Sendang Gile Waterfall in Lombok From Above. — **Welcome to the Sedang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall 2025 Travel Guide!**

Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls are two of Lombok’s best waterfalls, sitting just above the famous Mount Rinjani Volcano. They are an absolute must-see and fit perfectly into your Lombok itinerary, whether you visit before or after tackling Rinjani. This travel guide will help you plan your trip, navigate the trails, and answer any questions you might have, ensuring you get the most out of your visit!

*Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling please :)*

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Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfalls

About Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall:

Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls, located just outside Sembalun Village, are two of Lombok's most incredible waterfalls. Sendang Gile is an easy 10-15-minute trek down a long set of stairs, leading to its 31-meter (100-foot) cascade that pours over a two-tier cliff. After another 20-30-minute trek through dense jungle and across a shallow river, you will be awestruck by Tiu Kelep. This waterfall features multiple cascades, beginning with a powerful 45-meter drop, followed by smaller falls that flow into a large pool below. Both waterfalls offer a perfect opportunity to experience Lombok’s natural beauty up close.

Waterfall Location:

As previously mentioned, both waterfalls are located 1 hour north of Sembalun Village— just above Mount Rinjani.

The exact location of Sendang Gile is here.

The exact location of Tiu Kelep is here.

Best Time To Visit:

Hours: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The best time of year to visit Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep is outside of the rainy season (April 1 to early December). During the rainy season, the trail can become impassable, and the water flow will be much higher, more powerful, and potentially dangerous. Mount Rinjani and the waterfalls close every year from January 1 to March 31, due to heavy rainfall.

The slightly cooler morning temperatures make the morning the best time to visit and the short trek more manageable compared to the midday heat. The earlier you visit, the better chance of having the waterfalls all to your own and seeing wildlife throughout your hike. Be sure to pack plenty of water and electrolytes—coconut water is always a great option. While I was there (8:00 AM), I only saw about 6 people and spent around 2 hours at the waterfalls.

Where To Stay:

Sembalun Village, the best place to stay to visit Rinjani and the waterfalls.

Sembalun, a small village near Mount Rinjani, is the best area to stay to access the waterfalls. It will be a 50 minute, scenic drive to the waterfall starting point.

Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler: You can help support my blog by booking directly through the links below.

Backpacker/Hostel Option: Radiya Guesthouse or Rinjani Family Homestay
Best Low-Budget: Bale Gantar
Best Mid-Budget: Rautani Sembalun (I stayed here, amazing location!)
Best High-End Budget: Rinjani Lodge (Out of Sembalun)

You can also find hotel deals at Agoda and Hostel World!

How To Get To The Waterfalls:

To reach the Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep, you will want to enter via Gate 2. Gate 1 will have a longer trek time to get to the waterfalls. To get to Gate 2, you have a few options.

If you are a confident driver, you can rent a motorbike and drive yourself there. There are motorbike rental places all over the island. Daily motorbike rentals are usually around 75,000/80,000 IDR (per day) for a small motorbike or scoopy. If you plan to have two people and bags on one bike, renting a bigger bike with more CC is best. The bigger the bike, the more expensive it will be, but you will have an easier time climbing hills, especially near Rinjani. You will find better deals for longer-term rentals versus daily. Be sure to negotiate pricing, as some places will throw out a more expensive price to see if you will take it.

Be sure to wear your helmet while riding.
A lot of roads around Lombok are not paved properly, so watch out for potholes, etc.
Be careful of trucks, especially once you are outside of downtown Kuta—they are reckless drivers.
Be careful of dogs crossing the street while riding!!

Local taxis are around, and you can usually hire one from your accommodation to the waterfalls, but it may be more costly. Grab and Gojek are not as prominent in Lombok yet. You can hire a private driver for the entire day here. Or, many of the locals are happy to arrange a driver for the day for you as well.

Your final option is to join a tour that includes transport to the waterfalls like this one.

Click here for a tour leaving from the Mataram area.

Entrance Fees & Tour Options:

Entrance Fee: 20,000 IDR (1.22 USD) for both waterfalls

There is an additional fee for a guide if you prefer to have one. The pathway to the first waterfall is straightforward, but the second can be a bit confusing with the river crossing especially if you are the only one there. If you are happy to try and navigate on your own, you can opt to go without a guide like I did. Otherwise, I suggest hiring a guide or joining a tour.

The best tour option from popular places like Kuta, Senggigi, Bangsal Port, Tanjung Aan, Mawun Beach, and Mataram City, is this one.

What To Bring:

Cash for the entrance fee (20,000 IDR).
A swimsuit and towel! – You can swim in Tiu Kelep Waterfall!
Water shoes or some old sneakers to protect your feet while walking around the water and cliffs. This is not a necessity, but it is a good addition to protect your feet and prevent slipping.
A waterproof camera or GoPro to capture epic moments near the falls.
Bring something to wipe off your phone and camera lens, as the waterfall splashes a lot of water around, even from a distance.
Sunscreen and mosquito spray—there were many mosquitos around.
Reusable water bottles and snacks—there are no food or beverage stands nearby.
Mistakes can happen, especially when trekking and walking around slippery areas, so I recommend always having some form of travel medical insurance. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo.

Trekking To The Waterfalls:

Sendang Gile Trek:

The first waterfall along the trek is Sendang Gile, and it is the easiest to reach via a well-maintained trail with 300–400 steps. While descending, you are surrounded by Lombok’s jungle, and if you are lucky, you might spot a monkey or two swinging from the towering trees. The trek takes around 10–15 minutes. A small additional set of steps leads you down to the base of the waterfall—be cautious, as the waterfall is extremely powerful.

Pro Tip: Remember to enter the waterfall from Gate 2.

Tiu Kelep Waterfall Trek:

Reaching this waterfall is slightly more challenging and adventurous, requiring an additional 20–30-minute trek through the jungle and across a river. If you are not feeling confident, you can hire a guide before entering to help you find your way.

From Sendang Gile, walk along a dirt pathway near the stairs you initially descended. If you are unsure which path to take, ask one of the locals near Sendang Gile for directions. Follow the path until you reach a set of cement stairs. These stairs are cracked, so proceed carefully, sticking to the right side. At the top of the stairs, cross the broken bridge to the other side of the path. From there, continue along the trail beside the river until you encounter rocks encased in wire fence netting. This netting marks the final section of the path leading to the waterfall.

There are two river crossings along the path to Tiu Kelep that are not clearly marked. To identify them, look for the encased rocks on the opposite side. Be cautious when crossing, as the river may be stronger than it appears. I recommend removing flip-flops before crossing to improve stability. Once you have completed the river crossings, you will hear the sound of the waterfall, which will guide you through the final 2–3 minutes of the trek to the falls.

You can find an AllTrails map to download, however I have not used it myself and am unsure where the trail starts and ends.

Tiu Kelep is an incredible waterfall with smaller pools perfect for swimming. I spent about 30 minutes exploring the area, as I needed to leave to check out of my accommodation. However, you could easily spend a few hours here swimming and soaking up the sun, surrounded by the lush jungle.

Other Things To Do Nearby:

You can find a complete list of the best things to do in Lombok here!

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Looking for the best 5 day Lombok itinerary? You can find all the information you need for the best visit possible, here!

Frequently Asked Questions

When Is The Best Time To Visit Lombok?

Rainy Season: November - March | Dry Season: April - October

The best time to visit Lombok is anywhere during the dry season, however, the surf tends to be better during the wet season (less windy). If you want to see Lombok at its greenest, you can visit during the wet season or right after (in March/April) if you prefer sunny skies and green hills. If you visit towards the end of the dry season Lombok’s terrain will be drier and brown. I have been in Lombok for every season, and it did not rain too much in November / December. It was mostly short showers or one full day of rain. January and February were very rainy, and March was somewhere in the middle.

If you plan to Trek Rinjani or visit the waterfalls, keep in mind the trail is closed from January 1 to March 31.

IS LOMBOK WORTH VISITING?

YES! It absolutely is. Many people refer to Lombok as the “old Bali,” referring to when Bali was better—less busy and less developed. The beaches are beautiful, the surf is less crowded, the viewpoints are incredible, and the landscape is picturesque.

IS LOMBOK BETTER THAN BALI?

Everyone will respond to this question differently, but I prefer Lombok. It is less crowded, less Westernized, and has more of an authentic Indonesian feel. However, I think both are worth the visit!

WHICH PART OF LOMBOK IS THE BEST?

My favorite parts of Lombok are Kuta, Sembalun, Tetebatu, and the Gilis. Kuta is my preferred area and is where I spent my year living.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN LOMBOK?

This all depends on what you want to do. If you only want to see Kuta and catch some waves, then 1-3 days is fine. Although, most people end up staying for an entire week. If you want to trek Rinjani, visit the waterfalls, and do all the best things, then yes, 5 days is fine, but 8-10 offers a more relaxed schedule.
You can find the perfect 7-10 day Lombok itinerary here!

IS LOMBOK SAFE?

Lombok has always felt safe to me and I lived there for an entire year. However, I recommend staying up to date with your c ountry’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling in addition to:

Always triple-check vaccination requirements and recommendations for countries. Some potential illnesses include Typhoid and Hepatitis A.
Pack mosquito spray to protect yourself from Dengue and Malaria. There have been recent cases of Dengue in the region.
Wear your helmet when riding your motorbike. So many people do not wear helmets, which could save your life.
Be careful with the street dogs. Due to previous abuse, some tend to be afraid of humans or feel the need to warn us off to protect themselves.
DO NOT drink the tap water. Keep your mouth closed in the shower and even use bottled water for toothbrushing, especially if you have a sensitive stomach like me!
Mistakes can happen, especially when trekking and walking around slippery areas or surfing, so I recommend always having some form of travel medical insurance. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Get an eSIM—so you do not get lost navigating your way. I always use Airalo for my eSims.
Emergency Contact Number: Police: 110 | Fire: +62 (0)370 672013| Ambulance: 118
- You can find a complete list of Lombok and Gili Island’s Emergency #’s here.

THERE ARE SO MANY STRAY DOGS IN LOMBOK, HOW CAN I HELP?

Lombok’s culture is MUCH different from Bali's, and the island is far less developed–therefore the dogs are treated very differently here.
Without getting into the nitty-gritty of what life is like for stray dogs, just know that you can make a positive impact on their lives in some of the simplest ways. This can be through something as simple as giving a street pup a meal, rice, and plain chicken is best, or something to drink like water or even coconut water! A lot of the dogs are terrified of human interaction here, especially as you get further out of downtown Kuta, so you can always place the food and water nearby to the dog and then give it some space to eat and enjoy. I promise you they will eat it once you walk away!
If you want to be more involved, you can volunteer with The Shelter for Lombok Dogs (my favorite place in the world) by helping with sterilizations, feeding the baby street pups, or helping at their shelter near Mawun Beach. If you want more information on how you can help, head here!
If you are thinking: ‘Feeding and volunteering is not for me,’ you can also donate money to their GoFundMe, donate items they need (usually collars, towels, medications, etc.), or purchase some of their merchandise from Flow or Elamu! Every donation makes a huge difference in the lives of the Lomdogs!