The Tumpak Sewu Waterfall is becoming famous as one of the most awesome waterfalls in East Java and is perhaps even the coolest waterfall in all of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
This thing is called a waterfall, but it looks more like a thousand waterfalls combined, which is why the name loosely translated from the local Java language means “a lot of waterfalls”.’
These falls thunder in a horseshoe-shaped jungle canyon that looks like something straight out of Jurassic Park. The end result is an unmissable natural wonder!
Tumpak Sewu is easy to visit if you are on the way to Mount Bromo. This guide will tell you how to get there and everything you need to know before you go!
Tumpak Sewu: the thousand waterfalls
Your first stop at Tumpak Sewu Waterfall is a panoramic point that serves as the main viewpoint where you can see the falls from above. This is a great vantage point, especially if you have a drone that you can send even higher.
No hiking is necessary to see Tumpak Sewu from the viewpoint which is located a few steps from the parking lot. The waterfall is super photogenic and it is easy to see how it became known as the “thousand waterfalls” of East Java.
With a drone, you can even see the volcano of Mount Semeru in the background, or if you look directly at the waterfall in the gorge with a drone, it looks like a tree of life.
From the viewpoint, there are two different paths to descend to the waterfall, but the path on the Lumajang (east) side seems easier and safer.
Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Hike
Don’t stay too long at the viewpoint, because you still have to see the waterfall from below! The best lighting for this is early in the morning, before the sun is high, otherwise taking the right photos can be more difficult.
Walk down the trail for about 20 minutes to reach the bottom of the canyon. The trail is mainly made up of bamboo steps with bamboo railings, and it is a little sketchy in places, but nothing too terrible. Just proceed with caution.
If you have children and elderly people in your group, you can probably also do this part of the hike, even if you want to go slowly and help them.
Once you have reached the bottom of the gorge, you are only a 5-10 minute walk from the main event. The towering walls on either side of the canyon let you know how tiny they are and how epic things are getting.
There is a shallow stream to cross, of which a small bridge covers part. Cross the bridge, turn the corner and prepare to be overwhelmed by the epic view! That’s when the scales hit you for the first time and you can’t help but feel like an ant.
There are many good photo spots next to the waterfall, but note that the rocks are very slippery and any electronic devices you bring within 100 meters of the falls will be soaked.
I would recommend bringing a dry bag to keep your camera, drone or other electronic devices safe between photo shoots here.
Enjoy and be safe! Overall, Tumpak Sewu Waterfall is one of our favorite attractions in Indonesia. These are really the “thousand waterfalls” of East Java!
