Bali: Gitgit and Alingaling Waterfalls Small Group Tour

Aling-Aling Waterfall gives this long day its real spark. You walk through north Bali’s jungle to a 35-meter fall, then slide or jump into the clear pool below. I like the active waterfall visit and the chance to pair it with Gitgit, a more scenic and restful stop. The main catch is the long road time and a possible extra guide charge at Gitgit, so confirm exactly what is included before you set off.

I also like the small-group format, air-conditioned minivan, and broad pickup area covering Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, Sanur, Nusa Dua, and other southern Bali bases. Bring a swimsuit and dry clothes, but leave large luggage behind. With a 10.5-hour schedule, this is a full day, not a quick side trip.

Key points to know

• Aling-Aling is the action stop: Swim, slide, and jump from platforms in the waterfall area during a guided visit of about 2.5 hours.
• Gitgit adds a second style of waterfall: Expect another guided visit of about 2.5 hours, with a chance to enjoy north Bali’s thick jungle setting.
• Taman Ayun is a short cultural finish: Spend about 30 minutes at this temple, known for lotus blossoms, carvings, and its surrounding moat.
• Transfers cover much of Bali’s tourist belt: Pickup and return are available from Ubud, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Krobokan, and North Kuta.
• The advertised price is $55 per person: Transport, entrance fees, guides, insurance, water, fuel, and tolls are included, but lunch and extra drinks are not.
• Check the Gitgit guide policy: One booking includes a report of an unexpected IDR 500,000 guide charge, despite the tour information saying a trekking guide is included.

Why Aling-Aling makes this more than a waterfall photo stop

Bali has many waterfalls, but Aling-Aling is appealing because you do more than walk up, take a picture, and leave. The main attraction is the chance to slide into the pool, swim, and jump from platforms in the waterfall area.

The waterfall itself drops about 35 meters through a green jungle setting. You can expect a guided walk and time in the water, with the exact order of swimming, sliding, and jumping shaped by local conditions and the guide. The water is described as crystal-clear, and the whole visit lasts about 2.5 hours, so this is the main physical part of your day.

I like that the tour gives Aling-Aling enough time. A short stop would feel rushed here, especially when you need time to change, get comfortable in the water, and make your way around the area. The guide is there not just to lead the walk but to help organize the waterfall activities.

Still, do not treat this as a passive sightseeing visit. You need swimwear, sunscreen, a sun hat, and a change of clothes. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or wheelchair users. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so carry only what you need for the day.

The long ride north is part of the bargain

The tour begins with pickup from your accommodation or a central point in a wide group of Bali locations. Included areas are Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Sanur, Krobokan, Canggu, Nusa Dua, and Ubud. Pickup from Lovina, Amed, or Tulamben costs an additional 150,000 IDR per person, while Candidasa pickup costs an additional 100,000 IDR per person.

You travel in an air-conditioned minivan, which matters on a 10.5-hour day. Bali’s roads can make northern excursions feel longer than the map suggests, and air conditioning gives you a place to cool down between stops. Fuel and toll charges are included, so you do not need to manage those costs during the day.

The small group is another plus. The tour information gives two different maximums, one saying up to 10 participants and another saying a maximum of 5 per group. That inconsistency is worth checking when you book. Either way, a smaller vehicle and fewer people should make hotel pickup, guide instructions, and waterfall time easier than a large coach tour.

You should also expect an early start or a schedule that takes most of the day, depending on availability. Starting times vary, and the drive to north Bali is the reason this tour works best when you set aside the entire day. It is not an efficient choice if you want to fit several other attractions into the same date.

What you get at Aling-Aling

Aling-Aling is where the tour earns its adventure label. After arriving in the north, you take part in a guided visit lasting around 2.5 hours. The waterfall area offers swimming, natural slides, and jumps from platforms into the pools below.

The listed entrance fee and trekking guide cost for Aling-Aling is 125,000 IDR. That fee is stated as included in the tour, along with the other admission charges. Bottled water is also included, but food and extra drinks are not.

The best way to approach this stop is with sensible expectations. You are not buying a private canyoning trip with a long list of technical equipment. You are getting a guided waterfall outing that lets you enjoy the natural features at a more playful level.

I would pack light: swimsuit, towel if you have room, dry clothing, sunscreen, and a hat. Because large bags are not allowed, keep valuables to a minimum. The tour information does not promise changing facilities or towel rental, so plan around what you can carry comfortably.

Aling-Aling has received the strongest praise in the supplied feedback. The waterfall beauty, swimming, and sliding between the falls were singled out as a unique experience. That makes this stop the clearest reason to choose this tour over a standard north Bali sightseeing drive.

Lunch is simple, separate, and useful

After Aling-Aling, you stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Food is not included in the $55 price, so bring cash or be ready to pay for your meal and any drinks yourself.

The lunch stop is practical rather than a headline attraction. After several hours around the waterfall, you will want a proper break before the second major visit. Since the tour information does not specify the restaurant, menu, or meal cost, keep your expectations flexible.

I like that lunch sits between the two waterfall stops. It breaks up the physical part of the day and gives you time to dry off before continuing to Gitgit. Just remember that bottled water is included, while additional drinks are not.

Gitgit offers a different kind of waterfall visit

Gitgit is often described as one of Bali’s most beautiful waterfalls, and it gives the day a second look at the island’s northern jungle. The visit is also scheduled for about 2.5 hours, so it is not merely a quick roadside photograph.

Compared with Aling-Aling, Gitgit is presented more as a scenic waterfall stop than an activity center. The tour description includes a guided visit, but it does not promise the same sliding and jumping program here. That difference helps the day feel less repetitive: Aling-Aling supplies the physical fun, while Gitgit gives you time to appreciate another waterfall setting.

There is one important cost issue. One account of the tour describes arriving at the Gitgit parking area and being told that several waterfalls could only be visited with a local guide. The person then paid an additional 500,000 IDR after a disagreement about whether that guide was included.

This does not match the stated inclusions, which list a trekking guide and entrance fees for Aling-Aling, Gitgit, and Taman Ayun. Because of that conflict, ask before departure:

• Is a Gitgit trekking guide included?
• Does the included Gitgit entry cover the full planned visit?
• Could a local guide charge apply at the parking area?
• Is the tour visiting one waterfall or several?

That single issue can change the value of the day. At $55, the tour is attractive when the stated inclusions are honored. An unexpected 500,000 IDR charge makes it much less appealing, especially if you are already paying for lunch and drinks.

Taman Ayun gives the day a quiet finish

The final stop is Pura Taman Ayun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You spend about 30 minutes at the temple, which is surrounded by a peaceful moat and known for lotus blossoms and detailed carvings.

This is a short visit, but it adds cultural balance to a day otherwise built around water and jungle. The temple’s calm setting should feel especially welcome after the long waterfall stops and the road journey.

The admission fee is listed as 20,000 IDR and is included. Do not expect a full temple tour or an extended cultural program in half an hour. Instead, use the time to look closely at the carvings, gardens, lotus features, and moat, and to take in the temple style without rushing through a much larger complex.

Taman Ayun also makes the tour more useful for anyone who wants both nature and culture in one booking. If waterfalls are your only goal, the temple adds time to the day. If you would otherwise need a separate temple trip, it helps justify the long northern route.

Is $55 a fair price for this full-day outing?

At $55 per person, the package is reasonably priced if you use the included services. You get hotel pickup and return in listed areas, an air-conditioned minivan, an English-speaking guide, a trekking guide, entrance fees, bottled water, insurance, local taxes, fuel, and toll charges.

The value comes mainly from convenience. Organizing Aling-Aling and Gitgit yourself would mean arranging transport, finding the waterfall entrances, sorting out local guides, and planning a temple stop. The tour puts those pieces into one long day.

The price is less attractive if you are already staying in north Bali or if you can easily arrange local transport. It is also less attractive if the Gitgit guide fee is added without clear warning. The most useful question is not simply if $55 is cheap. Ask if the pickup, transport, and included access save you enough trouble to justify joining a group for the day.

Lunch and extra drinks are excluded, so carry cash. The information also recommends cash for entrance fees and food, even though the stated inclusions say entrance fees are covered. I would bring cash anyway, both for lunch and in case a local payment issue arises.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this trip if you are staying in southern Bali or Ubud and want a ready-made day away from the busiest resort areas. It suits active sightseers who want to swim and use the waterfall slides rather than only view them from a path.

It also works for a couple or small group that prefers a guide and shared transport over negotiating a driver for a long northern route. The small-group setup should feel more personal than a large bus, though you should clarify whether your departure has five people or closer to ten.

You may want another option if you have back problems, are pregnant, or use a wheelchair. The tour is specifically marked as unsuitable for those conditions. It is also a poor fit if you dislike wet activities, long road days, or carrying only a small day bag.

Families and mixed-ability groups should think carefully about the active section. The tour information does not provide age limits or a detailed difficulty rating, so ask the provider for current safety and participation rules before booking if anyone in your group is unsure about swimming, sliding, or jumping.

Practical ways to make the day easier

Wear swimwear under your clothes, then pack a dry outfit for the ride home. A sun hat and sunscreen are useful even though much of the day involves jungle and water.

Bring bottled water only if you want more than the included supply, plus cash for lunch and drinks. Keep your bag small because large luggage is not allowed.

Before pickup, confirm your meeting point and the final drop-off area. The service covers many locations, but hotel access and central pickup details can vary. If you are in Lovina, Amed, Tulamben, or Candidasa, check the extra transport cost before paying.

The cancellation policy is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps if your Bali plans are still shifting, but it does not remove the need to check the Gitgit guide arrangement.

Should you book this waterfall day?

Book it if Aling-Aling is your priority and you want a practical way to combine swimming, slides, Gitgit Waterfall, and Taman Ayun Temple. The strongest part is the active Aling-Aling visit, while the reliable pickup, air-conditioned vehicle, and included admission fees make the long day easier to manage.

Pause before booking if you need a slow schedule, want a private vehicle, or cannot handle a full day on Bali’s roads. Most important, confirm the Gitgit guide fee in writing. At $55, this is a good-value outing when the advertised inclusions hold firm, but an unexpected 500,000 IDR charge can quickly change the calculation.

FAQ

How long does the Bali waterfall tour last?

The tour lasts 10.5 hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

Which waterfalls are included?

The tour visits Aling-Aling Waterfall and Gitgit Waterfall. Aling-Aling includes time for swimming, sliding, and jumping, while Gitgit has a guided visit of about 2.5 hours.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch at a local restaurant is not included, and additional drinks are also separate. Bring cash for food and drinks.

Where can pickup and drop-off take place?

Pickup and drop-off are available in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Sanur, Krobokan, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Ubud, North Kuta, and Denpasar. Extra charges apply for pickup from Lovina, Amed, Tulamben, and Candidasa.

Are entrance fees included?

The stated package includes entrance fees for Aling-Aling, Gitgit, and Taman Ayun. The listed amounts are 125,000 IDR for Aling-Aling with its trekking guide, 20,000 IDR for Gitgit, and 20,000 IDR for Taman Ayun.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, sunscreen, and a sun hat. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or wheelchair users. It includes swimming, waterfall slides, and jumps, so ask for current participation details if you have concerns about the physical activities.