Mt Rinjani is an active volcano that lies in the central north of Lombok and is Indonesia’s second highest volcano at 3,726 meters (12,224ft). Within Rinjani’s caldera, at its crater rim, is a 50 km2 lake called Segara Anak (Child of the Sea) where there is also the Aik Kalak hot springs. The volcano dominates the horizon of Lombok’s landscape and can be viewed in all its majesty from the three Gili Islands.
Rinjani is a popular attraction for visitors to the Gili Islands as it offers a challenging climb as well as spectacular views of the crater lake and the surrounding 41,000 hectares that make up the Mt. Rinjani National Park.
When Is The Best Time To Climb Mount Rinjani?
2019 has been a year full of uncertainty regarding trekking on Mt Rinjani. The mountain is usually closed between January and March due to the monsoon, but it was hoped that it would re-open in April. Assessment by the national park authority was measured, and a formal decision delayed until after the 2019 Indonesian election (as department roles and policy might have changed had Jokowi lost).
The office of Taman Nasional Gunung Rinjani (TNGR) has announced this week that 4 routes are officially open (as of 14th June 2019). They are:
* Senaru Trail
* Sembalun Trail
* Timbanuh Trail
* Aik Berik Trail
Official Opening Of The Trails
The opening of the hiking trails was held on Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Office of the Sembalun East Lombok sub-district head, by dialogue via the internet with the Director General of KSDAE (the Ministry of Environment and Forestry).
Tickets can be booked via the eRinjani application which can be downloaded in the playstore or through the website www.erinjani.id. To consider safety and comfort, climbing is limited to the crater rim (it is not allowed to trek to the summit or lake Segara Anak).
For up-to-date information about trekking on mount Rinjani, please contact our friends from Rinjani Dawn Adventures through their Enquiry and Booking portal form on their website.
Be sure to read the climbing rules / climbing SOPs in the eRinjani application or here. It is recommended to remain vigilant and cautious about situations in the field such as natural disasters, earthquakes, and avalanches that cannot be predicted.
The opening of Gunung Rinjani National Park is a welcome announcement and should herald the return of tourism to North Lombok. Whether the summit route will follow is uncertain, but we believe it will. The lake route is less likely in the immediate future, as much repair work needs to be conducted on the trails that run down from Senaru and Sembalun Crater Rim.
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