Packing List For Mt Rinjani Trek
Trekking Packages And What Is Included
The Trek To Mt Rinjani Crater Rim
How To Get To Mt Rinjani
Where To Stay The Night Before And After A Mt Rinjani Trek
Mt Rinjani is an active volcano in Northern Lombok and is the second highest volcano in Indonesia, at 3726 metres above sea level. We visited Senaru in 2019, and the whole place was a ghost town and still without WiFi from the 2018 earthquakes. The once frequently visited town, with hundreds of trekkers visiting everyday to climb Mt Rinjani, only had a couple of other tourists in the town. We were one of two couples that would climb the mountain the next day.
We were lucky to run into Obgut from Odentick Trekking in Senaru to organise a 2 day – 1 night trek to the crater rim. Due to the earthquakes, this was the only option as the track to the summit is closed, as the path has been destroyed. We met with Obgut the night before to organise everything and what we needed to take.
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PACKING LIST FOR MT RINJANI TREK
You can hire some equipment, and Bree borrowed a waterproof backpack to take. They suggest not to carry more than 5kg as the porters will carry all the food and camping equipment. Here is what we packed:
- Rain jacket
- Sand shoes
- Flip flops for around camp
- Long pants
- Jumper
- Warm socks
- Long shirt for at night
- Dry clothes for Day 2
- Towel
- Insect repellent
- Wet wipes
- Lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Tooth brush and tooth paste
- First aid/medication kit
TREKKING PACKAGES AND WHAT IS INCLUDED
We selected the 2 day/1 night package that would only take us to the crater rim of Mt Rinjani. This is the shortest and cheapest package at 1,500,00 IDR ($150 AUD) per person. There are packages to stay 2 or 3 nights on the mountain, however you cannot make the climb to the summit like you used to with these longer packages, due to the destruction of the track from the 2018 earthquakes. They are hoping the track will reopen in 2020.
The 2-day/1-night package included 2x lunches, 2x breakfasts, 1x dinner, 1 guide, 2 porters and sleeping equipment.
THE TREK TO MT RINJANI CRATER RIM
Before the Trek
We met at the trekking office at 5am for breakfast (pancakes) and waited to meet our guide and porters who would be accompanying us. We were able to store the rest of our luggage here during the 2-day trek. Our guide, Hero, and porters, Murdi and Awal, greeted us and finished organising and packing the final necessities for our trip. We were then transported on scooters to the start of the trek (about 20 minutes from Senaru), inside a coffee plantation. This is where we waited for the sun to rise so we could start walking through the dark jungle.
Porters
Before we even started we noticed the porters were only wearing thongs and carrying 20-25kg each of all our trekking supplies. These guys truly blew us away with their strength and resilience. They would be powering on ahead in front of us. In the rain they walked bare foot and we arrived at camp to it all set up for us.
The Trek Up Mt Rinjani
The Mt Rinjani crater rim trek would take us roughly 7 hours including rest breaks. This gave plenty of time to make our way up at our own pace. We stopped at Pos (position) areas every couple of hours for snacks and food.
The beginning of the trek had a steady incline and Hero, our guide, led us through the jungle, climbing over large tree roots, spotting grey and black monkeys, along the side of hills that had previously fallen during the earthquake, and were accompanied by two dogs that lived on the mountain. The track was safe, but you still need to be careful walking near the edges as the land is still fragile.
After lunch, we had the final and toughest part of our trek left. It would take us 1.5 hours to reach camp, climbing over big rocks, loose gravel, and a much tougher incline, there was no more jungle from this point on. But, we made it!
The Camp on Mt Rinjani Crater Rim
We arrived at camp at 1:30pm, it was pouring with rain, but our tents were up, with thin mattresses and sleeping bags inside. We got into some warm clothes, and had some snacks and a nap while we waited for the rain to pass. Any clothes that were wet from that day stayed wet the entire trip. We were hoping the clouds would pass so we could see the sunset from the rim.
Sunset on Mt Rinjani
It was about a 10-minute walk from camp to the crater rim, where we could see the active volcano inside, the beautiful blue Segara Anak lake, and the summit of Mt Rinjani. The best view from the crater rim is from where we were, from the Senaru side. However, you can trek from the other side of the mountain, but the best view of all the volcano, lake and summit is from the north-west side. Some clouds hovered inside the crater, and others flew by to reveal what was inside. Before the earthquake, you could hike down to the lake, and there is even a hut on the lake that local fishermen stay in. However, the path down to the lake has been destroyed, but will hopefully re-open by the end of 2019. After we visited the rim, we went back to camp to have dinner and see more of the sunset from the other side. From here you can see green rolling hills, Mt Agung in Bali, and all 3 Gili Islands. We had a picnic on the hill for dinner with curry and hot chocolate to finish our tiring, beautiful and spectacular day.
Sleeping and Sunrise on Mt Rinjani
Sleeping in the tent was hard at first, the mattress was very thin, our clothes were wet and we were cold. The next morning we woke for sunrise and climbed back up to the rim. There were many clouds that morning, but they were kind to us and passed by for a few minutes to reveal the summit. We really were up in the clouds as they became thicker around us, and we could only see a few metres ahead. That’s when we decided to head back to camp for breakfast.
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The Trek Down Mt Rinjani
At about 8am we were packed up and left for the trek down, which only took 5 hours, as we pretty much slid down over loose gravel and mud. We left before the porters, but they beat us back to the coffee plantation, to cook us lunch before we arrived. The climb down was easier, but as our legs were tired from the day before, and both of us with sore knees, it was still a challenge. We then had a an easy scooter ride back to Senaru.
Food on Mt Rinjani
I don’t know if we were just hungry, but our meals over these 2 days were incredible. The porters are not only super human but amazing cooks too. Here is what we ate:
Breakfast Day 1 (at the trekking office) – banana pancakes, chocolate syrup and tea.
Lunch Day 1 (Pos 3) – lemon tea, fresh pineapple and mixed vegetables with rice.
Dinner Day 1 (at camp) – vegetable curry and rice with some hot chocolate
Breakfast Day 2 (at camp) – a stacked egg and cheese sandwich and a pancake, with some lemon tea.
Lunch Day 2 (coffee plantation, end of trek) – Mie Goreng (fried vegetable noodles)
HOW TO GET TO MT RINJANI
We arrived in the town of Senaru from Kuta, a 3-4 hour drive by car. You can easily get around Lombok with a car and driver and there are many drivers around tourist areas.
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Klook.comWHERE TO STAY BEFORE AND AFTER A MT RINJANI TREK
It is always worth staying the night before and after your trek in the town of Senaru. This makes it easier to get up early for your trek on Day 1 and have somewhere to relax straight after your trek on Day 2. We always choose to stay in locally run home-stays and guest houses, as not only do we have an authentic experience staying with a local family, it is affordable for a backpacker budget and you know your money is going directly back into the local community. Below is a list of sustainable accommodation options in northern Lombok.
Rinjani Beach Eco Resort – This resort offers spectacular views in the north-west of Lombok, of the Gili Islands and Mt Rinjani. This Eco Resort is perfectly situated between the islands and the mountains. A great location to access both attractions, whilst also supporting sustainable practices. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Hotel Tugu – Hotel Tugu in Lombok is also located in the north-west of the island near Mt Rinjnai and the Gili Islands, along a pristine white beach. They have a farm to table concept in their restaurant, as well as zero waste and plastic free initiatives. All decor and amenities are natural by local artisans, and they employ locally whenever they can. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Pondok Indah Senaru Cottages – This eco-friendly guesthouse is centrally located in Senaru and has an amazing view. We love supporting local homestays and guesthouses, as it is not only affordable, but we know our money is going straight back into the local community. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Book your local experience through AirBnB and get $55 AUD to spend on your first trip when you sign up here.
FINAL NOTE
If you ever find yourself in Lombok, then please make your way up north to experience Mt Rinjani. When flying back from Flores to Bali we flew over Lombok, and Mt Rinjani was peaking through the clouds, she is truly a gem of the island that can’t be missed. Not only will it be an unforgettable and a worthwhile trip, the communities in northern Lombok are still repairing and rebuilding their livelihoods from the 2018 earthquakes, and now, more than ever, they need the support of tourists to continue visiting the area.
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