I just came back from an exhilarating trip to Lombok, Indonesia! My dad and I embarked on the thrilling adventure of hiking up Mt. Rinjani, one of the active volcanos you can visit.
Despite the brevity of the trip, it was nothing short of incredible. It was worth the travel time because the views and the entire experience were awe-striking. It was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In this post, I’m excited to share the details of our ascent, my preparation (or lack thereof), the breathtaking views we encountered, and my reflections.
Where is Mount Rinjani National Park?
Mount Rinjani is located in Lombok, Indonesia—one of Indonesia’s many islands and about a two-hour flight from Jakarta. It is a gigantic ACTIVE volcano! At 3,726 metres, it is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia.
The hike we did was split up into four parts: Pos I, Pos II, Pos III, and the final Pos was the crater rim. The entire hike up was 9.8 kilometres. The exact length on the way down, so in total, over two days, we did 19.6 kilometres.
We opted for the two-day trek, which does NOT include the summit. We heard from others the summit was not worth it, and the view from the crater was just as beautiful. The hike took around eight hours, including lunch or water breaks. The walk down took less time, around 5 hours.
This hike is doable for someone who is relatively active and not afraid of heights. I recommend this for someone who has done a hike this high before.
Preparation or Lack Thereof: Mount Rinjani Packing
I was thoroughly underprepared for this trip. I owe it all to my dad for packing the essentials I did not think of. Shout out to him!
However, the hike was doable despite my lack of physical and mental preparedness.
If you are worried about the hike, take a moment to research the mileage and elevation gain. If you have done something similar to this before and are relatively active – you can do it!
But, as always, do your research first and make your own informed decision!
We hiked this mountain during the rainy season; it rained without a doubt every day in the afternoon, and it was pretty heavy.
Here is a comprehensive list of things I think you should bring to Lombok, Indonesia, if you are embarking on this 2-day adventure:
- Two pairs of hiking socks
- One pair of warm socks to wear at night
- Waterproof hiking Shoes
- Extra pair of shoes for the crater rim (ESSENTIAL!)
- Crocs, sandals, etc., something for your feet to breathe!
- Athletic T-shirt x2
- Athletic pants x2
- Rain Jacket or Poncho
- Rain Pants
- Rain cover for backpack
- Thermal pants
- Thermal shirt
- Warm Jacket
- Bug Spray
- Wipes
- Sunscreen
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hiking Pole (helps on the way down)
- Headlamp
- Warm scarf or beanie
- Warm Gloves
Day 1: Setting Foot on the Trail
Thank you, Porters!
Due to the Mount Rinjani Location in Lombok, Indonesia, the initial hike up is quite warm. You can only climb Mount Rinjani with a guide, and we did our trek through a company.
This was such a luxurious version of hiking; I had yet to learn that this trek included porters carrying all your camping equipment. From the tents to the food, the porters had everything! Even more impressive was that they carried everything on a bamboo stick with two baskets.
Not only this, but they did the entire hike in flip-flops, and they were still faster than us!
Hike Difficulty
The initial hike up was challenging, but a good kind. It was a steady path with a decent gain in elevation up until the last 30 minutes, which I found the most difficult as it was rocky and steep.
Moreover, what was even more rewarding was that the porters set up lunch and snacks for you throughout the hike.
The lunch was spectacular! We had an entire fruit platter of carefully cut pineapple and watermelon, and the main dish was stir-fried vegetables with tempeh and rice. So delicious.
Camping Under the Stars: Night 1 on Mount Rinjani
Once we finally arrived at the crater rim of Mt. Rinjani, we were amazed by the breathtaking view. It was still cloudy as it had just finished raining, but the view was still amazing.
Furthermore, the porters had already set up the tents on the peaks of the rim and were serving us fried bananas and tea as a snack before dinner!
As the sun set, the clouds cleared up, and we could finally see the smoke from the volcano. It was indeed the best golden hour I’ve ever experienced. I did not see the stars as I passed out by 6:00 PM, but my dad mentioned it was the best view as you could see all the twinkling stars of Lombok, Indonesia.
Not to mention, the monkeys who also joined us were quite entertaining 🙂
Sunsrise Spectacle in Lombok, Indonesia
Everyone woke up the next day bright and early, around 5:30 in the morning, which was not difficult after an early night’s rest.
The beautiful sun rose, shining light on the volcano, and we were all awake to enjoy it with our tea or coffee. Our breakfast did not disappoint, as usual; it was a cheese sandwich with a pancake and another fantastic fruit platter. We were so spoiled on this trip with food!
I was also delighted to eat fruit as I don’t get much of it in Seoul…
Descent into Beauty: Day 2 Journey Down Rinjani
After enjoying our breakfast and admiring the sunrise, we decided to leave as early as we could down the mountain to try and beat the rain. Spoiler alert: We didn’t!
The hike down was delightful, up until the Pos II. My hiking boots started to bother me as they were a half-size too small. Constantly going downhill, I began to worry about my toes.
Unfortunately, at around 11, it started raining, but there was only an hour left until we reached the bottom, where we enjoyed our last lunch.
In our last 30 minutes, I decided to wear waterproof socks barefoot because I couldn’t take the pain of the boots anymore! Despite the pain my toes endured, the views going down were spectacular. It allowed you to appreciate what you hiked up the day before.
Essential Tips for Future Hikers
If you plan your trip to Lombok, Indonesia, to hike Rinjani, I have a few tips for you!
Check the weather
Since Rinjani is in Lombok, Indonesia, it is bound to be warm at the bottom. Still, of course, the temperature drops drastically at the top (especially during the off-peak season).
Pack accordingly, especially if you are going during the rainy season. The rain is no joke. It was gushing with water when we hiked up on day 1 in the afternoon.
Wear the right size shoes.
I borrowed shoes from a friend half a size smaller than me; it wasn’t an issue until the last day when my feet were dying.
You want to ensure that your shoes fit you comfortably because on the way down, if they are too small, you WILL feel the pain in Lombok. Indonesia does have stores to buy hiking shoes, but I’d suggest bringing your own.
Don’t overpack
The porters carry everything you need besides your items, so try to be minimalistic while packing for Lombok, Indonesia. You don’t want to overload yourself while climbing, mainly if you are not used to the long distance and elevation gain.
Pack Sandals/extra pair of shoes
We did not bring another pair of shoes to let our feet breathe in. This is necessary at the top, especially if your shoes got wet from hiking in the rain. It is so important to let your feet breathe, so bring a lightweight pair of sandals or something like Crocs for your feet to rest in.
Final Thoughts of Mt. Rinjani in Lombok, Indonesia
There were many emotional highs and lows on this trip. The joys included the breathtaking views, the rewarding experience of making it to the top, and the incredible food the porters prepared.
The lows were hiking in the rain, our shoes were getting drenched, and my hiking shoes were too small at the end. The joys outweighed the lows!
To conclude, this was an unforgettable experience, and sharing it with my dad was so special. I am eternally grateful that we did this together, and something I know I’ll look at fondly for years to come.
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