Aling-Aling Waterfall is the centrepiece of Sambangan, a village in the green highlands of North Bali, far from the crowds of the south. The main fall drops around 35 metres into a deep plunge pool, and just upstream a short trail links three more cascades known together as the Secret Garden of Sambangan.
It is the kind of place most visitors to Bali never reach, and exactly why this corner of the north is so special. Here is what to know before you go.
What makes Aling-Aling special
Unlike most Bali waterfalls, Aling-Aling is not a single viewpoint but a chain of falls in one lush canyon. The main Aling-Aling drop is the tallest and is considered sacred: swimming and jumping here are not allowed. The magic is what comes next.
Upstream, the Kroya, Kembar and Pucuk cascades are open for swimming, natural rock slides and cliff jumps ranging from a gentle few metres to twelve metres and more, always with a local guide. It is one of the few places in Bali built around getting in the water rather than just photographing it.
How to get there
Sambangan sits in the hills above Singaraja in the Buleleng regency. It is roughly 25 to 35 minutes by car from Lovina Beach, about 18 minutes from Singaraja, and a two to three hour drive from the southern hubs of Ubud, Canggu and Seminyak. That distance is exactly why it stays quiet.
From the resort, the waterfall is on the doorstep, with the King Trekking trailhead only a few minutes away.
Best time to visit and what to bring
Sambangan is one of the wetter parts of Bali, so the dry season from April to October gives the most reliable conditions. Arrive in the morning to beat the heat on the stairs and the small crowds at the jump pools.
Bring swimwear, a towel, sturdy shoes for the trail and plenty of water. Guides for the slides and jumps are arranged at the entrance, and the resort concierge can organise the whole trip for you, transport included.
Staying beside the waterfall
Most people experience Aling-Aling as a long day trip from the south. Staying in Sambangan turns it into a slow morning instead of a rushed afternoon, and opens up the rest of North Bali: the Sekumpul cascades, the dolphins at Lovina, the Banjar hot springs and the Twin Lakes.
Aling-Aling Waterfall Resort is a boutique resort of 39 suites set right beside the falls, designed by Popo Danes. If you would like to wake up to this view, see the suites and request the brochure.
Aling-Aling Waterfall Resort
39 boutique suites beside the waterfall, by Popo Danes.
