Both summits in one trek, the lake and the hot springs in between, and the quiet Torean valley on the way out. Five days, the longest route we run.
The first two days are the classic crossing: Sembalun to the crater rim, the true summit at 3,726 m at sunrise, then down to Segara Anak and the hot springs. From there this route leaves the main trail. Day three climbs Sangkareang, the second peak at 3,150 m, and days four and five drop through the Torean valley past waterfalls to the village. From the lake onwards you will barely see another group.
The true summit at 3,726 m and Sangkareang at 3,150 m in a single trek. Nobody else on the mountain is doing both this week.
After the lake the route leaves the main crossing behind, and so do the crowds. No queues on the second summit, no other camps, just the massif and your own group.
Instead of the standard Senaru exit you follow the valley down past waterfalls, with running water after days of wind and rock. Forest replaces bare volcanic ground.
Savannah, crater rim, summit, caldera, lake, hot springs, second summit, forest, waterfalls, village. There is no next step up from here.
Five days from the Sembalun gate to Torean village. The first two days run to the clock; from day three the pace is your group's, because the trek is private.
We pick you up wherever you are on Lombok: the airport, Bangsal harbour, Senggigi, Mataram, Kuta or your hotel, at a time we agree with you. From there it is a drive to our guesthouse in Senaru, included in the price. You check in, meet your guide, get the briefing and sleep. Shoes, poles, jacket and headlamp can be rented here that evening.
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then a 45 to 60 minute drive to the Sembalun gate for registration at 8:00. The walk begins across open savannah with the volcano ahead of you. Lunch at Pos 2 around midday, where grassland gives way to loose rock. The last stretch to the rim is the steep part, and camp is waiting on the edge by mid-afternoon.
The hardest day. Up at 2:00, moving by 2:30, three hours of steep volcanic scree in the dark. The summit at around 5:30, the sun over Sumbawa and the shadow of the mountain running west across the sea. Back down to camp for breakfast, pack up at 9:00, then the switchbacks into the caldera. Lunch at the water's edge, the hot springs in the afternoon, and camp by the lake.
Breakfast by the lake, then break camp. The trail leaves the main route behind, and so do the crowds: from here to the end of the trek you will barely see another group. In the afternoon comes the climb to Sangkareang Peak at 3,150 m, the second summit of the trek. This is the quiet side of the mountain, no queues and no other camps. Camp is set near the peak.
Leave the peak behind and start the long descent toward Torean. The bare volcanic ground gives way to forest. In the afternoon the trail follows the valley down past waterfalls, the sound of running water after days of wind and rock. Camp in the Torean valley.
A gentle walk down the valley to Torean village. Five days, two summits and the quietest trail on the mountain behind you. Drop-off in Mataram, Senggigi or Bangsal harbour is included.
The hardest single day is still the summit morning: 2 am start, steep scree, 3,726 metres. What makes this route hard is the length. Five days on your feet, two summits, and the long descent through the Torean valley. No technical climbing anywhere on the route. Moderate fitness is required, and it helps to have hiked multi-day trails before. Because the trek is private, the pace is set by your group and no one else.
Every trek is all-inclusive: one price covers your guide and porters, transport, all meals on the mountain, camping gear and the national park fee.
5 days · 4 nights
This route runs private only. Five days off the main trail is not something we put a mixed group on.
Your own guide and porters, on the date you choose, for a group of 1 to 10. Prices are per person and all-inclusive: the more of you go, the less each person pays.
The price is all-inclusive: guide, porters, all meals, camping gear and the national park fee. You book with a USD 30 deposit per person, which comes off the price, and pay the balance in cash to your guide on Lombok.
Fitter than for the three-day crossing, mostly because of the length. If you have done multi-day hiking before and know how your body handles day four, you will be fine. If this would be your first, start with the three-day route.
It is the quiet way off the mountain. Almost everyone exits at Senaru, so the Torean valley stays empty, and it trades bare volcanic ground for forest and waterfalls on the last two days.
Some people feel it above 3,000 m. Sleeping on the crater rim first helps you acclimatise, and your guide keeps an eye on everyone during the summit push. You can always turn back: the mountain is not going anywhere.
Your porters cook fresh on the mountain: rice, noodles, vegetables, eggs, fruit, and plenty of it. Tell us about allergies or a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diet when you book and we cook around it. Because this trek is private, the team shops and cooks only for your group.
Four nights of real camping. The tent, sleeping bag and mat are provided and carried for you, and the toilet is a simple toilet tent. The camps after day two are well away from the busy sites on the main crossing.