Jagir & Ketegan Waterfall 

Whilst Jagir Waterfall is located on google maps, Ketegan is not - it’s a hidden secret you won’t find anywhere else! To get here, follow the map to Jagir Waterfall. If you’re on a private guided tour to Ijen you can ask your guide to take you here when organising the tour, or if you’re going solo, simply get a motorbike and drive yourself. Parking is 3,000 and entrance is 5,000, regardless of which of the two entrances you use. 

When you get to the location for Jagir on the map, you’ll see a massive sign saying “welcome to Jagir”. Just before it is a spot you can park your bike and go directly to Jagir waterfall, but this entrance doesn’t lead to Ketegan Waterfall as well. Instead, continue up the hill for a hundred metres or so. On the left, you’ll see a little local supermarket and a hand written sign saying Jagir waterfall. You can park on the street next to the supermarket for free, or under the cover of a small house for 3,000.

You’ll know you’re at the right place because you’ll walk down a few steps to a little kiosk with a glass window, and there’ll be a sign that reads Ketegan (left, 500 metres) and Jagir (right, 150 metres). The local at the kiosk may tell you that Ketapang is closed because it is dangerous, but as long as you have good balance (and shoes that can get wet) you’ll be alright! You’ll want to go to Ketegan first, then follow the river downstream to Jagir. 

To walk to Ketegan, you’ll be walking in and along the river. It is not possible to do this without getting your shoes wet. I had river boots (the only shoes I wore for the whole Java trip) and Jasper had sandals. This waterfall is only visited by locals and there is a lot of rubbish in the water, so do be careful. You follow the river upstream for around 10 minutes until you arrive at a beautiful secluded waterfall. The path will split only once - the obvious track continues straight and goes upstream - this is the way to Ketegan. The other split goes backwards and follows downstream along the river - this is the way to Jagir. The sound of the water hitting the ground is so strong that it sounds like someone’s beating a drum - when you hear this, you’ll know you’re near. I’d be amazed if there’s anyone else there, you will almost certainly have it to yourself. 

Once you’re done at Ketegan, walk back along the path until you come to the split in the road, and stick to the one that goes downstream along the river rather than uphill towards the entrance. Follow this for around 10 minutes and you’ll arrive at Jagir waterfall. 

Jagir is a beautiful spot and not too heavily frequented. There was only two groups of friends visiting while we were there. Jagir has two waterfalls spots, both with manmade pools at the bottom. They’re very picturesque, with the cascades falling over mossy walls. There are pipes running to the top of the falls and channeling water from elsewhere in the town to make the waterfalls a heavier and wider than they would occur naturally, but it’s still very beautiful. It can be lovely and relaxing to sit at the edge of the manmade pools with your feet in then, as there are hundreds of tiny fish that would love to nibble the dead skin off your toes. If you’re ticklish though, just keep moving and the fish won’t disturb you. 

There are basic toilet facilities here and a few gazebo like structures where you can relax. There’s no food at the waterfall, but up on the street there is a local warung where you can get a meal for 20,000-30,000, as well as iced lemonade or soft drink.