Toubkal Trekking

2 days Mount Rinjani Trekking to the Summit

Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, stands tall at 3,726 meters, flashing its smoldering, photogenic smile over Lombok. It’s a seductive beast—lush slopes, sweeping views, and a crater lake that looks like it belongs in a fantasy novel. But don’t be fooled. This mountain isn’t just here to pose for your Instagram. It’s here to test your willpower, cardio, and relationship with gravity.

Enter: The 2 Days 1 Night Rinjani Summit Trek, also known as “a perfectly timed midlife crisis disguised as a holiday.”

Day 1: “How Hard Can It Be?” (Answer: Yes.)

The journey begins in Sembalun, where trekkers meet their guides and porters—those magical humans who carry 15 kg of supplies in flip-flops and still walk faster uphill than everyone else. The first few hours are deceptively easy. “Look at the cows,” someone says, snapping photos like they’re on a leisurely countryside stroll.

Then the incline begins. And it doesn’t stop.

There’s a place called “The Hill of Regret.” It’s not officially on the map, but every trekker passes through it emotionally. Legs begin to shake. Breathing gets weird. And lunch becomes the highlight of the day—not just for the food, but because it involves sitting down.

By sunset, the group reaches the crater rim. Cue jaw drops. The view? Unreal. Segara Anak Lake glistens below with Mount Barujari (a volcano inside a volcano, because Rinjani is extra like that) puffing in the background. There’s a mix of awe, exhaustion, and maybe a single tear. Or was that sweat?

Dinner is warm and well-earned, tents are pitched on slopes that feel like they might slide off the mountain, and the alarm is set for 2 a.m. Because apparently, sleep is optional.

Day 2: The Summit Push (Where Dreams Go to Sweat)

Climbing in the dark at 2 a.m. sounds romantic until you’re actually doing it. It’s cold, it’s steep, and the volcanic gravel is less like a trail and more like a treadmill that hates you.

This is when inner monologues go feral. People promise to be nicer to their parents. Vows are made to start leg day at the gym. One guy is definitely considering becoming a monk.

But then—after three soul-bending hours—the summit.

The sun rises like it knows it’s the star of the show. Bali floats on the horizon, clouds swirl below, and suddenly, every panting breath and burning calf feels worth it. Selfies are snapped. Fists are pumped. Snacks are shared.

Then reality kicks back in: the descent. Yes, gravity is free, but it also makes you fall on your butt approximately 12 times.

The Aftermath: Pain is Temporary, Bragging Rights are Forever

By midday, the group returns to Sembalun looking like survivors of a beautiful disaster. Legs are jellified. Faces are dusty. But spirits? Unbreakable.

Mount Rinjani’s 2 Days 1 Night Trek is not for the faint-hearted—but it is for the slightly unhinged adventurer with a strong sense of humor and a backup plan for leg day.

Bring grit, a good guide, and maybe some ibuprofen. You’ll curse the trail. You’ll laugh through the pain. And you’ll leave with a mountain-shaped memory that sticks—right next to your sore calves.