Mount Rinjani Trek

A day full of expectation and excitement to start the first leg of the trek. Plan and be ahead of pick up time at the pick up location (Epicentrum Mall). You will be meeting the entire team and starting the first leg of the journey - starting point at the base of Mount Rinjani.

After a short drive to the accommodation location in Sembalun village, you will start preparing for the long trek the next day.

All the necessary information related to trek shall be briefed and all necessary authority permissions shall be obtained. There is a mandatory medical check of the trekkers which is usually completed today or done early morning the next day based on officials availability.

Utilize the free time to get to know the team members. Sleep early and get enough rest before the trail starts tomorrow.

The day starts early by 7 am with a gentle trail starting from Sembalun, with views of Mt. Rinjani right in front of you. 

The dirt trail is wide, to begin with. You will find motorbikes navigating the trails and a few parking spots for these bikes along the trail. 

You descend initially, followed by an ascent through the forest section. 

Approximately an hour into the trek, you arrive at a bridge where you can take a small break. The river bed is usually brimming over with water during the rainy season. 

The trail meanders through expansive grasslands for the next hour and 20 minutes. As you walk towards the next point, you will notice clouds slowly enveloping the entire valley.

The dirt trail continues until POS 2, also the last point where motorbikes can venture. The area tends to be crowded and bustling with activity. Many people gather here, with porters whipping up hearty meals for weary and hungry trekkers.

While making your way towards POS 3, you will come across a section of the canyon that was washed away during an earthquake in 2018. The earthquake has altered the trail, leaving behind a visible mudslide carving the path. 

The area is a treasure of geological history. Keep an eye out on the trail for evidence of Mt. Rinjani's first historic eruption. 

Soon, you start leaving the tree line behind and walk towards the grasslands. The trail gradually ascends for the first 30 minutes. The next section gets much steeper as you continue on your way.

You will truly appreciate your trekking poles from POS 3! The trail ahead ascends steeply. In one section, you will even find yourself climbing a ladder. The trek is still breathtakingly beautiful, despite the arduous climb and winds its way through dense clusters of trees.

You will reach Sembalun campsite between 3-4 pm. On a clear day, trekkers are blessed with views of the mountains glowing softly at sunset.

Get plenty of rest. We recommend turning it in early tonight. You must target at least 6 hours of sleep before your summit climb the next day. 

Today is the big climb to the summit. Your day starts before the sun rises. Trekkers should ideally wake up around 1:30 am and start the trek by 3 am. 

The trek from the Crater rim campsite to the summit and back to Lake Segara Anak campsite takes 13 to 14 hours to complete. The ascent to the summit is around 4-5 hours, while the descent takes approximately 2 hours back towards crater rim campsite. From there on, trek is a very steep descent towards Lake Segara Anak campsite.

The trek commences with a challenging uphill climb through dark, ashy-lava soil. To make the ascent a little easier, use your trekking poles for support and lean forward with your body weight. Take small and careful steps. Keep going until you reach the ridge section.

Once on the ridge, the trail takes a steep ascent again. You will meet other groups of trekkers, also on their way to the summit. The climb is tough, but the wonderful camaraderie and shared experience keep everyone going!

Dawn begins to break as you make your way towards the summit of Mt. Rinjani. The first rays of daylight gradually peek through. Remember that there is even more beauty and tranquillity waiting for you at the top of the mountain. 

The summit has limited space, accommodating 25-30 trekkers at a time for approximately half an hour. Yet, the views from the summit for those 30 minutes will remain etched in your memory.  

Before you is the vast blue expanse of Segara Anak, the enchanting crater lake. Towering mountains stand on the opposite side and form a majestic backdrop. On a clear day, you can see the island of Bali from the summit. 

For the descent, retrace your steps towards the ridge and make your way down. Remember to tread carefully since the path is all volcanic ash. Please don’t be fooled by the photo. The path is extremely slippery. You need good knee stability to navigate safely.

Upon reaching the campsite, wind up and prepare for your descent to the Lake Camp. 

Start moving towards the trail that led you to the summit. After a few minutes, you will notice a path veering downward to the left. The trail is a steep descent through rocky sections, some of which have fixed ropes for support. Take extra care as you make your way down.

The landscape will gradually transition into the grassland area. Follow the gentle trails until you arrive at two bridges. Once you cross the final river bed filled with rocks, the Lake Segara Anak campsite isn’t too far. It takes around 3 hours to reach the campsite from here.

Enjoy lunch and get some well-deserved rest at the campsite. Once you're feeling rejuvenated, take some time to explore the lake surroundings. Walk to a nearby hot spring and soak yourself in it. It relaxes all your muscle cramps and makes you feel refreshed. Explore a lovely waterfall section nearby. You will notice that only a few plant species grow in the lake’s vicinity. If you’re lucky, you might spot some fish in the lake.

There is plenty of fascinating natural phenomena to observe around the campsite. Keep an eye out for areas where the ground's sulfur mixes with the lake.

Take the evening to unwind and enjoy this lakeside serenity.

The trek today is approximately 5-6 hours as you make your way down towards final campsite before Torean village. This particular route is shorter and more picturesque compared to the Senaru route. Senaru takes roughly an hour or more to descend.

Your adventure begins with a descent towards a river. Keep walking further down the valley. The trail also involves climbing down several step ladders before entering the vast grasslands. 

If you’ve ever wondered what entering a lost world is like, this trail comes pretty close! Majestic cliffs and breathtaking overhangs surround you. Take a moment to soak in the sweeping views of the valley. 

The trail only gets better. You encounter waterfalls gently cascading down the mountainside. The landscape is a picture of serenity, with sparkling waters set against a lush green backdrop. 

After an hour of trekking, you arrive at an exposed section. Using fixed ropes becomes necessary here. Although this section appears relatively small, it demands your complete focus to descend safely. Take one step at a time and be confident with your footing.  

After a gradual descent, you will arrive at the final campsite of the trek. Compared to the previous 2 days, the trek on this day is short and relaxing helping you to soak in the nature around and reminisce the summit experience once more with all the team members.

On this final day of your trek, you leave the grasslands behind, prepare to be awestruck by Indonesia's legendary rainforests. You walk past majestic trees, dense foliage, and vibrant flora. The only sounds-you hear are birdsong and the rustling of leaves. Throughout, the hush of the rainforest keeps you company:

The trail then takes you to sections where fallen logs pave the way. Continue descending to reach the endpoint of the trek. As you walk, take a moment to reminisce and cherish the memories of the past few days:

After lunch at Torean village, you will drive down to main road in a camper van owing to the small, hilly reads. From the main road you will board regular bus which shall take you back to pickup point in Mataram or mid way drop you at Gilli harbor.

You also pass through Senggigi, which used to be the main tourist strip of the Indonesian island of Lombok, stretched out along several kilometers of the beachfront just to the north of the capital, Mataram.

If you plan to explore further, you can continue with your adventures at Lombok or move to nearby Gili islands or Bali.