Up the quiet Senaru side through rainforest to the crater rim, then a dawn push to Sangkareang Peak at 3,150 m. Two days, and no queues.
This route does not go to the true summit. It climbs the forested Senaru side to the crater rim at 2,641 m, camps there with the lake spread out below, and pushes at dawn to Sangkareang, the mountain's second peak at 3,150 m. Same caldera view, same sunrise, a fraction of the traffic. It runs private only, so the pace is yours.
Almost everyone starts at Sembalun. Senaru is the older trail, cooler and greener, and on most mornings you have the second summit largely to yourself.
You climb through dense tropical forest with birdsong and shade for most of day one, and the volcano stays hidden above the canopy until the trees thin near the rim.
From 3,150 m the shadow of Rinjani still stretches across Lombok, Bali's Agung still floats in the west, and the lake still glows below you.
The trailhead is a few minutes from our guesthouse. No 45 minute drive round the mountain at dawn, so day one starts gently.
Two days up and back down the Senaru side. Times are typical: your guide sets the pace on the day.
We pick you up wherever you are on Lombok: the airport, Bangsal harbour, Senggigi, Mataram, Kuta or your hotel, at a time we agree with you. From there it is a drive to our guesthouse in Senaru, included in the price. You check in, meet your guide, get the briefing and sleep. Shoes, poles, jacket and headlamp can be rented here that evening.
Breakfast at 6:30, and a short ride to the Senaru gate: the trailhead is right here, so there is no long transfer on this route. Registration at 8:00, then the climb begins in cool rainforest with birdsong and the volcano hidden somewhere above the canopy. Lunch at Pos 2 in the shade around midday. From there the trail steepens and the trees thin out, and you reach the rim at about 15:00 with the caldera and the lake opening up in front of camp.
Up at 3:00 for hot tea in the dark, and moving by 3:30. The trail to Sangkareang is steep and the volcanic scree shifts under your boots, but it is shorter than the true summit push. Sunrise at 3,150 m at around 5:30: the shadow of the mountain across the island, Agung on the horizon, the lake glowing below. Back to camp for breakfast, pack up at 8:00, then the long descent through the forest to the gate by early afternoon, where your transfer is waiting.
Steep in places, and day one is a long unbroken climb from the village to the rim. The push before dawn is the hardest part: loose scree, thin air, cold wind. There is no technical climbing. If you can hike uphill for five hours with a daypack, you can do this. Determination matters more than training.
Every trek is all-inclusive: one price covers your guide and porters, transport, all meals on the mountain, camping gear and the national park fee.
2 days · 1 night
This route runs private only. There are no shared departures on the Senaru side, so the group is yours and the date is yours.
Your own guide and porters, on the date you choose, for a group of 1 to 10. Prices are per person and all-inclusive: the more of you go, the less each person pays.
The price is all-inclusive: guide, porters, all meals, camping gear and the national park fee. You book with a USD 30 deposit per person, which comes off the price, and pay the balance in cash to your guide on Lombok.
No, and we would rather say so plainly. The true summit of Rinjani is 3,726 m and sits on the Sembalun side. Sangkareang is the second peak at 3,150 m. If the number on the top is what you came for, take the Rinjani Summit or the three-day crossing instead.
Almost all traffic on the mountain starts at Sembalun, so there is no steady stream of trekkers to form a shared group on this side. That is also exactly why the route is quiet.
Less likely than on the true summit, but 3,150 m is still altitude. Sleeping on the rim first helps you acclimatise, and your guide keeps an eye on everyone during the push. You can always turn back.
Your porters cook fresh on the mountain: rice, noodles, vegetables, eggs, fruit, and plenty of it. Tell us about allergies or a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diet when you book and we cook around it. Because this trek is private, the team shops and cooks only for your group.
Yes, but a private trek for one person costs USD 500. If you are travelling alone and want to keep it affordable, the shared departures on the Rinjani Summit and the three-day crossing start at USD 190 and USD 225 per person.