Mount Rinjani Trek Guide: 2-Day vs 3-Day Routes

Choosing between a 2-day and 3-day Mount Rinjani trek is one of the most common questions we get. And honestly? The answer isn’t always obvious.

Both routes summit Indonesia’s second-highest volcano at 3,726 meters. Both offer spectacular sunrise views. Both challenge you physically and reward you with memories that last a lifetime.

But they’re also fundamentally different experiences—one is an intense sprint to the summit, the other a more complete journey that includes the crater lake and natural hot springs.

After guiding hundreds of trekkers up both routes over the past decade, I’ve learned exactly who thrives on each option and why. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to choose the right trek for YOU.

Quick Comparison Table

The 2-Day Summit Trek: Fast & Intense

The Route Breakdown

Day 1: Sembalun Village → Crater Rim Sembalun

• Start: 1,150m elevation
• End: 2,639m elevation
• Elevation gain: 1,489m
• Distance: ~9km
• Time: 7-8 hours
• Terrain: Open savanna, increasingly steep and rocky

Day 2: Crater Rim → Summit → Sembalun Village

• 2:00 AM: Wake-up call
• 3:00 AM: Begin summit push
• 6:00 AM: Reach summit (3,726m) for sunrise
• 7:30 AM: Descend to crater rim for breakfast
• 9:00 AM: Pack up, begin long descent
• 3:00-4:00 PM: Arrive back at Sembalun Village
• Total: 10-12 hours of trekking on Day 2

Who Should Choose the 2-Day Trek?

✅ Perfect for you if:

• You only have 2-3 days available in Lombok
• You’re specifically focused on summiting (the crater experience is secondary)
• You’re physically fit and comfortable with long, intense days
• You prefer condensed challenges over extended trips
• Budget is a primary concern (it’s cheaper than 3-day)
• You want maximum beach time before/after the trek
• You’re doing a quick Indonesia island-hopping trip

❌ NOT ideal if:

• You have time constraints that make a 10-12 hour Day 2 risky (flight same evening, etc.)
• You want a more relaxed pace
• You’re interested in the hot springs and lake experience
• You prefer spreading physical exertion over more days
• You have knee problems (one long descent is harder than splitting it up)
• You want the full Rinjani experience

The 2-Day Experience: What to Expect

Day 1: The Savanna Ascent

Your trek begins in Sembalun village, a cool agricultural area at 1,150m surrounded by garlic farms and stunning valley views. The trail immediately heads into open savanna—think golden grasslands that look more like East Africa than Indonesia.

The climb is gradual but relentless. You’ll pass through three checkpoints:

• Pos 1 (1,300m): 45 minutes in, first rest
• Pos 2 (1,500m): Lunch stop, about 2.5 hours from start
• Pos 3 (1,800m): Last major stop before the final push, ~4.5 hours in

Between Pos 3 and Crater Rim is where it gets real. The trail steepens significantly, the altitude starts to affect your breathing, and every step requires more effort. But the views? They keep getting better. Behind you, the entire eastern coast of Lombok unfolds. Ahead, the summit of Rinjani beckons.

Around 2:00-3:00 PM, you’ll crest the crater rim at 2,639m and suddenly—BAM—the massive crater opens before you. The turquoise Segara Anak lake sits 600 meters below, with the baby volcano (Gunung Barujari) rising from its center. It’s breathtaking.

Camp is set up right on this rim. As the sun sets, you’ll watch the light paint the crater walls gold and pink while clouds drift through the valley far below. Dinner is served (surprisingly good for mountain cooking), and your guide briefs you on tomorrow’s summit strategy.

Then it’s into your tent by 7:30-8:00 PM because wake-up comes obscenely early.

Day 2: Summit Push & The Long Descent

2:00 AM: Your guide gently shakes your tent. It’s pitch black, cold (5-10°C), and you’ll seriously question your life choices. This is normal.

After hot tea and light snacks, you begin the hardest part of the entire trek: the 3-4 hour climb from crater rim to summit in complete darkness.

The summit climb is TOUGH:

• You’re climbing 1,087m in 3km
• The terrain is steep volcanic scree (loose rocks)
• Two steps up, one slide back
• The altitude makes breathing harder
• It’s cold and dark and your legs are already tired from yesterday

But here’s the thing: you’re surrounded by headlamps snaking up the mountain, stars blazing overhead, and with every meter gained, the horizon expands. Around 5:00 AM, the sky starts lightening. By 5:45-6:00 AM, you’re standing on the summit of Mount Rinjani watching the sun break over Indonesia.

The view is worth every burning muscle. Lombok, Bali’s Mount Agung, Sumbawa, the Gili Islands—all visible beneath you. The sky cycles through impossible colors. People cry. Photos don’t do it justice.

After 30-45 minutes at the summit (photos, celebration, attempting to feel your frozen toes), you begin the descent.

Here’s where the 2-day trek gets hard: You descend back to crater rim (1.5-2 hours), have breakfast, pack up camp, and then descend ALL THE WAY to Sembalun village. That’s 2,639m of elevation loss over 6-7 hours.

By hour 8 of Day 2, your knees are screaming. Your legs shake on downhill steps. You’re exhausted. But you’re also done—hotel, hot shower, cold beer, proper bed.

Pros & Cons of the 2-Day Trek

👍 Advantages:

• ✅ Shorter time commitment (good for tight schedules)
• ✅ Less expensive (saves ~IDR 600,000-800,000)
• ✅ Still includes the main event: the summit
• ✅ Same spectacular sunrise
• ✅ More time for beaches/other activities in Lombok
• ✅ Sense of accomplishment from intense challenge
• ✅ Popular option, easy to find group treks

👎 Disadvantages:

• ❌ No hot springs experience (you miss this completely)
• ❌ No time at the crater lake
• ❌ More physically demanding (longer days, less rest)
• ❌ Day 2 is LONG (10-12 hours of trekking)
• ❌ Harder on knees (one continuous descent vs. split over days)
• ❌ More rushed—less time to absorb the experience
• ❌ No “rest day” or recovery period

The 3-Day Summit & Lake Trek: The Complete Experience

The Route Breakdown

Day 1: Sembalun Village → Crater Rim Sembalun

• Same as 2-day trek Day 1
• Time: 7-8 hours
• Camp: Crater rim (2,639m)

Day 2: Summit Push → Descent to Lake

• 2:30 AM: Wake-up
• 3:00 AM: Summit climb begins
• 6:00 AM: Summit sunrise
• 8:00 AM: Back to crater rim, breakfast
• 10:00 AM: Begin descent into crater toward lake
• 1:00 PM: Arrive at Segara Anak Lake (2,000m)
• Afternoon: Explore, swim, hot springs
• Camp: Lakeside (2,000m)

Day 3: Lake → Senaru Crater Rim → Senaru Village

• 7:00 AM: Breakfast by the lake
• 8:00 AM: Begin climb out of crater via Senaru route
• 11:00 AM: Reach Senaru Crater Rim (2,641m)
• 12:00 PM: Begin descent through rainforest
• 4:00-5:00 PM: Arrive Senaru Village (601m)
• Total: 7-8 hours

Who Should Choose the 3-Day Trek?

✅ Perfect for you if:

• You have 4-5 days available for the trek (including travel days)
• You want the FULL Rinjani experience (summit + lake + hot springs)
• You value the journey as much as the destination
• You prefer spreading physical effort over more days
• Natural hot springs sound amazing (spoiler: they are)
• You want to experience both routes (Sembalun up, Senaru down)
• You appreciate having a “recovery day” (Day 2 afternoon at the lake)
• You want more photo opportunities and varied landscapes

❌ NOT ideal if:

• You’re on a very tight schedule
• Budget is a major constraint
• You specifically only care about summiting
• You hate the idea of 3 consecutive days without a shower
• You need to minimize time away from other activities

The 3-Day Experience: What to Expect

Day 1: Same Savanna Ascent

Identical to the 2-day trek. Sembalun → Crater Rim. Beautiful savanna landscapes, 7-8 hours of hiking, spectacular crater rim sunset, camp above the clouds.

Day 2: Summit, Then Reward

Same 2:00 AM wake-up. Same brutal but incredible summit push. Same jaw-dropping sunrise.

But here’s where it changes:

After summit and breakfast back at crater rim, instead of descending all the way down, you descend INTO the crater toward the lake. This is a steep, knee-testing 2-3 hour descent, but the destination makes it worthwhile.

Around 1:00 PM, you arrive at the shores of Segara Anak—a pristine turquoise crater lake at 2,000 meters elevation. The lake is massive (11 square km), with the baby volcano rising from its center and sheer crater walls towering above you.

Camp is set on the lakeside. And here’s the best part: after lunch, you have the entire afternoon free.

Your options:

• Hot springs: The main attraction. Natural thermal springs (36-40°C) bubble up along the eastern shore. After the summit push, soaking in hot mineral water surrounded by volcanic peaks is genuinely one of the best feelings ever. Many trekkers call this the highlight of the entire trek.
• Swimming: The lake itself is swimmable (though cold—about 20°C). There’s something surreal about swimming in a volcanic crater lake at 2,000m.
• Relaxing: Just… rest. You summited a volcano at 2 AM. You’ve earned it.
• Exploring: Walk along the shore, photograph the baby volcano, watch steam venting from its crater.

The afternoon at the lake feels like a reward for your efforts. The pace slows. Stress melts away in the hot springs. You have TIME—to talk with fellow trekkers, absorb where you are, let your body recover.

Dinner by the lake as the sun sets, stars emerging overhead, the occasional rumble from the baby volcano—it’s magical.

Day 3: The Rainforest Descent

After breakfast, you face the day’s challenge: climbing 600+ meters OUT of the crater to reach Senaru Crater Rim. This is steep, relentless, and tests your tired legs one more time. It takes 3-4 hours.

But then—you’re on the rim, having crossed the entire mountain. The views are different from this side: lush forests, distant ocean, different perspective of the crater.

The Senaru descent is completely different from the Sembalun route you climbed. You drop through rainforest—dense, green, misty, atmospheric. Tree ferns, moss-covered rocks, streams, waterfalls in the distance. It’s beautiful but also challenging (steep, muddy in places, lots of roots and rocks).

Around 4:00-5:00 PM, you emerge in Senaru village, completing your journey across Mount Rinjani.

Pros & Cons of the 3-Day Trek

👍 Advantages:

• ✅ Complete Rinjani experience (summit + lake + hot springs)
• ✅ Natural hot springs (game-changing after the summit)
• ✅ More relaxed pace (same total elevation, more days to spread it)
• ✅ Two distinct routes (Sembalun savanna + Senaru rainforest)
• ✅ Afternoon at the lake for recovery
• ✅ More photography opportunities
• ✅ Less strain on knees (descent is split over two days)
• ✅ Easier to enjoy and absorb the experience
• ✅ Better acclimatization to altitude
• ✅ More cultural interaction (two different villages)

👎 Disadvantages:

• ❌ Higher cost (IDR 600,000-800,000 more)
• ❌ Requires 4-5 days total (including travel)
• ❌ Day 2 is still long (though you get afternoon rest)
• ❌ Day 3 climb out of crater is brutal
• ❌ 3 days without proper shower
• ❌ Less time for other Lombok activities

Head-to-Head: Which Trek Is Right for You?

Choose the 2-Day Trek If:

⏰ Time is your limiting factor “I only have 3 days in Lombok total, need to maximize beach time.”

💰 Budget is tight
“Saving IDR 700,000 matters for my overall Indonesia trip budget.”

🎯 Summit is the only goal “I came to stand on top of Rinjani. The lake is a bonus, not a necessity.”

💪 You love intense challenges “I want to push myself hard, not spread it out. Give me the condensed version.”

🏖️ You’re prioritizing beach time “I want to trek Rinjani and spend most of my time on Gili Islands/beaches.”

Choose the 3-Day Trek If:

♨️ Hot springs sound amazing “Natural thermal springs in a volcano? That’s worth the extra day and money.”

📸 You want the complete experience “I’m here for the journey, not just the summit. I want to SEE Rinjani.”

🧘 You prefer a more relaxed pace “I’ll summit, but I don’t need to rush through everything in 2 days.”

🌄 You value variety “Experiencing both routes (savanna and rainforest) sounds perfect.”

💚 You have the time “4-5 days is totally fine. I’m not in a rush.”

😌 You want recovery time “The idea of resting at the lake after the summit sounds way better than descending all day.”

Frequently Asked Questions

“I’m moderately fit. Which should I choose?”

If you can hike 6-8 hours comfortably, both are achievable. The 3-day gives you more margin for error—if you’re slower than expected, you won’t be cutting it as close. The 2-day requires you to maintain pace on Day 2 or you’ll be trekking in darkness.

Recommendation: 3-day trek for moderate fitness.

“I only care about the summit. Should I still do 3 days?”

Honestly? The 2-day accomplishes your goal. But I’d still suggest considering the 3-day because:

1. The hot springs are genuinely incredible
2. The lake view from the shore is different from the rim
3. You’ll be TIRED after summit—the lake afternoon is a gift to your body

But if budget and time are factors, 2-day gets you to the summit just fine.

“Which is more popular?”

3-day trek is more popular overall (~60% of trekkers choose this). But in peak season (July-August), both are busy.

“Can I change my mind after starting?”

Not really. The logistics (porters, food, campsites) are pre-planned based on your chosen route. Stick with what you book.

“Which is better for first-time high-altitude trekkers?”

3-day trek. The extra time helps with altitude acclimatization, and the more relaxed pace reduces risk of altitude sickness.

“I have bad knees. Which is better?”

3-day trek, definitely. The 2-day descent is relentless on knees. The 3-day splits the descent over two days AND includes a softer rainforest descent (easier on joints than rocky savanna).

“Solo traveler—any difference?”

Both work great for solo travelers. You’ll likely join a group trek either way. The 3-day gives you more time to bond with your trek mates.

“Which has better weather reliability?”

Same weather patterns. Both treks happen during dry season (April-December). Same summit, same exposure.

What Past Trekkers Say

2-Day Trekkers:

“Intense but doable. Day 2 was LONG, but we made it. If you’re fit and short on time, it’s perfect.” – Sarah, Australia

“Wish we’d done 3 days. We missed the hot springs and the descent destroyed our knees.” – Marco, Italy

“Exactly what we wanted—summit and done. In and out, back to the beaches.” – James, UK

3-Day Trekkers:

“The hot springs alone justified the extra day and cost. After summit, soaking in natural thermal water was HEAVEN.” – Lisa, Germany

“Best decision. We weren’t rushed, enjoyed every part, and the Senaru forest descent was gorgeous.” – Priya, India

“Perfect pace. Day 2 afternoon at the lake let us recover before Day 3. Highly recommend.” – Tom, USA

Our Recommendation

After guiding hundreds of trekkers, here’s what we tell friends:

If you can afford the extra day and money, do the 3-day trek.

The hot springs, the lake, the varied routes—they transform it from “a great summit hike” into “a complete mountain experience.” The extra recovery time, the afternoon to actually ENJOY being in a volcanic crater, the contrast between Sembalun and Senaru—it’s worth it.

But: If you have legitimate time or budget constraints, the 2-day trek is still fantastic. You’ll summit the same mountain, see the same sunrise, challenge yourself fully. You won’t feel like you “missed out” if you don’t know what you’re missing.

Bottom line: There’s no wrong choice. Both are incredible. Just choose based on YOUR priorities, schedule, and budget.

Ready to Choose Your Adventure?

Book your Rinjani trek:

• 2-Day Summit Trek on GetYourGuide – IDR 1,800,000-2,200,000
• 3-Day Summit & Lake Trek on GetYourGuide – IDR 2,400,000-2,800,000

Still unsure which to choose? WhatsApp us: +62 87777 425255
Email: okerinjani.sa@gmail.com

We’ll ask about your fitness, schedule, priorities, and help you choose the perfect trek.

Either way, we’ll see you on the mountain. 🏔️