Mount Rinjani National Park

Mount Rinjani National Park is a protected area in the north of Lombok Island, covering approximately 41,330 hectares of volcanic mountain terrain, tropical forest, and crater lake. It was established as a national park in 1997 and is home to Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second highest volcano at 3,726 metres. The park sits within one of the most geologically significant volcanic landscapes in the world. In 1257 AD, the eruption of Mount Samalas, the predecessor volcano whose collapse formed the present-day Rinjani caldera and Segara Anak crater lake, is believed to have been one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded human history, with global climate effects documented as far away as Greenland and Antarctica. The park is internationally recognised as part of the Rinjani-Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark, acknowledging its outstanding geological, ecological, and cultural significance.

The national park covers 41,330 hectares, making it one of the largest protected areas in the Lesser Sunda Islands. The park encompasses the entire upper mountain zone above approximately 1,000 metres, including the summit at 3,726 metres, the crater rim, Segara Anak crater lake at 2,010 metres, and the surrounding montane and submontane forest zones. For school groups climbing Mount Rinjani, the trekking routes pass through multiple ecological zones within the park, from the lower forest trails to the high-altitude volcanic terrain near the summit.

No. The national park operates a seasonal closure for safety reasons. The park closes on 1 January each year and reopens on 1 April. This closure coincides with the wet season, during which heavy rainfall makes the upper trails dangerous and the summit routes impassable. Schools planning expeditions must target the April to November dry season window. Venture Beyond Expeditions confirms current park status and route conditions at the time of booking and will advise schools if any closures or restrictions are in place.

The national park supports a diverse range of endemic and protected wildlife across its forest and montane zones. Notable species include the Rinjani scops owl, endemic to the mountain and found nowhere else on earth, the subak or Javan lutung (a black leaf monkey), wild boar, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians. The park also supports over 100 bird species. Students on Venture Beyond expeditions pass through the lower forest zones where wildlife sightings, particularly birds and monkeys, are common. The ecological diversity of the park adds a valuable natural science dimension to the expedition experience.

All trekkers entering Mount Rinjani National Park are required to hold a valid national park entry permit. Permits are issued by the Rinjani Trek Management Board (RTMB) and are mandatory for all routes, including the Senaru and Sembalun approaches. There is a daily quota system in place to manage the number of trekkers on the mountain at any one time. For school groups, all permits are arranged by Venture Beyond Expeditions as part of the expedition package. Schools do not need to arrange permits independently.

Mount Rinjani National Park is managed by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry through the Balai Taman Nasional Gunung Rinjani (BTNGR), the national park authority. Day-to-day trekking operations are coordinated through the Rinjani Trek Management Board, a collaborative body involving the national park authority, local government, and licensed trekking operators. All guides operating within the park must be licensed by the RTMB. Venture Beyond Expeditions works exclusively with RTMB-licensed guides through our on-ground partner Rinjani Dawn Adventures, ensuring full compliance with national park regulations.

Mount Rinjani National Park is subject to ongoing conservation programs covering reforestation, wildlife protection, and sustainable trekking management. The daily trekker quota system is a direct conservation measure designed to reduce trail erosion and protect the fragile high-altitude ecosystem. The Rinjani-Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark designation supports broader conservation and geotourism initiatives across the region. Venture Beyond Expeditions adheres to a strict leave-no-trace policy on all expeditions and participates in local trail maintenance initiatives through Rinjani Dawn Adventures.

Yes. Mount Rinjani National Park is one of the most well-suited national park environments in Southeast Asia for school expedition programs. The trekking infrastructure is established, the permit and quota system provides structured access, and the combination of volcanic geology, endemic wildlife, and indigenous Sasak culture offers rich cross-curricular learning opportunities. Venture Beyond Expeditions offers three tiered expedition programs within the national park, from the accessible Sembalun Highlands program to the full Mount Rinjani Summit Expedition at 3,726 metres. All programs are designed specifically for school groups and comply fully with national park regulations.

Yes. Mount Rinjani is an active volcano and should be understood as such by all schools planning an expedition. The volcano has erupted multiple times in recent decades. Significant eruptions occurred in 1994, 2009, 2010, 2015, and most recently in 2018, when a series of eruptions and associated earthquakes caused trail closures and temporary evacuations on the mountain. A new volcanic cone, Gunung Barujari, sits within the Segara Anak crater lake and is the primary source of ongoing volcanic activity.

Volcanic activity is closely monitored by the Indonesian Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), which issues alert levels from 1 (normal) to 4 (danger). Trekking within the national park is only permitted when the alert level is at 1 or 2. Venture Beyond Expeditions monitors volcanic activity continuously and will not operate expeditions when alert levels are elevated. Schools are briefed on volcanic risk as part of the pre-expedition risk management process.

Segara Anak is a crater lake sitting at 2,010 metres within the caldera of Mount Rinjani, formed by the catastrophic collapse of Mount Samalas following the 1257 AD eruption. The name means “Child of the Sea” in the Sasak language, reflecting the lake’s striking turquoise blue colour. Segara Anak covers approximately 11 square kilometres and reaches depths of up to 230 metres, making it one of the largest and deepest crater lakes in Indonesia.

The active volcanic cone Gunung Barujari rises from the lake’s surface, and hot springs feed into the lake’s eastern shore, a popular rest stop for trekking groups. For school groups on the Rinjani Crater Rim Expedition, Segara Anak is visible from the crater rim at 2,659 metres and provides one of the most dramatic and memorable moments of the expedition. The lake also holds deep spiritual significance for the Sasak and Balinese Hindu communities, who make pilgrimages to its shores for ceremonial bathing and offerings.