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How To Visit Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall In Lombok
Located in the northern part of Lombok, Indonesia, Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall are two hidden gems waiting to be explored by adventurous souls.
At the foothills of Mount Rinjani, situated right next to the village of Senaru, locals have been enjoying this well kept secret for decades.
It didn’t take long for the wildfire to spread and now it is one of the island’s biggest attractions.
The mesmerizing cascade Tiu Kelep overshadows Sendang Gile when it comes to popularity, however a visit is not complete without seeing both of these amazing waterfalls.
We spent two weeks on the incredibly diverse island of Lombok and had the chance to visit kelep waterfall for a whole day.
Finding suitable information about how to get there, when to visit and the best photo spots was not as easy as we imagined.
Luckily, we already did all the digging for you and put together this comprehensive guide with all the important info:
Table Of Contents
Where are Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep waterfall located?
Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls are located roughly 80km north-east of the tourist town Senggigi and 133km north of the surf town Kuta in Lombok.
Both waterfalls are situated right next to each other and are part of the Bayan district (Kecamatan Bayan) of North Lombok Regency, in the province of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
Visiting Tiu Kelep (Air Terjun Tiu Kelep) and Sendang Gile is possible on a day trip from the tourist town of Senggigi or even from the neighbouring Gilli Islands.
Although we explored Tiu Kelep on a day trip from the surf town of Kuta in the very south of Lombok, we do not recommend it due to the long distances and time involved.
Our recommendation is to stay at Tiu Kelep Homestay and spend 4-5 days in the region in order to see Mount Rinjani and the sorrounding waterfalls.
How to get to Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall
To get to Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, you can choose between two options: rent your own scooter or hire a private driver.
Hiring a private driver is a convenient option, allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenic journey.
This can be arranged through hotels or local tour operators for around USD 55$ per day.
It is our recommended option if you have never driven a scooter in your life before and would like to tick of several places in a day without worrying about anything.
Pro-Tip: sometimes it is even worth asking your driver who picked you up at the port and dropped you off at your hotel if he is willing to drive you to the waterfall.
Many drivers will give you a better price as they want have as many clients in a day as possible.
For the adventurous, renting a scooter or motorbike provides the most flexibility and an immersive experience.
The roads in Lombok are in very good condition even to the point where we would say the best roads in rural South East Asia.
There is literally no traffic in Lombok compared to it’s more famous big brother Bali.
Scooters can be hired from any of the main tourist hubs on the island such as Kuta, Senggigi or Mataram. Rates always vary within the specific areas.
Generally speaking, a 125cc brand new Honda can be rented for 600k IDR per week (USD 36.91$) or 100000 IDR per day (USD 6.15$, higher rate for 1 day rental) as of June, 2023.
Prices in Lombok for scooters or bikes are higher due to the shipping cost involved to get them there from Bali.
Recommended Scooter / Bike Rentals Kuta
- The blue marlin bike & scooter rental: +62 819-4960-0100
- Rent Bike Kuta Lombok by JJr: +62 813-5386-0990
- Scooters Kuta Lombok: +62 878-7652-0748
Recommended Scooter / Bike Rentals Mataram
- Sewa Motor dan Mobil Lombok Pirates: +62 878-6689-9763
- RAJA TRANSPORT LOMBOK – RENTAL MOTOR MATARAM LOMBOK – RINJANI TRANS: +62 852-3771-4848
- Hasmi Motorbike Rental & Tour: +62 812-3734-2267
Recommended Scooter / Bike Rentals Senggigi
- Central scooter & car rental & tour and travel: +62 859-5528-4485
- LC Car & Motor Bike Rental: +62 818-0372-2292
- Rent Bike Lombok: +62 821-4464-4613
The directions below are based on renting a scooter and riding to Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall by yourself.
The roads are scenic and easy to drive on with a scooter (it is also the quickest way possible):
Starting from Kuta (135km ≈ 3h):
- Take the Jalan Pariwisata road heading northwest out of town
- Continue on Jalan Kuta Lombok towards the town of Belemong
- Pass through Belemong, and continue towards Mataram on Jalan Raya Tanak Awu
- From Mataram head north on Jalan Raya Mataram – Tj.
- Keep going on this road until you hit the town of Pamenang
- Now head north out of the village on Jl. Raya Tj.
- Stay on Jalan Raya Tj. until you reach the town of Gangga
- In Gangga merge onto Jalan Raya Bayan and stay on this road untiol you reach Bayan
- In Bayan head east onto Jl. Kr. Tunggul and stay on this road until you reach Karang Bajo
- In Karang Bajo, hit Jl. Pariwisata and stay on this road until you reach the final destination of Senaru
Starting from Mataram (85km ≈ 2h):
- From Mataram head north on Jalan Raya Mataram – Tj.
- Keep going on this road until you hit the town of Pamenang
- Now head north out of the village on Jl. Raya Tj.
- Stay on Jalan Raya Tj. until you reach the town of Gangga
- In Gangga merge onto Jalan Raya Bayan and stay on this road untiol you reach Bayan
- In Bayan head east onto Jl. Kr. Tunggul and stay on this road until you reach Karang Bajo
- In Karang Bajo, hit Jl. Pariwisata and stay on this road until you reach the final destination of Senaru
Starting from Senggigi (80km ≈ 1.45h):
- Head north out of town on Jl. Raya Senggigi
- Stay on this road till you hit Nipah Beach, Malaka
- In Nipah Beach, stay on the ocean side and merge onto Jl. Raya Malimbu
- Stay on this road till you hit Mentigi Bay and head onto Jl. Raya Senggigi
- Follow this road until you hit the town of Pamenang
- Now head north out of the village on Jl. Raya Tj.
- Stay on Jalan Raya Tj. until you reach the town of Gangga
- In Gangga merge onto Jalan Raya Bayan and stay on this road untiol you reach Bayan
- In Bayan head east onto Jl. Kr. Tunggul and stay on this road until you reach Karang Bajo
- In Karang Bajo, hit Jl. Pariwisata and stay on this road until you reach the final destination of Senaru
Tiu Kelep Waterfall Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to visit Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfalls is IDR 20,000 (USD 1.40$) per person.
This fee includes access to both waterfalls since they can be visited together on a loop walk.
On top of the admission fee for the waterfalls, you have to pay IDR 10,000 (USD 0.70$) to park your vehicle.
BEWARE: the guys in front of the tourist information try to scam you by telling you that it is dangerous to go without a guide.
They will make you believe that the monkeys there will steal your belongings and attack you.
For “guiding” you (literally just walking in front of you and not even checking on you), they charge a horrendous fee of IDR 100,000 (USD 6.15$).
DO NOT fall for this trick and go by yourself.
The waterfall is easily accessible via stairs.
There is no ‘dangerous’ part to the hike.
If you are afraid of monkeys, we recommend to pick up a large stick before you hike down into the valley (although they generally won’t even look at you).
Do not look the monkeys in the eye and do not smile when looking at a monkey, this provokes them.
Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall Opening Hours
The official opening hours of Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall are 7 AM – 5 PM daily, however with no gates, you can make your way down to the waterfalls around 6am.
If you visit the waterfall before 7am, you will still likely be charged an entry fee as the ticketing booth opens very early.
Although, you can visit the waterfall in the morning, we decided to go in the evening and the lighting was truly beautiful.
However, please make sure you arrive well before 5PM as they literally close the access to the waterfall at 5PM sharp.
What is the best time to visit Tiu Kelep Waterfall?
Best time of the year
The best time to visit Tiu Kelep waterfall is during the dry season in Lombok, which typically runs from the end of April to September.
During this period, the weather is generally clear and sunny, making the trekking paths safer and more enjoyable.
The water flow is still strong and impressive, and the surroundings are lush and green.
However, this is also peak tourist season in Lombok which in turn means more tourists.
Visiting during the rainy season, from October to end of march, can be challenging due to heavy rainfall which can make the trails slippery and potentially hazardous.
It doesn’t mean that it is raining all the time, in fact, we visited Indonesia in the wet season and it rarely rained more than an hour a day.
If you do visit during this time, you’ll likely find fewer tourists and a more relaxed experience.
The best time of the day
We recommend to visit both waterfalls as early as possible in the day, because you will likely have them to yourself that way.
It is also possible to visit just before sunset if you are not an early riser.
Keep in mind that there are more tourists towards sunset as nobody likes to wake up early.
Moreover, you will have less time to enjoy the waterfall as the light will fade quicker and quicker.
Tiu Kelep Waterfall hike
The journey to Tiu kelep Waterfall is truly beautiful and rated as one of the best hikes in the Lombok region. There is no special secret to this hike but we recommend to do the following:
Starting Point: Senaru Village
We started our hike near the parking lot and paid our entrance fee at the tourist information located right in front of the trail.
Usually, we advise to use proper footwear but to be honest, we nearly completed all of our waterfall hikes with flip flops in Indonesian style.
The Trail to Sendang Gile
As mentioned before, the trail to Tiu Kelep includes Sendang Gile waterfall in the loop.
The hike from Senaru village to Sendang Gile takes about 10-15mins.
The trail goes downhill all the way and features man-made stairs through lush tropical forest.
This is also the part of the hike where you might encounter monkeys.
The trail is in the shade most of the time, making it suitable for a midday hike.
Seeing Sendang Gile for the first time feels like in a fairytale as the water cascades down the cliff wall.
It is a very gentle stream which means it’s perfect to stand underneath and cool yourself off.
From Sendang Gile to Tiu Kelep
The hike from Sendang Gile to Tiu Kelep takes about 30-45 minutes.
This part of the hike is less developed and involves crossing streams, climbing over rocks, and navigating through the forest.
After rain, the trail can be muddy and slippery.
The journey offers stunning views of the dense rainforest, with diverse flora and fauna.
Once you hear the sound of the roaring waterfall, you know you are not far away.
When we got our first glimpse of the waterfall, we were truly impressed by the sheer size of it.
The waterfall looks way smaller on pictures than in real life.
Return Trip
Now to the exhausting part: the hike back up is on the same trail that you started on.
However, this time you will have to go up the stairs which will make your legs burn very quick.
Take plenty of breaks on the way and hydrate yourself in the hot and humid weather.
It will take anywhere from 45mins to 1h 15mins to return to the parking lot.
Can you swim in Tiu kelep Waterfall?
Although advertised as a swimmable waterfall all over the internet, we digged a little deeper and found a few hidden articles with accidents or even deaths at Tiu Kelep.
The frequent earthquakes in the ring of fire region in Indonesia make large rocks fall from Mount Rinjani in the river underneath that is connected with Tiu Kelep.
These rocks fall into the pond at Tiu kelep.
If you now swim underneath the strong current, you have the possibility of being swept underneath a large rock never to be seen again.
This is usually more so of an issue in the wet season when water levels rise. It’s always best to ask a local if you can swim.
FAQs
What are the Tiu Kelep Waterfall opening hours in Lombok?
The official opening hours of Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall are 7 AM – 5 PM daily.
What is the Tiu kelep waterfall entrance fee?
The entrance fee to visit Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfalls is IDR 20,000 (USD 1.40$) per person.
On top of the admission fee for the waterfalls, you have to pay IDR 10,000 (USD 0.70$) to park your vehicle.
How long is the hike to Air Terjun Tiu Kelep?
The hike takes about 45mins to complete one way.
Can you swim in Tiu kelep Waterfall?
Yes, you can but we do advise to exercise caution and only swim in the dry season.
Where to stay near Tiu Kelep?
We recommend to stay near Tiu Kelep Homestay.
Read more of our articles below:
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- Tukad Cepung Waterfall – Full Guide To Bali’s Magical Waterfall
- How To Visit Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall In Lombok
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