just be careful when swimming near waterfalls, because there can be dangerous undercurrents. Check the conditions and ask a local before you go.

Happy travels! Regardless of when you decide to visit Wonderful Indonesia, you’re sure to see some spectacular sights!
 

See Also

• Best Hikes In Indonesia – Volcanoes, Jungles, & Waterfalls
• Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands – Best Places To Visit In Indonesia
• Indonesia Beach Guide – Best Beaches In Indonesia
• Best Things To Do In Indonesia – What To Do In The Islands
• Bali Waterfalls Guide – Best Waterfalls In Bali Indonesia
• Indonesia Travel Guide – Tips, Info, & Photos