The Senaru waterfall circuit is a guided 6-8 hour day trek from Senaru village through the lower foothills of Mount Rinjani, visiting 4-6 waterfalls including the famous Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep plus several upper falls only locals know. Distance is 8-12 km with multiple river crossings and 400-500m of cumulative climbing. Best done with a Sasak guide for 350-500k IDR per group.
# Hiking the Senaru Waterfall Circuit: A Day in the Lower Rinjani Foothills
Most visitors to north Lombok do Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep — the two famous waterfalls everyone has on their list — and call it a day. The Senaru waterfall circuit is what comes next. It's a guided 6-8 hour trek that visits the famous two plus 2-4 upper waterfalls that only the local Sasak villagers know about, weaving through farmland and primary jungle in the lower foothills of Mount Rinjani.
This is a working day-trek, not a casual stroll. You'll cover 8-12 km, cross rivers multiple times, and accumulate 400-500 metres of climbing across the day. In return, you get an experience most foreign tourists never see — a chain of waterfalls in genuine wilderness, with a Sasak guide who grew up in these forests.
Different guides have slightly different routes, but the standard "five waterfalls" circuit usually includes:
### 1. Sendang Gile (early stop, 30 minutes)
The famous 31-metre two-tier drop you'd visit anyway. The circuit treats it as the warm-up — you take the standard 280-stair descent, photograph the falls from the platform, and continue.
### 2. Tiu Kelep (mid-morning, 1 hour)
The 42-metre single-drop and swimmable plunge pool. The circuit allots a real swim here — usually 30-40 minutes including the walk in. This is the famous shot you've seen on Instagram.
### 3. Upper falls #1 — often Tiu Tegating or Tiu Pupus (90 minutes from Tiu Kelep)
The first "hidden" waterfall, usually 30-40 metres in a smaller, quieter canyon. The trail leaves the standard tourist route and climbs through farmland and forest. Most foreign visitors never see this fall.
### 4. Upper falls #2 — the swim stop (lunch, 1 hour)
A smaller waterfall (10-15 metres) with a deeper, broader pool ideal for swimming and lunch. This is where most circuits stop for an extended break — the guide unpacks the nasi bungkus, you swim, and you reset for the return.
### 5. Optional fifth fall (if time and energy allow)
Some circuits add one more — typically a smaller cascade or a hidden grotto. This depends on group fitness, weather, and time of year. Ask the guide before the lunch stop whether it's on or not.
The circuit is more than the sum of its waterfall stops — the walking between them is genuine forest hiking. Expect:
Footing is the main challenge. The trail is rarely flat or smooth — you're stepping over roots, on mossy rocks, through shallow water, and up rough steps. Hiking shoes or grip-soled hiking sandals (Tevas, Chacos, Keens) are the right footwear. Trainers will get destroyed and stay wet all day; flip-flops will fail completely.
You cannot do this circuit safely without a Sasak guide. The standard Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep trails are signposted and obvious; the upper falls are not. The trail markings disappear, the canyons branch, and the river crossings change with conditions. Local guides know:
Pay 350-500k IDR per group of 1-4 people. Larger groups pay slightly more. The cost is a one-time group rate — splitting with friends makes it cheap. Tip 50-100k extra at the end if the guide showed you something special or extended the route.
The circuit is intermediate. You should:
People who love hiking and waterfalls find this one of Lombok's best day experiences. People hoping for an easy stroll between scenic photo stops will hate it.
The circuit needs an early start. Most guides depart Senaru gate at 7am — earlier if you want to do the longer five-waterfall version. Finish times range from 2pm (short circuit) to 4pm (full version). Lunch is on the trail, usually at the swim stop around 12-1pm.
Plan to either:
For Gili-based travellers, this is genuinely difficult to do as a day trip — better to stay one night in north Lombok.
In wet season (December-March), reduce expectations to just Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep — the upper circuit is rarely run safely.
A typical 2-3 day north Lombok itinerary that includes the circuit:
Day 1: Drive from Senggigi/Gilis, overnight Senaru homestay
Day 2: Waterfall circuit 7am-3pm, evening dinner in Senaru
Day 3: Return drive via Pusuk Pass to Senggigi or Gilis
For trekking-inclined travellers, this is the warm-up before the multi-day Mount Rinjani trek — a chance to test legs, gear, and acclimatise to the village before the bigger climb.
All circuits start at the Senaru gate in north Lombok. 2 hours from Senggigi (60 km), 1 hour from Bangsal/Gili harbour, 3.5 hours from LOP airport. Most circuit guides will arrange pickup from your Senaru homestay; if you're day-tripping from elsewhere, plan to arrive in Senaru by 6:30am or stay overnight in a Senaru village homestay (100-300k IDR) the night before.
Waterfall circuit vs Sendang Gile + Tiu Kelep alone: The standard ticket gets you the two famous falls in 2-3 hours; the full circuit adds upper falls only locals know and turns it into a real day trek. Circuit vs Mount Rinjani trek: Same village, vastly different commitment — circuit is one day, no altitude, family-doable; Rinjani is 2-3 days serious trekking. The circuit is the right choice for anyone who loves waterfalls and wants more than the standard tourist stops, without committing to a multi-day mountain trek.