STOP SCROLLING—Mount Rinjani is No Joke (But Worth It 😅)
You ever do something so hard it breaks you a little... and then absolutely fills your soul? Yeah—that was the Mount Rinjani summit trek in Lombok, Indonesia.
We went in July. We thought we were prepared. We were not. And yet—it was the kind of brutal magic that leaves you breathless, freezing, and completely alive.
Here's exactly what happened, because when we were planning, finding reliable info was harder than the hike itself.
The Moment I Knew This Place Was Next-Level 🌋
It was 6 a.m. We’d been hiking since 2:30 in the pitch black, headlamps bobbing like fireflies. My calves were screaming, the air was thin, and sand kept sliding under my feet—like walking up a treadmill made of lava dust.
And then we made it.
3,726 meters above sea level. The sun cracked open the horizon with oranges and golds that looked fake, like a filter had exploded across the sky. All around us: crater lake, volcanic peaks, the edge of clouds. Just pure WOW.
I forgot I couldn’t feel my fingers. I forgot how sleep-deprived and hungry and sore I was.
This wasn't just another hike. This was one of those viral Lombok Indonesia spots showing up everywhere lately—but in real life, it hits even harder.
Real Talk: How We Booked & What We Paid 🧾
We booked our 2-day/1-night trek through a small agency in Kuta just three days ahead. Cost? 3.6 million IDR per person—but that covered everything:
- Homestay in Senaru the night before (private room!)
- Transport to/from Kuta
- Entry into the national park
- Porters who literally carried tents, gas canisters, bananas... like legends
Pro tip 🚨: Booking last-minute is fine in the off-season, but check reviews! Some companies will send anyone up the mountain.
The first hiccup? We got sent to the wrong hotel, and then the wrong group 🙃 Classic island chaos—but it worked out.
The Climb Begins: Day 1
Start: 10:30 a.m. from Sembalun (1,156 meters).
Weather? Sunny. Hot. Brutally exposed trail. Bring sunscreen or regret EVERYTHING.
We reached our lunch stop after 2 hours—Mie Goreng for fuel—and hit the crater rim (2,639 meters) by 4 p.m.
Dinner was rice + mysterious sauce, which I wolfed down while staring out over the lava lake. Oh, AND there’s a tiny ridgeline kiosk selling beer. I’m not saying drink before a 3 a.m. hike... but I’m also not NOT saying that. 🍺
The Summit Ascent: AKA Type 2 Fun 😵
We got up at 1:30 a.m. They handed us two crackers and tea like that was a real breakfast. My stomach laughed in betrayal.
By 2:30 a.m., we were climbing. The dark was intense. The wind was cutting. The sand made every step maddening—one forward, 0.5 back. Like lava quicksand.
At one point, I legit considered sitting down and becoming part of the mountain forever. But if 60-year-old locals and barefoot porters can do it... so could I.
When we finally reached the top? Pure euphoria. Like watching the Earth wake up from space. You WILL cry. Or maybe that was just dry eyes from windburn.
Going Down… Literally 😬
After summit selfies and coffee from someone’s thermos (bless them), we began our descent. Quick bite: one pancake and more tea. Again, not enough. PACK SNACKS.
The path going down was slippery AF—loose sand, jagged rock, and exhausted legs = comedy of falls. Our group probably fell a combined 50 times. At one point, we just started rating each other’s wipeouts.
Back to Sembalun by mid-afternoon. Total altitude up + down? About 5,200 meters in 36 hours. My knees hated me. My soul did not.
Crowd Alert & Insider Tip 💡
There were HUNDREDS of people camping at the crater rim. Maybe 600+ during sunset. It felt like a party on Mars. Everyone following the same path, no matter what they paid.
Insider tip: bring trekking poles—they’re lifesavers going down. And warm clothes!! Gloves, scarf, jacket... it’s close to freezing at the summit.
While most people are focused on the summit, don’t skip the crater rim view the evening before—it’s maybe even better than sunrise. And definitely less crowded.
Final Vibes ✨
This is not an easy hike. It’s gritty, raw, and at times hilariously unorganized. But it’s also unreal.
Mount Rinjani is blowing up online right now—and for good reason. It's the kind of experience that chews you up and spits you out a stronger, more awe-filled human.
Would I do it again? ...Ask my knees next week.
But would I recommend it to literally anyone craving meaning, mountains, and that magic early-morning light? 1000% yes.
Oh—and shoutout to FlyLombok.id. Their aerial footage? INSANE. Only from the sky do you realize how massive the caldera is—or see the ash path snaking to the summit. It gave me chills (the good kind).
Now go pack snacks, wipe your phone camera, and hike this beast before everyone else does. 😉