Ubud · Nature
Tukad Cepung Waterfall: Visitor Guide
Sunbeams, spray and a short river wade in a rock canyon east of Ubud
By the Baligasm editors · Updated 29 October 2026
Overview
Tukad Cepung Waterfall: before you go
Tukad Cepung is a waterfall of about 15 m that plunges into a slim rock chamber at Tembuku in Bangli regency, around 35 km and 45 to 60 minutes' drive east of central Ubud and up to two hours from the airport. When the sun shines between roughly 9 and 11 am, its rays show up as shafts through the spray. It suits fit visitors happy with steep stairs and a brief wade. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
Ubud gets the credit, but the falls actually belong to Bangli regency: Tembuku district, Banjar Penida Kelod, some 35 km by road east of the town. They are listed with Ubud simply because most people sleep there and book their driver there. Water drops roughly 15 m through a slot in the rock into a tight chamber that feels half cave, half canyon; it may well be a cave that lost its roof long ago. The fall stays hidden until you wade round the last corner.
Its reputation rests on the light. When the morning is clear, sunshine pours through the gap above and the mist makes each ray visible as it strikes the boulders below, typically from about 9 to 11 am. Clouds cancel the show entirely. On a grey day the chamber is dim and dripping, still worth the walk, but nothing like the pictures that tempted you.
According to villagers, the spot once served for melukat, the Balinese ritual of purification by water, and plenty of visitors describe a hushed, weighty atmosphere in the chamber. Social media made it profitable, and by December 2019 the falls were earning upwards of IDR 200 million each month. After almost two years shut during the pandemic, the site reopened on 20 September 2021. Villagers paid for the access road themselves, yet big coaches still struggle on it. Entry has doubled since then, from IDR 15,000 in 2021 to IDR 30,000.
Expect a brief but demanding outing. Roughly 20 minutes of steep steps, a canal-side path and one last staircase bring you to the riverbed, after which you splash upstream between cliffs in water reaching ankles or knees, and the return climb is the real test. Since everyone chases the identical photo in the same two-hour window, a line forms at the sunlit rock from about 9:30, with tour groups arriving later in the morning. There is only one route in or out, the gorge floods fast when rain falls upstream, and the site shuts whenever that happens. Toddlers and anyone shaky on stairs should give it a miss.
- Opening hours
- Every day, roughly 7 am–6 pm; can shut after heavy rain
- Ticket
- Around IDR 30,000 per person, cash only
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours, with roughly 20 minutes' walking each way
- Best time
- A sunny morning between 9 and 11 am, ideally April–October
- Dress code
- Quick-dry clothing or swimwear; strapped sandals or water shoes
- Location
- Tembuku, Bangli; 35 km east of Ubud by road (45–60 min)
Tembuku Road, Banjar Penida Kelod, Tembuku, Bangli, Bali 80671
Open in Google Maps ↗What to see
What to see at Tukad Cepung Waterfall
The waterfall chamber
Once you reach the floor of the gorge, head left and splash round the final bend. Inside, water drops roughly 15 m through an opening in the ceiling onto loose stones, hemmed in by rock walls on three sides. Mist hangs everywhere, and within a minute you will be damp. Come to gaze upwards, not to swim: the water underfoot barely covers your ankles or shins.
The beams of light
Clear mornings between about 9 and 11 am bring the effect everyone comes for: sunlight angles through the slot above, and the mist turns each shaft into something you can see. The well-known shot places a single person on the moss-covered boulder where the beams fall. Timing shifts slightly with the seasons, and one cloud is enough to kill it. Arrive around nine, keep an eye on the sky and wait it out, since the rays fade and return as clouds drift by.
Wading the slot canyon
For about the last 100 m, the river is the path. You pick your way upstream over pebbles and past boulders as the cliffs squeeze closer, with water generally at ankle height and in spots up to the knee. Flowing water has scoured the walls into smooth bowls and swirls. Sharp stones and slippery rock make water shoes or sports sandals a necessity.
The quieter fall on the right
At the point where the steps meet the riverbed, go right instead of left and you reach a lesser fall dribbling down a wall draped in creepers. It gets a fraction of the traffic, which makes it a pleasant place to pass the time while the queue in the main chamber shrinks. The flow is soft, and some people rinse off under it before tackling the stairs.
The stairs, canal path and cafés
Getting there is half the outing. Concrete steps with railings plunge through forest to an irrigation channel, then a level five-minute path follows the point where the river divides into its own bed and an artificial canal. One more set of chunky, irregular steps brings you down to the water. Small warungs and cafés sit along the way; Pondok Cepung, around the midpoint, is where most people pause for coffee on the ascent.
A three-waterfall morning
Two other waterfalls east of Ubud slot in easily. Kanto Lampo in Beng opens at 6:30 am, so go there first; then allow 30 to 40 minutes' drive to reach Tukad Cepung for the 9 to 11 am light, and finish with a real swim in the round pool at Tibumana, in Apuan, on the drive home. Entry for all three comes to roughly IDR 80,000, and from Ubud the circuit fills about six hours.
Seasons
Best time to visit Tukad Cepung Waterfall
To catch the rays, stand in the chamber on a bright day between around 9 and 11 am; they are usually strongest near 10. If an empty canyon matters more, arrive when it opens at 7 am, knowing the beams will not have started, as direct sunlight first reaches the chamber at roughly 8 am. Crowds build from about 10 am until early afternoon, and Saturdays and Sundays are busier than weekdays. Afternoon visits are quieter but have no beams and, during the rains, more risk of a storm.
Water flows here in every month. Between April and October you get the most cloudless mornings and the shallowest, clearest wade; the beams need direct sunshine, not a particular time of year. From November to March, and especially December to February, downpours upstream can fill the gorge, and the site closes when they do. Go early, ahead of building storms, and keep away during or immediately after heavy rain.
Hours can change on religious holidays, so confirm before setting out on Galungan (13 January 2027) and Kuningan (23 January 2027). Nyepi falls on 8 March 2027, when Bali stays indoors for a full 24 hours and everything is closed.
Getting there
How to get to Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Ubud centre45–60 min
A 33–38 km trip by scooter or car: east via Bedulu and the town of Gianyar, then up to Tembuku. Depart by 8 am to be in the chamber for the light, and call at Tibumana on the return.
Sidemen40–50 min
Around 25 km heading west through Klungkung, making it a straightforward morning trip from the valley.
Sanur1–1.5 hours
Roughly 45 km to the north-east, passing Gianyar town. Head off by 7:30 am to arrive in time for the beams.
Canggu1.5–2 hours
Around 55 km through Denpasar, where rush-hour traffic decides how long it takes; build in extra time.
Kuta or Seminyak1.5–2 hours
A 50–55 km drive best done with a driver. Leave at 7 am and add Penglipuran or Tibumana to make the trip worthwhile.
Ngurah Rai airport (DPS)75 min–2 hours
About 60 km away, which is too far for an arrival-day detour; go from Sanur or Ubud on another morning.
Nusa Dua or Uluwatu1.5–2.5 hours
Between 65 and 77 km by road. Reaching the light window means a very early departure, so spending a night in Sanur or Ubud is the easier plan.
| From | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Ubud centre | 45–60 min | A 33–38 km trip by scooter or car: east via Bedulu and the town of Gianyar, then up to Tembuku. Depart by 8 am to be in the chamber for the light, and call at Tibumana on the return. |
| Sidemen | 40–50 min | Around 25 km heading west through Klungkung, making it a straightforward morning trip from the valley. |
| Sanur | 1–1.5 hours | Roughly 45 km to the north-east, passing Gianyar town. Head off by 7:30 am to arrive in time for the beams. |
| Canggu | 1.5–2 hours | Around 55 km through Denpasar, where rush-hour traffic decides how long it takes; build in extra time. |
| Kuta or Seminyak | 1.5–2 hours | A 50–55 km drive best done with a driver. Leave at 7 am and add Penglipuran or Tibumana to make the trip worthwhile. |
| Ngurah Rai airport (DPS) | 75 min–2 hours | About 60 km away, which is too far for an arrival-day detour; go from Sanur or Ubud on another morning. |
| Nusa Dua or Uluwatu | 1.5–2.5 hours | Between 65 and 77 km by road. Reaching the light window means a very early departure, so spending a night in Sanur or Ubud is the easier plan. |
Know before you go
Tips for your visit
- 01Carry small notes for the roughly IDR 30,000 entry per person and a coffee on the way up; cards are not accepted and there is no cash machine.
- 02Tell your driver to use the main Tembuku car park, recognisable by a warung whose entrance is a huge gorilla head. It is normally free, now and then IDR 2,000–5,000; drive past anyone trying to steer you into a paid spot earlier on the road.
- 03Check the weather before leaving Ubud. With cloud over Bangli, go to Tibumana for a swim instead.
- 04Pick strapped sports sandals or water shoes and wear them throughout, on the steps and in the river.
- 05Protect your phone and camera with a dry bag, since the chamber's mist wets everything almost at once.
- 06Dress in swimwear or fast-drying clothes and bring a towel plus dry clothes for the ride home; the toilets near the top also serve as changing rooms.
- 07Take your photo on the sunlit rock quickly. The beams last around two hours and a queue is waiting.
- 08Never head down in or straight after a downpour, and retreat if the water turns brown or starts rising; there is no other exit from the gorge.
- 09Hold on to your driver for the trip back, as ride-hailing cars rarely come out to Tembuku.
- 10Scooter riders need an international driving permit; stash dry clothes under the seat.
FAQ
Tukad Cepung Waterfall questions, answered
What does Tukad Cepung cost to enter?
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Roughly IDR 30,000 per head, paid in cash at the booth, up from IDR 15,000 in 2021. The main car park is generally free, though occasionally someone asks for IDR 2,000 to 5,000. There is no published price board and no cash machine on site, so arrive with enough small notes.
When can I visit Tukad Cepung?
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The site opens every day from around 7 am to 6 pm, though older listings sometimes show 8 am to 5 pm. Sunbeams usually appear from about 9 to 11 am. Expect closures after heavy rain, when the gorge floods, and on Nyepi, when the entire island shuts for the day.
What time do the sunbeams appear?
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Usually from about 9 to 11 am on a bright morning, peaking around 10. The effect depends on direct sunshine entering through the gap above the chamber, so even light cloud stops it. No particular month guarantees it, though the clear dry-season mornings between April and October improve your chances considerably.
Is the trip to Tukad Cepung worthwhile?
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On a sunny morning, yes, as long as you are comfortable with roughly 20 minutes of steep steps in each direction and some wading. No other Bali waterfall looks like this chamber when the beams are out. Under grey skies, in heavy rain or with young children, Kanto Lampo or Tibumana repay the effort better.
What is the best way to reach it from Ubud?
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Head roughly 33 to 38 km east via Bedulu and Gianyar town, then turn north for Tembuku; the trip takes 45 to 60 minutes by car or scooter. Most visitors book a driver for half a day or a full day and add Kanto Lampo or Tibumana, because app rides out of Tembuku are rare. Leave by 8 am to catch the beams.
Is the walk difficult?
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It is moderately hard. Expect about 700 m and 15 to 20 minutes from the booth: steep concrete steps with handrails, a level path beside a canal, a final run of big, uneven steps, then roughly 100 m of wading upstream. Coming back up demands the most effort. It is not suitable for toddlers or for anyone unsure on stairs.
Is it a swimming waterfall?
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Not really. Inside the chamber the water reaches only your ankles or knees, so you wade and take pictures rather than swim, though the mist will soak you anyway. If you want a proper swim, drive 30 to 40 minutes back towards Ubud to Tibumana, whose pool is usually waist deep and open to swimmers when the current allows.
Can I go in the rainy season?
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Only when the weather has settled. The fall lies in a slim gorge with just one route in and out, and rain on the hills above swells the river quickly. The site shuts when the gorge floods, which happens most between December and February. Visit early, stay away during or after heavy rain, and turn back if the water looks muddy or is climbing.
Is Tukad Cepung actually in Ubud?
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No. It is in Bangli regency, in Tembuku district east of Ubud, specifically Banjar Penida Kelod in Tembuku village, around 35 km by road from the town centre. It is linked with Ubud because that is where most visitors base themselves before driving out for a morning.
What clothes and shoes work best?
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Choose swimwear or fast-drying clothes and footwear you can keep on in the water, such as water shoes or sports sandals, because the stones are sharp and the rock slippery. Add a dry bag for electronics, a towel and spare clothes. No sarong is needed, as it is not a temple.
Can Tukad Cepung, Kanto Lampo and Tibumana fit into one day?
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Easily; drivers in Ubud offer exactly that route. Be at Kanto Lampo for about 7 am, get to Tukad Cepung by nine for the beams, and finish with a swim at Tibumana on the drive back. Allow 30 to 40 minutes between each stop, around IDR 80,000 in entry fees altogether, and roughly six hours door to door from Ubud.
Nearby
Pair it with
Tibumana Waterfall
30–40 min by car (18 km). One curtain of water into a round pool, usually waist deep, with swimming allowed when the current is gentle.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
30–40 min by car (22 km). Water spreads across stepped rock for about 15 m in Beng; gates open at 6:30 am, so start here.
Penglipuran Village
15–25 min by car (11 km). A Bangli village built along a mountain-to-sea line, with identical family compounds and 37.7 hectares of bamboo forest that villagers guard.
Besakih Temple
30–40 min by car (17 km). Bali's mother temple, high on Mount Agung; Tukad Cepung lies about midway between Besakih and Ubud.
Mount Batur and Kintamani
40–60 min by car (29 km). Driving south after a Batur sunrise climb gets you here for the 9 to 11 am beams.
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