Lombok Mount Rinjani 2-Day Senaru Crater Rim Private Trek

Mount Rinjani is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia, and the crater rim above Senaru is the shortest way to its best views. This listing offers a private two-day trek that climbs from the village of Senaru to the rim, camps there for the night and comes down the next morning. GetYourGuide shows it from about US$169 per person, which is 147 euros on the page. The tour is booked as a private group, with a guide who speaks English. It is a new listing without reviews yet.

The first day starts with breakfast in a guesthouse in Senaru village. You register at the main office of Mount Rinjani National Park, then start the walk from the main entrance gate of the rainforest. The path leads through the jungle, where the listing says you may see black monkeys and towering trees. Your guide and your porter go with you, and the porter carries the camp, which leaves you with a day pack.

A first break comes at Pos 2, one of the rest posts along the trail, where the guide and the porter prepare fresh fruit and soft drinks. You continue to Pos 3 through the rainforest and, in season, past the local strawberry fields. Lunch at Pos 3 is a meal with fresh fruit and snacks. The listing is precise about the meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner on the first day, and breakfast and lunch on the second.

After a rest, the climb goes on to the crater rim of Senaru, where the porter sets up the camp. The page promises an incredible sunset over the Gili Islands and over Mount Agung in Bali, with the lights of the islands appearing as the sky darkens. Camping equipment is included, but the nights at the rim are cold, so bring warm clothes, a jacket, gloves and a hat, as the packing list on the page suggests.

The second morning begins with sunrise over Lake Segara Anak, the turquoise lake in the caldera, where the page promises a sunrise that takes your breath away. After breakfast you start the descent to Senaru village, and you arrive at about 13:00. You can then pack and transfer to your next destination, since the operator offers the transfer from the village.

The listing presents the trek as eco-friendly. It says that tree planting is part of an ecological initiative to preserve the mountain, and it forbids leaving rubbish on the trail, so bring a bag for your waste. Do not touch or feed the wildlife, and follow the guide's advice on the paths. A small effort of this kind keeps the mountain pleasant for everyone.

The permits are the item to check. The inclusions list names meals, a guide and a porter, camping equipment and the transfer to and from Senaru, and the items listed after them, a hotel, all transport and the Rinjani permits, are not included. The national park entrance fee is therefore an extra, and the page does not give the amount, so ask the operator and keep cash in rupiah for it.

The trek is demanding and the page says so. It crosses the rainforest and needs good fitness. Pregnant women, people with reduced mobility, people with heart problems and people in poor physical condition cannot take part. Weather changes quickly on the mountain, so be ready for rain and cold at the rim, and listen to the guide if the conditions force a change.

The packing list on the page is long and useful: comfortable hiking shoes, warm clothes, a jacket, gloves, long trousers, sunglasses, a camera, snacks, water, insect repellent, sunscreen, toiletries, a day pack, personal medicines, a power bank, a fully charged phone, cash and a bag for rubbish. Take a head torch as well, which helps at the camp, and keep your sleeping bag warm with an extra layer.

The season matters. The dry months, from about April to October, give the clearest views, while the rainy season makes the paths slippery and the views uncertain. The national park is usually closed to trekkers for part of the wet season, often from January to March, so confirm the dates with the operator before you plan your trip, and keep a day of margin.

GetYourGuide offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, for a full refund, and lets you reserve now and pay later. Because the listing has no reviews yet, ask the operator about the guide's experience, the size of the group, the standard of the tents and the arrangement for your luggage, which you can leave in Senaru.

Choose this trek if you want a night on the rim of Rinjani and a sunrise over the crater lake without the longer summit climb. For the summit at 3,726 metres, longer treks of two or three days are offered, and for a gentler outing, the waterfalls and the villages of north Lombok can be visited in a day.