Hike Information
Hiking Mt. Rinjani is no easy feat! It requires stamina and mental endurance. That being said, thousands of adventurers summit Mt. Rinjani each year to experience the spectacular views that if offers. While this trek is not long, it is important to be prepared. Even if you are simply hiking to the crater rim, it’s important that you bring the correct gear for this trek. If you plan to summit Mt. Rinjani, you will be reaching 3726 meters. This means, even in the hottest points of the summer, it is can be freezing at the summit. Hiking Rinjani means you should have the appropriate clothing.
Health & Safety
Safety is our priority when hiking Mt. Rinjani. Your guide is a trained professional and is constantly looking out for the safety of our customers. However, this is still the wild outdoors, and dangerous things can happen. Lombok is prone to earthquakes, which in-turn can cause mudslides. It’s important to follow your guides advice if he/she decides the continue on a different path or advises against certain sections. We are constantly updated with trail conditions from the countless porters on the mountain and do everything we can to assure our customers a safe trip.
Hike Information
Hiking Mt. Rinjani is no easy feat! It requires stamina and mental endurance. That being said, thousands of adventurers summit Mt. Rinjani each year to experience the spectacular views that if offers. While this trek is not long, it is important to be prepared. Even if you are simply hiking to the crater rim, it’s important that you bring the correct gear for this trek. If you plan to summit Mt. Rinjani, you will be reaching 3726 meters. This means, even in the hottest points of the summer, it is can be freezing at the summit. Hiking Rinjani means you should have the appropriate clothing.
Health & Safety
Safety is our priority when hiking Mt. Rinjani. Your guide is a trained professional and is constantly looking out for the safety of our customers. However, this is still the wild outdoors, and dangerous things can happen. Lombok is prone to earthquakes, which in-turn can cause mudslides. It’s important to follow your guides advice if he/she decides the continue on a different path or advises against certain sections. We are constantly updated with trail conditions from the countless porters on the mountain and do everything we can to assure our customers a safe trip.
Clothing & Gear
It terms of appropriate clothing, you could be hiking in the hottest and coldest of extremes. The start of the trek is much closer to sea level that the summit, and can bring the hottest of Lombok weather. Hikers often start out with short sleeve shirts and even shorts through the beginning stages. As you climb in elevation, the weather slowly gets cooler. The weather on Mt. Rinjani can change (and will change) at a moments notice. When the clouds roll in, the sun disappears and it becomes considerably cooler. For this reason, it’s important to bring a long sleeve shirt or cool jacket. When you are sweating from the heat, and then the clouds come in, your sweat chills you very quickly.
Lombok has an average temperature of 26-28°C. Keep in mind that in general, the temperature drops about 6°C every 1000 meters you rise in elevation. This means the crater rim could be 14-16°C, and the summit 2-3°C. This can be significantly different depending on the rain.
If it rains, you need to be prepared. A rain jacket is absolutely necessary for this trek because without it, your experience could be miserable. We do provide ponchos, but nothing beats having your own proper rain jacket. Some people also like to have waterproof boots or shoes incase of rain, however many hikers prefer to have breathable hiking shoes. Either way, it’s important that you have good treads on your shoes because the ground is often loose and sandy. Good treads go a long way on this hike!
When you get to the crater rim and stop moving, your body will immediately cool down. You may want something comfortable and warm to wear for your evening at the crater rim, as well as something to sleep in. It does get cold at night, but not as cold as the summit. Extra socks, long johns, knit hat, or a hoodie are things some hikers like to have.
Some people hike without hiking poles, but we personally think they are a game changer for this hike. Using hiking poles correctly can increase a hikers distance more than 10x. They are especially important for the descent as they can lessen the impact on your knees significantly. We highly recommend having hiking poles that you are comfortable with. We do offer hiking poles for free, but realize that these are used by countless hikers and are not as good as having your own that you are comfortable with. They are inexpensive, and incredibly useful. Oh, and monkeys hate hiking sticks…remember we told you that.
Some hikers like to bring gloves for a couple reasons. The obvious reason is that it can get cold at the summit, but equally important is to avoid calluses on your hands from your hiking poles.
Other important items include: Sunscreen, bug spray, moleskin (for blisters on your feet), ibuprofen, electrolytes, small snacks, or anything you might take on a normal hike. Remember that your water and food is all carried by the porters, so that is a considerable amount of weight off of your back.
Insurance
While insurance is not required to go on this trek, it make be something you should look into. Indonesia’s health care system is notoriously expensive, and having peace of mind may make your trek more enjoyable. 2-3 day hiking insurance plans are incredibly reasonable.
Flights & Transportation
Getting to Lombok is easy! There are ferries from Bali & Gili Islands, as well as centralized airport. We provide transportation for your entire package, which includes pick up from the ferry/airport, dropping you off at our homestay & eco resort, and getting you to your next destination. Read our FAQ for details.
Insurance
While insurance is not required to go on this trek, it make be something you should look into. Indonesia’s health care system is notoriously expensive, and having peace of mind may make your trek more enjoyable. 2-3 day hiking insurance plans are incredibly reasonable.
Flights & Transportation
Getting to Lombok is easy! There are ferries from Bali & Gili Islands, as well as centralized airport. We provide transportation for your entire package, which includes pick up from the ferry/airport, dropping you off at our homestay & eco resort, and getting you to your next destination. Read our FAQ for details.
Maps
Playlist
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price?
We have 3 trek option only. The price shown on your voucher covers everything. National parks fees, food, water, & pick-up/drop off are all included in this total price. There are no extra costs associated with our tours.
2D/1N Crater Rim – $205pp
2D/1N Summit – $230pp
3D/2N Summit & Lake – $275pp
Prices are non-negotiable.
On top of this, you receive one free night at our homestay & the waterfalls the day before your trek. So technically, you spend one extra night (the night before your trek). You are welcome to come early the day before your trek to enjoy the waterfalls of course! We have safe places for your bags.
What is included in the price?
- 1 night at our homestay the night before your trek
- Guide & porter for the duration of your trek
- Sleeping bag, mat, tent, & pillow
- Hiking poles & headlamp
- Breakfast, lunch, & dinner on each trekking day
- Dinner at our homestay the night before your trek
- Transportation to and from Bangsal Harbor and our homestay (if your group is 2 or more, transportation to and from most anywhere on the island is included)
- National parks fees (these are not extra, and are already included in your price)
What is the Freedom Trek?
Office address: Jl. Pariwisata, Senaru Village, Bayan, Lombok Utara, Nusa Tenggara Barat 83354, Indonesia
What’s included:
- National Park entrance fee
- Guide assigned to your group
- Porters to carry tents, sleeping mats, food, and drinking water
- All meals during the trek
- Tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping mats
- Drinking water
- Dropoff transportation back to Bangsal Harbor after the trek
Prices:
- 2D/1N Summit Freedom Trek: $195 USD per person
- 3D/2N Summit & Lake Freedom Trek: $230 USD per person
Please note: Participants on this trek are experienced and fit hikers, so the group may naturally spread out along the trail. Guides will be present for safety and support but may not always be walking directly beside each person. This trek is best suited for those with strong fitness, mountain experience, and the confidence to hike independently when needed.
How is the Freedom Trek Different?
Why are we different?
- We are officially licensed tour guides of Mt. Rinjani. This means our tours do not cancel when other tour companies often do. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
- We are one of the only tour companies to accept solo trekkers who can join other groups.
- Groups of 2 or more are automatically considered their own group and are not required to join larger groups (unless you want to).
- We pay our guides and porters fairly which attracts the absolute best and coolest people. We are not boring…let’s just say that!
- We cook some of the best food at the top of the mountain!
- We are friends with other official tour groups and work together like a small union. On days with only a few hikers, we team up are able to make groups of similar age & skill levels easier than other unofficial tour companies.
- We offer a seamless way to stay at your homestay extra days after your trek if you need time to rest after.
- Our team is just…well…freekin’ cool! You will have more fun with us!
I'm a solo hiker, what can I do?
We have hiking tours going everyday. Solo hikers are welcome, and you will be joining another group.
We do our best to pair you with someone of your age and hiking level. To be frank, most of the porters and guides that travel up the Mt. Rinjani daily are one big network of friends since childhood. Hill & our team always have a solution for solo hikers as long as national parks tickets are still available.
We're a large group, is there a discount?
Groups of 10 and over get a $500 discount per 10 people that join. We can accommodate large groups since we have multiple home-stays right beside each other. This is something unique to our company.
What does 2D/1N and 3D/2N mean?
2D/1N means 2 days & 1 night.
3D/2N means 3 days & 2 nights.
This is counting ONLY your hiking days & nights.
Since you will arrive 1 day earlier to stay at our homestay, technically you have 1 extra night you are staying with us (included in your price).
So, if you are doing the 2D/1N summit trek, you will spend 1 night at our home stay, trek all day, spend 1 night at the rim, and then trek 1 more day back down.
If you are doing the 3D/2N summit & lake trek, you will spend 1 night at our home stay, trek all day, spend the night at the rim, trek another day, spend the night at the lake, and then trek a third and final day back down.
When is the best time of year to trek Mt. Rinjani?
Mt. Rinjani is open from April – December. It is closed for hiking from January 1 until April 1. The rainy season is different each year, but can start as early as mid-September. November is usually the wettest month of the year. Since Lombok is a tropical island, the weather is warm year-round. However, the heavy rain makes hiking Mt. Rinjani unsafe.
Are my dates sold out?
Permits issued by Mt. Rinjani National Park often sell out during holidays and peak season, so we highly recommend booking early. We do our best to keep our calendar updated and block off unavailable dates. However, availability can change quickly, so the best way to confirm your dates is to contact us via WhatsApp before booking. We’ll let you know right away if your preferred dates are still available.
Where can I put my bags?
Most hikers leave their bags at our homestay. There is no reason to carry everything you have with you to the top of Mt. Rinjani. We have safe places to keep bags. We always stop back at the home stay to change drivers, so you can pick up your bags then.
What time does the trek start?
We start at 7:00am on the first day. Depending on the starting point, there is most likely a 1 hour drive to the trailhead. You will stop for a quick health check at an outdoor hospital at which point they will check your blood pressure. Hiking usually starts around 8-8:30am. If you are summiting the mountain on the 2nd day, we start hiking at 2:30am with headlamps or flashlights.
How many kilometers are each trek?
The rim trek is 7km the first day (to the rim), 14km on the way back. The decent is much easier on the way back.
The summit trek is 7km on the first day to the rim. On day 2, it is 3km round trip to the summit at back to the rim at, but a very tough section. It is 7km from the rim back to Sembalun.
The summit & lake trek is 7km on the first day to the rim. On day 2, it is 3km round trip to the summit and back to the rim, but a very tough section. Then, it is 2.5km to the lake. From the lake to the Senaru rim is 3km. Then from the Senaru rim to Senaru village is 7.5km on the final day.
Is this trek dangerous?
Mt. Rinjani is a tough trek, but it is not specifically dangerous. On any volcano trek, you must be careful because danger is everywhere. But Mt. Rinjani has less cliff like edges than other mountains. You are rarely on serious cliff edges when going up and down. It is very steep, and requires patience and focus, but is nothing like the cliffs of the Alps, Rockies, or Himalayas. The danger most lies in people’s body limits and whether or not they can make it to the summit at 2 a.m. It is tough on stamina. Also, coming down Mt. Rinjani without hiking sticks can pose risks to knees and joints. Be careful, but you are with a group and never alone.
What if I get hurt?
Your porter and guide will be carrying first aid kits. If you have anything personal that you need such as medication, it’s important that you bring that yourself. Our porters carry radio transmitters to communicate with local safety officials. Our guides are trained in CPR and life saving techniques. You national parks fee includes basic insurance.
What if I cannot continue on the hike due to my ability or an injury?
This question gets asked all the time. Most people want to go to the summit of Mt. Rinjani, but are unsure of their abilities.
We recommend you book the summit trek. When you accent on the first day to the rim, your body will tell you if you are going to be able to make it to the summit the next day. The first day is not easy, but not nearly as hard as the summit.
However, most everyone makes it to the rim. You spend the evening on the rim eating and socializing, as well as sleeping in your tent.
At 2 a.m., the accent to the summit begins. It is out-and-back, which mean everyone returns to the rim and tent area at 7-9 a.m. If you feel you are unable to go to the summit, you can skip this part, and just sleep in your tents. Many people do this, and there is no shame in saying no. You will see that you are not the only one. You will wake up to an amazing view of the summit, the lake, with fresh local coffee from our porters and a memorable morning on the amazing rim!
What do I need to pay now?
You must pay your Gunung Rinjani National Park entrance fees. This is roughly $13 per day per person. When you fill out your trekking form, this amount is calculated for you.
What are the National Parks fees?
It costs 200,000 IDR (roughly $13 per day) for foreign nationals to hike in Gunung Rinjani National Park. This covers your insurance & health check as well. For ecological and safety reasons, there are strictly enforced daily hiker limits on Mt. Rinjani. No one, not even tour companies, can get tickets without paying this fee and registering an actual hiker. You must pay this fee before your registration can be made. If you do not do this, you can never guarantee that you will actually have a ticket when you arrive on Lombok.
There are many stories of hikers coming to Lombok, only to find out that their tour company did not actually buy the ticket, and that the mountain is sold out. Don’t let this happen to you. Pay your national parks fees and get a voucher from us for your actual ticket.
Where do I pay my national parks fees?
You will be prompted to pay your national parks fees when making your reservation. It is automatically calculated for you.
What can I pay with?
We accept credit card payments via PayPal for the National Park fees.
For the remainder of your payment, it is cash only in IDR or USD when you arrive. We use the xe.com app for currency conversions and you can too.
What if I am having trouble with Paypal?
We use PayPal to securely process international payments. You don’t need a PayPal account, you can simply pay with your credit card. PayPal is just the platform we use to handle credit card transactions.
Do you start in Senaru or Sembalun?
For the summit & lake treks, we start in Sembalun. For the rim trek, we start in Senaru.
Do you stop at the hot springs?
There are a few hot springs that are accessible to hikers along our 3 day hike. We will be stopping at 2 in particular on the end of our 2nd day. One is hotter than the other, but they are about 10 minutes apart. Depending on how hot you can handle the water, you can decide to stay in the hotter one, or the more reasonable one.
Will I make it to the ferry to Gili on time?
The last public ferry to all Gili islands leaves at 17:00 (25,000 Rupiah). We have designed our trek to get you there in time. If you are going to the Gili Islands, there are also smaller boats that leave as late as 19:00 in emergency situations.
We strive to provide accurate estimations; however, please note that the return time may vary slightly due to factors such as trail conditions and group pace.
Will I make it to the ferry to Bali on time?
Getting to Bali requires catching a ferry around 15:00. This is not enough time to catch a ferry to Bali even if you are taking only the rim hike. The drive from Senaru to the port takes about 1 – 1.5 hours. It is just not reasonable to do it this way. You should stay one more night in Bangsal or nearby and catch the ferry the next day.
How do I purchase public ferry or speedboat tickets?
We do not sell ferry or boat tickets.
You can purchase speedboat tickets from Padang Bai Bali (Bali) to Bangsal (Lombok) or the Gili Islands here – https://bit.ly/3HP0Ye2
There is a public ferry between Gili and Bangsal. Tickets can be purchased at the ferry terminal same day without any issue for $25,000 Rupiah.
If you want to take a speedboat from Bangsal to Gili rather than the public ferry, you can reserve tickets here – https://bit.ly/3HQWX93
There are also fast boats available from Bangsal back to Gili up until about 19:00. These are not bookable online and are available only in emergency situations like when hikers are slow to return.
Will you pick us up "here" on Lombok?
If you area group of 2 or more, we will pick you up anywhere on Lombok and it is included in the total price.
If you are a solo hiker, pick up point is in Bangsal Harbor, and it is included in your price.
If you are a solo hiker and you need a ride to or from anywhere else on the island, it is $20 each way. This is paid directly to the driver and we do not accept that payment here.
Be sure to put your pick-up and drop-off information on your trekking form.
Will you pick up or drop off in Kuta?
Yes! If you are a group of 2 or more, we off this as part of your package.
If you are a solo hiker, you can pay $20 extra to the driver directly and they will take you to Kuta.
Can I arrive on Lombok and start my trek the same day?
No. You must arrive 1 day before. When you arrive by boat or airline, you must then get to Senaru. This takes too much time. The treks all leave early in the morning directly from the homestay in Senaru. Your homestay is included in your total price already, so you should come 1 day before your trek. Remember, there are waterfalls within walking distance from our homestay.
Can I catch my return flight the same day I finish my trek?
We do NOT recommend this. It is too risky during treks. Some treks finish late due to weather, slow groups, sore feet, etc.
The only way it IS possible is if you have your own group of 2 or more, and you took the rim trek only. If you descend from the rim in the morning, you can be down in time for a flight. We can do this.
What can I do in Senaru for 1 day before my trek?
The waterfalls are right in front of our homestay. It’s a like heaven on earth. It’s magic in itself. Also, just ask our guides and drivers, and we can help you enjoy Senaru however you’d like.
What should I bring?
- Warm jacket/wind breaker (for the summit & rim)
- Hiking shoes or boots
- Sunglasses
- Warm hat & sun hat
- Sunscreen/lip sunscreen
- Swimsuit (for lake/hotspring trek)
- Small towel
- Toothbrush
- Extra tissues or baby wipes (we have TP)
- Identification
- Cash (for purchasing snacks or extras)
Some people also bring:
- Rain jacket
- Bandaids or moleskin
- Multiple layers of clothing
- Soap/hand sanitizer
- Mask (for dust when hiking)
- Flip-flops or crocs
- Extra flashlight
- Extra socks
- Deck of cards
- Bandana
- Ladies toiletries
- Medication
- Bugspray
Do I need a jacket or boots?
Yes. You need a jacket. We do not supply jackets. It is a warm hike on most days until you get to the rim or summit. It cools off in the evenings, especially when you are not hiking. Some people are fine with a windbreaker style jacket, some want something even more warm. When you reach the summit, you cool off very quickly. It has been known to hit 0 degrees sometimes at the summit. You are only there a short time, but that is the short time you need a jacket.
For shoes, you need treads on your shoes. Hiking boots are not necessary, but helpful. You must have shoes with good tread.
Do you have hiking poles or headlamps?
Yes. We provide both hiking poles and head lamps.
Where can I buy or rent outdoor gear on Lombok?
We don’t rent hiking clothes here, but the rental shop near us does. We will help you after you arrive.
They only accept cash payments.
Warm jacket – 100,000 IDR
Hiking shoes – 100,000 IDR
Long pants – 100,000 IDR
Gloves – 30,000 IDR
We provide hiking poles and headlamps for free.
How do I go to the bathroom?
There are designated spots along the trail. On the rim, your porters will set up a “toilet tent”.
Am I required to have a guide and porter?
Yes. It is required by Gunung Rinjani National Park.
Do you provide tours in other languages?
Sorry. English & Indonesian only.
What about the weather?
We hike everyday. Weather on Mt. Rinjani is unpredictable and changes often. We do not make predictions on upcoming weather until the same day. We have our own network of information coming directly from the Gunung Rinjani National Park in regards to the weather.
Is there WIFI or signal?
Wifi in Senaru is reliable, and most sim cards work great. Even on the trek, your signal is often there. It does disappear on certain points of the trek, but in general works on the rim where you are in the evening. 99% of travelers have sim cards that allow them to do everything they need on Lombok. If you are just arriving, mention to our drivers about sim cards upon arrival. They can stop along to way to our homestay.
What is the photo contest?
All year long, hikers who have joined our groups submit their photos from their trek. On Jan 1st, we select one photo to win $200. Submit your photos on our photo contest page.
What are off-season treks & prices?
Mt. Rinjani is closed from Jan 1 – Apr 1, however we offer 2 treks during the off-season. Both with amazing views of Mt. Rinjani.
1 Day – Pergasingan Hill – $149pp
2 Day – Nanggi Hill – Overnight Trek – $199pp
Prices are non-negotiable.
Both treks include one free night stay at our homestay and are all inclusive including meals & transportation.
The only difference with our off-season treks is that we DO NOT accept solo trekkers and do not make groups (like we do normally do). Off-season treks require a group of 2 or more in order to book.
