Frequently asked questions

A join group trek (also called a sharing group or open trip) means you trek Mount Rinjani together with other travellers who booked the same route and date. The guide, porters and cooking team are shared by the group, so the cost per person is much lower than a private trip.

No. Trekking Backpacker runs full sharing / join group trips only. That is how we keep the price low. If you come with friends or family you simply join the group together.

Trek Only (from USD 118) is for travellers who already rented a motorbike and ride to Senaru or Sembalun themselves – everything on the mountain is included, but no transport and no hotel. The Standard sharing group package adds pick-up within our transport area in Lombok, 1 night hotel in Senaru before the trek and drop-off to Bangsal harbour, Senggigi or Mataram; the price per person depends on the group size.

No. Trek Only guests get exactly the same guide, porters, tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, toilet tent and meals as guests on the Standard package. You only save the cost of transport and the hotel because you come to the village yourself.

Yes. Weatherproof tents, a thick mattress, a sleeping bag, a toilet tent and freshly cooked meals with fruit and drinking water – the same standard you would expect on a private trip. We save money by sharing costs and keeping a small profit, not by cutting gear or food.

A join group has a maximum of 8 trekkers. This is a rule of the Mount Rinjani National Park (Taman Nasional Gunung Rinjani / TNGR), not something we made ourselves. Bigger bookings are split into more than one group, each with its own guide. During the trekking season groups depart almost every day – send us your date on WhatsApp and we will confirm your place.

The dry season, roughly April to November, gives the best chance of clear views. The national park usually closes the trails during the peak of the rainy season early in the year, so always message us to confirm that your dates are open.

2D1N is great if you are short on time (crater rim from Senaru, or a fast summit from Sembalun). 3D2N is the classic: summit, lake and hot springs. 4D3N gives you a relaxed pace with extra time at the lake.

You should be able to walk 6–8 hours a day on steep, dusty trails. You do not need mountaineering experience. The summit push starts around 2–3 am and is the hardest part; your guide sets a steady pace and you can always turn back safely.

Send us a WhatsApp message with your package, Trek Only or Standard, date and number of trekkers. Payment is by bank transfer to our Mandiri account (account name LENDRI, account number 161-00-1056679-7).

Yes. Our route guide and home page show a Mount Rinjani trekking map with the Sembalun, Senaru and Torean trails, the crater rim camps, Segara Anak lake and the summit, so you can see exactly where your join group will walk.

Yes. Every guide and porter on our join group treks who carries trash down the mountain – our own trash and trash left by other hikers – receives a USD 3 reward from us. Because our sharing group prices are very low, we can pay this reward on groups of at least 4 trekkers.

Good hiking shoes, a warm jacket (it gets close to 0°C at the summit), gloves, a hat, a headlamp, sunscreen, a rain jacket, a small daypack and personal medicine. We will send you a full packing list after booking. Forgot something? We rent headlamps, trekking poles, jackets, shoes and long pants from USD 2.