Senaru village on Lombok is the main entry point into Gunung Rinjani National Park and is set in beautiful scenery filled with peace and quiet.
The village stays cool in the heat of the Indonesian sun as it is surrounded by waterfalls and green jungle that benefit from cooling breezes. The village is a nature lover’s paradise. Accommodation is basic with friendly home stays and locals enjoy hosting interested guests.
There is a selection of cafés that serve local dishes and the views are amazing from wherever you are in the village. There are a few guides that can be hired in Senaru to take you around the national park and birds, butterflies and macaques are common sights.
Travel to Senaru- getting there
The airport on Lombok welcomes flights from all over including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Surabaya. Jakarta is a 2-hour flight from Lombok and only 25 minutes on a plane from Bali, host to a small international airport. There are also regular ferries and catamarans running between the islands that take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours depending on which one you get.
In brief
Worth it? Well worth a visit if you are looking to get back to nature and explore the national park.
What to do: visit the national park, swim in the pool at the waterfalls, enjoy the views and hike around the waterfalls.
Best time to go: May to September.
How long? A few days.
Senaru attractions
- Sendang Gila Waterfall: the best attraction in the village is the waterfall that attracts visitors from all over the country with its spectacular cascading natural water.
Side trips from Senaru
- Tiu Kelep Waterfall: an hour’s walk upriver from Sendang Gila is a smaller waterfall that has a deep pool perfect for swimming in.