Hiking Gunung Rinjani in Lombok

Hiking a volcano is something many people like to do when visiting Bali or other parts of Indonesia. I have hiked Batur, Agung and Catur and would say the most enjoyable and least stress was Catur, in the Bedugal area.

For one of the very best volcano hikes you have to go to Lombok, where the massive Gunung Rinjani dominates the skyline. A recent article in the Lombok Times mentions that Rinjani, at 3726m is the second biggest volcano in Indonesia. There are at least 3 main trekking routes, (2 that are 2 day / 1 night and another route that is 3 days / 2 nights.

Rinjani has a lake inside the caldera and the crater is 4 kms in diameter. The lake, Danau Segara Anak (Child of the Sea) is 230m deep and has a rich abundance of fish and other wildlife. The local people, both Hindu and Muslim see Rinjani as an important place. Offerings are placed on thr mountain and in October / November each year a pilgrimage called Pekelem is undetaken where offerings to the Gods are thrown into the lake near the summit.

The entrance to the Rinjani National Park is Senaru which is a pretty village with great views. The area has waterfalls, jungle trekking, rice terraces, plantations of tabacco and traditional villages. A friend of mine statyed at Tetebatu on the south slope and loved that place for the tranquility.

The bbest time of year to hike Rinjani is the dry season from April to October.