Reading “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer piqued my curiosity about mountain climbing. A few years later, though it is in no way comparable to climbing Everest in Krakauer’s book, I finally went on my first-ever mountain climb!
We trekked to the Crater Rim of Mount Rinjani in Lombok, Indonesia as part of a 2D1N trip. Below you will find a detailed log of my trip – what to expect, how the trek was, and what you need to pack and prepare for the trip.
Getting to Mount Rinjani
Mount Rinjani is an active volcano located on a small island in Indonesia called Lombok. The easiest way to reach the mountain is to fly directly to Lombok International Airport (Airport Code: LOP) and then taking a long drive to the foot of Mount Rinjani. This drive takes about 2.5 – 3 hours, going through Mataram and circling half the island before finally getting to Rinjani. It features long windy roads on cliffs with tons of wild monkeys on the side of the road.
If you can’t fly directly to Lombok, the best way is to transit through Jakarta or fly into Bali and take a boat or short flight out to Lombok. However, this would take more travel time and you might have to stay extra overnight in Bali or Jakarta.
When is the best time to trek Mount Rinjani?
Mount Rinjani Hiking trails are closed from 1 January to 31 March every year due to monsoon season, which tends to bring heavy rain and renders the trails dangerous. I did my trek at the end of April when the weather was great! There was no rain and the sun was not too hot either.
Can I climb Mount Rinjani without a guide?
Officially, no. You aren’t supposed to climb Mount Rinjani without a certified guide. I know some people would attempt to circumvent this, but I personally don’t recommend it. It’s one of the few ways locals are making a living, especially after a difficult few years they’ve been facing – in 2018, Lombok was hit by a large earthquake which damaged the area greatly and dwindled tourism down to a fraction of what it used to be. Then, obviously in 2020 the pandemic hit them hard too.
Deciding on the Trek Route: Should I start from Senaru or Sembalun?
How do you choose between Senaru and Sembalun? This was the first question I had in mind while planning the trip, and I couldn’t seem to find any good answer for.
It’s actually very simple – if you only have three days to spare, you can only go for a 2D1N trip and you have to choose between Sembalun and Senaru since they are located on different sides of the mountain. So here are the pro and cons:
- If you want to summit in the 2D1N trip, then you should be going via Sembalun, which features an easier climb (mostly flat) through the grasslands to the base of the summit. The downside is that you would be walking under the sun the entire time. Your trek would cover Sembalun > Summit > back down to Sembalun.
- If you are absolutely sure you WILL NOT attempt to summit in 2D1N, you should go through Senaru, and your trek would then cover Senaru > Crater Rim > back down to Senaru. The hike will take you through a steeper, non-stop climb through the rainforest, and a fairly difficult rocky climb in the last leg. But it’s a more beautiful and shaded route than Sembalun. You cannot reach the summit in two days if you go through Senaru though.
However, if you have time to do a 3D2N trip – and this is what most people choose, then you don’t have to worry about choosing as you would be hitting both sides anyway. The popular route is to go from Sembalun > Summit > Crater Rim > Senaru. However, if you have the option to choose and are still wondering whether to start from Sembalun or Senaru for the 3D2N trip, it comes down to when you want to summit. If you want to summit earlier in the trip, then choose Sembalun. If not, then choose Senaru.
Where to stay in Senaru
Before the trek, we stayed in Senaru village at a lodge called Pondok Senaru. It was included in the tour package with the trekking company we booked with. This lodge is very convenient as it’s located right next to the entrance to the waterfalls (which I will write about below), but the rooms are VERY basic and there was no A/C, though we did not need it since the weather was quite mild in the mountains.
Review of our Mount Rinjani Trek Guide
We booked our trip with Hallo Trekker and I have nothing but praises for them. They arranged everything for us from airport transport to accommodation, meals, and porters.
Our guide’s name is Mr. Sap aka Kecap, nicknamed for his love of the Indonesian sweet soy condiment. We were also joined by Hans from Hallo Trekker as he wanted to take pictures of the climb. Both Kecap and Hans were amazing on the trip. Kecap is extremely experienced and helped one of my teammates who needed more assistance to climb and descend. He even carried her backpack which was a huge help for us. Hans helped to guide us on the way down and sorted out logistics of our trip. I loved how they cared about the mountain too, making sure we didn’t leave any trash behind.
On our last day, they ensured we descended punctually as we had a 7:30 pm flight back to Singapore on the same day, and the journey from Senaru to the airport takes 3 hours. We were pressed for time on the descent so they picked us up by scooter on the last 500m and had the car ready to take us to the airport. Thanks to their excellent planning, we got to the airport with ample time for our flight.
How much does it cost to climb Mount Rinjani with Hallo Trekker?
A lot of people asked me how much the climb costs, so here is the breakdown of costs per person in Singapore Dollars. Keep in mind that back then, Hallo Trekker had just started and they may have adjusted their prices since then.
- SGD $250 (US$180) – 2D1N Tour Package including night-before hotel stay.
- SGD $30 (US$22) – Tips for the guide and porters. If you are going for a longer trip you may want to give more.
- SGD $16 – Travel Insurance, which you need to buy yourselves.
Where can I book Mount Rinjani Trek online?
If you want to know where else you can book a Mount Rinjani guide online directly, you can book through Klook:
What is Klook? Klook is the leading travel and experiences booking website in Asia. And yes, they are legit! I personally always book my activities through them whenever I am traveling. See my review of Klook here.
How Difficult is Climbing Mount Rinjani?
Mount Rinjani, the second-highest volcano in Indonesia, is notoriously challenging to climb. The one concern I had in mind was whether I was fit enough to climb Mount Rinjani. Having done the trek myself, I think the crater rim trek is still doable for a person with an average fitness level.
Here is a background on my own fitness level – I would never say I am a super fit person but I’m not totally sedentary either. I’m usually able to complete a 5 to 10K run and I had been doing the Barre Method (which consists of cardio and strength training) twice a week for about six months prior to the climb. I think this gave me just enough strength to complete the trip with no assistance from others aside from directional guidance from Kecap.
It was not by any means an easy climb but most of the struggle for me was actually a mental struggle. I had never done a long climb before and I didn’t know what to expect. Think about it this way – a half marathon is definitely taxing, but it still ends in three hours or less. Climbing Mount Rinjani takes 2-3 times as long and you get progressively exhausted with each stop. Thankfully Kecap and my teammates were very encouraging and this was what kept me going all the way to the top.
Keep in mind that you also have to bring your own bag which usually means an extra 5-10kg of weight depending on how good of a packer you are. And this can feel very very heavy when you are tired!
Which brings me to my next point.
What should I bring to the Rinjani trek? The Rinjani Packing List
Some points to note: This trip happened at the end of April when the weather was great (no rain) and I was able to pack very lightly. Also, it was a 2D1N trip and we did not summit. If you plan to summit or plan on going on a longer trip then you need to adjust accordingly by bringing more layers, a thicker jacket, etc.
The Essential, Must-have Gears
- A good backpack is a must, so you don’t hurt your back. I used a 35L North Face backpack with a lumbar pad and support. With all the items listed below the bag weighed around 6kg. Add two 1.5L water bottles and it ended up being about 7-8kg.
- Hiking Shoes – I used my 3-year-old running shoes, which is a Nike Lunarglide, and I could have done with more tread. It got slippery in some parts of the trail and I actually fell flat on my butt TWICE. Since this trek, I’ve gotten myself a pair of trusty hiking boots Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II, which I used for my New Zealand trip and I highly recommend!
- Walking Pole / Stick – This is important, do NOT underestimate the power of a walking stick. I’ve never thought about using it before but now I know I would not have lasted without the walking stick. It only costs $20 on average and really comes in handy for balance and support. You could also check if your guide is able to supply you with a pair.
- Socks – Well-fitting socks are so essential. I wore a thicker pair of socks from Adidas that did not slip around inside my shoes, so it does not cause blisters later on. Make sure yours fits well too!
- Clothes for the climb – It’s going to be hot and humid so I recommend wearing something thin. I wore a loose tank top, a light sports bra, and leggings. Any additional layers got too hot during the climb.
- Clothes for night/sleeping time – I packed a fleece pajama similar to this and a basic cotton shirt to sleep in.
- A very light, water-resistant jacket to fend off the cold mist once you’ve reached higher altitude. You have to remember that Rinjani is located in Indonesia, which a tropical country not far below the equator and this means it will be humid and hot. I recommend not to bring a thick jacket. You can just bring a thinner jacket and layer as needed. I used Uniqlo Light Pocketable Parka and found them sufficient for the climb.
Additional Clothing
- An extra jacket for nighttime. My roommate Jessica kindly lent me her Denali North Face Jacket, which is an excellent fleece jacket. It might actually be too warm for the Crater Rim though. I get cold easily but I was able to sleep with just this jacket and a thin cotton t-shirt underneath.
- A spare set of clothes for the next day. For me, this just meant another set of cotton shirt, leggings, and sports bra.
- Small towel to use throughout the climb because you will sweat.
- Extra socks in case your previous day’s socks got wet.
- Fresh underwear, because of course, you need them.
- Flip flops to change into once you are at the campsite if you can’t be bothered to lace up your shoes each time you get out of your tent. This also came in handy for our Lombok waterfall side quest! I just brought along my go-to pair of slim Havaianas.
Toiletries
- Sun Block with SPF50. You will be high up on the mountain where the sun will be extra strong, so you need to protect your skin especially your face. My favorite face sunblock is this water-based sun lotion by Innisfree.
- Insect Repellent. I didn’t have problems with insects, but this is always good just in case.
- Hand Sanitizer Wipe. There will be no running water once you get up there so being diligent about hygiene is important.
- Biodegradable Wet tissue for wiping hands and cleaning your body. There are no shower facilities either so this is your only way of cleaning yourself!
- Biodegradable toilet paper aka Camper’s Toilet Paper for your toilet business. Our tour did provide toilet paper but it was not biodegradable.
- Medicine like Aspirin and Activated Charcoal in case of food poisoning – also good to have when traveling around South East Asia in general.
- Plaster / Band Aids for any small wounds or to protect your toes from blistering.
Other Stuff
- High calorie and high protein snacks like chocolate, nuts, and cookies. During the trek, you will be served Indonesian food which I love (I’m Indonesian btw) but consist mostly of fried carbs.
- A powerbank in case your phone runs out of battery. I brought my trusty 10,000 mAh Mi powerbank, which I highly recommend. I even use it for regular non-travel use.
- A plastic trash bag to store your trash in. The trash situation in Mount Rinjani is bad. Don’t contribute to it.
- A 1 – 1.5L Water bottle – it is hot and humid in this part of the world, so yes you will sweat and you will need to hydrate.
- Torch for night time, or any source of light for your tent. I just used my iPhone Torch and found it sufficient.
More Trekking Tips & Tricks!
- Before the hike, put a plaster/band-aid on your big toes and small/pinky toes since these are the parts that are prone to blisters. By putting a plaster over it, you’re protecting it from developing blisters later on. You’ll thank me later.
- Bring sufficient high-calorie snacks. I cannot stress this more. You will get more hungry than usual. And eat a good breakfast before each trek.
- Last but not least, pack SUPER lightly! A 7kg bag may not seem very heavy to you now, but they would be when you are six hours into the climb, on all fours scaling slippery rocks. Don’t bring ANYTHING extra.
Mount Rinjani Trek Detailed Guide and Time Milestones
Start: Senaru (600m elevation)
End: Crater Rim (2600m elevation)
Day 0 – Lombok Waterfalls in Senaru
If you arrive in Lombok with at least 2-3 hours to spare before sunset, you might want to visit the waterfalls. We stayed overnight at Pondok Senaru which is a very basic room accommodation with no A/C, but it’s right next door to the waterfall entrance!
This is quite an easy walk with paved paths. There are two waterfalls to visit, Air Terjun Sindang Gila (Slightly Crazy Waterfalls) and Air Terjun Tiu Kelep (Tiu Kelep Waterfalls). Many seem to prefer the first one, which is quite close to the entrance of the park, but I think the second and further one is way more beautiful.
Be sure to wear flip flops since you will be crossing some streams on foot. The streams are quite shallow – at the deepest it reached just below my knees. The current isn’t very strong but you still need to be careful not to lose your flip flops while crossing! It happened to us a few times.
On the way back, the boys opted to walk into a dark tunnel between the two waterfalls. Kyle and I noped out of this and chose to do the normal walk instead, but it seems pretty exciting from what they told me.
Day 1 – The Rinjani climb (9.5 hours)
| 08:00am | Start Trek from Senaru |
| 08:30am | Arrive at Entrance of Mount Rinjani National Park |
| 09:11am | Arrive at Pos 1 |
| 11:34am | Arrive at Pos 2 & Lunch |
| 02:55pm | Arrive at Pos 3 |
| 05:30pm | Arrive at Crater Rim camp site |
We (or I) took our sweet time to go up since I was super excited and was taking tons of pictures.
The walk was nice and easy from Senaru through the park entrance and all the way to Pos Extra. We were lucky to spot a few black monkeys high up in the trees, though only for a split second so I had no time to take pictures of them. Between Pos Extra and Pos 2 though, it started getting very steep. I also got super hungry (my stomach were rumbling) and regretted not eating enough for breakfast. Be sure to load up for breakfast!
We stopped for lunch at Pos 2. This is also the point where we started noticing mist / cloud looming above us. It was getting pretty cold after resting for over an hour, and we all put on our light jackets before resuming our climb, but that was a mistake as our bodies quickly warmed up again while going up. We all took off our jackets within 15 minutes.
Not long before Pos 3, the mist were getting thicker and thicker. We noticed the trees surrounding us are getting shorter, which typically signals the end of the forest is to come shortly. Sure enough, we soon found ourselves walking in the open air among bushes and tall grass.
Kecap warned us that the climb would get even steeper and rockier after Pos 3. Already pretty tired by then, this was not something I wanted to hear. It was hard to imagine anything harder than the climb we just did. We stayed at Pos 3 for about 20 minutes and was visited by a hungry grey monkey, whom we shared our snacks with, before finally getting off our butts and making the strenuous climb up to Camp Site.
And.. it turns out Kecap wasn’t kidding when he said climb would not be easy. The first half of this leg was muddy, wet, and surrounded by tall grass and shrubberies that are about waist to shoulder high. We got to another Pos Extra and had to take shelter there for a few minutes since it started raining.
As soon as the rain stopped, we continued our way to the second half of the climb, which is a steep and intimidating path made of rocks, which I will from now on refer to as the “Rock Wall”.
It got so steep that I ditched the walking stick and started climbing the rocks on all fours. Not going to lie, this was the hardest part of the climb for me. I definitely had thoughts about quitting but I also realized that we are so far up the mountain that I had no exit plan except to keep on pushing through. So push through I did.
Finally, after what seemed like a never ending rocks after rocks, we reached a flat area and the camp sites started peeking through the mountains. We’ve finally arrived at Crater Rim!
We found our tents already set up, complete with a makeshift toilet! The porters had also prepared a warm snack of banana fritters for us.
It was quite foggy so we couldn’t see much of the lake but we expected this, seeing how thick the fog was during the climb. After cleaning myself with wet tissues (there are no shower facilities here) and changing into Pajamas, dinner was served and we went to bed soon after.
Day 2 – The descent (6.5 hours)
| 07:45am | Start Descending from the campsite |
| 09:06am | Arrive at Pos 3 |
| 10:45am | Arrive at Pos 2 |
| 11:53am | Arrive at Pos Extra & Lunch |
| 01:18pm | Arrive at Pos 1 |
| 01:47pm | Arrive at Entrance of Mount Rinjani National Park |
| 02:15pm | Arrive back at Senaru |
We woke up bright and early at 6:00AM, in time for the sunrise at 6:15AM. The valley was still foggy though, so we didn’t get as clear of a view of the lakes as I would have wanted, but it was still beautiful.
We were served breakfast with hot tea and quickly packed up to begin our descent since we had a 7:30pm flight to catch. Thankfully, the weather gods were on our side – it was much much nicer than the climb yesterday!
It might be a little unintuitive but the descent for me was actually a lot harder than climbing up. We basically just followed the exact same route back. Though it took us three hours less than the way up, I was completely drained by the end of the trip and my knees, calves and thigh were so sore.
Descending the rocky path down was not easy and could be dangerous. We saw a group of four porters rushing past us and going up while carrying nothing, which was unusual since porters usually carry a lot of stuff with them. That’s when we learned through Kecap that someone behind us had slipped and broken their legs on the rocky path. The porters were going up to rescue him/her!
Due to morning dew, the ground inside the forest was soft and wet. Not only do you need to think about each of your next steps but also execute quickly and confidently to prevent slipping. I definitely landed on my butt several times while descending but thankfully we were already inside the jungle where the ground is soft and nothing was sharp, so I wasn’t hurt aside of my bruised ego 😛
The Amazing Mount Rinjani Porters
During the trek, we were constantly skipped by porters carrying heavy weights on their shoulder. Moreover, these porters were wearing simple blue and white flip-flops that are commonly found throughout Indonesia. Hans informed me that these porters usually carry 40kg of weight, 30kg if they are an apprentice porter.
For the apprentice porters in training, their shoulder would bleed before they develop hard skin to sustain the weight. The more experienced porters can even run down the mountain with ease in their flip flops! Just amazing. And there I was struggling in my cushy Nike shoes and 7kg backpack…
Dogs in Mount Rinjani
Around Lombok, I kept seeing tons of stray dogs living alongside villagers. The dogs seem to also branch out all the way to the mountain. We were joined by a few dogs hiking with us, and we saw a few strays at our lunch spots begging for scraps. I gave in and fed them food of course… I can’t say no to those cute eyes!
We even saw a dog at the crater rim (the one pictured in the top two pictures above) and she definitely hiked with way more ease than me…
My thoughts after the trip
I have to admit, climbing Mount Rinjani was a very difficult trek for me. I was completely drained by the end of the trip. On a scale of 0 to 100% energy level, I was probably down to 5% during the last hour of descent. We were all super sore the next day and can barely walk. I think this is the sorest I have ever been in my entire life!
However, definitely no regrets. The feeling of finally reaching our campsite after a long climb was unbelievable. Not to mention the lifetime memories made with my Team Rinjani friends: Kyle, Shekhar, Abhilash, and Seba.
I would love to come back here someday and attempt summit once I am more fit.
Alright, let’s wrap up this blog with an amazing video made by my friend and teammate Kyle Francia from our trek, filmed using our iPhones. I still watch this video every few months and it makes me very happy and nostalgic.
… and precious illustration my manager Rohan drew for us while we were out of office climbing.
If you are considering climbing Mount Rinjani – I really hope this post helped you. Feel free to reach out and ask me questions in the comments section below!
Still have time (and energy) after conquering Mount Rinjani?
If you are in Lombok for an extended period of time, I recommend checking out the Gilis as well for some island getaway! It’s only a short ferry ride away from Lombok. You can read all about Gili Trawangan here – how to get there and what you can do.
Or, if you’re still hungry for another active volcano, you can head over to Bali and trek Mount Batur. It’s a much easier climb than Rinjani! You can read my experience of trekking Mount Batur here.
Are you planning a trip to Indonesia? You can find more travel inspirations at my Indonesia category. For more travel tips and adventures, be sure to check out the rest of GirlEatWorld!
Hello Your story is very impressive for climbers thank you so much for visiting mount Rinjani
Hey, thanks for writing such an informative post! I’m considering hiking Mt Ringani but just read another post putting me off. But you’ve made me believe it’s possible!
Sounds like it’s all worth it for the sense of achievement.
very good writing ,this is very helpful to hikes, hove many traveler visit mount rinjani
Thank you very much for share the great information about Mount rinjani Volcano. It’s true Detail Information and very helpful for all Trekker who love to Doing. Thank you very much.
Wow…!!!! That An Amazing Storry and memorable Experience you Went Do it.thank For Share.
Hello Melissa! Thankyou for your sharing your incredible experience on Mount Rinjani! it helped me went through the decision making! It was really a hard hike! I ended up trekking with Rinjani Foundation if you happens to know them, they gave me the link of this page as I asked them about where I should read the detailed requirement to do the hike, I ended up loving your content!
hey Cindy, thanks for the kind words 🙂 did you do the summit or the crater rim? I am wondering if the summit is open yet.
Will be gg Lombok next month.
Did a climb at mt kk 3 yrs back.
Really interested in this but I haven’t been doing this for 3 yrs..
3d2n seems just right for a return climber who’s out for a 40 plus solo traveller?
Anyway
Pls intro who to ctc
Hi Anthony, I described in detail in the post above what you can expect from the hike. I’ve also left a contact of my Rinjani guide.
I liked how you describe the climb in details. Thanks for sharing your gearlist.
Best article about trekking Rinjani mountain in Lombok island and amazing pictures, thank you for sharing and have good journey
Melissa, hi,
is the trail always visible? In other words, is it always clear where to go, or in some places the trail is hidden under grass/bushes?
I am an experienced hiker, and I want to do it alone, without a guide, will I be able to find trail?
Thanks!
hi, I did the old track which is no longer open since the big earthquake, so I can’t speak for the new Air Berik track. For the old track, it was a mix of very obvious tracks to bushes but if you are an experienced hiker, you probably can do it yourself. You still need to pay the national park fee entrance though.
Hi
I’m a fairly experienced backpacker, I live at 7,000 ft elevation and I am just trying to get a solid gauge of how challenging this trek actually is. I know everyone has different fitness levels, and not many people are used to trekking with heavy packs but it sounds like it might not actually be that bad especially considering that a lot of the supplies are carried for you by others? Do you know if they set up groups based on fitness ability or anything like this?
Hey Katelyna, sounds like you will be ok. Elevation shouldnt be an issue, it just involves some really steep parts just before reaching the rim. But if you are confident of your fitness level then you should be fine. I don’t think they set up groups based on fitness but maybe you can request a private group if you don’t want to be joined by others.
Hi Melissa
A very nice post, I hope your post can inspire many people so that Mount Rinjani is getting more visitors in future.
All of team from Dhyns Rinjani Hiking say thanks you so much
Hi Melissa,
So lovely to see your post and get more tips and and tricks for trekking. You give us a lot of detailed stuff to prepare while trekking. In my opinion, the essential stuffs you posted such as shoe, jacket, sock, clothes and etc., I would like to add more necessary item like watch in the needed items too. These survival watch is high quality and helpful performance of all outdoor activities. Anyway, thank you for your awesome suggestion and shared great experience.
Really nice experience sharing.
Will heading to Rinjani in this April. Finger cross the track will re-open again.
Hey Yusni, definitely the Air Berik village will be open in by April! Good luck.
Hi,Not only Aik berik route open on this year,but trekking activities from senaru will be open
but it will only reach to crater rim, correct? the summit is still closed?
Real nice pics of Mount Rinjani and your experiences! I love hiking!
Really nice blog to help someone Will come hike to my Rinjani.
Nice to read, so useful .
Thanks,
Parman.
Hello!
Nice detailed article on Rinjani with pictures! Pity that you did not summit. You should try it one day.
I did a similar post on Rinjani too, so just in case you wish to know what the summit day is like, you can read it on : http://www.yonderingsoles.com/2015/06/01/gunung-rinjani/
Hey Gan, thanks for the link! I wish to make it up to the summit one day. Hopefully the trails will be reopened soon!
Hi Emma, I been read your Article is very Absolutely Amazing Experience you Had. congrats” Some day I will be at The Summit Mount Rinjani too.
Great post! I enjoyed the video as well! I recently climbed Mt Rinjani and totally agree that its a difficult trek. I just wrote a post about my experience climbing Rinjani but I like to read other peoples blogs as it confirms I wasn’t the only one who was struggling haha!
Hey Emma, I’ve just read your post! wow congrats on making it to the summit!!! Definitely not an easy feat
Excellent writing!
Thanks Manno
Hi Mellissa, Congratulations for writing a very good detailed blog on your first trekking experience. It was fun reading it. Your description about the itineraries, stuff to carry, and things to take care, added by your personal experience along with trek photographs, made it a vivid blog post with all the possible things one could think while planning for their first trek to Rinjani. I am from India and have never been to Indonesia. Nevertheless, I like trekking. Therefore, I will come back and read your blog again whenever I plan to go to Bali or any other nearby place. Keep writing 🙂 🙂
Thanks Jyoti! I hope you made it to Rinjani!
Thanks for the info. The video is breathtaking. I have plan to hike in June for a 4d/3n. Thanks for the info on what to bring along.
Was great information for other trekker they can improve condition and budget for trip to mount rinjani
I climbed rinjani in May 2017 (2 days 1 night to the summit) and this guide helped so much! Best advice I have is to wear comfortable but lightweight shoes and if you are doing the summit climb, wear layers! I got super hot while climbing and took off like 3 jackets but then it was freezing at the top. Such an amazing experience, my friend and I even got little tattoos of rinjani afterwards because it was so special.
I am glad you found this guide helpful Margo! and congrats on sumitting!
Dear friend
Thank you very much for sharing the great information,. This article is very helpful.
What an amazing blog, thank you. I’m looking to do this thus year.
Thank you 😀 Good luck!
Hey Melissa,
What an awesome article! I am going from Vancouver in Feb. 2018 to meet my buddy in Singapore, then spend 5-6 days on Lombok.
Just considering whether to do the same trek you did while there.
Were there people trekking on their own or is everyone on a guided trip?
Thank you for sharing this experience.
dan
Hey Dan, it seems that most people had a guide and a porter for at least the tents. I didn’t see anyone carrying their own tent. I think it’s possible to climb without a guide, but I discourage it unless you are a very experienced climber.
This is on my to do list! By the way, Semeru is another fantastic volcano to climb – although very challenging as well!
Howdy.. Melissa. What a great experience you have! So inspiring.. Do you probably have recommendation of any type of food in Lombok? Thanks
Hey Anies! I actually did not have time to eat much in Lombok. Food was provided in trek and we were basically just in and out of the mountain, so unfortunately I don’t have much to recommend in this area.
Halo…!
Your post is helpfully and interesting for visitor who like to climb to mount rinjani.
Thank you..
My island,my rinjani.
Hi…!
My name is Mr Bun,i am guide in mount rinjani since 2009.
But now i am try to make my own company in senaru village lombok,i am born and live here(local rinjani people)
Do you have any plan to climb mount Rinjani? or travel to lombok islanda., or want to get some information about information or climbing information about tourist attractions in lombok island? Leave it to the experts. . !
We are ready to serve and guide you for do climbing in Mount Rinjani with reasonable price and with satisfactory service.
It is now a lot of companies to climb to Mount Rinjani, but we will try to give the best for my customer,because your satisfactions is my priority.
Hi Melissa
I came across your blog by chance.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am in my 50s and lead a rather sedentary lifestyle. Before reading your blog I was all gung ho to go early thinking it’s a walk in a park. Now i need to reassess and most likely need to put in some training before i attempt the hike. Thanks again.
Hey Audrey, I am glad the post helped. I hope you do decide to climb Rinjani though once you are ready! It is very beautiful and challenging.
Oh wow!! very very informative!! very Inspiring!! thanks for info. sharing Mel!! U did Awesome!! My girl’s name also Melissa. hiihii…. Im going to Climb the Rinjani Next month (AUG’17) for the first time.
Hope everything goes well for me.
May I know which insurance company that you have bought from? Does it cover hiking > 3000m? Thank you.
hey jia xin, i had an annual travel insurance from allianz at the time.
i want to trekking in mount rinjani, thanks u
Hi Melissa…!
Hope you are well….
I just want to share someting to everybody about RINJANI TREKKING INSURANCE.
Starting from 1 April 2017, Mount Rinjani National Park provides accident insurance for everyone who climbs to Mount Rinjani, by paying Rp. 10. 000 / person, and applies only during the stay in Rinjani Mountain.
This is just info from me, may be useful for all friends who want to climb to Mount Rinjani.
Best regard
Guide rinjani
Hi Melissa, thank you so much for sharing your trekking experience on Rinjani with all of us who aspire to conquer this hike … so happy to stumble across your blog and absolutely informative to my research as we are planning our trip to Lombok. A funny and odd question I have for you is what’s the insect ie. mosquito condition up there like ?? Did you get bitten by anything during the climb ??? Did you bring a head lamp or hand torch for the hike ?? We are trying to minimize the amount of stuff to lug up the mountain since we will be doing the summit hike so the less the better… I’m also debating between a couple trekking agencies not sure which is more reliable since I have nothing to reference to. So you would strongly rooting for Hallo and their service ? Thanks again for the amazing detailed description with images of your adventure !!
Hey Celi – I didn’t encounter any mosquitos up there or any other insects.
I didn’t need a torch since we didn’t climb when the sun wasn’t out but I guess if you do the summit it would come in handy since you’ll be climbing at dawn.
I had great experience with Hallo Trekker when I went, but I have been told recently by a friend that one of their guides was always asking for tips so it could get kind of annoying. But aside of that there was no safety concerns.
Hi I’m from rinjani and I would like to say this’s amazing blog for who want to know about rinjani trekking.. That all you write in the blog is very correct.. And for pleasure if it able I want to joint the disscusion with all of you..
Thanks..
Hay melisa
Thanks so much for share your experience about mount rinjani
And i hope will be more much people will come to visit rinjani
Thanks so much for your travel blog
Thanks
Ady
Rinjani Trek Centre (owner )
Thanks for this post I really enjoyed reading this!
I have been thinking about doing the trek in October and I think you have sold it to me, everything you have said is exactly how I imagined it would be 🙂 just need to decide if I think I could actually make it to the summit or not…
I’m glad you found it useful! I also recommend checking the weather in October. I did this climb in April.
This is everything I needed and more. Thank you!
Hi I’m from rinjani and I would like to say this’s amazing blog for who want to know about rinjani trekking.. That all you write in the blog is very correct.. And for pleasure if it able I want to joint the disscusion with all of you..
Thanks..
Halo…!
Your post is helpfully and interesting for visitor who like to climb to mount rinjani.
Thank you..
My island,my rinjani.
Hi Melissa, read your post and I am happy that you made it to the peak. Recently I just went for a hike at Malaysia, Mount Datuk, you might want to check it out.
Hi…!
My name is herman,i am guide in mount rinjani since 2009.
But now i am try to make my own company in senaru village lombok,i am born and live here(local rinjani people)
Do you have any plan to climb mount Rinjani? or travel to lombok islanda., or want to get some information about information or climbing information about tourist attractions in lombok island? Leave it to the experts. . !
We are ready to serve and guide you for do climbing in Mount Rinjani with reasonable price and with satisfactory service.
It is now a lot of companies to climb to Mount Rinjani, but we will try to give the best for my customer,because your satisfactions is my priority.
Hey Melissa .. It’s such a wonderful experience you had. I agree with a quote “It is NOT the mountain we conquer but ourselves”
Too bad I didn’t read your blog before I hike, but to be honest, I think you are 200% right about the trail. I just reached the bottom 4 hours ago. The last rocky part is no kidding but the view at the crater rim is spectacular. Glad you made it, must be an unforgettable memory.
Hi Melissa, your blog is very insightful, helpful and the photos are just beautiful! I am so tempted. I was considering to go up the rim with my hubby and my children (16 and 12 year olds) this August. But realistically, i doubt we can, at least with the kids; dont think they have the drive for this. Curious… How does the makeshift toilet work?
Other blogs that i read made trekking seem a walk in the park. My ‘training’ is just weekly walking uphill of about 5km up and back. I need to reassess the trip again. Probably just take a trekking tour around Senaru. What would you suggest i.e.not to be missed sights and spots in Senaru?
Appreciate your feeback.
Hi Aida, you can check out the two waterfalls in Senaru (it’s in the post). It’s pretty easy walk to get to both of them. Aside of that, there doesn’t seem to be much else going on though.
Just want to chime in and say thank you for the post! Was looking for information on crater rim vs summit for Rinjani and I came by your post. Will be doing this in the next few days.
Thanks! Love the blog.
Hi Melissa Hie! I’m going on a trip to Bali in 2 days, it’s a impromptu, last minute trip. My cousin (male) suggest to climb Mt Rinjani & Mt Batur as we will be at Bali for 8 days. My cousin’s physique is well build, active in sports. As for me, I am obese, not active in sports, my ankle easily sprained & one of my ankle fractured last 2 years. I do want to push myself for this climb, but I am not physically prepared for it. HELP.
Simple blue and white flip flop is a Rinjani Porter secret to walk fast, strong and comfortable 😁😁💪
Hello Melissa,
What a lovely surprise to stumble into your blog[post. We met several times (I’m Aishah, friends of Prema). She did tell me about your IG but I didn’t know you write as well! Anyways, thank you for this lovely guide! I am quite anxious for the trek this Easter, but this article is pretty motivating! I hope to see you around in Singapore.
Looking forward for more travel blogs from you!
Have a Easter weekend 🙂
hey aishah! you’ll do fine. enjoy the trek 🙂 are you doing the summit?
You in luck guys, you have good experience with the hallo trekker team.
Thank you for such a great post! So with Hallo trekkers, the porters are included in the price but the porters will only carry team equipment, correct? Not your personal bag? Or will they still carry your bag if it is under 5 kg but you have to pay additional if your bag is over 5 kg? Thanks!
only team equipment. you can hire an extra porter if you need someone to carry your bags
Excellent article! I am planning to do the Rinjani trek and this post gave me a fair idea of the 2D1N package. I have done 3 himalayan treks so I think I will be able to do this.
By the way where are you from?
Thanks for sharing this gurll =) sucha informative blog post you provided.
do you mind me asking, how much do you pay for per head?
Lovely blog and very helping for mountain lovers. Cheers I love it.
Hi! Really interesting post! May I check, is this a trip where you have to prep before going? Like, do I have to train myself a few mths before the trip or can I just pack and go kind?
hey jia yi, depends on your level of fitness. i think if you are mostly sedentary you might want to get used to walking for long period of time, as well as some cardio training. some paths are quite steep.
Really helpful, thanks! We are going for our honeymoon in a few months.. would you recommend booking ahead of time or did you meet many people who booked when they got there? I’m nervous about not booking, but have heard it’s cheaper to wait. Can I ask how much yours was through Halo Trekker?
I paid US$180 for my 2d1n. But this is last year’s rate and if you want to do summit (3d2n) it might cost more 🙂 I did book ahead since I don’t think the savings are that much even if you decide to just book when you get there. The peace of mind is worth it!
Great articles thanks for sharing
Hi! I am thinking of doing this trek. It would be my first mountain climb as well.
Can I ask what you did with the rest of your stuff while climbing? I pack pretty light, but I can’t imagine carrying all of my stuff that I will have for my 3 week journey across the country on a 1 night trek.
Looks like a really good time. Thanks for the info!
Hey Chelsea, some of us in the group had a separate bag for stuff we didnt want to bring on the trek. We asked our trek operator to help store our stuff while we were away. I didn’t bring anything valuable, but if you have any i would recommend to bring them with you! We had no issues though.
Hey there! Truly informative piece. My friends and I are thinking of attempting the summit this August. As I have senstitive skin I’d like to know if you found the air ‘sulphuric’ or “biting’; the air quality is my paramount concern. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Hey mark, i don’t have sensitive skin but I think i know what you meant. i thought the air felt normal during the trip. That said, we only did crater rim so we were quite far away from the volcanic part and did not smell / detect any sulphur presence. I think if you did the longer trip that includes the summit, you might get closer to the volcano activity. I suggest checking with your trek operator.
Thanks for the reply!
Looks like you had a very challenging and exciting experience!
This brings back great memories from our own trek up Rinjani, we did the 3 night, 4 day trek and the landscapes and views were absolutely incredible! Although we didnt make it to the summit as we were too tired, we sat on the ridge just below the summit and watched the sunrise from there!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
*not ready
Definitely helpful! I’m definitely to ready for Rinjani but at least now I have a clearer picture of what I need to do. Thanks for sharing your experience 😀
No problem! Enjoy your trek!
It is so lovely to read your post .!! Clear, detailed and well described. Anyone can easily get inspired to trek after reading your writing .!! Awesome !! Great job.!! 🙂
Thanks Ram!
Hello, were planning to experience rinjani also next year. Just want to ask which tour agency you deal with. Do you have any contacts of them.? Thanks. Hope tou respond to my inquiry. Cheers!
Hey Apriell, I went with Hallo Trekker. you can reach them at http://hallotrekker.com/
All of crew from Rinjani Trekking Services say many thank to you.for your shared our attraction that is rinjani mount.I hope by you sharing we get more visitor come to rinjani mount.
Great information, if you would like more details information about trekking rinjani you can visit my website
Thank you for visiting our island I happy to read your story..
Wish you all well.
Hi… i really your photo clips, such a beautiful place are see in my life thanks for sharing with us
Nice informations. But we love to hike on private.thank for the informations.
Great post! Just wondering how you booked your trip – did you book beforehand or wait until you got to Senaru to book?
Thank you!
Hey Catherine, we booked ahead of time but did not pay until we got to Senaru. I highly recommend Hallo Trekker!
Hi Melissa Hie,
Can I know what is the dress code that you will suggest for us for a trip on November ?
Thank you.
Hi there, I am not sure how it would be in November, so it’s best to ask your trip operator. We were fine with just light jackets.
Thanks for post details informations
Thanks for post awesome picture
great post!
Hi Melissa… Really informative and inspired post!!! The tips you shared are perfectly described. Love it so much!
We all from rinjani community would like to say thank you for visited,
mountain rinjani and thank you for shears your experience
Thanks for your great informations
Hey Melissa awesome blog! We are planning on spending 2 weeks in Bali and Lombok with the hike halfway through and obviously we dont want to take all our things up the mountain. Do you know if you can leave things at the hotel for the 2/3 days you are hiking. Thanks
Yes! we asked our tour operator to keep some of our luggages that we did not want to take up to the mountains as well. However, I would still exercise basic precautions like not storing large amount of cash or valuables.
The Great Article About Mount Rinjani. The Story Of Experience Really Interesting.
Aw super proud of you Mel! So glad that you managed to push through:)
Hehe thanks Joycerina!