Climbing Mount Rinjani & Beach holiday on Lombok
Climbing Mount Rinjani, a volcano 3,726 m (12,225 ft) is the most difficult trek we have ever done, but also offers one of the best panoramic view in the world.
You can see the volcano from Gili Air on clear days but most of the time the peak is covered in clouds.
On the Gilis you can find tourist offices offering packages for the climb.
Try to negotiate the price. Generally said, if you pay more you might get a slightly better equipment and food but there is not much difference.
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Are you fit enough to climb Mount Rinjani?
The only way up to the peak is by foot and the trek is a strenuous three-day walk starting from Sembalun or Senaru village.
Whether you start from or finish in Senaru make sure to visit the amazing waterfalls located near the village.
There are 3 waterfalls, one is easy to access, one is impossible and the third is a great walk through the jungle. It’s called Tiu Kelep Waterfall. That was the most beautiful waterfall we have ever seen, check out the photo at the bottom of the page.)
About Climbing Mount Rinjani:
- It is a very difficult route but also highly rewarding to stand on the peak at sunrise.
On Day 1 you will sleep on the crater rim in tents with other fellow trekkers. Everything is carried up there by porters, from tents to food so don’t expect anything luxurious.
Day 2 starts very early. At 2am you start the never-ending climb to the summit. The volcanic soil is very loose and the last 500 meters are extremely strenuous.
We trekked the Himalayas and been over 5000 meters elevation but this one was even more difficult… The view however will sooth you pain.
Many people turn back or give up half-way to the summit but we made it to the summit before sunrise!
After you watch the sunrise, you will start descending back to the camp, pack your stuff and start descending further down, into the crater! Going down is sometimes more difficult than climbing up. It is very steep and the trail is not well maintained.
The huge crater of Mt Rinjani contains a beautiful lake and also a smaller volcanic cone, which was formed a couple of hundred years ago.
You can soak your tired feet in the crater lake after the 12 hours hike. But before you think that this is the end of the hike, you are wrong. We still had to climb back up to the other side of the crater rim, where we spent the night.
We nearly died that day. Day 3 is a bit easier, the descend feels better after so much uphill.
So to summarize it: Climbing Mount Rinjani is amazing but definitely not for beginners! If you are not a hiker but you are in a good physical condition, you are exercising regularly, chances are good that you can make it to the summit.
After Rinjani the beaches of Lombok are even more stunning
After this 3 day trek the only thing we wanted is a shower and a bed. We found our private paradise in Kuta, Lombok at Yuli’s Guesthouse, rented a bike and explored the white sandy beaches in the area.
One of the most beautiful ones was Selong Belanak. The beaches of Lombok are more beautiful from the ones in Bali. The island is more untouched and far less touristy!
From Lombok we flew to Jakarta to catch our international flight back to Europe. The itinerary we did was quite relaxed. It would have been possible to squeeze in a Komodo Boat trip or even to do Jakarta-Bali overland but we prefer to travel more relaxed, have time to immerse in the culture and take in the atmosphere of the places.
During this trip we saw three smaller islands, which were beautiful! Next time we want to do more – Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and so on… Indonesia, we will be back!
More images from our trip to Lombok
