14 questions answered
Questions people ask before booking
Route choice, fitness, what is included, and how payment works. If your question is not here, message us and we will answer it.
Choosing a trip
Which route should I pick?
The 3-day Senaru to Sembalun trek is the complete Rinjani: the 3,726 m summit, Segara Anak lake, and the hot springs. The 2-day Second Summit trek reaches 3,200 m without the main peak, for fit hikers who are short on time. The 4-day Torean route takes the same summit at a gentler pace. The Komodo trip is a sailing voyage with no climbing.
Is this suitable for beginners?
The summit routes are not. They are rated Challenging, and they are not suited to anyone prone to altitude sickness, uneasy with heights, or looking for an easy walk. The sailing trip is rated Moderate and needs no hiking experience.
When is the best time to go?
April to October for the treks. Outside that window the trail is often closed by rain and cloud, and the national park may shut the routes entirely. The Komodo sailing runs year-round, subject to sea conditions.
Can I go alone?
Yes. Trips run from one person. The price per person drops as the group grows, so the published bands show what a larger group pays.
On the trip
How fit do I need to be?
Good fitness. On the 2-day trek you walk 9 km up and 14 km down over two days, much of it on loose volcanic soil. Each package page states the fitness expectation for that route in plain terms.
What is included?
Pick-up and drop-off anywhere on Lombok, transfer to the trailhead, the national park entrance ticket, trekking insurance, licensed guides and porters, three meals a day, and camping equipment including tent, mattress, and sleeping bag. Every package page lists its own included and excluded items in full.
What do I bring myself?
A warm jacket and windproof layer, gloves and a hat, a headlamp with spare batteries, broken-in trekking boots, a light rain jacket, a water bottle, and personal medication. The summit is cold before sunrise even in dry season.
What is the difference between Standard and Deluxe?
Deluxe adds a premium hotel night, senior guides, premium tent and sleeping bag, a camp table and chairs, and a headlamp. Depending on the route it may also add a summit certificate, a waterfall trip, a welcome dinner, and premium insurance.
Booking and payment
How do I book?
Open a package, pick a date and group size, and press send. The message is written for you and opens in WhatsApp. We reply with availability and the final cost, and the booking is confirmed in that conversation.
Do I pay on this website?
No. Nothing is paid online and the site takes no card details. Payment is arranged directly with us over chat.
How far ahead can I book?
Up to 18 months. For anything further out, message us and we will note the dates.
What if the weather turns?
On the mountain the park authority can close a route at short notice, and at sea the sailing itinerary may change with conditions. We move the date or adjust the plan with you rather than walking into bad weather.
Booking safely
How do I know I am booking with a real operator?
Fake offices do exist. People have bought Rinjani packages from an office in Padang Bai on Bali that claimed to represent the Rinjani Trek Management Board; RTMB's real offices are the Lombok Raya Hotel in Mataram, the Rinjani Trek Centre in Senaru, and the Rinjani Information Centre in Sembalun — all on Lombok. Book with an operator the national park recognises, and be wary of anyone selling Rinjani treks from another island.
Do I need a guide for the Senaru waterfalls?
Not for the first one: there is a made path, steps, and a posted entrance fee at the ticket booth. For the second waterfall take an experienced guide, and the third needs climbing skill and equipment. People waiting near the steps may press you for a guide fee that is not official — agree any price up front, and walk away from a dispute rather than arguing it out.