Rinjani Mountain Guide
Heading to Indonesia and looking to get some volcano climbing in? Look no further than the great Rinjani Mountain.
Located on the island of Lombok West Nusa Tenggara, Mt Rinjani stands at 3,726 meters / 12,224 feet tall and makes for one exhilarating climbing.
This Is Mount Rinjani trekking Tour guide will go over what to expect on the climb and how to go about planning a trip here. So, get ready for what is sure to be one of the best hikes of your life, Rinjani Mountain one of Best Mountain To Hike!
1) Mount Rinjani Trekking Routes
To start Mount Rinjani trekking, we want to lay out the various Mt Rinjani trekking routes to choose from. Depending on your preference, hiking ability, and time availability will better help pick the right route for you.
Note: on 2018 July ,several years ago there was a very damaging earthquake on Lombok, which closed many trekking routes. All routes should be open now but please double check with tour operators to get the latest information.
When it comes to Rinjani Mountain Trekking options, there are several to consider. Below are the main hiking tours that you can decide to join:
Mount Rinjani Summit 2 Days Hike (2 Days / 1 Nights)
Day 1: Sembalun to Sembalun Crater Rim (Overnight: Sembalun Crater Rim 2,639M)
Day 2: Sembalun Crater Rim to Rinjani Summit; back down to Sembalun Crater Rim and then down to Sembalun
The quickest way to reach the Mount Rinjani summit is to do a 2 days / 1 nights option from Sembalun. This route takes you to the Sembalun Crater Rim for the night before heading up to the Rinjani summit of day 2.
Once at the summit you would head all the way back down to Sembalun to end the trek.
Mt Rinjani Trekking 3D2N Summit 3 Day Hike (3 Day / 2 Night Package)
Day 1: Sembalun to Sembalun Crater Rim (Overnight: Sembalun Crater Rim)
Day 2: Sembalun Crater Rim to Rinjani Summit; back down to Sembalun Crater Rim; down to Crater Lake; up to Senaru Crater Rim (Overnight: Senaru Crater Rim)
Day 3: Senaru Crater Rim to Senaru
This is the normal route for those that want to go to the summit. On day 1 you start from the town of Sembalun and head on up to the Sembalun Crater Rim, where you enjoy sunset and stay overnight.
On day 2 you hike up to the summit for sunrise before returning to camp and then heading down into the crater lake.
Once you enjoy lunch at the lake, you would head up to the Senaru Crater Rim, where you will stay the night. On day 3 you will head down to Senaru to end your trek.
Mount Rinjani Trekking Summit 4 Days Hike (4 Day / 3 Night)
Day 1: Sembalun to Sembalun Crater Rim (Overnight: Sembalun Crater Rim)
Day 2: Sembalun Crater Rim to Rinjani Summit; back down to Sembalun Crater Rim; down to Crater Lake (Overnight: Crater Lake)
Day 3: Crater Lake to Senaru Crater Rim (Overnight Senaru Crater Rim)
Day 4: Senaru Crater Rim to Senaru
For those that want to split up the days a bit more, there is also a 4 day option.
Essentially days 1 and 4 are identical to days 1 and 3 of the 3 Day / 2 Night hike. However, on day 2 you will head up to the summit for sunrise and then head down to the crater lake, where you will stay the night.
On day 3 you will enjoy the lake and then hike up to the Senaru Crater Rim, where you will spend night 3. And finally, on day 4 you will head back down to Senaru.
Senaru Crater Rim Hike (2 Day / 1 Night)
Day 1: Senaru to Senaru Crater Rim (Overnight: Senaru Crater Rim)
Day 2: Senaru Crater Rim to Senaru
This hike starts in the town of Senaru on day 1 as you climb all the way to the Senaru Crater Rim. You will enjoy a sunset on the crater rim, sleep overnight, enjoy a sunrise, and then head down to Senaru on day 2.
2) Mount Rinjani Trekking Map
Below is a map of the Mount Rinjani trekking options from Senaru and Sembalun. You can see the two blue triangles, which would be camping spots on the Sembalum and Senaru crater rims.
3) Quick Rinjani Facts
» All routes up Mount Rinjani are closed from January 1 to March 31 due to the rainy season and to recover its ecosystem. Climbing reopens in April but be sure to double check with trekking companies before setting your plans in stone.
» There is a 240 person limit to leave from each Senaru and Sembalun per day in order to deal with any overcrowding issues at the campsites and during the trek.
You cannot hike To Mount Rinjani on your own. You must be with a certified Rinjani Trekking guide during your Mt Rinjani trek.
» Hiking Rinjani in the dry season (May to October) will give you the greatest chance of having clear weather on top of the mountain and safe conditions when rinjani trekking up it.
» You will want to stay one night close to the entrance of the hike. Usually your guide companies will set this up for you and have you stay in Sembalun or Senaru, so it gives you one less thing to worry about.
» There are no accommodations on the mountain. Instead you will be sleeping in tents set up by your guides and porters.
» Bring enough battery power for your electronics. The last thing you want is to not have enough battery for your camera or phone and lose out on the chance to get those beautiful pictures in.
Where is Rinjani Mountain(3,726M)
Rinjani Mountainis located on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. On the northern end of the island is where the mountain is located.
There Is a couple main ways to reach The Lombok Island depending on where you are coming from – by plane or by boat. Below is some quick info about each of those options.
Plane
If you are coming from farther out on Indonesia, there are plenty of flights that will fly into Lombok’s main airport – LOP.
Not only can you fly in from other places in Indonesia like Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Labuan Bajo but LOP is also an international airport. You can find flights from places like Perth, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur, that will get you right onto Lombok.
From the Lombok airport, it is a bit of a drive to Sembalun & Senaru (where trekking companies may put you up for the night) – around 3 hours or so.
Boat
Your other option here is to head on over to Lombok by ferry. If doing so you will most likely be starting in Bali, the Nusa Islands (Penida, Lembongan, Ceningan), or the Gili Islands (Trawangan, Air, or Meno).
Not every one of the smaller islands will have direct routes but you can easily take a quick ferry (e.g. from Meno to Trawangan) and get to Lombok from there.
You can take a look at the various ferry schedules and search the particular route that you are looking for.
The Weather Mount Rinjani(3,726)
Like I mentioned before, hiking Mount Rinjani in the dry season will give you the greatest chance for optimal weather conditions.
So The Best Time To Climb Mount Rinjani, the April to October time period is going to be your best bet here.
Not only will you be avoiding hiking up in more muddy conditions but you also will have a much better chance to not be clouded over on the summit.
Having the views of both the crater down below and also Lombok, the Gili Islands, and even Bali out in the distance is one of the best experiences you can ask for.
Mountain weather can always be a bit tricky though and nothing is ever guaranteed. To look at the latest forecasts, head on over to Meteoblue.com, which will give you a better idea of what to expect on a day to day and hourly basis.
What to Bring Duing The Hike
Since this is a 1-3 night overnight trek, you will want to prepare accordingly. Below is a packing list with some essentials to bring along with you that will have you all set for the climb.
It is up to you if you want to wear the same clothes during the days or bring another pair to change into for your next 1-2 days of hiking.
Mount Rinjani Hiking Packing List
In general when it comes to hiking, there are a few main aspects to consider. These includes clothing layers, hiking shoes, hydration & fuel, electronics, and other essentials.
Below in a breakdown of some of the top items, but be sure to check out the Hiking Packing List for a more comprehensive view.
Clothing Layers
Layering is going to be a top consideration when hiking. You will want to be prepared for all sorts of weather so you can be comfortable in different situations. Some items may include:
→ Hiking Shorts
→ Hiking Pants
→ Short Sleeve Shirt
→ Long Sleeve Shirt / Sun Hoodie
→ Mid Layer Fleece
→ Puff Jacket (not always needed)
→ Packable Rain Jacket (Columbia Watertight II)
Note that your layers should be made of moisture wicking material as they are breathable and quick drying.
Footwear
Having appropriate footwear will also be very important. You will want to have shoes with the necessary grip and support to keep you safe on the trail.
→ Hiking Shoes (Keen Targhee)
→ Hiking Socks (Darn Tough)
Other Essentials
Whether it is hiking gear, electronics, or just some miscellaneous items, here are some other essentials to bring along on hikes.
→ Hiking Backpack (Osprey Talon 22) & Rain Cover (Joy Walker Cover)
→ Hiking Poles (Black Diamond Trekking Poles)
→ Water Bottle (CamelBak Chute or Katadyn Filter Bottle)
→ Portable Charger (Anker PowerCore 5000mAh)
→ Action Camera (GoPro Hero)
→ Energy Bars & Snacks
→ Hat & Sunglasses
→ Sunscreen & Bug Spray
In addition to the standard list above, you will also want to consider some overnight items as well. These include comfortable sleepwear such as a sweatshirt & pants, toiletry items, as well as a headlamp.
Note that the Lombok Hiking Tour The Rinjani Trekking Company you sign up for will supply many items that you will need. These include:
Camping Tent
Sleeping Bag
All Meals
Water
Some Snacks