Mount Rinjani is an impressive sight to behold.
Even as the plane descended into Lombok’s Praya airport, the active volcano seemed to tower over the island.
Until it was lost above the clouds, that is. Which seems to be fairly common. Rinjani is so high that it’s often hidden from eyes on the ground.
The best way to appreciate Indonesia’s second highest volcano, though, is to climb it. And the shortest way to do that is on a 2D1N Rinjani trek via Senaru village.
Trekking Rinjani was my first true experience of hiking in Indonesia and my first time hiking a volcano – and an active one at that!
Trekking the Rinjani volcano was very different to other Indonesia trekking experiences, such as jungle trekking in Sumatra, and it took me by surprise in many (good and not-so-good) ways!
Whether it’s your first volcano hike or not, here’s everything you need to know about booking the trek, preparing for it and what to expect throughout your Mount Rinjani trekking experience.
Trekking Rinjani: Keys Points
Short on time? Here’s a quick summary of the basic things to know about this hiking adventure in Indonesia.
I’ll cover all the important details throughout this post.
- Depending on which route you take, expect high altitudes of up to 3,726 metres (12,224 feet).
- The Senaru Crater Rim campsite is the lowest point you can hike to and sits at 2,641 metres (8,665 feet).
- There are LOTS of tour operators and not all of them follow the best ecotourism practices. I trekked with Jou Trekking and had a fantastic time with our team, who all seemed to care for the nature we were enjoying.
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Choosing your Rinjani trek
If you love hiking, climbing Mt. Rinjani is probably already on your Indonesia bucket list.
Even if you’re not an avid hiker, embarking on a 2-day or 3-day trek to Indonesia’s second-highest volcano – and one of the country’s most active volcanoes! – is one of the best things to do in Lombok.
Not only is it a fun experience that will take you to the island’s most beautiful spots, but you’ll enjoy impressive views over the surrounding islands even if you don’t climb the summit of Rinjani.
On a clear morning, like the one we had, you can even see Mount Agung on Bali!
On top of choosing the best tour operator for your experience, you’ll also want to consider which trekking route will be the best option for you, too.
Mount Rinjani itinerary options
No matter which Rinjani trek you take, you’ll be spending at least one night on Rinjani mountain.
There are currently no single-day trekking options available.
And, while it’s technically possible to hike Rinjani without a guide, I wouldn’t recommend it.
The terrain is tricky, it’s easy to get lost and the weather can be extremely humid, hot and/or rainy – but more on that later.
Most of the Rinjani tour operators offer the same packages. These are:
2D1N trek from Senaru
This is the only one of the Rinjani trekking options that won’t give you the chance to summit Rinjani.
However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it!
With a starting elevation of 600m and a highest point of 2,641 metres, you’ll climb 2,000 metres in one day- which is no easy feat.
This trek takes you to the Senaru crater rim campsite, where you spend the night overlooking the iconic crater lake.
And the pictures don’t do it justice because it really is one of the most scenic spots I’ve ever seen:
While taking this photo, I had one of those moments of complete awe and gratitude at what I was experiencing. For me, that’s what travel is all about.
The next morning, there’s the option to wake up early and climb the second summit.
Officially named Mount Sangkareang and standing at 3,200 metres – just 500m less than the main summit – this summit trek is still is a challenging climb. Especially in the dark.
But it’s much more manageable than the main Rinjani summit, which many people don’t make, and offers view over both Lake Segara Anak and the looming main summit next to it.
During our trek, we were the only ones who chose to embark on this early morning hike and therefore had the entire second summit to ourselves. According to our guide, that’s not uncommon!
Trekking from Sembalun
Senaru is the original starting point and used to be the only option for all Rinjani trekking itineraries.
However, it’s also possible to trek from Sembalun village, on the eastern side of Lombok island.
Starting in Sembalun – or transferring there with your trekking company, which is what Jou Trekking offers – gives you the option to summit Mt. Rinjani, even if you only have two days.
After staying at the base camp, you then trek down to Senaru or spend a second night in the same spot as the Rinjani crater rim trek above.
The other advantage of starting from this side of Gunung Rinjani National Park is that you can pass the hot springs.
Unlike the Senaru trek, you will also not need to go back on yourself and be trekking new terrain every day.
What to expect on the Rinjani trek
One of my biggest fears about trekking Rinjani was that it would be as trash-laden as some reports warned.
I chose to skip Rainbow Mountain during my Peru travels because I was concerned about over-tourism and its effect on the natural environment, and I almost skipped trekking Rinjani for the same reason.
However, I didn’t find it too bad.
There was some trash around the camp site, yes. But I also saw guides, porters and hikers making an effort to leave no trace.
Perhaps one good clean-up would help put things right for good, but it’s impossible to say. I can only share what I observed and, given that I visited Lombok in December, I haven’t seen it in the height of peak season.
No matter which trekking package you choose, you can expect more or less the same conditions on your tour in terms of the overall experience.
TRAVEL TIP: EXPLORING LOMBOK
The trek two starting villages, Senaru and Sembalun, are both beautiful spots with plenty to explore.
Even though you may travel to this part of Lombok to trek Rinjani, don’t head off straight away. Spend some time exploring the area because there’s lots to enjoy.
Sembalun is home to some amazing paragliding, the beautiful Pergasingan Hill and plenty more beautiful areas, while the sleepy village of Senaru is the gateway to some of the most impressive Lombok waterfalls.
The trekking experience
Since the shortest itinerary lasts two days, you’ll be spending at least one night camping when trekking Rinjani.
The campsites are basic but comfortable.
Just like most other multi-day hikes, all of the camping gear, cooking equipment and other essentials has to be carried by the porters.
And the porters on the Rinjani trek are impressive!
Not only do they carry around 20kg on their shoulders, but they balance it in two baskets hanging from a single pole.
I saw several porters running, baskets casually balanced on one shoulder, on the terrain that I was struggling to navigate with my backpack and hiking poles.
When we arrived at the campsite, we found a fairly spacious tent with a mattress, a cosy sleeping bag and an inflatable pillow each.
A toilet tent was set up not too far away, but was nothing more than a tent surrounding a hole in the ground.
Don’t forget to pack both toilet paper AND a bag to take it away in if you need it.
| RELATED READ: Lake Toba may be the most underrated spot in Indonesia.
Food on the trek
As for the food, you certainly won’t need to worry about going hungry.
On our 2D1N Senaru Crater Rim trek, we had lunch about halfway through the trek, just after POS II.
There are several rest points throughout the hike, with roughly an hour or so of trekking between them.
At each point, our guide offered us snacks. He seemed to have an unlimited supply of them!
Snacks included fruit, various cookies and everybody’s favourite Indonesian chocolate bar, Beng-Beng. And I’ve never been happier to get my hands on some sugar.
More about food in Indonesia
Meals were generally on the healthier side: rice, protein (chicken or tempeh), veggies and some prawn crackers, followed by a selection of fruits.
When we arrived at the campsite, we were also delivered some banana topped with cheese and chocolate along with a much-needed coffee.
Just like lunch, we were watched enviously by a group of macaques as we ate.
Even though the trek ends around lunchtime on the second day, a final lunch is also included.
Not only is it nice to know that you won’t finish hungry, but it’s a great way to say farewell and linger in the beautiful forest surrounding Senaru a little longer.
Is Rinjani difficult to climb?
Confession time: I didn’t really research what trekking Rinjani is like.
Having absolutely loved the 4-day Inca Trail trek and having found the infamous Dead Woman’s Pass less painful than I’d feared, I thought a 2-day trek would be manageable.
Well, if the un-founded fear of over-tourism didn’t put me off, perhaps knowing how difficult I might find it would be.
It’s not that Rinjani is a particularly strenuous trail, per se. But once you add in the slippery, stony terrain, several steep ascents and unpredictable weather, you need to be prepared for a challenge.
In all fairness, my jetlag and 15kg camera bag probably didn’t help either.
Tip: Give yourself to explore the rest of the island, including the Lombok waterfalls, or nearby islands like Bali if you’re travelling from a different time zone.
In short, the Rinjani trek from Senaru gets increasingly difficult as it you climb higher. But that isn’t helped by the greater chance of rain in the afternoon.
For the first couple of hours, you’ll be hiking through jungle. The terrain is muddy, but easy to grip, but a few climbs.
After lunch, the jungle starts to thin out until it eventually disappears. This was my favourite part of the hike and had some incredible views.
And then it quickly turned into the hardest part of all.
The final climb to the crater rim camp is pretty tricky. The rocky ground is incredible slippery and, if you get a downpour like we did, there’s absolutely no shelter.
This was the part when I felt like giving up (but thankfully couldn’t). We hiked this entire part in the rain, with clouds rapidly closing in, and unable to see more than a few metres ahead.
It was a case of putting my head down, one foot forward – trying not to slip – and just moving.
Other than that, though, it was all very manageable for anyone who is fit and healthy.
Packing for Mt. Rinjani
My biggest tip for trekking Rinjani is to pack the absolute minimum!
The trek isn’t an easy one, and you’ll feel every single gram you carry, so stick to a small backpack with nothing more than the essentials.
The most important things to remember are:
- Really good hiking shoes: You’ll want good ankle support and a shoe that is either quick-drying or waterproof. I wore these Tropicfeel shoes and, apart from getting a little dirty, they dried quickly offered great support without feeling too restrictive on the steep descents.
- Spare socks! I brought and extra pair and was so glad I did. There’s nothing worse than hiking in wet socks.
- Clean underwear and a clean top: There’s nowhere to shower or wash on this trek, so clean clothes are a must.
- Waterproof covers: For both you and your gear, even if you’re not visiting during Lombok’s rainy season. I brought a super lightweight rain jacket and a waterproof cover for my camera bag. When it rains in Lombok, it POURS!
- Warm but thin layers: I overestimated how cold it would be on the morning summit hike, but was glad I packed a beanie and a couple of thin layers. I probably could have gone with the North Face fleece, but it was light enough that it didn’t matter too much.
- A water bottle: Our Jou Trekking guide refilled our water bottles throughout the trek, but you’ll need to bring enough to last until at least lunchtime. It’s best to bring a leakproof, lightweight bottle like this one.
- A towel and shower gel: One of the best parts about trekking Rinjani with Jou Trekking was that the company has brand new showers that you can use when you finish. They’re powerful, have hot water and are the best treat, especially if, like me, you’re heading directly to the airport after. You can store your luggage there, so leave your shower kit and clean clothes somewhere that will be easy to grab when you get back.
Accommodation in Senaru
Since the Senaru Crater Rim trek has an early start – around 7h00 – you’ll need to arrive in Senaru village the day before.
However, if you can, I’d recommend arriving at least a couple of days before your trek.
Not only will it give you a chance to relax a little and start the trek feeling refreshed, but you’ll have time to enjoy the tranquillity of this side of Lombok. It’s pretty special.
We stayed at Rinjani Lighthouse and it was a beautiful little place. The rooms felt more like safari lodges and it was just a short 10-minute walk to the famous Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfalls hike.
TRAVEL BEYOND LOMBOK: Menjaga Bay, a Maldives-esque resort on the edge of Komodo National Park.