Day 1: Senggigi – Sembalun – Sembalun Crater Rim (overnight)
Our guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby at 06.00 AM and then transfer you to Sembalun. Register at the Rinjani Information Center (RIC) in Sembalun Lawang, meet your guide, and arrange National Park entry tickets. Your guide will give you a briefing on the route details, about what local cultural traditions and what you might go for and see during the trekking, and will be explained about rubbish management and safety procedures. The trek starts from Sembalun Lawang with the gentle ascent walking through open grassland used as cattle grazing by local people. Resting at Pos 1 Pemantauan (1,300), after around three hours from Sembalun we reach Pos 2 Tengengean (1,500 m) and enjoy the beautiful views of Mt. Rinjani summit (3,726 m). After another hours ascent to Pos 3 Pada Balong (1,800 m), we start the step 3,5 climb amidst the pine-like Casuarinas species locally known as Cemara, perhaps seeing evidence of wild pigs and the long-tailed grey macaque monkeys to the campsite at Plawangan II Sembalun crater rim (2,700m).
Day 2: Sembalun Crater Rim – Rinjani Summit – Segara Anak Lake to Crater Rim Senaru
At 03:00 AM starts are necessary for the hard three-hour climb to the summit (3,726 m) on the volcanic screen. Once there, enjoy proud feelings of satisfaction and the amazing sunrise views across the Wallace Line to Bali, Mt. Agung, and Sumbawa, after enjoying the spectacular views down to the campsite. Return down the ridge passing numerous edelweiss plants Bunga Abadi to the crater rim camp for a well-deserved breakfast. After breakfast, proceed to go down to the lake. It takes two to three hours down the steep trail to the crater lake. Enjoy the lake, swim, or explore the caves and pilgrimage hot springs, believed to have healing powers, while our porters prepare your lunch. After the lunch break, leave the lake and climb for two and half hours up to Plawangan 1 Senaru Crater Rim (2,461 m) for day 2’s camp. Dinner and overnight at crater rim if weather permitted or another hour down to Cemara Lima.
Day 3: Crater Rim Senaru – Batu Penyesalan – Senaru Village to Senggigi
After breakfast, descend down the long trail to Senaru village (601 m), through thick tropical forests rich in flora, bird life, and a variety of butterflies. You might see orchids and, if lucky, the rare black ebony leaf monkey, known locally as lutung. Rest stops are taken along the way, with village stories and local legends related by your guide. Features include the Batu Penyesalan stone and banyan tree Bunut Ngengkang which looks like someone standing with their legs apart. After seven hour walk from the rim, (or five hours from Pos 3 Mondokon Lolak), the trek ends at Rinjani Trek Center at the road head in Senaru, where the car is waiting to transfer to Senggigi