Mount Rinjani Trekking Guide: Permits, Costs and Itineraries

Information as of August 2026

Mount Rinjani (3,726 m) is an active volcano said to be the second-highest peak in Indonesia after Puncak Jaya, and it is the symbol of Lombok. The short version: independent trekking on Rinjani is not permitted, and you must go with a licensed guide. Permits and equipment are usually arranged through a trekking company, and turning up without doing your research can mean you cannot fit a trek into your dates or that the cost is higher than you expected. In this article, we at Semelar Beach Village have put together practical information on permits, guides, costs, itineraries, the best season and gear, based on research rather than on a personal summit experience.

What is Mount Rinjani? Elevation and Segara Anak Lake

Mount Rinjani stands 3,726 m high and is said to be the second-highest active volcano in Indonesia after Puncak Jaya. It rises in the north of Lombok and can be seen from almost anywhere on the island. Our base in Sekotong, in south-west Lombok, is some distance away, so if you are visiting mainly to trek Rinjani, it helps to get a feel for the island’s layout and how to get around first, in Lombok: The Complete Guide to Getting There, Climate and Highlights.

On the way up the mountain is Segara Anak Lake, a caldera lake inside the crater at about 2,000 m, with hot springs bubbling up near its shore. Many people choose to aim only for the crater rim and the lakeside, without attempting the summit, and being able to choose your goal according to your fitness and schedule is one of the features of trekking Rinjani. Because it is an active volcano, parts of the trail may be closed depending on volcanic activity.

Comparing the routes: Senaru and Sembalun

There are two main starting points for a Rinjani trek: Senaru on the north side and Sembalun on the east side. Many tours combine the two, going up one side and down the other.

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Item	Senaru route	Sembalun route
Terrain at the start	Starts in tropical rainforest. Much of the early section is shaded	Starts on a wide savanna (grassland). Easy to get plenty of sun
Difficulty	Relatively gentle and often chosen by beginners	Often used as the approach to the crater rim and summit, and the latter part is steep
Main destinations	Crater rim viewpoint, Segara Anak Lake	Summit attack (usually starting late at night)
Common combination	Up from Sembalun and down to Senaru, or the reverse	Same as left

* A guide based on general information (as of August 2026). The actual route and the time it takes vary with the guide company and the condition of the trail that year.

The “summit attack” to the top usually starts around 1 to 2 a.m., walking in the dark up steep slopes of volcanic ash, so it demands more of you in both fitness and experience. A plan that skips the summit and aims for the crater-rim viewpoint and Segara Anak Lake suits people who are not confident about their fitness, or who would rather enjoy the scenery and hot springs than the climb itself.

Are permits, guides and porters mandatory?

Rinjani lies inside a national park (Gunung Rinjani National Park), and solo trekking is not permitted. Trekkers must obtain a national park entry permit and, as a basic rule, go with a licensed guide. Porters are not mandatory, but they carry tents, food and cooking equipment, so guided packages generally include them.

In recent years, rules requiring a certified guide in the area above the crater rim, and limits on how many trekkers one guide can look after (the guide-to-trekker ratio), are said to be under review. Some sources also say online registration and booking in advance are required, but rules may change, so before you travel always check the latest rules with the official Rinjani National Park information or a registered guide company.

A rough guide to costs: permits, guides and package prices

The cost of a Rinjani trek is usually presented as a package price that adds up the national park entry permit, the guide, the porters, and meals and camping equipment. The breakdown differs between operators and plans. Dollar amounts are approximate, at about US$1 = Rp17,800 (September 2026).

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Item	Rough cost
National park entry permit (per day)	About Rp150,000–250,000 (about US$8–14)
Guide (per day)	About Rp100,000–500,000 (about US$6–28)
Porter (per day)	About Rp75,000–350,000 (about US$4–20)
3 days 2 nights package (including permit, guide, porters, meals and camping equipment)	Roughly US$210–290 per person as a guide (varies by operator and season)
Rental of personal gear (cold-weather clothing, sleeping bag, etc.)	May be extra

* The above is a guide based on several general travel sources, not actual prices (as of August 2026). Prices vary greatly with exchange rates, guide companies and the season, so always get a quote before booking.

Figure: Rough daily costs for a Rinjani trek

Approximate ranges for each item (as of August 2026)

Dollar conversions are approximate. Some plans charge separately for transfers from Bali or the main towns of Lombok, accommodation, and use of showers and rest facilities after the descent, so when you get a quote, always check what is included.

Itineraries and the best season

Guide to itineraries: 2 days 1 night to 4 days 3 nights

Rinjani itineraries come in several patterns, depending on your fitness, time and destination.

• 2 days 1 night: A compact plan centred on the Senaru route, aiming to camp on the crater rim. It often does not include the summit attack
• 3 days 2 nights: The most common itinerary. On day 1 you climb from Senaru (or Sembalun) and camp on the crater rim; on day 2 you make the summit attack in the middle of the night, then descend to the shore of Segara Anak Lake for the second night; on day 3 you descend. This is the standard pattern
• 4 days 3 nights: Climb from Sembalun and descend to Senaru (or the reverse). You can enjoy the summit, the crater lake and the hot springs without rushing, but you need the fitness and the number of days

Package names and the exact route differ between companies, so before you book, always check on which day and where you will camp, and whether the summit attack is included.

Figure: How the itinerary changes depending on whether you attempt the summit

The best season and the closed season in the rainy season

To ensure safety and protect the trails, Rinjani is officially closed from around 1 January to 31 March each year, and it generally opens from around April to December. These dates can shift with each year’s weather and trail conditions.

The best season for trekking is said to be the dry season, around May to June and September to October. July and August have a high share of clear days, but they also coincide with the peak international tourist season, when guide bookings fill up more easily. For the climate and best season across Lombok as a whole, see also Lombok: The Complete Guide to Getting There, Climate and Highlights.

Gear and fitness level

Rinjani is a serious high-altitude trek that goes up to 3,726 m. Some people set off in light clothing because Lombok is a tropical island, but the temperature drops sharply as you climb, and cold-weather gear is essential for the summit attack in the middle of the night.

What to bring

• A full set of cold-weather clothing (a fleece or down jacket, gloves and a beanie)
• A waterproof, windproof outer layer (one that doubles as rainwear is handy)
• Trekking shoes (well broken in; the volcanic-ash slopes are slippery)
• A headlamp and spare batteries (essential for the summit attack in the middle of the night)
• Trekking poles (useful for taking the strain off your knees on the descent)
• Water and trail snacks, sunscreen, and any medicines you normally take

In terms of fitness, you are said to need to be able to keep walking on rough ground for about 8 to 10 hours a day. The summit attack in particular starts in the middle of the night and climbs steep slopes of volcanic ash, and is said to be very demanding both physically and mentally. Above about 2,500 m, symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea and dizziness can appear, so you need to pace yourself sensibly and be ready to turn back if you feel unwell. If you have little trekking experience or are worried about your fitness, we recommend telling the guide company honestly about your experience and fitness level beforehand and asking for a plan that does not overreach.

Summary

Mount Rinjani is an active volcano 3,726 m high, said to be the second highest in Indonesia, and you can climb it from two main routes, Senaru and Sembalun. Solo trekking is not permitted, and going with a licensed guide and obtaining a permit are both mandatory. 3 days 2 nights is the most common itinerary, and a package including permit, guide and porters starts from roughly US$210 per person. The park is officially closed around January to March in the rainy season, so choosing when to travel is also important. Rules, fees and operating status can change, so please use the information in this article as a starting point, then check the latest information with official sources or a registered guide company before making your plans.

Sources used for this article

• Public 2026 information from several local guide companies and trekking-related websites (general descriptions of permits, costs, routes and itineraries)
• General travel information on Gunung Rinjani National Park (descriptions of elevation, closed season and the rule on going with a guide)
• General travel information (as of August 2026)