Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PLANNING A RINJANI TREK
The mountain is
closed to trekkers
during the wettest months of the year, usually from late
December to late March, and may be out of bounds at other times if the authorities con-
sider conditions to be too risky, though some unscrupulous companies simply take hikers
up via illegal entrances. Trekking at any time of year is not for the frail or unfit. A guide is
essential and you must
register
at the Rinjani Trek Centre at Senaru or at the trailhead in
Sembalun Lawang and pay the national park admission fee (Rp150,000, included in organ-
ized hikes) when you set off.
It is highly advisable to bring your own
walking boots
(trainers aren't suitable). Other
essential equipment includes a seriously
warm
,
windproof jacket
(summit temperatures
can drop to 2°C at night), a hat and gloves, a head torch that leaves your hands free, and
loads of snacks and sweets (even if food is provided). Pack lists can be found on trekking
operators' websites. Some trekking companies rent clothes and gear, or you can buy your
own at the
Mataram Mall
.
Make sure that a radio or mobile phone is available in your party
for emergencies.
BOOKING A TREK
Agents in every tourist centre on Lombok, including Gili Trawangan and Senggigi, and
even some on Bali, will offer to sell you a Rinjani trek, but choose wisely: this is a serious
climb and there have been fatalities due to poor equipment (including lack of sufficiently
warm gear) and reckless disregard for safety. As there have been reports of fake agencies
on Bali and the Gili Islands copying the names of established operators to sell inferior
packages, it's best to deal directly with renowned trek organizers in
Sengiggi
and the trail-
head villages of
Senaru
and
Sembalun Lawang
via their websites.
The
Rinjani Trek Management Board
(RTMB;
rinjaninationalpark.com
) coordinates
and licenses trekking facilities on the mountain, clears litter and trains porters. On its web-
site it posts when the park is officially closed. The price of
organized treks
depends on
the number of people in the group and the
level of service
- budget, standard or deluxe.
There's plenty of competitive pricing going on, though corners are likely to be cut if you
bargain too hard; insufficient food and unbearably thin sleeping bags are common com-
plaints. Whatever your chosen service level, you should get a guide, porters, sleeping bags,
tents, meals and water. Before you book, be sure to get specific details of exactly
what is
included
in the price.
Prices
are from about $105 per person for the crater-rim trek from
Senaru (two days, one night), joining a budget group of up to ten people, or about $130 for
the rim and lake (three days, two nights). Think twice before booking a trek much cheaper
than this. Doing the same routes in a group of two with “standard” service will cost around
$144 for the two-day and $196 for the three-day trek; with deluxe service it's about $170
for two days, $240 for three.
