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Lombok offers visitors stunningly beautiful natural landscapes and some of the most popular tours for travellers include trekking through the jungles and rainforests to visit the island’s spectacular waterfalls.
Two very special waterfalls are located in Central Lombok, around an hour and a half drive from either Senggigi or Kuta.
These waterfalls are located in the village of Aik Berik in Central Lombok, about 27 km east of Mataram and less than one hour’s drive from the capital. The village is easily reached by car or motorbike and is set amongst pretty scenery, with green rice fields and verdant fruit orchards.
The area boasts five stunning waterfalls, with the two most popular being Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu – each within trekking distance of each other.
Benang Stokel is the first of the waterfalls and is easily accessed by a short walk from the paved parking area at the start of this national reserve.
There is an admission charge, which includes the services of a guide, at the entrance area. The guides are friendly and knowledgeable, and will help carry your bag and take photos for you. There are also small stalls selling snacks and drinks nearby.
If you would like to explore more of the waterfalls in this area, arrange this with a guide at the ticket office. The other falls are not easy to find and you will need assistance on the trek.
Benang Stokel features two waterfalls falling more than 30 metres down a steep cliff face covered with ferns and jungle vegetation.
Benang means “thread” in Bahasa Indonesia, and describes the thin streams of water that gush down the cliff, like silver threads.
The waterfall to the left is the higher of the two and is more powerful. The fall on the right side splashes into a small rocky pool at the bottom.
Local people have come to these waterfalls for centuries to refresh themselves in the cool and serene atmosphere and to stand under the pounding waters, which they believe have healing properties.
Benang Stokel is now opening up as an alternative trekking route for people wishing to climb Lombok’s volcano, Mt Rinjani. Trekking through dense forest, the climb up to the crater rim takes between 6 and 8 hours and offers lots of variety, with the famed Tiara Dewi Anjani Waterfall as one of its highlights, as well as the possibility of seeing herds of deer.
The area is also home to the rare black Ebony Leaf monkey, orchids, butterflies, vanilla orchids, cocoa and coffee trees. This route has been used for centuries by hunters and local people, and is perfect for trekkers looking for a completely different angle of approach to climbing Rinjani.
After relaxing on one of the berugaq (resting pavilions) and having a splash in the cool water, it is relatively easy to make the trek to the second set of waterfalls, around 30 to 45 minutes away. This is where it helps to have a guide.
A small track leads up the incline through the jungle, twisting through the verdant rainforest of the surrounding hills. Although parts of the trek can be a bit slippery and arduous, the track is safe and can be navigated by most people. The view of Benang Kelambu at the end is worth every minute of the effort!
At the end of the dirt track, a series of rock and cement steps leads down to the base of these magnificent waterfalls. In typical Indonesian style, these are steep and unevenly spaced with treads of varying widths, making the climb back up a good aerobic exercise!
As soon as you reach the steps, the view of the falls spraying mist across the green hillside is breathtaking. This sort of jungle scenery is totally natural and simply stunning!
Kelambu means “net” in Indonesian and refers to the waterfalls, which spread out across the greenery like finely draped netting.
There are five different waterfalls, each falling like veils through the lush ferns and jungle vines that cover the 40 metre high hillside.
Large boulders embedded at different levels on the slope break the falls, splashing spray into the air and providing perfect lounging places to rest and let the fresh mists cool your body.
At the base of the falls, the water splashes onto rocks and spills down steps into a man-made pool below, where you can swim.
It is an idyllic place to relax, climbing the rocks and sitting under the falls to cool off, letting the water splash gently over you, or sitting on the rocks at the base, gazing up at the sweeping sprays making rainbows above.
Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the shade and spend a few hours drinking in the serene beauty of this lovely spot.
It is possible to get a ride on a scooter to and from the main carpark to the top of the steps at Benang Kelambu. If you’re exhausted by the trek or have mobility issues, this is a good option but you will still need to negotiate the stairs.
Wear sneakers or sturdy shoes and dress modestly out of respect for the local people. Shorts and a top are fine for swimming.
Both waterfalls can get crowded on weekends and public holidays, as they are popular picnic destinations for local families, but during the week the area is an enchanting place to visit.
