Wonderful Waterfalls of Lombok

Lombok is Bali’s larger but lesser-known neighbour. With far fewer tourists, it has many secrets and one of them is its wonderful waterfalls.

Two of the most popular are Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelep, both are stunning and a must-see. I love waterfalls, I don’t mean a small trickle of water dribbling over the side of a hill, I want plumes of white water crashing down into rivers and over rocks.
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And that is what I got when I visited Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelep.

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Getting to the falls
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If you tell anyone you are “going to the waterfalls on Lombok”, everyone knows where you mean, despite there being a number of waterfalls you can visit.

Nestled at the base of Mount Rinjani in Gunung Rinjani National Park, Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls are located in the small village of Senaru. They are the most popular in Lombok and it’s easy to see why. Not only are they easy to reach but they are spectacular. Well worth a day trip if you are in Lombok, or if you are staying on any of the Gili Islands, Gili Air, Gili Meno or Gili Trawangan.

When Mark, our adventurous friend from the UK came to visit us on Gili Air, we knew this would be the perfect fun day for all of us – and we weren’t wrong.

We visited Lombok's waterfalls with our friend Mark from the UK visited

Despite the fact it rained most of the day, this didn’t dampen our spirits one little bit, after all, we are all from England and are used to dreary weather. Rain when vising waterfalls isn’t a bad thing; it makes them fuller and even more stunning, plus we knew we would get wet anyway from the spray of the falls so no worries!
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Our journey began on Gili Air where we caught a local hopper boat to the port of Bangsal north Lombok then a taxi to Senaru. During the 1.5 hour journey, we followed the coastal road west before heading inland passing lush green trees, grassy fields and local Sasak markets.

The lush green rice paddy fields in Lombok

There was beautiful scenery all the way, and we watched the ocean crashing into the palm-tree lined shores. Lush rice paddy fields were being farmed by locals and, as the road twisted and turned, we rounded a corner and Mount Rinjani appeared before us. It’s 3,726 metre high peak loomed high into the sky surrounded by wispy clouds. It was imposing and impressive!

Mount Rinjani dominates the skyline

We had decided to make this an overnight visit so checked into the simple but delightfully comfortable Anak Rinjani Guesthouse. Across the road, we spotted a small shop selling snacks and cold Bintangs – immediately we knew we would be savouring a well-deserved crisp beer that evening (and yes, we did!).

We took a slow and leisurely walk for about 10 minutes up the hill to the entrance of the falls, and paid our 10,000 IDR entrance fee each.


Sindang Gila Waterfall

The first waterfall and easiest to reach is Sindang Gila. The paved path is easy to follow and we chatted away whilst walking down the 215 steps towards the base of the falls. As we walked through unspoilt lush jungle, families of macaques swung from trees and picked food from the floor. 

We couldn’t resist and stood watching the little monkeys for a short time. But we were here for the waterfalls; its thunderous noise could be heard long before we reached it.

As we neared the base, the view was amazing. Located 600 metres above sea level, gallons and gallons of fresh water cascaded 31 metres down through two levels of mountainous jungle into a fresh river where people were swimming. Sy and Mark braved the slippery, rocky steps and shivered as the water pounded onto their shoulders. People pay good money for a massage but you could come here and get the same result by nature for a fraction of the cost!

Behind the falls was a small recess so the boys walked behind and felt the raw power of the water. On a hot day, the cool water would be refreshing but on a cloudy day when we visited, “fresh” is the best way to describe it. Nothing like a natural freshwater power shower to make you feel invigorated. It’s easy to see why the local name translated for this waterfall is “Crazy Man’s Shower”.

Mark and Sy decided to walk behind the fresh waterfall

You don’t have to stand underneath the waterfall to feel the spray on your face, both me and my camera were covered with a fine mist just by standing on the path.

Surprisingly, for the time of day and year, there were far fewer visitors than predicted. This could be because tourists were staying away from this part of Indonesia; we were here during the time Mount Agung was having a bit of a puff. 

I watched as families brought picnics, sitting around on one of the stone table and chairs enjoying their day. There were a few snack stalls selling cold drinks, pop mie and fried snacks. We couldn’t resist buying something and, for 5,000 IDR for three pieces, we enjoyed fried banana, fried cabbage and fried tempe – a delicious burst of energy that was much needed for the next part of our adventure … the walk to Tiu Kelep.

Note: There are toilet facilities here and litter bins. Please dispose of your rubbish in one of the bins or take it with you, I did see some litter on the floor and a place as beautiful as this should be preserved.

You can enjoy a picnic at the waterfalls

Order a delicious snack from the local sellers

Titu Kelep
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Leaving Singang Gila, there was a gravel path to the left with a sign leading us to Tiu Kelep. The first part of the walk was easy and pleasant through more jungle, up some steps and across a viaduct bridge, however this soon gave way to a more adventurous route.

Children like to hide and play in the viaduct

We found ourselves clambering up and down boulders and wading precariously through flowing streams which formed the lower section of the cascading waterfall, it was great fun if I’m honest! It felt like a proper jungle adventure and we were excited for our reward. One stream was ankle height but another came up to my thighs … admittedly I do have short legs! Thank goodness I wore my quick-dry walking trousers and sturdy walking sandals! 

The rain began to pour so we found shelter beneath a canopy, there was a lady here selling more snacks and drinks. We sat and chatted in broken English/Bahasa to a group of young locals who were heading in the same direction.

Friendly locals we met on the walk to Titu Kelep Falls

When the rain let up we continued our walk when, all of a sudden, there was Titu Kelep. Wow. It was like a vision out of a movie and I stood in awe looking at this magnificent tropical view; a thunderous waterfall in amongst lush green jungle. Oh yes, the trek was definitely worth it. Nature at its most beautiful.

With short legs and large boulders to climb up and down, I was content with viewing the 60 metre high falls from the security of a large rock, obviously the boys wanted more. They continued their journey into the rocky river as white water plummeted through the trees crashing into the rock pool below. The noise was deafening and I loved it. I watched people brave the walk into the falls to feel it’s magnificent power. 
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The boys swam towards the thunder and stood behind it. The water had carved out a ledge for them to stand on, Sy checked his dive computer for the temperature which read a chilly 20 degrees, no wonder they wanted to swim – it was to keep them warm. Maybe they had heard the myth that to swim in Tiu Kelep can make someone ageless.

Mark and Sy decided to swim in the refreshing water

Sy checking the water temperature

Mark just loving it!

Even from my safe distance, the spray soaked me; the air was filled with mist and the sun was trying it’s best to shine through. People-watching, I observed as ladies held out their hands to partners seeking stability as they climbed over rocks. 

The spray of the falls can be felt even when you aren't close

This beautiful area was formed by andesite lava which is fine, grey volcanic rock that will have flowed from Mount Rinjani. Andesite lava is a small-volume flow that advances short distances down the flanks of volcanos. The boys wanted to clamber over these rocks to look downstream following the waterfall. They waded through peering over the edge, I had visions of them slipping and being swept away, thankfully this didn’t happen and their curiosity was satisfied.

Boys will be boys, always seeking an adventure

In total, our little adventure lasted about four hours, but we did take our time and we did sit and enjoy the wonder of nature. I won’t lie, that afternoon my calfs and thighs were aching but I live on Gili Air where there are no hills or mountains to climb … this will teach me a lesson not to skip leg day at the gym!
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Would I recommend Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelap waterfalls? Abso-flaming-lutely!

Travel advice and tips

Local Hopper: Gili Air to Bangsal – 12,000 IDR
Taxi – Bangsal to Sangal – 250,000 IDR
Taxi – Sangal back to Bangsal – 300,000 IDR

Note: We tried to get a Bluebird taxi however it was an unusually quiet time of year so there wasn’t one to be found. We negotiated the best we could with local taxi drivers but they were all charging the same. We tried to get a Grab/Uber which would have been cheaper but, once again, there wasn’t one around.

Where to stay
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Budget: Anak Rinjani Guesthouse – 150,000 IDR per room
Luxury: Rinjani Lodge is 150 metres away - 1,000,000 IDR – 1,500,000 IDR per room
There are other budget accommodation options on this road but we loved Anak Rinjani Guesthouse and would recommend it. We would have loved to have stayed at Rinjani Lodge which receives rave reviews but alas, our backpacker budget couldn’t afford the expense.

Our simple and comfortable Homestay accommodation at Anak Rinjani Guesthouse

​When to visit

It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit; during the dry season (May – October) there may be less water but you may have blue skies; during the rainy season (November – April), there may be more cloud or rain but you get wet from the falls anyway. July/August is high season when there will be significantly more people.

9am is apparently the best time of day to visit as there will be less visitors (local and tourists). 

Guides can be hired for 50,000 IDR and it’s your choice if you want one. You do not need one for Sindang Gila but you may need a hand for Tiu Kelep. We did it alone and simply followed other people heading in that direction.

What to wear

Walking sandals or footwear with a good tread are the sensible option. You will wade through a few streams and your feet will be completely submerged in water. I did see people wearing flip flops but if you aren’t careful, these can become lost in the flow then you have to walk without any shoes. 

Wear waterproof clothes as you will get wet – even if you don’t swim. The spray from the falls is powerful and, if you walk to both falls, your bottom half may get wet wading through the streams (the depth will depend on the time of year).

If you want to swim, then wear your bathers underneath your clothes. There are toilets at Sindang Gila and changing facilities at Tiu Kelep but they are easily missed.
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Bring a waterproof bag for any valuables such as camera, phone, wallet etc, I was very grateful that Sy was sensible!

Have you heard of the waterfalls in Lombok? Do you want to visit? We want to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
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