REVIEW · UBUD
Small-Group Sekumpul Waterfall Jungle Trek with Lunch
Book on Viator →Operated by BALI VOLCANO TREKKING · Bookable on Viator
Sekumpul Waterfall is an early morning kind of wow. This full-day small-group jungle trek pairs a sunrise start with a rainforest hike, time at Bali’s tallest waterfall, and a soak in natural hot springs.
I really like two things here. First, the small group (max 10) keeps the pace human—so you’re not constantly dodging people on narrow paths. Second, the combo of rope-bridge river crossing and the waterfall’s dramatic sightlines makes the hike feel worth the effort.
One thing to keep in mind: the day starts at 5:00 am, and timing depends on your driver. I’ve seen accounts of late pickup and a driver getting turned around, so give yourself a little buffer and stay flexible if rain affects the route.
In This Review
- Key things to know before you go
- From 5:00 am Pickup to Singaraja Breakfast
- The 2 km Rainforest Walk That Actually Feels Like Bali
- Sekumpul Waterfall: Seven Cascades Worth the Early Start
- River-side Hot Springs: When the Trek Switches Modes
- Village and Plantation Stops: Culture You Can Actually Ask About
- Indonesian Buffet Lunch: Fuel Without the Fuss
- Hulundanu Temple on Lake Batur: A Calmer Afternoon Finish
- Price and Value: What You’re Paying For at $102
- Small-Group Limit: Why Max 10 Actually Matters
- Realistic Expectations (and One Timing Warning)
- What to Pack for This Jungle Trek (So You Enjoy It, Not Just Survive It)
- Should You Book the Sekumpul Waterfall Jungle Trek?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- How long is the experience?
- Is lunch included?
- Do I get breakfast on the tour?
- Will I be able to swim in hot springs?
- What fitness level do I need?
- Can I cancel for a full refund?
Key things to know before you go

- Sunrise start: pickup begins before dawn (5:00 am), so plan on an early night.
- 2 km hike leg: the main walking portion is about 2 km, rated easy to moderate for average fitness.
- Rope bridge crossing: you’ll cross a river using a traditional rope bridge—hold on and go steady.
- Sekumpul’s seven cascades: you’ll have time to admire the tall waterfall and its multiple drops.
- Hot spring swim time: bring a swimsuit; you’ll have a chance to bathe in natural warm water.
From 5:00 am Pickup to Singaraja Breakfast
This tour begins before sunrise. If you want the Bali that feels quiet and real (not crowded), the early start is part of the bargain. You’ll get picked up from your hotel before 5:00 am and head toward Singaraja.
Once you meet your guide and the group, you start with breakfast. That matters more than it sounds. A hike plus waterfall time can turn into a long day, and eating early helps you stay steady while the morning is still cool.
A practical note: your tour provider is BALI VOLCANO TREKKING, and the transport is by air-conditioned vehicle (options listed include Toyota Innova, Toyota Avanza, Suzuki APV, and a mini-bus). If you’re sensitive to getting lost, take a screenshot of pickup details and keep your phone handy.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Ubud.
The 2 km Rainforest Walk That Actually Feels Like Bali

The hike portion begins around a 2 km (about 1.25-mile) stretch. It’s rated easy to moderate, which usually means you’ll be walking on uneven ground, but not doing anything technical. You’re also not going at a treadmill pace. With a maximum of 10 people, the guide can slow down for footing, photos, and the small moments in between.
The trail threads through the kinds of views you came to Bali for: forest paths, village edges, and working plantations. Along the way, you pass things like rice paddies, coconut groves, and coffee and clove plantations. Those aren’t random scenery stops. They help explain how the land is used—what people plant, why it’s grown where it is, and how daily life is shaped by agriculture.
What you should pay attention to on this walk is the rhythm. You’ll likely have stretches where you’re simply walking and listening, followed by brief stops where your guide points out details. In a good jungle trek, it’s the small teaching moments that make the hike stick in your memory.
Sekumpul Waterfall: Seven Cascades Worth the Early Start

Sekumpul Waterfall is the headline. It’s described as the tallest waterfall in Bali, with seven cascades dropping from a tree-lined cliff. When you arrive, you’ll have time to take in the full scene—not just a quick look and go.
The setting is dramatic in a way that photographs struggle to match. From what you’ll experience on-site, you’ll likely stand at a viewpoint and watch water spill down multiple levels. If it’s raining or humid, expect mist and slick surfaces around the best vantage areas.
There’s also a key movement moment: you cross the river on a traditional rope bridge. This is one of those “slow down and focus” parts of the day. Hold the rope, place your feet carefully, and treat it like a short adventure rather than a hurdle. If you’re prone to vertigo or you don’t like narrow crossings, you’ll want to think hard before joining.
River-side Hot Springs: When the Trek Switches Modes
After the main waterfall viewing, the route heads toward the water where you can bathe in natural hot springs. This is a rare payoff on a hike day: instead of just looking at nature, you get to sit in it and recover.
Bring what you need so you don’t end up improvising in wet clothes. The tour specifically advises bringing a swimsuit and towel, plus sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Even on cloudy mornings, the sun can bite at altitude and around open water.
This hot spring break is also where the day’s mood changes. The hike has motion, stones, and effort. The hot water gives you a reset—your legs cool down, your shoulders relax, and you can enjoy the sound of the waterfall without rushing.
Village and Plantation Stops: Culture You Can Actually Ask About
One of the best things about this tour is that it doesn’t treat culture like a postcard. You pass local villages and plantation areas, and the guide shares Balinese culture and traditions as you go.
You might also notice the tour mixes learning with simple exchanges. The day includes chances to chat with villagers, and there’s even a mention of coconut juice during the hike. That kind of stop may sound small, but it’s the difference between “watching” and “meeting.”
One standout detail from feedback tied to this day: some people get welcomed into a guide’s home and even help prepare traditional Balinese food. That’s the sort of human moment that turns a trek into a story. It’s not something you can count on every day, but it shows what kind of guide involvement you’re working with—local, personal, and not purely scripted.
Indonesian Buffet Lunch: Fuel Without the Fuss
Lunch is included. It’s described as an Indonesian buffet lunch, plus you’ll have bottle mineral water and tea or coffee. There’s also mention of coconut fruits and snack, which is helpful if you get hungry between the early breakfast and later waterfall/hot spring time.
Buffet meals on tour days can go two ways: either you get watered-down food, or you get enough variety to reset your energy. Here, the important part is that lunch is planned into the day. That means fewer chances you’ll be stuck hunting for food while the group is waiting.
If you’re a light eater in the morning but hungry by noon, you’ll probably appreciate this structure.
Hulundanu Temple on Lake Batur: A Calmer Afternoon Finish
Later in the afternoon, the itinerary includes a stop at Hulundanu Temple on the banks of Lake Batur. This works as a contrast to the jungle portion. Waterfall time is wet and noisy; temple time is calmer and more reflective.
Even if you’re not a “temple tour” person, this stop can help you connect what you saw outdoors with how people live around water and land in Bali. The guide context matters here—temples in Bali aren’t just architecture; they’re part of how communities organize daily life.
You’ll then head back for the return journey, ending with drop-off at your hotel. The total duration is about 12 hours, so expect a full day, not a quick outing.
Price and Value: What You’re Paying For at $102
At $102, the price looks straightforward—but you should judge it by what’s included. This isn’t just a hike. You’re getting:
- hotel pickup and round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- a local guide
- breakfast and an Indonesian buffet lunch
- water plus tea/coffee
- snacks and coconut fruit
- entry-time experiences like the hot spring dip (as described in the plan)
If you had to arrange transportation, a guide, and meals separately, it usually adds up fast. The real value here is the full-day structure: you show up early, the logistics are handled, and your money goes toward guide time plus food plus transit.
That said, price doesn’t control weather. Rain can affect what’s comfortable or possible on certain paths. If the group has to adjust on the day, the only thing you can do is be ready for a flexible schedule.
Small-Group Limit: Why Max 10 Actually Matters
Small groups sound nice in theory, but on a trek like this, it’s practical. With up to 10 people, you typically get:
- less waiting on narrow paths
- more time for your guide to explain crops, village life, and what you’re seeing
- better pacing around the rope bridge and waterfall viewing
In a larger group, it’s easy for the waterfall moment to become a crowd funnel: you see it from one angle, take photos, then move on because the next person is behind you. In a max-10 format, you can linger longer, and your guide can manage the route without turning the day into line-waiting.
Realistic Expectations (and One Timing Warning)
This is not a short walk in the park. You start early, you walk a couple of kilometers, you move through damp areas, and you spend time at the waterfall and hot springs. Bring gear that handles wet conditions.
Now for the honest timing warning. There have been accounts of a driver being late by about 45 minutes and not being fully familiar with the program for the day. There’s also the possibility that on some days, not every part of the itinerary is completed as planned—sometimes weather-related, sometimes due to how the day is managed.
That doesn’t mean your experience will be messy. Many days run smoothly. But it does mean you should:
- confirm pickup details the day before
- have an open mind about slight timing shifts
- bring a little patience for the early-morning start
What to Pack for This Jungle Trek (So You Enjoy It, Not Just Survive It)
The tour asks you to bring a few specific items, and I agree with every one:
- comfortable shoes (this is not negotiable on wet ground)
- swimsuit and towel for the hot springs
- sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for daytime sun
- a plan for staying comfortable if you get wet
If you tend to get cold easily, consider that mornings can feel cooler before the day heats up. You’ll likely be walking enough to warm up, but layering is useful if you’re sensitive.
Should You Book the Sekumpul Waterfall Jungle Trek?
I think you should book this if you want an early, nature-focused Bali day with a real local guide, a meaningful waterfall stop, and the chance to actually relax in natural hot springs. The small group limit makes the experience feel more personal, and the mix of rainforest, plantations, villages, and a lakeside temple gives you more than a single scenery moment.
Skip it (or at least think twice) if you dislike early mornings, don’t like crossing a rope bridge, or you want a fully predictable schedule with zero flexibility. Also, if you get stressed by timing uncertainty, build in a bit of buffer for pickup and keep your expectations grounded.
If you’re okay with a big day and you’re excited by the idea of combining hiking, culture, and a hot-water reset, this is a solid value for the money.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The tour starts at 5:00 am.
How long is the experience?
The duration is about 12 hours.
Is lunch included?
Yes. You’ll have Indonesian buffet lunch included.
Do I get breakfast on the tour?
Yes. Breakfast is included as part of the morning routine after pickup.
Will I be able to swim in hot springs?
Yes. There’s time to take a dip in the natural hot springs.
What fitness level do I need?
The hike is described as easy to moderate, suitable for participants of average fitness. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.





















