Mt Rinjani - Lombok Volcano - Gili Island - 7D/6N -

Rating: (Very) Hard (?)

Sun 08-Apr-2018

Group size: Maximum 20 pax

Mount Rinjani is arguably the best climb in the region, so it should be

one in everyone's bucket list. Many have done it more than once.

There has been and will be many trips to Rinjani. Most will include a

range of conveniences done by the porters and guides. They will do

the heavy lifting, carrying everything like camping equipment,

drinking water, food, cooking equipment. They will manage your tent,

mattress and sleeping bag. Meals are freshly cooked, with all utensils

supplied. They will even set up the toilet.

However, different packages will offer a wide range of comfort level

and a variety of itinerary. Comparatively, this event is more relaxed

(hike is stretched over 4 days), more comfortable (higher level of

equipment), and a bit more indulgent (ends with a few days at island

resort).

This hike packs in a wide variety of terrains: savanna grassland, alpine

forest, tundra region, slopes of scree (small loose volcanic rock),

boulders and rocky peak, rock climbing, cold river crossing, lake at

2000m, waterfall, hot spring, and finally, rain forest. Then chill out at

an island resort before flying home.

The likely itinerary is:

Day 1 (Sunday): Touch down!

Pick up from Lombok International Airport and transfer to Sembalun with buffet lunch along the way.

Have a relaxed walk through fruit and vegetable farms in Sembalun (time/weather permitting) where you

can buy fruits like strawberries and avocados. Or just take a dip in the hotel pool. Buffet dinner at village

restaurant followed by safety briefing.

Overnight at Sembalun Agro Villa (twin sharing). Prepare your belongings for the next day: small backpack

to carry, bag for the porter, and suitcase to be stored away.

Day 2 (Monday): Gear up!

Breakfast at Agro Villa, then about 10km or so hike, which takes 6-8 hours, with stops along the way at 3

shelters for snacks and lunch. Large sections of this trail is savanna grassland with little shelter from sun,

wind, rain, or whatever nature decides. So you may be sweating from the heat or shivering from the cold.

Sunglasses, sunblock, hat, wind-breaker or even umbrellas are commonly used here.

Nearing the Panglawan 2 campsite, temperature will drop with the higher elevation, setting sun, and windy

exposed ridge. Thankfully, a dry tent with a mattress and sleeping bag should be ready before sunset.

Enjoy a hot beverage while they guide cooks dinner, which should be served early in preparation for pre-

dawn start for the summit the next day.

Day 3 (Tuesday): From Summit to Sea (... or a lake)

For those who do not want to summit - there's no shame in it. You can still take photos of the sunrise from

the comfort and warmth of your sleeping bag, sipping hot coffee. Have your breakfast while waiting for

the others to return, and learn how fast a tent heats up when the sun shines, or how fast a monkey will

grab unattended food.

For the others, a crazy early mini breakfast before the climb. It takes about 3 hours, but it will feel like

eternity with each step, cursing the scree as it slides away under your feet, or worse - ends up in your

shoes. At the peak, bask in the glory of the sunrise as you high five your hiking mates, take your photos,

and look down on a volcano in a lake in a volcano.

Descending back to the campsite is easy - the scree dampens each step, so there is almost no impact on

your knees and ankles. The trail the is mostly on a ridge, still looking down at the volcano in a lake in a

volcano. Sliding down on your butt for hundreds of meters is deceptively easy - submit to your inner child.

After a rewarding breakfast, make your way down to Segara Anak Lake while the porters break camp. The

steep rocky descent is fun for some, but scary for others. You should arrive at the lake in time for a late

lunch.

Head down to the waterfall and hot spring with the little bottles of shampoo you stole from hotels, and

wash off the day old grime. Or head down to the lake for a swim or try your hand at fishing for dinner. Or

set up your hamock for a nap.

Lakeside dinner under the stars. With some luck, you may get to witness a full moon rising from behind

the ridge, with hikers at Panglawan 2 campsite silhouetting the moon.

Day 4 (Wednesday): Exit the Crater

Breakfast, then another dip in the hot spring if you wish, before hiking out. We go along the edge of the

lake before heading upwards out of the crater. As you climb upwards, there will be many sad backward

glances down at the lake and volcano.

Lunch should be cooked and served at Panglawan 1 rim campsite. It gets much easier after that as we hike

down towards our rain forest campsite. We can have a campfire after dinner, so prepare your ghost stories

and songs.

Day 5 (Thursday): Summit to Sea

After a simple breakfast, hike a few hours towards lunch stop at Pintu Senaru, where the guides will cook

for us one last time. There's a small stall here selling drinks and snacks, so you may want to have some

cash on hand.

A short hike brings us to Rinjnai Trek Centre in Senaru by noon or soon after. The the vans will be waiting

with our stored away luggage. There's small shops here, so enjoy your cold drinks and ice cream. Have a

quick wash and clean up, so you can have a nice sleep on the 3 hour drive to Teluk Kode harbour.

From there, we will head out to Gili Air on motor boats. Gili Air is one of the 3 Gili Islands, all of which offer

fantastic beaches. No motorised transport here, just bicycles. Free and easy from evening onwards.

Overnight at 7 Seas Cottage.

Day 6 (Friday): The Island Life

Breakfast at hotel, then visiting and snorkeling around the islands. Back to hotel by mid afternoon, free

and easy thereafter.

Day 7 (Saturday): Goodbye :-(

Breakfast at hotel, check out, and back to Lombok Island. Visit Lingsar Temple and Sukarara Village before

drop off at airport.