Tiu Kelep Waterfall

Tiu Kelep sits in forest on the northern flank of Rinjani, above the village of Senaru. The walk in follows an irrigation channel and then the riverbed, crossing the water a few times, and ends at a wide bowl where the fall drops into a pool that people swim in. Spray fills the whole amphitheatre, so you get wet whether you plan to or not. A second waterfall, Sendang Gile, is passed on the way and is easier to reach, at the bottom of a long staircase. Both are inside the Rinjani national park area, and the path has been rebuilt more than once after landslides.

What you actually see

• Tiu Kelep - the main fall dropping into a wide pool inside a spray-filled bowl.
• Sendang Gile - the second, easier waterfall reached by steps on the way in.
• The river walk - crossings and boulder hopping along the streambed through forest.
• The Senaru rim view - Rinjani's northern slopes seen from the village above the falls.

When to go

April to October is drier and the river is lower and safer to cross. After heavy rain the flow can be dangerous and the route is sometimes closed. Go in the morning, when the sun reaches into the bowl, and allow around three hours in total including the walk both ways.

Honest expectations

The rocks in the river are slippery and the crossings need care in bare feet or sandals with grip. Guide hire is effectively compulsory at the gate and prices are set locally, on top of the entrance fee. The route has been damaged by landslides and rebuilt in places, so surfaces vary. In peak months the pool is crowded and litter appears along the path.

Nearby

Senaru is the northern trailhead for Rinjani, with the Gili islands down on the coast.