Gitgit Twin Waterfall is one of our favourites in Bali. The double drop waterfall sits in an incredibly atmospheric canyon and cascades into a small but gorgeous swimming hole. The result is one of the most dramatic waterfalls on the island. We visited in dire weather and after heavy rain, so it was pretty dark and the water had lost its deep blue colour, but it didn’t even matter. It was still spectacular!
I can only imagine what it would look like in better conditions. Unfortunately a visit here is not as straightforward as some of the other waterfalls in the area, but it was worth it.
Here’s exactly what to expect on a visit to Gitgit Twin Waterfall.
Gitgit Twin Waterfall
The scam?
I hate to start with something like this, but we can’t quite work out what the truth is about visiting this waterfall. When we arrived we were told that we needed to pay 150k IDR each and take a mandatory guide down to the falls. When we said we didn’t need a guide we were told the price was the same.
Given this is even more than it costs to visit Sekumpul Waterfall (which is 125k IDR) we decided it had to be a scam. After saying we were going to drive away the price dropped to 150k IDR for two people.
We said it was still too high and drove away. We returned an hour later and hoped they would have left - but they hadn’t. They then said that we would pay the fee at the ticket booth further down the track to prove it was the real price.
It still felt very off, but by this point we really wanted to see the falls. The printed ticket from the booth said 150k IDR, but that could have been because we had a guide in tow.
I understand that the community have a right to charge whatever they want to visit their waterfall, but it just felt like it couldn’t be the real price when down the road Gitgit Waterfall only costs 20k IDR: a pretty standard price for most waterfalls in Bali.
We were told that the new high price was because of the pandemic and how difficult it had been, and it’s hard to argue with that. We were also told that it was supporting the local school, which again if that’s true, I am happy to pay.
It wasn’t so much the money, as the fact I was sure we were being duped. I also don’t like having a guide trail behind us on a walk where it’s not necessary. I’d rather pay the fee and go alone!
By the time we returned we had two choices: pay what we thought appeared to be a scam or go home. So we decided to just do it and pay 75k IDR each. Was it worth it? Yes. But I still felt weird about the fact that despite spending years in Asia and avoiding most scams it felt like we’d had to succumb to this one.
I’ve since looked at online reviews and no one seems to talk about this high entry fee which makes me feel even more suspicious. Having said that, if that is the going rate, then it’s high but it is up to them.
We’d love some feedback from anyone reading this who visits and how it is for you! Were we scammed?!
The Gitgit Twin Waterfall Walk (aka Campuhan Waterfall)
Distance: 1.6km return
Elevation gain: 100m
Difficulty: Easy but not flat
Onto nicer things! The walk to the waterfall is easy enough and paved the whole way. It does have steep sections and some bits were very damp and slippery, but otherwise it is straightforward.
Try to avoid the wet mossy bits and take it slow if it feels slick. That aside it’s a lovely walk, surrounded by jungle and passing cacao and cardamon plants. Butterflies fill the air and the views over the trees are terrific.
The path heads downhill for the most part on a series of steps or sloped track but there is also some flat sections in-between.
The final 50m to the waterfall involves climbing a few stairs and then crossing a bamboo bridge, which is in good condition.
The views from here out to the fern covered cliffs and small cascades are gorgeous, and you can feel that the waterfall is going to be incredible as soon as you see the huge canyon walls.
There’s even a tree growing up the cliff with the most incredible sprawling roots. It definitely builds up an air of anticipation.
You can then walk around to the base of the falls and into the small cave.
Swimming at Gitgit Twin Waterfall
The flow of the falls was pretty crazy on our visit and prior heavy rain meant that the small pool was a bit turbulent.
We visited quite early on in the dry season and I think a little later would be better.
If there has been a lot of rain the water loses its gorgeous blue colour and becomes the green you can see in our photos. Having said that, it’s still jaw-dropping.
I can’t even imagine how amazing it would be to see it when it’s really blue!
Entering the water is easiest right beside the start of the pool (not from the cave) when the water is turbulent, it’s probably fine anywhere in drier times.
The first half of the pool is shallow so it’s easy to get in.
Closer to the falls it’s really deep and again, fine in normal times, but for us it was too crazy to swim beside.
It was still a great experience just to use part of the pool and stare up at the incredible waterfall and atmospheric canyon walls.
There’s also a rope swing here, but we couldn’t have used it in our conditions.
Overall, despite our less than ideal weather scenario, Gitgit Twin Falls is one of my favourite waterfalls in Bali. I fell in love with the mysterious feel to it and its one I would return to in a heartbeat!
The second waterfall - Mekalangan Waterfall
There’s a second waterfall located just 200m from the first one.
To get to Mekalangan Waterfall you go back over the bamboo bridge and down the stairs and take the path that heads slightly downhill on the left.
The trail is in good condition and you’ll soon come out at a view of the waterfall from above and one of those nest frames for pictures.
You can then walk further down the trail to get a bit closer but you can’t get down to the bottom.
You’ll see a bamboo ladder and poles leading into the water from the other side.
Apparently this is the adventure route and you can swim down there, but we weren’t offered that as an option so I’m not sure whether it’s a common thing or not.
Mekalangan Waterfall is pretty big and the water was more blue than the first one on our visit, but it definitely doesn’t have the same wow factor. Still it’s pretty and a very short detour, so it’s worth going to take a look.
You then retrace your steps back up to the top which is a short but steepish walk.
Getting to Gitgit Twin Waterfall
The road to the waterfall is paved all the way and there’s a decent amount of room to park at the side of the road beside the waterfall signpost. You can find the exact spot on Google Maps by clicking here.
If you’re coming by scooter note that the road is steep and windy at points but not too narrow.
It takes around 40 minutes to reach the falls from Munduk, 1.5 hours from Ubud and a little under two hours from Kuta.
The best time to visit
We were the only ones at the falls on our visit, but it was dire weather so it’s hard to tell whether this is normal! It’s only a small pool area so if you want to get it to yourself I would recommend coming early. It’s a magical place but it would lose a bit of wow factor if it’s really crowded.
In terms of photography, sunny days are best for the water colour looking the most blue, but it can produce uneven light. Cloudy days are generally better for waterfall photography.
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