The best airport to fly into for hiking Mount Rinjani is Lombok International Airport (LOP), located in central Lombok. This is the closest and most convenient airport for reaching Senaru or Sembalun, the two main gateway villages for all Rinjani treks. Flying directly into Lombok saves time, avoids long ferry transfers, and makes the overall trip far easier to plan.
Lombok International Airport has frequent flights from Bali, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, making it accessible from most major hubs in Southeast Asia. Once you land, the drive to Senaru or Sembalun takes around 2 to 3 hours, depending on your route. Transportation is included for groups of two or more when booking with Lombok-Indonesia.org, and solo travelers receive free pickup from Bangsal Harbor or can arrange airport pickup for a small fee.
Some travelers choose to fly into Bali (Denpasar Airport DPS) and take a ferry to Lombok, but this option requires more hours of travel and can be unpredictable due to weather or ocean conditions. Flying directly to Lombok International Airport is faster, smoother, and much more reliable for anyone planning a Rinjani trek.
For the simplest start to your adventure, Lombok International Airport is the recommended entry point for all Mount Rinjani hikes.