An Unsung Waterfall in Malang, East Java, Indonesia: Coban Pelangi

Coban Pelangi, which translates to "Rainbow Falls," owes its name to the magnificent rainbow visible on sunny days (unfortunately, we visited on a cloudy day and missed out on the sight).

This travel guide will outline how to reach the falls and everything you need to know before setting off!

Hiking to Coban Pelangi Waterfall
Despite my initial skepticism, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was. Being up in the mountains meant pleasant temperatures and fresh air.

There are two viewpoints for Coban Pelangi Falls – one above the falls and one below.

Both hikes are relatively easy and scenic. If you have the time, try both!

Drone Photographs of Coban Pelangi Falls in East Java, Indonesia

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Upper Viewpoint
The hike to the upper viewpoint is the easiest, taking only about 10-15 minutes to reach the end.

The trail is mostly flat, offering panoramic views of the mountains and the falls from above, along with a rainbow-colored treehouse and some benches for resting.

With a drone, I was able to observe from even higher up. You can see some of my photos of Coban Pelangi on Indonesian drone videos on YouTube.

Lower Viewpoint
The lower viewpoint allows you to get closer to the falls.

This hike is a bit steeper but still only takes about 15-20 minutes one-way.

At the lower viewpoint, there are several good spots for close-up shots of Coban Pelangi.

I'm not sure how tall the falls are, but I'd guess somewhere between 50-100 meters. It's a great waterfall!

Getting There
The nearest airport is Abdul Rahman Saleh Airport (MLG) in Malang City, with direct flights from Bali (DPS). You can also easily reach Malang by train from Yogyakarta, which is what we did.

The best way to visit the falls is on your way to Mount Bromo from Malang City. People usually visit Madakaripura Falls when heading to Mount Bromo, but you can substitute this one instead.

We based ourselves in Malang and booked a car and driver through Zaini Transport to visit a series of waterfalls in Java before embarking on a 3D2N trip to Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen. This was the last waterfall we visited on our way to Mount Bromo.

Our driver, Dayat, was very punctual and familiar with the area, so we had no trouble finding anything!