Expedition Rinjani, Lombok

Mount Rinjani is located in Lombok, Indonesia. It's the second-highest volcano in Indonesia, towering at 3,726 meters above sea level. At the heart of Mount Rinjani's crater lies Lake Segara Anak and a smaller, active volcanic cone which last erupted in 2010. I decided to spend three days and two nights of hiking in The Gunung Rinjani National Park. In this blog post, you can find my experience of the trek, along with some tips & tricks and a packing list if you decide to do the same.

My experience

I booked my 3D2N Rinjani trek with Rudy Trekker. The day before my trek started, they picked me up at the airport. After a 3-hour drive, I was welcomed to their hotel with a private room, all included in the price. I paid $285. I received a short briefing of what to expect and was able to borrow the equipment I needed; a headlamp, gloves, a warm jacket and a trekking pole. I packed my bag as lightly as possible and went to bed early. Here's the packing list.

DAY 1:

I got to know my group with whom I was going to suffer for the next three days; four lovely girls my age. We started in Sembalun and made our way through a savanna desert up to the Sembalun Crater Rim. It took us about seven hours until we reached our campsite. I really enjoyed this day. The weather was beautiful, amazing views, and I had a good laugh with the girls. Team Beng Beng was formed. It was a tough hike, but manageable. Above the clouds, we enjoyed our curry while watching a wonderful sunset. By 7 p.m., we were already snoring in our tents.

DAY 2:

My alarm went off at 2 a.m. I had my toast under the stars, shedding my first tears simply because the starry sky was so beautiful. Little did I know what awaited me. With our headlamps ready, we started the trek to the summit. Our guide said it would take three hours of climbing, but it ended up taking me 4.5 hours to get there. Along the way, I lost my group, which made me panic a little bit. After all, I found myself alone in the dark on a volcano. Fortunately, I made a friend along the way and insisted on sticking with him. The last hour of the climb was excruciating. I've never had to endure anything so difficult in my life. They called it 'the Michael Jackson slide', where you take two steps forward and slide one step back. After hours of struggling, I made it to the top, accompanied by my friend. Without him, I don't think I would have made it. I found a part of my group and immediately started crying again. Was it out of happiness? I'm not so sure. The fog was thick, so I couldn't see anything. Why did I even do this? We snapped a picture of myself and the mist and began our descent. Thankfully, the journey down was absolutely breathtaking and much easier! A rainbow appeared, and suddenly everything was forgiven.

Since another girl and I were a bit slower and arrived much later at the camp, we had to leave again right after breakfast. I truly didn't know how I was going to manage this. We all descended very quietly to the crater and the lake in the rain and fog. Four hours later, we arrived there. After a short lunch break, we began another ascent along the other side of Rinjani. At one point, I thought we were almost there until the guide said we still had more than two hours of climbing left. Uhu, cry session number three. I genuinely couldn't take it anymore. After 14 hours of intense hiking, we finally reached our second campsite. I politely refused dinner, as otherwise, I would become a volcano myself.

DAY 3:

I opened my tent and was greeted by the most beautiful view ever. The sunrise made the panoramic view just breathtaking. Phew, it wasn't all in vain after all. After enjoying the morning, a cup of tea, and a delicious omelet, we embarked with our stiff legs down the other side of Rinjani. Finally, we could hike with a dreamy view. This was the reason why I did it! Though it remained a challenging hike, it was surprisingly enjoyable. We spend almost the whole day in the jungle. Fortunately, we still shared many laughs together and after another five hours of hiking, we reached the finish line.

What a journey it has been. I can't believe I accomplished all of this. It was a mental battle with myself for three days, but I'm so proud of myself that I did not give up. I'm incredibly grateful for the girls; what an amazing group. We cried together, laughed together, and, above all, offered each other so much support and understanding. An experience never to be forgotten.

I want to thank the porters for carrying all our food and tents, in flip-flops, while being incredibly fast. They have my utmost respect. And finally, a big shout out to our amazing guide, Wardy, aka Woody. It takes a lot of skill to have so much patience with five girls like us. Ayo!

Would I recommend doing it yourself? Absolutely. Even though it seems like I just suffered for three days, it's truly a life-changing experience. Sometimes, pushing yourself a little beyond your limits is worthwhile, especially when rewarded with the beautiful gifts of nature. However, I do recommend doing the 4D3N trek if you have the time. You follow the same route, but with more time to appreciate all the wonderful views. Unless you're a fast hiker, then you should be fine. If you're in a rush but still want to tackle Rinjani, you can opt for the 2D1N trek. After reaching the summit, you descend the same way. Continue reading if you want to be prepared for your adventure.

Tips & tricks

1. Choose a reliable tour operator

Do thorough research to find a reliable tour operator. You wouldn't want to be hungry or have bad equipment while hiking this volcano. I went with Rudy Trekker, and our guide Wardy, aka Woody, was amazing. Make sure to request him! Book your trek in advance since the spots on the Rinjani are limited.

2. Invest in good equipment

Opt for a good backpack that provides support at your hips rather than one that places all the weight on your shoulders. Also, I did everything on my Nikes... But if you don't want to slide the whole way, invest in proper hiking shoes and break them in beforehand.

3. Pack light & wisely

Avoid unnecessary suffering by packing only what you truly need. Keep in mind that the weather can change rapidly, so be prepared for anything.

4. Check the weather forecast

You wouldn't want to endure hours of hiking in the rain only to have obscured views. Obviously, nature is unpredictable, but the best time to go is from April until November.

5. Bring plastic bags

Organize your clothes for each day in plastic bags. Even if it doesn't rain, the dew can make everything wet. Bring extra plastic bags in case your clothes get wet. You wouldn't want everything else to get wet because of it.

6. Prepare physically for the trek

While the trek is challenging, it's achievable. I'm not a professional hiker or particularly athletic, and I managed it. I believe everyone can do it, as long as you set your mind to it. You can strengthen your body and improve your fitness level to make the trek easier for yourself.

7. Believe in yourself!

YOU CAN DO IT.