Rinjani to the Senaru Crater Rim: Camp at 2,641 m Above Baru Jari

The Rinjani trek that does not require the summit. Two days, one night, starting at Senaru village, and the operator is straightforward about who it suits: beginners and families. What you get for the effort is the crater rim at 2,641 metres, and the view from it, which is why people who skip the summit do not feel short-changed. The crater lake sits below with Gunung Baru Jari, the young cone, rising out of it and smoking. Beyond that, half of Lombok and the three Gili islands. The walking starts at 600 metres, which means about 2,000 metres of climb spread over one day, through jungle the whole way. That is the Senaru route: trees, birds and butterflies rather than open scree. Day one: registration and briefing at the Rinjani National Gate, walking from 7:00 or 7:30, lunch at the Montong Satas shelter at 1,500 metres, and the rim by 16:00. Sunset from up there goes down behind Mount Agung, on Bali. The night is spent in camp on the rim. Sunrise the next morning comes up between the peaks of Rinjani and Sangkareang. Day two is the descent, about five hours back through the rainforest, with lunch at 11:30. Black monkeys live in those trees, and some groups see them. At Senaru there is a shower and a drink at the operator's office. One condition to read before booking: all sales are final. There is no refund for a cancellation.