choose from
Sekumpul
at Sekumpul
spring water
A North Bali tour built from five places worth the drive
A North Bali tour from Pemuteran covers the part of the island most visitors never reach: sulphur hot springs, the largest Buddhist temple in Bali, and three waterfalls in the Buleleng highlands. Our drivers speak English and know the roads, which on this side of the island matters.
The five North Bali tour stops below do not all fit comfortably in one day, and they are not all the same kind of effort. Two sit side by side near Banjar. The other three are up in the hills, further out, and involve walking. Pick by how much of the day you want to spend in a car and on your feet.
The Banjar pair
Banjar Hot Spring and Brahmavihara Arama sit next to each other, about 22 km west of Singaraja. Doing both together costs you almost no extra driving.
The highland waterfalls
Banyumala, Sambangan and Sekumpul are all in the Sukasada and Sawan districts, inland and higher. Each one needs a walk in from the parking area.
Real distances
Sekumpul is about 70 km from Pemuteran and Sambangan about 75 km. On north Bali roads that is a great deal longer than the numbers suggest.
Effort varies a lot
Banyumala is ten easy minutes on built steps. Sekumpul is 350 steps down and at least thirty minutes each way. Choose honestly.
How a North Bali tour clusters
These are not fixed packages. They are how the five places group geographically, which is what determines how many you can sensibly do.
Hot spring and temple
Low effort
- Banjar Hot SpringThree pools fed by a natural sulphur spring at about 35 degrees
- Brahmavihara AramaThe largest Buddhist temple in Bali, next door
- WalkingMinimal. Both are close to their car parks
- SuitsAnyone who would rather soak than hike, and mixed age groups
The two sit adjacent, which makes them the easiest pairing on this list. Bring a swimsuit and a sarong, since one is a bathing pool and the other is a working temple.
The waterfalls
Some walking
- BanyumalaThree streams, the middle one 20 metres, 10 minutes in
- Blue Lagoon, SambanganBlue green pool, 10 minutes in, toilets and a restaurant
- SekumpulSeven falls, 350 steps down, 30 minutes each way
- SwimmingPossible at all three. Bring a change of clothes
All three are in the highlands inland of Singaraja. Sekumpul is the most impressive and by far the most demanding. Banyumala is the one that suits less mobile visitors.
Before you book
Message us
- DriverPrivate car with an English speaking local driver
- FromHotel pick up in the Pemuteran and Menjangan area
- StopsTell us which of the five you want and we build the day around them
- Entrance feesEach site charges its own. Ask us what is included when you enquire
- TimingStart early. These are long drives and the falls are busiest late morning
Message us with the stops you want and the number of people, and we will come back with a realistic itinerary, a duration and a rate. If you only need the transport, our Pemuteran taxi service covers the same roads.
What a North Bali tour actually shows you
Sulphur pools, a Buddhist temple looking down over Lovina, and a waterfall you can swim under.
Banjar Hot Spring
Three sulphur pools
Banjar, 22 km west of Singaraja
Brahmavihara Arama
Built 1960
Banjar Tegeha
Banyumala Waterfall
Three streams, 20 metres
Wanagiri, Sukasada
Two or three stops is a good day. Five is a bad one
Every North Bali tour stop on this list is between about 50 and 75 kilometres from Pemuteran, on roads that climb, wind and pass through villages. Add a ten to thirty minute walk at each waterfall and the arithmetic gets tight quickly.
Most people are happiest with the Banjar pair plus one waterfall, or two waterfalls and nothing else. Leaving early helps twice over: the roads are clearer and the falls are quieter before the middle of the morning. If you would rather stay on the coast, the Lovina dolphin tour finishes by ten and pairs well with the hot spring on the way home.
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Busier
Sites closing
What to bring
- SwimsuitYou can get in the water at the hot spring and at all three waterfalls. Wear it under your clothes to save changing.
- Change of clothesAnd a towel. The walk back up from a waterfall in wet shorts is a long one.
- SarongFor Brahmavihara Arama. It is a working temple, so shoulders and knees covered.
- Footwear with gripNot flip flops. The steps down to Sekumpul and Banyumala are earth and wood, and slick after rain.
- CashEach site charges its own entrance, and the float rental at Sambangan is paid at the counter.
- Old swimwear for the springSulphur water can discolour light coloured fabric and silver jewellery.
The five stops, and what to look for
Where each North Bali tour stop is, what it involves, and the details most visitors walk past. Use it to plan the day and again on the day.
Done on your tour
Nothing matches that search.
The five stops
5 places
Details to look for
6 to spot
All five sit in Buleleng regency, inland and east of Pemuteran. If you would rather spend the day in the national park on the other side, see our land adventures.
