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Senaru Village Information
The cool, flower-filled mountain
village of Senaru on the slopes of Mt. Rinjani stretches up a
hillside spur along a winding road above Bayan. It is a scenic 2.5
hours
 drive from Mataram or Senggigi to Senaru. The Desa includes
the hamlets of Senaru, Batu Koq and Tumpang Sari, and all offer
accommodation in simple but pretty homestays (losmen) with lovely
views.
The Rinjani Trek Centre is located at
the top of the village at the trailhead. It offers information for
visitors on the Rinjani Trek, the National Park, Sasak culture and
the range of ecotourism activities available for visitors to Senaru.
National Park and village entry fees are paid here, and all porters
for trekkers have to be hired from the Senaru Porters Group which is
also based in the Rinjani Trek Centre. Village guides, including
several local women, have been specially trained to escort visitors
around the sights. Arrange a guided excursion through the Rinjani
Trek Centre or your losmen.
Waterfalls
Senaru’s
 best known attraction is the
Sindang Gila waterfall which attracts many thousands of Indonesian
and foreign visitors annually. Located at about 600m above sea
level, the waterfall is an easy 20 minute walk down a graded trail
and steps from Senaru village. A pleasant alternative return route
winds along the edge of the steep valley, following the irrigation
canal.
For the more adventurous, Senaru’s “second waterfall” Tiu Kelep is
another hour’s walk upriver from Sindang Gila. The scramble over
rocks through the tropical forest is rewarded by the beauty of the
waterfall and a swim in its deep pool. It is said locally that every
time you swim behind the main waterfall of Tiu Kelep you become a
year younger!
With access from the main road, Senaru’s “third waterfall” Betara
Lenjang is strictly for rock climbers with a local guide and
equipment.
Wildlife
During early morning and evening walks
in Senaru you are likely to see interesting birds, butterflies and
at least one of the two species of monkey who live in the
surrounding forest. Long-tailed macaques, known locally as kera,
often sit on the road. More elusive is the rare Silvered Leaf
monkey, and also known as the black monkey or lutung, which can
often be glimpsed in the forest around the waterfalls.
Senaru Traditional Village
A visit to the Senaru Traditional
Village, situated next to the Rinjani Trek Centre where the Rinjani
trail begins, is greatly enhanced by asking a local guide to show
you around. The Sasak inhabitants are the cultural guardians of
Mount Rinjani and its surrounding forest and safeguard its spiritual
values. Locally guided visits include opportunities to experience
the villagers’ daily life, visit their thatched houses, prepare
meals using local produce, and understand their traditional way of
life.
Morning waterway walk and
sunrise
Leave your losmen early for a one and
a half hour escorted walk through the fields, past traditional
villages and along the irrigation channel that winds through village
fields past crops and houses. Enjoy visiting local homes, seeing
early morning activities and learning about farming methods. Witness
the sun rising from the sea beneath the spectacular sweeping views
of north Lombok from the summit of Mt. Rinjani to the coast.
Evening walk and sunset
Below the Senaru Traditional Village,
a one and half hour escorted walk along village trails brings you to
the “secret waterfall” or “traditional swimming pool”, the Tumpasan
Senaru. Enjoy a refreshing swim or late afternoon laze. On the
return trip, visit some local hamlets as the people return from
their fields, and enjoy the sunset over Mt. Agung in distant Bali
from a vantage point in a local orchard.
Senaru panorama walk
Discover all the highlights of Senaru
on an easy half-day walk through the scenic landscape of
palm-fringed rice terraces, waterways, traditional village and
rainforest waterfalls. Follow the irrigation channel that winds
through the village fields - the lifeline of the district. Local
women will guide you, happy to share their special knowledge of
culture, customs and nature. This tour departs every morning from
the Rinjani Trek Centre.
Cultural performances
By special request in advance, the
people of Senaru and Sembalun can treat you to the very special
spectacle of their traditional music and dance performances in a
village setting beneath Mt. Rinjani
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