Bali’s Hidden Canyon

We had trudged through waist high water, deep into the hidden canyon oftentimes with my camera and gear bag held over my head, just praying I didn’t slip and fall, losing my equipment to the chilly waters. My friend Dilek and I had set out to explore a then little-known canyon east of Bali’s hipster city of Ubud.

I had arrived in Bali earlier that month as a stopover between Australia and Thailand and a mental break to work on my photography business and decompress after a tough couple of months of family loss.

The thing with Bali for photographers is that every waterfall, rice field, and beach seems to have been plastered all over Instagram, tiktok, and Facebook by now. It is hard to create original imagery that doesn’t scream “I wanted in a line to take the same photo as a hundred people before me.”

So I was really lucky to be staying in a hostel in Ubud where people were raving about this off-the-beaten-path canyoneering trip they went on a few days ago. It sounded rustic, a bit dicey safety-wise, and adventurous – my kind of excursion! I was also lucky to be accompanied by my new friend, Dilek, who also happened to be a semipro ballerina and had always wanted to try out modeling. Perfect! I love meeting people on the road and partnering up to make cool art.

We jumped on our scooter and traveled about 25 minutes south toward the black sand beaches of Pantai Purnama and Pantai Saba. Just before you reach the coastal highway you will find Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang. This 3 hour, 3.5 km hike and canyoneering experience is a blast. As of 2025 the price was 300,000IDR or about $18.50. The price includes a guide, a towel, a locker, a dry bag, and a welcome drink before you head out into the canyons.

It was difficult for me to select just a single lens to bring with me, but I knew I was taking a risk bringing my camera at all. I put my trusty 24-70mm lens on, grabbed a spare battery, and put them inside the dry bag and into my bigger pack. Dilek also packed several outfit changes and a sarong, so we could try out different looks on the hike.

Depending on the water levels, stepping in the wrong spot could send you into the river at depths exceeding 2 meters, so be sure to listen to your guide! Enjoy the towering cliff walls, sculpted rocks formations, and winding river. We tried a variety of different shots, but the photo at the top of this page is my favorite from the day. I love the way the light illuminates patches of the canyon behind Dilek and frames just enough of her to highlight the swimsuit and her face.

We took so many photos but the time flew by because we had such an amazing time. As you reach the end of the canyon, you are greeted by beautiful verdant rice fields for the last 800 meters return walk to the entrance – a nice and peaceful end to a great day.

If you find yourself in Bali, skip the instagram spots and visit the Hidden Canyon of Beji Guwang!