Lombok Island is popular destination for surfers and beach lovers but now only! Mount Rinjani Trekking is definitely the highlight worth considering. Of course, only for those who like to hike because this one is quite demanding. I will share my experience with you and tell you about the options for trekking Rinjani.
Mount Rinjani trekking – packages options
For me, Mount Rinjani was the most difficult among Indonesian volcanos I have climbed. The easiest are Bromo or Ijen, more difficult was Mount Merapi, but also because I have been hiking during the night. Mount Rinjani trekking was tough and I decided to skip 3 days trekking to the summit and went only to the crater.
First of all I have to tell you that there are two starting points available: in the village Senaru and Sembalum. Most of the times, tourists which plan to go to the summit, start from Sembalum and those who just want to reach the crater – from Senaru. Starting from Senaru is the easiest option available, so if you are not experiences hiker but you really want to see the crater, this is for you.
There are few packages available from the shortest, which takes 2 days to the longest – 4 days. Trekking which takes you to the summit takes 3 days, during which you will see the sunrise on Rinjani and have a chance to get down to the lake in the crater. There are also longer trekkings – 4 days, where you have more relaxing time at the lake and hot spring.
Trekking which takes 2 days starts from Senaru and takes you to the crater. However, there are 2 days packages to reach the summit and back, but it’s only for experiences hikers.
There are tons of agencies in Senaru which offer these packages. Options are various and sometimes include pick up from the airport, accommodation in Senaru and drop off. Tour includes a guide, porters carrying all the neccesary gear such as food, tents, mattresses, cooking equipment. You can also go to the Gunung Rinjani National Park by yourself, carrying your own gear.
My experience of trekking Rinjani Volcano
Trekking which I did was 2 days package, with night and sunrise on the edge of the crater. Myself, a guide and 2 porters carrying all the gear started to hike early in the morning. All the cooking was done on the way, when we were having little breaks. Everything was well organised. Going up was quite easy, the elevation is not so rapid, until you reach the last part. This one was quite tough because the little volcanic rocks were slippery and tricky. Moreover, it becomes very steep and tiring.
We reached the crater before the sunset so I could already see the lake, but unfortunately, not the sunset. There were plenty of tents around and lots of hikers. It took us approximately 7 hours to come up, pretty long way.
Here came the morning. It was quite exciting to wait for the sun rays to hit the lake. View was incredible and the feeling of being so tiny in front of this huge lake and powerful volcano was overwhelming. I was staring there for one hour or so, watching the sunrise, lake changing colors with the light and admiring nature.
After 8-9 am we started our way back and it was pretty quick, except the slippery part on the top. I was exhausted when we reached Senaru around 1 pm and couldn’t imagine myself doing the 3 days trekking. On the other hand curiosity for hiking up to the summit and spending more time around the crater would be fantastic. Well, maybe there will be next time!
Monkey eating leftover on the crater.
Mass tourism = mass trash
As there is just one way to hike, it gets pretty crowded on the trail. Especially, because for every tourist there is 1-2 porters, so in the end there is a huge army going up and down. Apart from individual tourists, there are organised tours which are huge groups of 15 or so surrounded by same amount of porters plus guides.
I was terrified about the quantity of trash on the way. Honestly, it was pretty sad. Among all the trekkings I have done in Indonesia and complained a lot about the trash, this one was the worst. Apart from people dropping trash on the way, the biggest load of it is from the guides and porters cooking on the way. Some of them collect their trash, some not. Organic leftovers are thrown wherever for monkeys and other animals. So how does it look like?
The trail is full of plastic and bad smell form organic leftovers composting. There are no toilets on the way, so you can imagine that shit is everywhere as the crowd going through is pretty big. Honestly, you come for trekking to experience some nature and you just trip over trash and smell human shit everywhere. Some people don’t ever care to go to the bush and poo on the path.
As always when I travel, I put priority on choosing eco friendly tour agency, if possible. I had a great experience with jungle trekking in Sumatra with the eco tour and tried to find one for Mount Rinjani trekking. I was able to find one agency is Senaru, which has eco-friendly ideology about cleaning the jungle and preserving the forest. At least this is how their website looked like, but reality was surprising.
What makes them eco? I have been observing all the trekking and finally decided to ask. They told me that after camping or cooking they don’t throw the plastic trash to the bush like the others, they collect it… I was speechless. All my life, I have been thinking that that’s the normal thing all human beings should do. Does it mean that those who don’t pick their trash are monkeys? No. It means that standards and habits in Indonesia are far different from what Western world is used to.
During Rinjani trekking I was feeling like they are fooling me with being “eco”. I talked with the owner later on. Of course I didn’t say: man, it’s all bullshit with being eco. I talked politely, to give advice, to inspire. In conclusion, I will keep supporting eco-friendly initiatives even when the definition of ‘being eco’ is dramatically different. Why? More tourists will be interested in eco tours, more agencies will switch into eco-friendly tourism. This way standards will be improving little by little into more awareness about the environment protection.
All that being said, I would still recommend taking eco tours to make a step forward. Here, in Indonesia it’s a very small step, but every little matters when it comes to nature.
Indeed, Climbing Rinjani is the main attraction on the Lombok Island and probably one of the most desided adventures in Indonesia. However, it’s not only Rinjani volcano but also stunning South coast of Lombok with it’s amazing beaches and cliffs. If you still have not enough rest on the beach after Rinjani trekking, come to little Gili Islands near Lombok, to experience a bit of paradise on Earth.
The Bee is a nature lover and tea addict. Loves the idea of slow life and responsible traveling, constantly trying to improve to bee more eco-friendly. Appreciates old cultures and traditions, loves to immerse with locals, listen to ethnic music as well as taste regional food and drinks. Her favorite spots while traveling are family houses and street markets.
It looks so pristine and beautiful. Such a shame it has so much trash. This is why I hate places with mass tourism but hell, they are popular for a reason!
Exactly, no choice but to do something about that. I belive it’s going good way.
It’s a tough thing to see. I remember being in Bali a few months ago and seeing the exact same thing. It was really hard to enjoy when you knew you were contributing to the problem.
I think the biggest issue is that trash disposal is not as available there as it is in some other countries. We take our first-world systems for granted sometimes–there just isn’t the same infrastructure in Indonesia as there is in other parts of the world.
Hopefully, with time, theirs will get better, as well.
You are right, they do not have the same infrastructure, the same education about ecology and the same habits. I also hope with time it will change as the idea of “being eco” is waking up.
hello..!
i am Herman From Rinjani Lombok.
thanks for your good and complete informations about Our Mount Rinjani Trekking Activity. but i want to let you know about the new informations of Rinjani Trekking After Earthquake.
Trekking to Mount Rinjani lombok after earthquake on 2018 have a different Standar Oprational Procedure from Rinjani National Park, that is :
1 : hikers must use a Trek Organizer with guide and porter and not allowed to do hike without a guide because national park don’t want to take a risk during hike.
2: ticket booking via online starting from 2020 and can order only to an official Trek Operator.
3 : trekking durations allowed maximum 4 days 3 night and not allowe to make an additional day.
and one more information that i have to tell to all people who would like to climb Mount Rinjani. this is about a ne w route/trek afrer earthquike. many route/trek was broke such as landslide etc and make a new trek harder then before.
so..this is the best info about how to choose the best package options for beginner and expert hikers for trekking mount Rinjani.
1.trek to the peak 3726m. recommended trek package for expert hiker is 2 days 1 night via sembalun with stay a night at crater rim before start to the top and back to sembalun after back from the top.
trekking package reccomended for beginner hikers is do 3 days 2 night start via sembalun with add 1 more night after finish hike from the top and then back on the third day.
2 : trek to the peak,lake and hot springs.(complete trek)
trekking package recommended for expert hiker is 3 days 2 night via sembalun with stay a night at crater rim before start to the top and then continue go down to the lake&hotsprings and then continue go up to the second crater rim for stay in the second night and go down to senaru village.
trekking package reccomended for beginner hikers is do 4 days 3 night via sembalun with stay a night in crater rim before summit trek and then second night at the lake and then third night at second crater rim Senaru and the last day go down to senaru village.
‘don’t try 3 days 2 night summit&lake if you are a beginner because you will not able to make a complete the trek”
hopefully my informations will helpfull for everybody who would like to climb mt.Rinjani.
thank you.
cheers
Herman Trekker
This sounds like an amazing trek. There’s no way I could do 3 days though. It sounds grueling to do just 2 days. But I suppose the views are worth it right? So sad about the trash and the poop though. That’s unbelievable. Why would people do that? It’s for all of us to enjoy and leaving so much trash and feces tarnishes the experience. I hope something gets done about it.
It was worth it, indeed. Seeing the beauty of the volcano, so powerful as it created this huge lake! I hope I will come there another time and have power to do the 3 days trekking 馃檪
That looks like an amazing place to trek! And what a shame about the trash. People are going there because of the beauty, yet they don’t leave it as is. Such a shame! I’m glad you mentioned that as it’s a reminder for all of us.
It’s so sad to hear about the amount of trash that’s in the place. It’s really heartbreaking because you see such a beautiful sight in front of you and then you see how much people don’t care about maintaining it. We should all learn to be responsible travelers and take that trash with us when we leave.
Truth is that!
what an awesome place to trek! it is so unfortunate to hear about the trash. Such a shame and it is a good reminder for all of us
Thanks Nina, indeed, it was awesome place to trek, highly recommanded
It is such a shame that there is so much rubbish around the area, that really spoils the whole experience I bet! It still really looks lovely despite the letdown
It’s true, overall it was a beautiful place
Trekking is something I would really love to try for myself. I looks like there were amazing views to see where you went. Glad to hear that there was an agency that arranged treks tat are eco friendly.
You should try 馃槈
I would love to climb a volcano! That must have been an exhiliarating experience.
It was incredible! Such a power!
I admire your dedication on exploring Mount Rinjani, I know that I can’t do it 馃檪
Gorgeous photos as well!
Well, I was lazy too 馃槢 but curious at the same time 馃槢
I love a trekking holiday and this looks absolutely stunning. Seems like quite a big adventure though!
It’s true, it was a big adventure, but worth the effort for the breathtaking views on the crater lake
I totally agree with you! I always choose eco tours. I met some people who hikes mountains just to pick up all the trash left by other hikers. Travelers need to travel responsibly so we can preserve the beauty of the places.
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing this Karla.
Omg.. such breathtaking pictures! I can only dream to go there someday. Your experience is awesome!
Thank you so much Wendy
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very useful things, I love it.
… przera偶aj膮ce jest to co piszesz. Overtourism i jego skutki… W tej sytuacji rezygnuj臋 z powrotu na Lombok, 偶eby nie niszczy膰 wspomnie艅. Bo przed laty wspina艂am sie na Gunung Rinjani i nawet nie wiedzia艂am co tam zobacz臋, ale 偶e wcze艣niej p艂yn臋艂am ponad tydzie艅 na pok艂adzie statku “Rinjani” – a偶 do Irian Jaya (Na wyspie Nowa Gwinea ) via Moluki, Sulawasi i nie pami臋tam jakie jeszcze archipelagi – uzna艂am 偶e pasuje wej艣膰 na ten wulkan.
Sz艂am z Semeru, indywidualnie, bez 偶adnych kucharzy, przewodnik贸w, etc. I bez 偶adnych bilet贸w wst臋pu. Mia艂am szcz臋艣cie, bo mimo do艣膰 p贸藕nego popo艂udnia na obrze偶u krateru nie by艂o chmur co pozwoli艂o zobaczy膰 z jednej strony jezioro z nowo tworz膮cym si臋 sto偶kiem, ziele艅 lasu a po drugiej stronie w oddali Gunung Agung na Bali !! ( kt贸ry dzi臋ki temu widokowi sta艂 si臋 celem kolejnej wspinaczki ). W膮sk膮 strom膮 艣cie偶k膮 zesz艂am do 艣rodka krateru, nad jezioro, i tam zosta艂am na noc ( zawieszaj膮c hamak mi臋dzy drzewami. ) W nocy obudzi艂o mnie chrz膮kanie – okaza艂o si臋 偶e w kraterze s膮 ( a przynajmniej by艂y ) dziki, kt贸re zainteresowa艂y sie moimi butami. Na szcz臋艣cie plecak zawieszony na drzewie by艂 poza ich zasi臋giem. Przed 艣witem zrobi艂o si臋 bardzo zimno wi臋c zdecydowa艂am si臋 na wymarsz zw艂aszcza ze najpierw czeka艂o strome podej艣cie z krateru na “rim”. N.B. W kraterze by艂y te偶 gor膮ce 藕r贸d艂a – ciekawe czy wci膮偶 istniej膮.
Ciekawa jestem jak obecnie maj膮 si臋 inne wulkany Indonezji – np Kelimutu z jego 3 jeziorami ka偶de w innym kolorze, Ineriye – 艣wi臋ta g贸ra lokals贸w z Flores, Krakatau, sumatrza艅ski Merpati
Rinjani to jeden z najpopularniejszych w Indonezji i jestem pewna, 偶e te mniej turystyczne maj膮 si臋 lepiej pod wzgl臋dem zadeptania i 艣mieci. Moja obecna podr贸偶 przez Kalimantan mnie przera偶a doszcz臋tnie je艣li chodzi o dewastacj臋 艣rodowiska. Depresja.
Nice travel blog. This what I looking for with details information.
Hello hello.
Helpfull info and experienes.
By posting your trek experience in Rinjani, there will be more trekker come to try Rinjani. It means we will have big chance to get more trekking job.
I’m one of a Local trekking guide in Rinjani say many thanks to you.
Crater Rim Senaru is the best spot to see an incredible view of Mount Rinjani at altitude 2641 meter above sea level, and become the best options for beginner and families Hikers,but i think the experience still not completed if you are not visit Segara Anak Lake,Hot Spring water and the Peak 3726.
Let’s try in the next time 馃槉
Would love to try again! Thank you