We wanted a big one from Ubud and got it. Epic and full on, yet easy. We booked a car for the day (700,000 rupiah about £30) earlier in the week we swapped WhatsApp with the driver and booked him private, we let him handle the waiting and the route. No tour herd. Just our crew, a cool esky of water, and Bali doing its thing.
First stop was a jungle waterfall near Kedisan. Short shaded path, a little boardwalk, and a jade pool under a wall of green. The kids hopped the rocks, we grabbed the family shot and cooled our ankles while the spray did the air-con.
Next up, Tirta Empul at Manukaya. Penjors arched into the sky, yellow and white parasols, bells and incense rolling through the courtyards. Sarongs on at the gate, slow wander past the holy springs, a quiet reset between swims. Busy but calm, and the water flowing from pool to pool kept everyone curious.
Coffee called, and they have the famous Asian palmcivet who eat coffee and poo it out then it’s brewed up!!
So we went into a small plantation nearby. Georgia took a turn stirring beans over the wood fire while we watched the roast and compared tasting cups like judges. Honey coffee, spiced teas, chocolate notes. Adults talked flavour profiles. Georgia rated “how sweet” washcloth tea was.
Back in the car for Apuan and waterfall round two. First a wide frothy cascade with a broad, swimmable pool. The girls floated, laughed and warmed up on the rocks. A few minutes along the track we found the bamboo “nest” lookout and nailed the quick shot with the falls framed perfectly.
The showstopper was the tall curtain fall that drops into a calm bowl, classic Tibumana vibes. Easy walk in, shallow edges for paddling and space to swim further if you fancy it. Dotty splashed from the shallows in the carrier, Georgia waded out grinning. You could sit there for ages with the roar of the water and cool air tucked under the cliff.
We wrapped the loop with the rice terraces near Tegallalang at golden hour. Quick “I ❤️ Bali” snap, then a gentle stroll along the ridge as the light went soft and the paddies caught the sun. Palms, birdsong, and those tidy green steps that say “yep, you’re in Bali”.
• Grippy shoes or water shoes. Paths and rocks get slick.
• Small towels, a dry bag, spare clothes for the kids.
• Cash in small notes for entries and parking.
• Shoulders covered and a sarong for the temple.
• Transport: agree 700k, swap WhatsApp. Driver waits at each stop and tweaks the order around traffic. Easy.
a handful of small entry and parking fees at waterfalls and the temple.
An epic, full-on day without the stress. Jungle swims to beat the heat, a calm hour of culture, a fun coffee stop, and rice terrace views to finish.
Easy, fun and simple. We’d run the same loop again, leave a touch earlier, and aim to hit the terraces right on sunset. We did it wasMagic!
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