How to Visit Tiu Kelep Waterfall & Sendang Gile in Lombok

In Senaru, you can visit two epic waterfalls on a single hike, Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile.

When it comes to Lombok waterfalls, Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls are the two most popular and most spectacular falls on the island.

They are both located within the small trekking village of Senaru in Northern Lombok and require a short hike of about 30 minutes to reach on the same trail. I’ve visited these waterfalls twice and can share some unique & updated information on the best ways to visit from Senaru, Sengiggi, or Kuta Lombok.

2. Driving to Senaru To Hike to the Waterfalls Independently

If you're already planning to trek to the Rinjani crater, then it might be a good idea to stay in Senaru, since most treks leave from here anyway.

This way, you'll be able to visit Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile and begin trekking the next day!

• From Senggigi: From Senggigi, it's a two-hour drive along the coast and into the ancient volcanic highlands. On the way, you'll pass traditional villages through some bumpy roads as you make your way up to the town of Senaru.
• From Kuta Lombok: You have the option of taking the coastal roads through Mataram and Senggigi, or heading inland through Tetebatu, over the mountain pass in Sembalun, and then back around to Senaru. It will take roughly 3 and a half hours each way.

Once you reach Senaru, you'll want to head to the main gate. There is space across the road to park your bike (10,000 IDR).

Updated Waterfall Entrance Fees

You'll likely have a few locals asking you to be your guide. The first time I visited, it wasn't compulsory to pay, but now it is.

• Entrance fee: 30,000 IDR per person 
• Local guide: 250,000 IDR per group

While you can easily get there without a guide, this system is in place to help employ locals in the community. I'm all for this.

My Experience Hiking to Tiu Kelep

• Distance: 6 km (3.7 mi) return
• Time: 1 hour return
• Elevation: 125 m (410 ft) all on the way back up
• Route: My Strava

Once we reached Senaru, I followed the map pin above to reach the start of the short waterfall hike to reach Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls.

The entrance to the trail is very obvious and almost impossible to miss. You'll see a large sign next to a small food stall (good idea to get some snacks there). Then, simply walk through the gate and down the hill through the ticketing booth marking the entrance.

Sendang Gile Waterfall

The first section of the hike winds down a wide, sealed path, dropping quite sharply until you reach a small elevated section just above the valley floor. Along the way, we spotted many monkeys and our guide told us to be careful since they commonly steal food!

It took us approximately 10 minutes to walk down with a few steps until we reached the waterfall basin below. At the base is a small hut where you can rest.

If you're here to see the more popular Tiu Kelep Waterfall, then you're in luck because you'll actually pass Sendang Gile (Air Terjun Sendang Gile) on the way!

Sendang Gile has two streams that flow into a shallow river which slowly trickles down and around the volcanic slope. There's a big area just next to Sendang Gile where you can relax. Although there's no deep swimming pool, you can definitely get a good natural shower in!

You can reach the bottom by walking around to the right and then turning left.

Sendang Gile translates to "Crazy Tiger". The story goes that a Prince once accidentally found this waterfall while being chased by a crazed tiger. He hid behind the waterfall and was luckily able to escape. Don't worry - there are no tigers in Lombok. However, you'll probably spot some monkeys on the track if you visit early.

Tiu Kelep Bridge Water Slide

Next up, the track picks up just to the right of where you came down to Sendang Gile. This trail used to be very difficult to get over but it has been renovated recently with the addition of a new concrete water channel, which you essentially walk on top of.

To begin, you need to follow the path up a broken concrete staircase. The first time I visited, I walked straight over this bridge. But, on the second time on the Lombok Loop, our riders showed us an awesome water slide– literally underneath the bridge!

Basically, we jumped in through the grate, under the bridge, and rode the water through. A bit sketchy and I don't recommend it without a guide, but was seriously fun!

Hike to Tiu Kelep Waterfall

After having a few turns at the bridge water slide, we continued down and followed the concrete path until it ended. Next, we had to walk along some rocky sections, crossing the river a few times before reaching the falls.

Depending on the flow, you might need to get your feet wet as you walk around the river bends.

It only takes about 25 minutes to reach Tiu Kelep, and the track isn't difficult. However, it's not well marked. My advice is to just follow the obvious trail until you eventually reach this amazing waterfall.

What to Expect at Tiu Kelep Waterfall

This is the waterfall highlight of the island and visiting is one of the most popular things to do in Lombok. In fact, visiting this waterfall is a reason why many people come to North Lombok to begin with.

Besides the mighty Tiu Sekeper, which is the tallest waterfall in Lombok, Tiu Kelep is one of the most impressive waterfalls that I've come across in Indonesia.

You'll probably have seen this on Instagram and several tourism posters both in Lombok and Bali. But– laying eyes on it yourself is a completely different experience.

Water trickles down an even, rounded wall down green vines and sharp rock. There's also a huge plunging waterfall stream that seems to propel itself across the entire scene.

Both times we visited we spent about an hour and a half at the falls enjoying a quick cool off in the refreshing waters before hiking back up to the starting point on the same path.

Hiking Back on the Secret Cave Path

On the hike back, just after the "water tunnel" water slide bridge, our guides showed us a secret path through the cliff inside a cave path.

Initially, this looked a little bit sketchy, but it leveled out quickly and we walked for about 10 minutes with the water running beneath our feet, all the way to the base of Sendang Gile.

I wouldn't recommend this after. a heavy downpour or without a guide, but it was awesome. We saw some bats in there too.

From here, we took the slightly steep return back to the starting point for a refreshing lunch in Senaru. I recommend grabbing lunch or a drink at the Rinjani Lodge since they offer entrance to non-staying guests.

Secret Plantation Viewpoint of Tiu Kelep Waterfall

The second time I visited Tiu Kelep the guys from the Lombok Loop showed me an epic viewpoint above Tiu Kelep Waterfall called Kebun kopi dan coklat, just 5 minute's ride north of the entrance to the waterfalls.

This is a small coffee and cacao plantation but they have a perfect view of Tiu Kelep waterfall! To get here, just ride south on the main road until you reach the Dawn Adventures trekking shop, turn left, and continue down this road.

At the end, you can leave your motorbike for free. While the viewpoint is free to visit, we left a small tip to say thanks!

FAQs About Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile

I hope that you've enjoyed this guide to visiting Tiu Kelep Waterfall and Sendang Gile on the island of Lombok, Indonesia. Before you head off on a waterfall-chasing adventure, make sure to check out some of my other guides below for more inspiration!