Mount Rinjani Crater Rim Hike – Everything you need to know

Mount Rinjani Crater Rim Hike – Everything you need to know

A complete guide to hiking the crater rim of Mount Rinjani on the incredible island of Lombok. From booking a guide to thoughts on independent hiking and what to expect from this epic adventure.

Lombok is known as Bali's adventurous little brother - and hiking to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani is one of the most adventurous things you can do in Lombok! The hike is accessible to anyone with relatively good fitness and rewards you with some of the best views in Indonesia.

In this blog post I will describe everything you need to know about hiking to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani in Lombok. I'll go over what to expect on the trip, what to look for in a good guidebook, and some epic photos from the volcano's rim!

Featured in: Amazing Things to Do in Lombok, Indonesia

Everything you need to know before hiking to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani

Below are some frequently asked questions about hiking to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani. This is some of the most current information you will find as of March 2022.

Hiking video to the Rinjani volcano

Here is a short video that Haylea made of some footage we took on our hike to the Rinjani volcano rim.

This will give you a good idea of ​​what to expect when you reach the crater.

Booking a trekking tour to the Rim

To book a trek, most hikers either show up and haggle over a price in Senaru.

This is great for saving money, but can often be hit-and-miss since you don't really know what to expect. Additionally, due to low tourism numbers in recent years, most operators now rely on bookings via online platforms such as Viator.

If you are looking for a serious and quality tour where everything is organized for you, including transport to and from Senggigi and an overnight stay in Senaru before the trek, you can book a 2D1N trekking trip here.

This is a great tour with tons of 5 star reviews. It contains:

• Erfahrener Trekkingführer
• Träger, um die gesamte Ausrüstung zu tragen
• Eintrittserlaubnis für den Rinjani-Nationalpark
• Nahrung und unbegrenzt Wasser
• Snacks
• Zelte, Schlafsäcke und Isomatte
• Etwas zum Bedecken von Mund und Gesicht (zum Schutz vor Staub)

This trekking tour I booked gave us plenty of food and water on the mountain. However, I was told that some cheaper tours save money on food. Another important factor is whether plastic waste is collected and transported away during the tours.

Book: Best Lombok Volcano Trekking Tour (best reviews and sustainable company).

alt=“SUNSET HIKE FROM SENARU, MOUNT RINJANI CRATER HIKE”>
alt="INNER VOLCANO OF MOUNT RINJANI">

Overnight accommodation in Senaru before the trek

Since the best trips to the crater depart from Senaru, it's best to spend a night here before and after the hike. Below are my recommended options. (Note that if you book the tour above, you will receive an overnight stay included before the hike).

My Senaru Homestay: Tiu Kelep Homestay – This is literally opposite Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfalls. The owner is super friendly, offers free unlimited coffee and tea, breakfast and can also organize waterfall or Rinjani trekking tours. A double room is the cheapest in Senaru at just $7 per night.

Cheap Homestay with Hot Shower: Embun Rinjani Homestay – My second time in Senaru, I stayed at Embun Homestay, which is just around the corner from Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfalls. This one is also super value for money as you get a hot shower, large rooms and free breakfast for a ridiculously good price!

alt=“EMBUN RINJANI HOST FAMILY”>

Is Mount Rinjani closed for trekking in 2022?

Mount Rinjani Trekking is definitely not closed. While the trail to the summit of Mount Rinjani (peak) was closed for a long time, it has now been repaired and is open for hiking.

However, the new route is currently more dangerous than the previous route. This caused the price to skyrocket up to the Rinjani peak.

Therefore, most people tend to book a trekking trip to the crater rim from either Tete Batu or Senaru instead.

Update 2022: I hiked the Rinjani crater rim for the first time in 2019. For a few years (2018-2020) many of the Rinjani trails were closed. I'll keep this article updated so you can use it as a reliable guide for hiking Lombok!

Mount Rinjani trekking after the earthquake

As you can probably imagine, the trekking routes on Mount Rinjani were severely damaged during the earthquakes.

As a result, the families whose houses were destroyed also lost their income. This, combined with the devastating pandemic and recent floods, means the people of Lombok really need your help.

Tourism has not yet fully recovered, but is slowly increasing again. If you've been planning a trip to Lombok or a hike to the volcanic rim of Mount Rinjani, then this is definitely the time to do it before the crowds come back!

Can I climb Mount Rinjani without a guide?

Technically, it is possible to hike to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani without a guide. However, you must bring your own food, water, tents and supplies. I would not recommend climbing Mount Rinjani without a guide for several reasons.

• Einheimische Familien sind auf Trekkingtouren angewiesen, um Geld zu verdienen
• 15.000 Rupiah Nationalparkgebühr muss man sowieso pro Person zahlen
• Sie werden lokales Wissen und epische, in den Bergen zubereitete Speisen verpassen
• Sie müssen Ihre eigenen Vorräte tragen

What do I need to bring with me?

Your guides and porters carry all necessary camping and cooking supplies. However, you must be responsible for bringing the following in a small day-size bag.

• Warme Kleidung für die Spitze
• Gute Schuhe oder Stiefel
• Kamera oder GoPro
• Toilettenartikel
• Sonnencreme
• Kleiderwechsel

alt=“MOUNT RINJANI CRATER RIM AND ANAK LAKE”>

Mount Rinjani Crater Rim Hiking Guide

Here is a complete hiking guide to Mount Rinjani Crater Rim that should answer all your questions about the hike.

Most guided tours to the crater rim last 2 days and 1 night. This gives you the opportunity to reach the rim at sunset, spend the night, and descend again after an epic volcano sunrise breakfast.

Price for the hike to Rinjani Crater in 2022

Depending on the quality of your trek, prices to Rinjani Crater Rim from Senaru vary between 1.8 million and 3.5 million rupiah. If you have a larger group, you can also negotiate a cheaper price.

For those interested in trekking from Tete Batu, expect to pay a little more as this site has less hiking infrastructure.

I was told that some smaller trekking groups based in Sembalun charge less to either the summit or the crater. However, this largely depends on how experienced they think you are, the size of the group and of course the reputation and professionalism of the trekking company.

Mount Rinjani Trek Difficulty Level

Trekking to the crater rim does not require any technical climbing skills.

A generally fit person can reach the edge of Senaru in a day's hiking. Although dusty, the path is well-trodden and easy to follow. However, on the way down it can get a bit slippery as you sand down the mountain.

Rinjani height and height

The summit of Mount Rinjani is 3,726 meters above sea level, making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia.

However, Rinjani's rim is considerably lower at 2639 m (8,658 feet).

The starting point, Senaru, is at around 650 meters, which means you will climb almost 2000 meters in one day. It's a leg burner, but the view is worth it!

Related: Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfalls (nearby)

What to expect on the hike to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani

The day starts early with your trekking guides driving you to the entrance of the national park.

Here you sign into a register and your guides pay for your entry permit, which should always be included in your tour. Ahead of you lies a steep 7-hour climb to the crater rim.
alt="MONT RINJANI SUNSET">

The rise

There are three main stops along the trail where hikers can rest their legs. The first route is mostly in dense jungle where you can see the famous black monkeys. Depending on your pace, your guides and porters will most likely stop at POS 2 to prepare a hot lunch, usually rice and vegetables.

After POS 2 and just before POS 3, about 5 hours into the hike, you break out of the jungle and into a savannah-like landscape. It can get pretty hot in this section and the dust is a killer.

The final section is the steepest, but you'll soon reach the crater rim where you'll have incredible views of Lake Anak and the entire volcanic crater.
alt=“MOUNT RINJANI CRATER RIM TREKKING”>

Camping on the crater rim of Mount Rinjani

While you're busy taking photos, your guides and porters will set up your campsite. Our guides seemed to have claimed the best spot right on the edge of Mount Rinjani's crater rim.

Some of the best views can be found by walking around the communications antenna to the right of the path. There are no trees blocking the view here.

Sunset is arguably better than sunrise on Mount Rinjani, as the sun positions itself perfectly to illuminate the volcanic lake and set fire to the cotton candy clouds below.
alt="DRONE FOOTAGE OF MOUNT RINJANI CAMPING">
alt="TENTS ON THE RINJANI CRATER RIM">

The descent back to Senaru

After falling asleep under the galactic night sky, you'll probably be a little sore but undoubtedly still excited about witnessing the sunrise. Shortly afterwards we treated ourselves to a banana pancake breakfast before setting off on the strenuous descent back to Senaru. Allow approximately 4 hours for the entire descent.

While the descent is not as strenuous, it is much more difficult as you will undoubtedly slip and fall on the loose sandy soil. I found it easier to lower an improvised light to avoid falling over.

Before you arrive back at the national park entrance, your guides will cook you another jungle lunch at one of the rest areas. This was the last time we saw our porters, hurrying quickly down the mountain, eager to see their families.
alt=“MOUNT RINJANI CRATER RIM HIKE”>

More photos from the hike to the crater rim of Mount Rinjani

Here are a few more photos that I snapped during my time on the hike. I sent the drone up and captured some of my favorite drone shots of the year so far!
alt="MOUNT RINJANI OF SENARU">
alt=“RINJANI VOLCANO SUNSET OVER THE CLOUDS”>
alt=“SENARU TREKKING MOUNT RINJANI”>
alt="MONT RINJANI SUNSET">
alt=“RINJANI VOLCANO SUNSET OVER THE CLOUDS”>
alt=“MOUNT RINJANI VIEWS FROM THE CRATER RIM”>
alt=“MOUNT RINJANI VOLCANO AND CRATER”>
alt=“VOLCAN ON MOUNT RINJANI”>
alt=“MOUNT RINJANI CRATER SUNSET PANORAMA”>

More Lombok travel guides

Did you end up doing the Mount Rinjani Crater Rim hike? Did you shell out the money for the summit?

I would love to hear about your experiences, let me know below. Otherwise, check out some of my other useful guides for traveling in Lombok, Indonesia!

MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.

alt="Mount Rinjani Crater Rim Pinterest Pin">
.