Tiu Kelep Waterfall is undoubtedly one of the most impressive waterfalls we have ever seen, and the best part about it is that it is located in northern Lombok and not busy at all like many waterfalls in Bali. It is not a waterfall you can swim in, but even if you stand in front of it, you will get pretty refreshed by its powerful flow.
We drove up to northern Lombok by scooter to see this beauty, and it was well worth the long ride.
Best time to visit Lombok
Lombok has a tropical monsoon climate, which means the temperatures are pleasant all year round. There are two seasons: the dry season from May to September and the rainy season from October to April. We visited Lombok in January, which was off-season, and we had great weather too. It won’t rain all day long during the rainy season. We experienced some showers of 1-2 hours, but overall, we were fortunate with the weather. But Lombok can be visited all year round because every season has its advantages. During the dry months, the temperatures are a bit cooler, and there will be less rain but usually more people as well.
How to get to Lombok from Bali
Tiu Kelep Waterfall is located in Senaru in northern Lombok. We traveled to Lombok by local ferry from Bali (port in Padang Bai), which allowed us to bring our scooter and took us around 4-5 hours. We paid 129K IND (9 $) for the local ferry for two people and one scooter.
If you come from Bali without a scooter, we recommend you take the fast boat, which is way more convenient and faster. We recommend the boat company Eka Jaya Fast Boat. Expect to pay around 400K IDR (35 $) per person for a one-way ticket. You can book your tickets using Bookaway or 12Go.Asia. Lombok also has an airport and can be reached by plane.
How to get to Tiu Kelep Waterfall
However, Senaru, where Tiu Kelep Waterfall is located, is a bit off the beaten path and can be reached from either the ferry port in Lembar or the airport in around a 2-3 hour ride. We drove up north with the scooter, which was a comfortable ride. The streets in Lombok are very good, and there is barely any traffic.
If you are not an experienced driver and want to get there by taxi, expect to pay around 400-500K IDR ( around 35 $).
Tiu Kelep Waterfall hike
Entrance fee
The entrance fee for Tiu Kelep Waterfall is 10K IDR (0.70 $) per person, allowing you to visit two waterfalls. Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile Waterfall.
We started our hike at sunrise, around 6 am, and there was no one at the entrance, so we paid the fee when we came back up.
The hike
The hike to Tiu Kelep waterfall took us around 45 min. The first part of the hike goes all down. After that, you will come to a staircase that leads you to a bridge you have to cross. It’s a very scenic hike through the jungle, and we enjoyed it a lot. We recommend you start your walk in the morning when the temperatures are more relaxed.
After the bridge, it goes all flat, but most of the way leads you through a river and over many rocks. We recommend you wear good shoes that can get wet. We both have some water sandals, which are what we prefer to wear for waterfall hikes, instead of sneakers, which get uncomfortable when we are wet.
And then get ready to be impressed! The moment we had the first glimpse of the waterfall, we were already in love with its power.
We heard that Tiu Kelep waterfall brings some stones from above, and the water flows very strongly. So it is not recommended to go under it. During the earthquake in Lombok in 2018, many rocks and trees fell, which are now in front of the waterfall. This is why, when we visited, there was no longer a pool to swim in. But we got a very lovely refreshment already while walking around
Where to stay near Tiu Kelep Waterfall
To visit Tiu Kelep Waterfall, we recommend staying in Senaru. From the village, you can directly walk down to the waterfalls.
The accommodations in Senaru are very basic. We stayed at Dragonfly Senaru Lodge and can recommend this place for a night or two.
