The Mount Rinjani Trekking is an absolute must for all adventurous and physically active travelers who are in Bali or Lombok.
Mount Rinjani (3.726 m) is a volcano located on the island Lombok, west of Bali. When I first heard of the possibility to climb Mount Rinjani I got excited immediately. I had never hiked such a high mountain before.
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Things to know before doing the Mount Rinjani trekking
The Mount Rinjani trekking requires a certain level of fitness. If you never do sports, this might be a bit too challenging. But if you’re a fit person who likes to challenge themselves, definitely go for it.
Also, I recommend planning your trip in a way that you can relax 1-2 days after the hike. My muscles were extremely sore afterwards. Consider visiting the beach town Kuta after the Mount Rinjani Trekking.
Which tour to book for the Mount Rinjani trekking
I booked a 2 day and 1 night tour with Rinjani Trekking Center. We’d climb the volcano, spend 1 night in a tent at the top and then descend the mountain the next day.
Initially, I wanted to do a 4 day tour to the summit, the crater and the crater lake. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible because the path to the peak was closed due to a past earthquake. This meant that I couldn’t climb the summit at 3.726 m but only up to the volcano rim at about 3.000 m. While this was a bit disappointing I was still excited to do the Mount Rinjani Trekking. The path was already being restored at that time so it should be open again soon.
Inform yourself about the different tours that are offered and then decide for the one that suits you most. You can choose between 2, 3, 4 or even 5 day tours.
What's included in a tour to Mount Rinjani
What’s included in the Mount Rinjani trekking depends on which operator you book with and the level of comfort you wish to have in the accommodation the night before the hike. In my case, I booked with Rinjani Trekking Center and the tour cost approximately 100€.
The following was included:
Transport from Gili Air (where I was located before) to Senaru
Accommodation for 1 night in Senaru before the hike
A guide to Mount Rinjani
Breakfast, lunch and dinner on day 2
Breakfast and lunch on day 3
Biscuits
A tent and a sleeping bag for the night on the mountain
Porters who carry water, food and tents
Transport to my next destination, Kuta in Lombok
What to pack for the Mount Rinjani trekking
Proper hiking shoes
Jacket and sweater
Cap, sun screen and sunglasses
Comfortable clothes for the night
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Baby tissues
Hand sanitizer
Toilet paper
Camera
Power bank
Snacks (if you tend to get hungry easily)
Mount Rinjani trekking: Day 1
I was located on Gili Air before, so first I needed to travel to Senaru on Lombok for the Mount Rinjani trekking.
In the morning I took a ferry from Gili Air to Lombok where a guide picked me up and brought me to Senaru.
Arrival to Senaru
Senaru is an extremely remote and traditional village on the country side of Lombok and also the starting point of the Mount Rinjani trekking.
I arrived to Senaru at around noon and was brought to my accommodation. The accommodation was included in the package that I had booked. I stayed with an Indonesian family in very basic housing. They offered double rooms with a bathroom (where the water hadn’t worked all day long). When I got settled I asked about what would be next and they had told me that I’d have the whole afternoon to myself. I took a little walk but there was pretty much nothing except for some houses and forest.
Tiu Kelep waterfall
Senaru is not only the starting point of the Mount Rinjani trekking, but also home to the stunning waterfall Tiu Kelep. As I still had the whole afternoon to myself, a guide from my accommodation offered to take to me the waterfalls that were only a 30 minute hike from there.
The waterfalls were impressive and it was definitely worth hiking there. It was an easy hike through the forest but there were quite a few stairs to climb so I recommend wearing proper shoes. We couldn’t go swimming there as the water is not deep enough and it’s extremely cold. When we returned to our accommodation we prepared our bags for the next day and went to bed early.
Mount Rinjani trekking: Day 2
At 6:00 am it was time to get up and get ready for the hiking adventure.
Early start and a 7 hour climb
Still sleepy, I got a cup of Balinese coffee and a pancake for breakfast. It wasn’t much but it gave me energy to wake up and start the Mount Rinjani trekking.
The first part of the hike was very easy with hardly any elevation gain. It was perfect to chat with the other group members and to get to know them better. But obviously this didn’t last long. As we progressed the path got steeper. Luckily everyone in our group had about the same level of fitness so we didn’t have to wait for anyone. We walked through the woods on a well-maintained path. The first part of the Mount Rinjani trekking took us about 3 hours with small breaks in-between. Everyone was starving already as we only had a small breakfast so we were extremely excited for lunch.
At around 10:00 we finally had our lunch break. We expected a sandwich or anything else that would be easy to carry. But no, our guides and porters actually started to cook for us. They carried a gas cooker and a frying pan and prepared a delicious meal for us. I can’t even describe how good it felt to sit down and eat something. After lunch we had some more time to relax before we continued the ascend.
Shortly after the lunch break we reached the clouds. At this point we had been hiking for 4 hours already. It got more tiring and we needed more and more short breaks.
After we passed the clouds it got even more exhausting. First, because the path got continuously steeper and second because we were exposed to the sun so we were sweating even more. As it got steeper my legs started to get shaky because my muscles were already tired. I didn’t even look up to the peak anymore. I just looked down on my feet and put one foot in front of the other. Like this I wouldn’t have to think about how much of the Mount Rinjani trekking was still ahead of me.
Mount Rinjani volcano rim
At around 15:00 and after a total of 7 hours of hiking we arrived to our campsite at the volcano rim. We were filled with happiness as we had finally reached our place to sleep. The area was full of tents and the toilet was a hole in the ground in a special toilet tent. But all this didn’t matter – everything that mattered was that we had made it.
First things first, we entered our tents, laid down and just relaxed for a while. It was so satisfying to take the weight off my feet. But the break didn’t last long. Soon we forced ourselves to get up again to explore the area, after all we came here to see the volcano crater. The view of the crater and the crater lake were impressive.
When we returned to our tents we were extremely hungry again so we asked our guides if they could prepare an early dinner. They laughed at us because we seemed to be constantly hungry (which was kind of true) and they prepared dinner for us at 17:00. The meal was delicious again and it tasted even better with the stunning view and the accomplishment of that day.
Sunset and the most unconfortable night ever
At around 18:00 the sun was about to set. The view of the sea of clouds and the sun going down was breathtaking. As soon as the sun had set it became cold really quickly. After all we were at around 3.000 m above sea level.
As it got cold we said good night and went into our tents to jump into the cozy sleeping bags. When the darkness had settled I looked outside again to check if the stars were visible and I was left speechless. Everything was quiet and you could only see the shadows of the surrounding mountains and a clear sky full of stars. I stood there for a few minutes and just looked up in awe. Moments like that are unforgettable and make you appreciate the wonders and the beauty of nature. But soon I started to freeze so I returned back into the tent again.
The night was everything but comfortable. Our tent was on an uneven ground so we permanently slided to one side of the tent. Plus, it got extremely cold. I got a few hours of sleep but most of the time I was awake trying to find a comfortable position or avoiding to slide down. Even though I hadn’t slept well and I had dreamed of a cozy bed, I still had a smile on my face. These are experiences where I’m simply thankful for having the privilege to live a life full of adventures – in this case, spending the night on a 3.000 m high volcano in Indonesia. Filled with a feeling of content I turned around, wrapped into my 5 layers of clothes, until I finally fell asleep.
Mount Rinjani trekking: Day 3
The next morning, the chatter of people walking by our tent woke me up. Still half asleep I checked the time and realised it was already 6:00 – time to get up and watch the sunrise.
Sunrise on the volcano rim
We opened the door of our tent and couldn’t believe our eyes. The sun painted the sky in vibrant shades of pink and purple while you could still see the moon shine over the mountain peaks. Everything seemed so unreal as if it was out of a fantasy movie. Once again I was left speechless.
We left the camp site to walk up to the volcano rim. The sunrise itself was a bit disappointing. The sun rose behind the summit of Mount Rinjani so all we saw was the sky getting lighter but there was no sight of the sun. Usually people would hike up to the summit in the morning before sunrise but we couldn’t do that as the path was closed due to a past earthquake.
After sunrise we got breakfast, enjoyed the views one last time, packed our bags and then we made our way back down at around 7:00.
Descending Mount Rinjani
My legs were still a bit shaky as they were exhausted from the climb. It was pretty hard to descend as my shoes had no profile at all so I just kept sliding down the sandy path. I can’t even count how many times I slipped. Luckily, I’m used to being in the mountains so I was quite good at balancing myself out. The descend of the Mount Rinjani trekking took us about 5 hours. We got one last lunch on the way down and then we headed back to the accommodation in Senaru to take a shower. After taking a shower, a taxi picked me up and brought me straight to Kuta where I continued my journey.
Is the Mount Rinjani trekking worth it?
YES!
The Mount Rinjani trekking was a unique adventure and the feeling of accomplishment you have when you reach the peak is amazing. If you like climbing mountains and you’re an adventurer like me I definitely recommend doing this hike during your Indonesia trip.
What an amazing experience Maria! I totally am putting this on my bucket list. The camping part totally reminded me of when I camped during the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu lol. Your photos are absolutely breathtaking!
I have always been very curious what lies on the islands near Bali. I’m glad to learn that West Nusa Tenggara is full of as much beauty, if not more. That’s too bad that the path to the summit was closed, but it looks like the volcano was stunning nonetheless. The food you had looks heavenly, and Balinese coffee sounds so amazing! I’m sure it must’ve been otherworldly to wake up to that beautiful view. Thanks for sharing this adventure; love to read about off-the-beaten-path experiences!
I was also curious to explore other islands, as Bali is already too touristy for my taste. The trekking adventure to the volcano was truly amazing, especially the views. Thank you for your kind comment Kevin!
This sounds incredible and is now going on my bucket list! It’s funny how the views are always worth even the most grueling hikes 😉 In fact, I always find hard hikes even more rewarding, like you really earned all that beauty. It’s so funny that the guides cooked full lunch, dinner and breakfast for you, I can’t imagine having to carry all that cooking equipment as well.
That’s so true, the stunning views are always worth the hardest hikes! I also couldn’t imagine to carry all that equipment – it was already hard enough without it haha
Thanks for sharing your adventure. So good that you got to visit the 2nd highest volcano in Indonesia. Have you visited the Philippine’s highest volcano?
These places look stunning! I’d love out in the woods around Indonesia someday, nature looks amazing. We went to Indonesia for 5 days which was so unfair because at the end of the trip all I wanted to do was prolong my stay somehow which never happened.
5 days really isn’t enough in Indonesia. I was there for 30 days and even I have only seen a tiny part of the country. I can’t wait to go there again someday!
WOW, this looks like a totally epic adventure. I haven’t been in that region since maybe 2012, but this definitely inspires me to go back and do a little hiking and camping. Thanks for sharing!
Mount Rinanji on Lombok really looks worth visiting and even I was not knowing it before reading your post. Waterfall Tiu Kelep in Senaru looks incredible and serene place to relax and enjoy nature. View of volcano rim during sunset too looks unique view.
Wowza! Trekking up Mount Rinjani looks fantastic! I am especially impressed by all the food the guides brought and cooked for you – it’s like a slightly more luxury version of camping (even if you were a bit cold!)
I would looove to do this. I will try to remember to bring a few extra layers for nighttime. Camping at elevation can be blooming freezing, but so worth it for the incredible sunset and sunrise!
What an amazing experience! I would love to do that! Thanks for sharing also the downsides and the reality as it will help to anticipate (the cold at night for example).
I’m Maria, an outdoor-active traveler who seeks to go off the beaten track to discover hidden gems.
Most of the time you’ll find me exploring small beach towns or untouched places in the mountains to connect with nature.
My goal is to inspire others to go out of their comfort zone and explore this beautiful planet.
During the creation of this blog, uncountable cups of coffee were consumed. If my blog is an inspiration for you in any way, I would appreciate your support by buying me a cup of coffee.
November 3, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Wow, so many great impressions. I really loved the photo where you stand in front of the amazing waterfall!
All the best,
Ricarda from themintandonly.com
November 3, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Thanks Ricarda! The waterfall truly was impressive!
November 4, 2019 at 2:51 am
What an amazing experience Maria! I totally am putting this on my bucket list. The camping part totally reminded me of when I camped during the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu lol. Your photos are absolutely breathtaking!
November 4, 2019 at 9:34 am
Thanks Taylor! I’m sure that was a great experience too, I love adventures like that! 🙂
November 4, 2019 at 2:53 am
OMG! That sunrise and those waterfalls look incredible!!
November 4, 2019 at 9:34 am
It really was a great and unique experience!
November 9, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Wow! It looks like you had an absolutely amazing experience 😍
November 5, 2019 at 8:38 am
I have always been very curious what lies on the islands near Bali. I’m glad to learn that West Nusa Tenggara is full of as much beauty, if not more. That’s too bad that the path to the summit was closed, but it looks like the volcano was stunning nonetheless. The food you had looks heavenly, and Balinese coffee sounds so amazing! I’m sure it must’ve been otherworldly to wake up to that beautiful view. Thanks for sharing this adventure; love to read about off-the-beaten-path experiences!
November 9, 2019 at 3:49 pm
I was also curious to explore other islands, as Bali is already too touristy for my taste. The trekking adventure to the volcano was truly amazing, especially the views. Thank you for your kind comment Kevin!
November 5, 2019 at 12:14 pm
This sounds incredible and is now going on my bucket list! It’s funny how the views are always worth even the most grueling hikes 😉 In fact, I always find hard hikes even more rewarding, like you really earned all that beauty. It’s so funny that the guides cooked full lunch, dinner and breakfast for you, I can’t imagine having to carry all that cooking equipment as well.
November 9, 2019 at 3:52 pm
That’s so true, the stunning views are always worth the hardest hikes! I also couldn’t imagine to carry all that equipment – it was already hard enough without it haha
November 5, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Thanks for sharing your adventure. So good that you got to visit the 2nd highest volcano in Indonesia. Have you visited the Philippine’s highest volcano?
November 9, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Unfortunately I haven’t been to the Philippines so far. I’m planning to go there next summer though 🙂
November 5, 2019 at 3:54 pm
These places look stunning! I’d love out in the woods around Indonesia someday, nature looks amazing. We went to Indonesia for 5 days which was so unfair because at the end of the trip all I wanted to do was prolong my stay somehow which never happened.
November 9, 2019 at 3:55 pm
5 days really isn’t enough in Indonesia. I was there for 30 days and even I have only seen a tiny part of the country. I can’t wait to go there again someday!
November 7, 2019 at 5:50 pm
WOW, this looks like a totally epic adventure. I haven’t been in that region since maybe 2012, but this definitely inspires me to go back and do a little hiking and camping. Thanks for sharing!
November 9, 2019 at 3:58 pm
It must have been great to be there in 2012, I’m sure it was a little less touristy 6 years ago. I definitely want to go back to Indonesia as well!
November 12, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Mount Rinanji on Lombok really looks worth visiting and even I was not knowing it before reading your post. Waterfall Tiu Kelep in Senaru looks incredible and serene place to relax and enjoy nature. View of volcano rim during sunset too looks unique view.
November 21, 2019 at 2:33 pm
It is definitely worth visiting. The waterfall is impressive and the view from the volcano is a dream!
January 9, 2021 at 6:43 am
Wowza! Trekking up Mount Rinjani looks fantastic! I am especially impressed by all the food the guides brought and cooked for you – it’s like a slightly more luxury version of camping (even if you were a bit cold!)
I would looove to do this. I will try to remember to bring a few extra layers for nighttime. Camping at elevation can be blooming freezing, but so worth it for the incredible sunset and sunrise!
January 9, 2021 at 2:04 pm
What an amazing experience! I would love to do that! Thanks for sharing also the downsides and the reality as it will help to anticipate (the cold at night for example).
January 11, 2021 at 8:02 pm
This trip sounds incredible! Indonesia is definitely on my bucket list. And the Tiu Kelep waterfall looks amazing!