3d2n Rinjani Summit & Lake & Hot Springs

Coming solo, I wanted to join a group as it will be cheaper. I contacted about 10 diff agencies. Rinjani Samalas is the only one that offered me a group and hence a group price. Even though I pay the 3 to 5 people price, I went on a 2 people group in the end and they didn't force me to pay more, they keep to their word. It was well worth the price especially I have a room to myself the first night and a private transfer from the airport to Villa Bambu. . JiNasti Aka Nas was my guide. You can tell he is introverted so he doenst talk much but he is the nicest person ever. He is also so fit and so strong. My group consisted of him, his brother na his brother in law which were our 2 porters! which cooked very excellent and very very huge portion food for us! Nas is always there to help us. the service is perfect I wouldn't even call it actual hiking HAHA. they set up the tent for you before you're there, cook for u, set up chair and take for you, collapse the tent and clear ur rubbish, and they have to carry all these ingredients and tools up by themselves. In short you can literally show up with your clothing and your jacket and climb the mountain. Despite not earning much they never compromise on quality and service. . I unfortunately lost my camera and some money on this trip. But I would like to take this opportunity to mention how great their customer service is. Nas and Azmi as well as Moon immediately tried to help me find and ask around. This is my fault not their fault that I lost my things but I'm glad they took it so seriously and even went back to that place at night to help me check the sleeping bags. Even though it cannot be found in the end Azmi told me he will make sure in the future hikers will leave their valuable with the porters so this never happens again. . Oh yes now that Ive mentioned porters! They are amazing. They helped my buddy carried almost all this stuff down without asking for a single cent! This is the definition of safety first. . My buddy and I wanted to go torean despite of our lack of fitness. Nas being worried for our safety sat us down and gave us a talk. in the end we decide to not go torean and come down via sembalun. This decision literally saved our lives as Torean is much much harder and riskier! Nas is very professionals. He knows that by suggesting a chnage in route he risk having a bad review but for our safety he didn't keep quiet and told us the truth about what he thinks. trust you guide and nas is really a good one to trust. . He does walk a little fast though (he's super fit!) so if you're a slow walker do let him know haha. . PS. 1 thing I hope they would have as a solo traveller is hosting open tours! As I would love to meet new people while hiking.

Amazing experience with Nas and his crew. Cannot recommend enough! The food they made was plentiful and delicious. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I was very thankful to the team who helped, supported and encouraged me for my attempt to summit Mt Rinjani. Though it was our team-lead who made most of the arrangements for the trip, Mr Azmi, who is our contact point for this trip was very friendly to every one in our team. The villa stay before the hike was nice and comfortable. The staff tried to communicate with their basic English to make us feel at home. The live band at the restaurant in the nite was a nice touch to end the evening. Even when we returned frm our hike, Mr Azmi and his team were thoughtful and kind to offer help and support for our second leg of the trip. My heartfelt thanks and loads (x3000) of appreciation to my guide, Naz and his team of porters-cum-chef, who made the entire 4D3N adventure a very memorable one. The entire journey was not easy for most, and this is the first time I ever wanted to give up and not to summit. But my very supportive guide, Naz, encouraged me and I finally made it! At one point, seeing me in desperation, he wanted to hold my hands to pull me along, but the stubborn me still wanted to do it myself. Hence, he silently walked beside me, always keeping a lookout for me when we were ascending. Being a slow hiker, and wanting to enjoy the scenery, I happened to be always the last person, but Naz will always paused at some point to ensure I was within sight. Being a very attentive guide, he noticed each of our team-members’ characteristic and personality and he remembered our preferences, likes/dislikes. He was also a very fast learner, picking up new English words, ways to take REALLY NICE photos for each of us, and able to crack a joke when we needed that motivation. His thoughtfulness came in many small areas like always checking whether we had sufficient water and snacks along the way. The amazing porters-cum-chef were equally attentive to our needs and preferences. They took noticed that our portions of food, our preferred choice of food, and even tried to communicate wit the very minimum English they can speak. Most of them were shy but very happy to welcome us. Their meals were like luxuries to us esp. after a long walk. Even a basic instant fried noodle/noodle soup, they made sure it was a balanced meal wit protein and vegetables. The amazing thing is they can even cook pasta on the trail! every plate of fruits and every meal were nicely plated, and they even surprised us wit cold drinks like coke and pocari! The meals were more than just basic food, but refuel us wit lots of energy! The little treats like fried banana and pop-corn brought us joy when our energy level was zero! The porters were very resourceful, always able to setup tents at ideal and scenic spots that we wow-ed every time we returned to the tents! Overall, I strongly recommend Rinjani Samalas Tour & Trekking if you want to have a memorable experience at Rinjani, and ask for Guide Naz!

A well organized trek end to end. Our guide - Nas - was very helpful. We could make it to summit due to his patience. Porters (Madi and Awan) always picked very beautiful spot to camp and got everything ready before we arrived campsite. Food was also very good for a hike. We particularly like the curry. Pickup and drop off was on time and comfortable.

I recently embarked on a very tough hike with Rinjani Samalas Tour. Their team from Azmi to their guide Mas Surya and together with his two porters Mas Isan and Mas Karno was superb. Mas Surya provided us with excellent motivational and moral support throughout the hike. He even captured good moments of us hiking up😂 at times where we need to slow down he paced accordingly with us and joke around so that we are not too tense and lively in order to continue up. Mas Isan and Mas Karno they are superb with their cookings. We get fried chicken, spaghetti, gorpes and even popcorn not forgetting the various drinks they have too. Woww!! I wonder what’s not there in their basket. It’s like a walking kitchen.😂 Rinjani Samalas Tour has taken care of us very well and ensure that we are well fed and hydrated. Thank you to all of them, without them we won’t be able to reach the peak🫰🏻

It was such a beautiful & breathtaking experience for both me & my friend as we climbed up Rinjani for the first time in our lives. The whole journey was seamless from before the trip all the way to the end of the trip. We were welcomed by our driver, Mas Sar, the moment we reached the airport and he brought us over to the villa, where we were then brought to the waterfalls by Riski who was very patient and kind. Back at the villa, we rest at our adequately furnished room, with a view overlooking the mountains. The next day we met our guide, Mas Surya, and 2 porters, Mas Isan & Mas Karno! The 3 of them were super nice and patient with us! We could not thank them enough for the food they prepared & setting up our tent for us. Not forgetting carrying our heavy packs down for us on the third day! Special shoutout to Mas Surya who didnt give up on us and made sure that we summit despite going at a slow speed. His encouragement and support really helped us to reach the top. Azmi and the team was super helpful in arranging for us everything. We felt super safe with them and thankful that we chose their company. Highly recommend for those of you who are looking for a change of pace in your daily living. Rest assured that you'll have an experience you will remember for the rest of your lives.

Our guide (Edi) and his accompanying porters (Ah Chong, Ryan, and Bulat) were absolutely accommodating and such good sports!! They matched our pace (very slow) and ensured we were constantly well-fed, hydrated and rested. My group was very unprepared for the hike and ended up being very exhausted and slow, the porters and Edi willingly offered to carry our bags for us and change the route so we'd have a more enjoyable trip. My friends and i really appreciated it. We also had a very memorable bonfire night, where we mingled with altogether and danced HAAHAH. Towards the last day, my knees were so painful but i persisted. But i guess it showed in my movements and Edi noticed and called for more breaks so i could rest. Overall, very thoughtful and well coordinated trip. Edi also took many photos and videos for us when we were trekking. So we ended the trip with much to look back on too. Highly recommend! Remember to train before AHAH

Amazing experience with the team (Edi, our guide together with A Chong, Ryan and Burat, our porters). We were very well taken cared of and the overall team dynamics was fun filled and easy going with guides and porters actively engaging and motivating us. Edi was also very proactive and put our safety first, suggesting for us to take an easier route knowing we might compromise our physical wellbeing trying to follow the original route. And let’s just say, it was worth every bit as we were taken onto another scenic route through torean village. The porters also made sure we were well fed and constantly assisted with our belongings. The tour also provided all necessities (food, tents, sleeping bags, walking sticks, headlamps, etc). Value for money and easy communication throughout.

This hike isn’t for the faint-hearted! Awesome guides Apri and Shinchan did a great job bringing us up too. Props to the porters as food was so delicious. You won’t be hungry! Really a lot of effort on their part to make us as comfortable as possible. No bad comment at all. I’m still thinking about this nasi goreng!

My friends and I took the 3d2n private hiking package with Rinjani Samalas Tour and we really appreciate the excellent service they have provided. Azmi is very patient and prompt to answer all of our questions from our first enquiry. In fact this is the reason we chose to book with them. We checked into the guesthouse Bambu Villa a night before our hike which is clean and also with a nice sunset view. We got to visit a nearby waterfall (about 30mins walk away) as we arrived in the afternoon. Rinjani hike is very well organised and food were fantastic. We were even provided with tables and chairs for all meals. Climb is challenging Azmi is quick and flexible to adjust our hike as we were all exhausted from the submit climb. He helped us settled all the logistics and accommodation within hours after we told him our plan. I highly recommend them to all who will be visiting and I look forward to booking other tours with them the next time I visit Lombok!

The staff is perfect. Food were very good and tents were clean. The route is quite steep on the way down. Don't recommend for total beginner.

We were a team of five doing a 3D2N hike with Azmi and team. Not much to add apart from the other reviews, just that we had a 5 star experience with Rinjani Samalas. Azmi was professional and prompt in organizing our trip. Greatest of respect to our porters and especially our guide Awal -- I'm quite sure they are half mountain goat; they make the climb look so effortless while carrying 25-35 kg packs. True heroes! Apart from the Samalas team, would say that Mt Rinjani, in addition to being challenging, is not for the faint-hearted. There were some hair-raising experiences when we were clambering right along the edge of a cliff. The five of us have done Malaysia's Kinabalu and China's Huashan, but this is without a doubt the most difficult.

This was a top 10 experience for me. Rinjani is truly a magical place and this team makes sure you experience to its full potential. It is very well organized, our guide was a true professional, and the porters are legends. You have to see them scale a mountain carrying the supplies all while wearing flip-flops to truly believe it. The only thing that could improve in my opinion is Rinjani has a litter problem. This guide service does a great job of cleaning up though, so choose them and try and keep Rinjani as clean as possible 😊

My friends and I did the 3d2n package and it was amazing! Azmi and his team has provided us with wtv we needed, through physical/ mental support. Any questions that is being asked will be answered promptly. I highly recommend this agency when heading up as it is hassle free. Not forgetting, the food throughout the hike was marvellous.

Fantastic hike. Thx to our guide Supi for his dedication to help us to have such a great hike to the summit. We can really recommend this organisation.

Had the best few days . My Guide Nas was amazing and very competent and always felt like i was in good hands . The porter did an amazing job setting up a camp every night .And the food was much better than i expected from the top of a mountain. Would highly recommend trekking with this company .

Wonderful experience with 11/10 service. The guide Sufi was patient and caring and the porters were so thoughtful to set up the tents, tables and chairs for us at our stops. They also cooked delicious meals and snacks for us. Azmi and team also waited hours for us at the airport when we arrived, and brought us to eat a delicious Bebek meal. We had the best time and would definitely recommend Rinjani Samalas to everyone interested to hike.

I booked a 3D2N trekking with my younger brother and it is the best adventure I've ever had. First I really appreciate the warmly help and professional service from Azim and his team. The consult and informations are really helpful while I begin my plan. The preparations are so in detail and no hidden fee. Azim provides all things we need for free, the poel, head ight,jacket and so on. Our guide and porters are friendly and strong. They really take good care of us and the meals are fantastic. Second Rinjani is just incredible. The 3 days are wonderful and we can enjoy different view everyday. The trekking is not easy but you can handle it if you take exerciese in daily life. Finally I am definitely sure I will come to Rinjani again and try the Torean route. I will book with Samalas and Azim once again for sure. 再用中文写一遍！ 五星推荐！！！！无论林贾尼还是Samalas都值得超五星推荐！！！ 首先，Azim和他的团队真的非常专业。前期邮件咨询时Azim回复很快并且信息实用。而且就像承诺的那样没有任何隐藏费用，几乎免费提供一切，头灯、外套、登山杖等等，只需要带个人贴身物品就可以了！费用上除了团费和小费外没有任何额外费用，接机、送行、餐饮、热水澡全都免费。 登山团队也非常专业，我和我弟以及一个比利时小哥三人成团，配了一个向导和三个挑夫。向导挑夫都非常专业，他们做饭简直神了，顿顿不重样，品质超级好！！！你甚至能在山上喝可乐、雪碧、果粒橙，吃炒面、炒饭、汉堡薯条、意大利面，看日出时挑夫甚至给我们炸了两盘爆米花！！！！ 其次，林贾尼真的太棒了！三天的行程非常饱满，每天都可以看到不同的景色，第一天的草甸和云中深山，第二天的冲顶、火山湖和山谷，第三天的丛林，真的太美了，不断接受美景暴击。 最后我想说我一定会再去林贾尼的，也一定会再定Samalas的团。

We did the 3 days/2 nights private tour with guide Awal and porters Gondrong and Jabon. Everything was perfectly arranged. The guide was friendly and helpful. The porters are also very nice (and strong, no idea how they carry everything!). I wasn’t feeling well during the trekking but the guide was taking care of me and made sure I was as comfortable as possible. The guide was also really helpful to other hikers from other groups. When we crossed a hiker who was tired or looking sick, the guide was always asking what was going on and if the person was alright. That was really nice to see. Because I wasn’t feeling well during the hike I was not able to taste all the food they cook unfortunately. But everything looked so nice and what I ate was delicious. Thanks for everything guys! It was an amazing experience for us!

I recently completed the 3 day 2 night Mount Rinjani Trek with Rinjani Samalas Tour alongside 6 of my closest friends from Canada. This trek will be something I will never forget. The views were breath taking, the service provided was outstanding, and the feeling of accomplishment is second to none. Be aware that this hike is a difficult one, my group did it with little training beforehand and was quite challenging, but was also equally rewarding. The base camp was beautiful and clean, the staff were all super friendly and helpful (provided any gear you did not have). The porters carried all of the food, water, tents, chairs, etc. (while making it look effortless). I was also very impressed with the food throughout the 3 days, with meals including omelettes, pasta, chicken and noodle dishes, and snacks. I highly recommended this company and trek to anyone looking to explore the beautiful nature surrounding Mount Rinjani (And the Crater Rim/ Summit views were priceless!) Huge thank you to Azmi, all the staff, our tour guide Apri, and all the porters!

We booked the 3 day/2 nights tour up to the Rinjani. The trip was fantastic organized from the booking proces to the end. Our guide Sinjan was amazing together with both porters. I would highly recommend this company!

Great trek with Rinjani Samalas! Everything was smooth and they were flexible to changes in the itinerary along the way. Azmi & Apri were super responsive throughout and guide Supi and porters Acip & Siska were fantastic and helpful the whole way. Would highly recommend!

Very nice experience from the beginning to the end ! They were really helpful and professional, I recommend them without doubt !

Amazing experience, the 3 day Rinjani trek was really challenging and rewarding. Our guide and porters were amazing, very considerate and friendly with super human endurance! Felt safe and looked after throughout the entire trip. We highly recommend Azmi and team!

I usually dont write reviews but Azmi and his team derserve a big shoutout! We hiked Gunung Rinjani in early August and despite the difficult conditions (yes, its cold up there, i did not believe it either), we truly enjoyed the tour. I did a few Vulcano tours before but this was the best so far. This was mainly because Awal, our guide, led us with his knowledge and calm manner first up then down (and then up and then down again) the vulcano. Special thanks for the delicious food along the way! A few things to consider for wanabe hikers: 1) See above, yes it can be cold. This is mainly due to the wind which apparently was very strong the day we went. There are only a few spots where you can shelter and dont expect hot tea on top. 2) You need good shoes. Dont be fooled by locals wearing flip-flops. They are pros, you are not! 3) Think about the size of your group. We were just two and it was fine but there were plenty of hikers who "lost" their group or had to wait because not everybody was at the same fitness level. 4) Go vegetarian! When Azmi asked about our food requirements i didnt expect the team to carry a whole chicken up (and down) the mountain. The food (especially the local fruits) is delicious enough and the portions are very generous. Just the "light breakfast" at night before the summit ascent did not last long but Awal saved me with his biscuits Terima kasih to the whole team again. Jumpa lagi!

First off I’m happy to pay more for the following, Better organisation required, better equipment required, porters /Sherpa Carrie’s way to much, better communication required, staff were lovely and tried with what they had, the owners need to tip in more money to improve peoples experience. Government needs to charge us more and put money towards cleaning up the beautiful mountains. Toilets required up on created rim ect. I’m not a princess and love to rough it

We had terrible weather on Rinjani unfortunately. But Azmi and Apri helped us through it and organised everything perfectly! Even our earlier travel towards Gili Islands. Great food, super people. If we come back to try again we will definitely do it through Rinjani Samalas. Thank you so much!

I believe the whole experience we had were similar to all the good reviews below. Great view, moderate difficulty, great food, great service, great guide. Our guide was Awal. He is such a great person. Both in communication and in being a great help to everything we need. The day we went was slightly unfortunate due to strong wind, it lasted from night till morning. Hence the next sunrise was covered in dust. But we got to see he sunset the day before. So go near the rim as much as possible. You'll never know when you'll miss the view of the peak and the mini volcano. Awal also sat us down at his fav sunset spot which was a very relaxing spot to see the sun down. At the end of the hike, we got to go to waterfall too! It was so refreshing. Awal, our guide, took us through the path where it is longer, but relaxingly easier and with nicer view! Which was great considering our legs were pretty much gone after 2d1n hike. They arranged the transport for me to Sembalun that I requested too. Driver is steady and good with the road. All in all, it was fun! I am glad I chose lombok for my trip and also Rinjani Samalas for my climb!

Initial communication via email was flawless and right from the transport to Senaru we knew we were in good hands. On the way I somehow lost my phone (my fault) and everybody from the Samalas team was very helpful and they did manage to recover my phone! The first night they arranged a completely fine accommodation and then the trek itself was very well organized. We were teamed up with guide called Nus, who was just excellent, really nice guy with a constant smile on his face, ready to assist and help with anything, always looking after us and telling us interesting things about local nature, thank you Nus, it was really nice meeting you! Our porters did a really good job as well, the meals they prepared for us were huge and delicious. The equipment was decent - tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mats (very comfy) etc. everything was fine. Overall I can only recommend this company, we had a great time with them, they offered us the best price and from what we saw around us during the trek they provided us with not only the same but maybe even better service than other companies. Thank you Rinjani Samalas for a great experience and also saving my phone with lots of memories from other previous trips on Lombok!

Has taken a couple of weeks to post this after our trek up to the crater rim senaru. We booked a package with Rinjani Samalas after reaching out to about 10 other tour operator. Azmi (who runs Rinjani Samalas) was very clear in his email and WhatsApp communications and ensure full clarity in terms of the tour inclusions and exclusions. They did provide a competitive rate and our choice of accommodation for the night before the trek at Rinjani Lighthouse Cottage. It was our first trek and we were all excited and confident of doing this. We were received at the airport and drove to the cottage for the overnight where Azmi and team briefed us ahead of the next day's trek. Next day we were introduced to Awal, our guide and rest of the team (porters). The trek was challenging with 2 kids (15 years and 10 years). While we were slow, there was full of encouragement and positives from Awal as he climbed up with us. The last bit, after Pos 3 my little one was unable to climb and found it challenging due to the dryness of the terrain, fear factor, etc. Awal literally handheld her for about 1-2 hours at the end and brought us up to a stunning view of the sunset. We halted and spent the night. Next day morning we spent good time of the sunrise and started back to descend. We never knew this was going to be even tougher. My wife, soon after we started felt unwell and feared the descend. It was Awal again who accompanied her, step by step and brought her down for more than 3/4th of the trek. He was extremely patient and soft spoken. Too embarrassing to tell how much time we took but we clearly took twice the time a fit and an able group wold take. But it was all learning and experience. As it got late, Azmi and team were alerted and they started to climb up looking for us and help rest of the crew to get back to the gate. It was so wonderful to see Azmi and Awal and team take so good care of us and most importantly responsibility and accountability for us to get back safely. Seldom you come across such human beings and totally appreciate the entire team. I seldom arrange for tour packages and usually a fan of free and easy. This wasn't something we could do ourselves so approached a few tour operators and absolutely no regrets, intact full of praise for Azmi, Awal and rest of the Rinjani Samalas team. I highly recommend them because they not only provide a competitive quote but all inclusive quote and most importantly, safety!

Couldn’t recommend Rinjani Samalas more. We emailed a few companies to enquire about the possibility of trekking as the mountain has been closed until recently, Samalas replied quickly with a lot of helpful information which allowed us to flexibly plan a trek. Unfortunately the summit was still closed but we did the 2D/1N crater rim trek as a group of 4 and had an excellent time. Our porters and guides were lovely and the equipment (tents, sleeping bags, chairs) and meals were all very good quality. Easy transfer both to and from the mountain. The trip to the waterfalls the day before the trek was also really enjoyable. Only area to improve would be the guesthouse the day before, didn’t really seem ready to have people staying however we appreciate the community is still trying to get back on its feet and it didn’t detract from our experience.

I did the 3D/2N Tour solo with Rinjani Samalas. Everything went very well: communication, service and the trip. Haerul the owner was very responsive and we organized the tour just a few days before the start. He was very flexible in terms of payment (I paid in Euro). Airport pick up and check in plus briefing was fast, effective and easy going. They checked again food and drink preferences and got all fresh the next morning. Adi my guide and the 2 porter did a phenomenal job. The were very helpful, did great cooking and Adi is a great companion when on a solo trip. He has a great taste of music and is very motivating when the going gets tough. Adi and the team deserve 5 stars! About the climb: it’s tougher than most other climbs I experienced such as the gunung Kinabalu as the track is raw and unprepared. Expect steep hills, dust and the part to the summit has lose gravel which is relentless when doing two steps forward and sliding 1.5 back. These are the moments many climbers doubt they did the right choice to come there. But the achievement and views of the crater lake and the surrounding scenery make it worth while. The 3D/2N includes the climb to the rim on the first day when choosing Sembalun as staring point. This is roughly 900m to 2600m. The 2am summit trek is another 1200m up and down, and the gravel makes it very demanding. The decent to the crater lake is 600m plus a few km walking along the lakeshore and another 600m steep upwards to the opposite rim. Make sure you are reasonably fit, this is very demanding. Last day 2000m decent is quite easy and enjoyable.

We did 2 days/1 night track to Plawangan Senaru Crater Rim. The service of Rinjani Samalas Tracking Tour was absolutely perfect. Communication was very smooth and easy and everything was well done from their side. The track itself is very difficult. Be prepared for broken shoes and a aching legs and feet. However the guide and porters do everything to make your trip comfortable. Food was absolutely stunning! Overall the track worths it! The fascinating view in the end and sunset was georgous!

Went on a 3D2N trip that covered the summit and crater lake with Rinjani Samalas in May. The service from the porters and the guide was definitely commendable and made a tiring hike extremely enjoyable. They always ensured that our well-being was not compromised and made sure we were always comfortable and satisfied. I had a case of bad leg cramps on the first day and I would like to give a shoutout to my guide Sufi who provided me with medical ointment and hydration salts to alleviate the pain. The respectable porters, who had to lug up all our supplies up the mountain, also cooked delicious meals for us everyday. Overall, my friends and I had a remarkable experience and would not hesitate to recommend this company to everyone looking to conquer Rinjani.

From the very first contact Azmi (owner) at Rinjani Samalas responsiveness was excellent and all my questions were answered. We decided to spend some time in Senaru before the trek he immediately offered a very good discount on the tour to into account we were joining them on the day of the trek, even going out of their way they came to our hotel to give us a briefing the day before. We met Azmi personally at the end of the tour and he is so passionate about the mountain and making sure we had a good time. He even offered a nice touch of letting us send a photo to act as a background to our certificate which I’ve now received. We were two people and did the private 3D2N Summit/Lake trek. It was difficult, don’t underestimate how much climbing and walking there is and a pole/stick is absolutely essential. For us and other travellers, we train and have done mountains before but this one was tough. Regarding the summit, if you have ever walked up a sand dune it is just like that for about 2 hours but wow, the views! In fact, unless in the clouds you are blessed with amazing views everywhere so make sure you have space and battery on your camera! Our tent was spacious, clean and comfortable. It will be impossible to run out of food, snacks, water or drinks and it seemed they had medicine ready for every occasion. The food was really good and the quality of snacks was great as well. Plenty of tea or coffee. Amazingly Rinjani Samalas had cold soft drinks, every day! How, we don’t know how but we felt a bit smug knowing other groups were sipping on warm coke. I’m not sure if it’s because it was a private tour but the porters always set up our tent in a little space on its own despite there being many other groups on the tour which was very nice. We had a guide and two porters for us but paid for an extra porter to carry our personal belongings. All the staff were lovely and made sure we were well looked after. Our guide Sufi had good English and was knowledgeable about the mountain, volcanic activity and the local wildlife, we even spoke about his family so it was lovely to meet his wife and child who were at the office at the end. On the second day, after we had lunch at the lake, our guide Sufi could see we were shattered and struggling (I had a bad cough/cold and my partner a small foot injury picked up before the tour). We still had a pretty strenuous climb to do but he offered us the option of stopping and camping early so we could rest and tackle it the next day. All tours follow the same itinerary it seems but we felt so relieved and jumped at the chance. It was still a bit of a walk/climb but manageable. Once Ari, one of the porters had dropped the kit at our camp point he ran back to find us, took our backpacks and took my hand and helped pull me up some steep bits. Refreshed, the next day was fine and we knew it was the right decision. Once back at the office we were given cold cans of coke (Sufi’s wife popped to the shop), our luggage stored for the three days was brought to us and we were driven two hours to Senggigi in a very comfortable car with one of the former guides who offered some great chat. Overall a very tough trip but Rinjani Samalas and all the team made it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible and I’ll look back on the memories and photos fondly.

I usually never complain on Tripadvisor, but I don't recommend Rinjani Samalas at all. The hygiëne of the porters and guide on the trekking while cooking lunch and diner was bad, which caused us stomach ache at night. The porters walked much slower then us (and we're not experienced hikers). We had to wait for them 2h while freezing at the crater rim, before getting our tent. Besides the sleeping bag they got us was wet. When we friendly told this to the owner of Rinjani Samalas trekking, he suddenly wasn't friendly anymore and got angry and rude. We met other hikers from John's adventures and Green Rinjani, and their service was much better. I definitely recommend these 2 companies instead of Rinjani Samalas.

I travelled with my husband, brother, and parents. We have a variety of activity and physical fitness levels and went with the 2D/1N trek. The trip is fairly taxing and was probably a bit much for my parents. The guide and porters went above and beyond to help make their trek manageable. The views are absolutely worth every step and this was an amazing experience. Samalas is truly a full service operation, picking us up at the airport for a 2.5 hour drive to the mountains, arranging a hotel for the night before the trek, providing porters to carry camping equipment, a patient and friendly guide, and then taking us back to the airport even after we stayed in Senaru Village for an extra night. This is absolutely the tour company you want to choose. I would use them again without question.

My family completed a four-day/three-night trek up and around Mount Rinjani with Rinjani Samalas Tour and Trekking. They did a great job and we had a wonderful time. We did the 4D/3N trek from July 24-27, 2017. We started at Senambulan, climbed up to the crater ridge on Day-1, then climbed to the summit of Mount Rinjani (not easy!) from 02:00-07:00) on Day-2. Our kids are still quite young, 14, 10 and 10, so it took us a bit longer than some solo travellers to get up to the summit -- but we made it! We then hiked back down to the crater campsite, decamped and descended for a few hours to the crater lake (Danau Segera Anak) and its most welcome hot spring. Quite a spectacular place to camp. On Day-3, we climbed up to the crater rim, then descended for several hours over slippery, tricky terrain to Pos 3, which is located in the upper rainforest. It's a lovely spot to camp. On our final day, we descended for about 5-6 hours to the Senaru gate of the national park. Throughout the trip the Rinjani Samalas team did a super job. Our guide, Supi, was very attentive. He ensured that everyone was safe and well fed and always stayed at the back of our group to make sure that everyone was okay. He gave us a lot of good advice to help us pace ourselves properly. We also had 8 porters (because my younger kids and wife did not carry anything), who did a great job of lugging all of the camping equipment, food and water that we needed for the 4 days. One of the younger porters, Pak Doni, served as my oldest son's trekking partner, which worked very well as that allowed them to hike faster than the rest of my family without us worrying about our son getting lost. The food on the trip was varied and well prepared. The Rinjani Samalas team worked really hard to provide a mix of fruits, vegetables and various main meals. My kids are very picky eaters, but the Rinjani Samalas team still managed to cook up things that they liked, which was really appreciated. Throughout the trip, the Rinjani Samalas team was very polite, helpful and hard-working. They showed excellent flexibility and made every effort to make our trip a success. I visually compared the services and facilities that we received with other trekking companies that we saw on the trip and my sense was the Rinjani Samalas' services were on par (roughly equivalent) with the other companies. Pak Azmi and his brother Munar did a good job of handling all administrative task from the Rinjani Senaru office. They gave us lots of good pre-trip advice, answering all of our questions patiently. The airport pick-up worked well as did the post-trip drop off at our hotel. I didn't compare costs, but we felt that we got good service for the price that we paid. All in all, we were very happy with the service that Rinjani Samalas provided and highly recommend their services to other travellers. Our family travels and does a lot of adventurous trips, but the Mount Rinjani trek was truly a trip of a lifetime in a beautiful part of Indonesia. Thanks Rinjani Samalas!

Honestly the thing that was the best to me about this tour group was the fact that it was very family oriented. Upon my arrival, I went around town with Rana, who as I understand it is the family patriarch. I was traveling alone and Rana was easily the best part of my experience with Samalas. He came walking with me to the waterfalls, but upon my arrival in Senaru I was very hungry from my long trip beforehand, so he first brought me to have lunch with his family! His wife cooked an amazing meal for me, and she sent us off with treats for our "trek" and with bananas for the monkeys. The waterfalls, for the record, are not a difficult trek, but they are truly remarkable. The accommodation that was provided to me in Senaru was amazing and very peaceful. They had a working farm, and Rana and I went foraging together and picked food for dinner. This was a really amazing experience. This is less to do with Samalas as a trekking company and more to do with the Rinjani hike itself: IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. Not many of the guides will wait for those in the group who are slower. I'm very grateful that I was keeping pace with many of the guides, and did not end up alone. My advice would be to find someone who will go at your pace. The other thing to note is that the ground is often not stable. I fell through the "path" at one point and hurt my knee pretty badly, and with all of the tour groups operating on the mountain, not one of them had proper First Aid. It would be a huge advantage if the Samalas guides carried even something like antiseptic in the event that something happens. I went up the mountain with Adi, who was truly amazing and open to discussing many aspects of Sasak culture with me, which made the experience much fuller. Samalas was also very conscious of the environment, and we picked up any and all garbage that we saw along the way, and they didn't participate in a lot of the partying that was done by many of the other groups. Many guides were going up with beer and with music in their packs, but they were very conscious of the fact that we were there to experience the mountain, and that required quiet contemplation. Which I agreed with and appreciated. All in all they were really excellent. The porters were incredible and very kind. I really can't say anything negative about my experience with this family.

We have climbed Mount Rinjani 1 week ago with our 2 sons aged 11 and almost 15. From the pick up to our hotel in Kuta to the end of the trek, everything went perfectly even though the trek is very hard and long and requires lots of energy. Our 2 sons decided to stay at the crater rim camp the second day and they did a very good choice because the climbing of the summit is very, very hard. Our guide Adi and the 3 porters have been perfect, offering very good meals and snacks on the way to the ascension. We even have a choice for the menu!! The equipment (tents, mattresses, pillows, sleeping bags...) were of very good quality. And talking with other climbers we realized that we were lucky because when you have walked more that 6 hours and you have to wake up at 2AM to climb 3 hours and a half and go down during almost 8 hours, you're happy to be able to rest on good and clean mattress and sleeping bag. We recommend strongly Azmi and his team. Special thanks to Adi, our guide who always encouraged us and never told us that we won't be able to make it with our kids. Thanks guys!!

This is actually and overdue review because I actually hiked up Mt Rinjani June 2015 (a year ago hahah) but hey I still have fresh memories for leave some great review :D My friends and I (only 4 of us) decided to choose Rinjani Samalas after doing some homework on which company has the best offer and review. The owner (Haerul Azmi) has been very responsive through email inquiries prior to our trip. We booked the 2D-1N Summit Mt Rinjani package. When we arrived at Lombok airport, the assigned transporter picked us up and drove us to one of the nice restaurants for dinner before driving us to Rinjani Samalas basecamp. we reached quite late (ard 12am) but we received warm welcome by the owner and were immediately given some briefing and overview of our hiking plan. I love the ambiance of the basecamp, its very basic and simple, but most importantly, CLEAN and COMFORTABLE. and my most favorite spot is the eating area's open view where you can see Mt Rinjani and have a wide view of Senaru Village. Be sure to wake up early to catch the sunrise. Its breathtaking ;) On the hiking part --- I've got to thank our guide (Adit) and every single Porter who ease our hiking journey. Mas Adit was very friendly and cool, while the porters are awesome. I have no idea how some of them can actually go up without proper hiking gears, with tons of items (tents/foods/water/fruits/etc etc) on their shoulders. They prepared nice food, clean and comfortable tents and small chairs <3 . Anyway, to cut short, we conquered Rinjani Summit the next morning and the the feeling was just overwhelming. I'm pretty sure everyone are able to reach the summit. Yes it was exhausting and mentally tiring but you just have to set your mind on the summit and just keep hiking. Don't just stop hiking at the crater rim. Trust me its worth it. :) We headed back to our basecamp soon after we got back to the Crater Rim basecamp on our 2nd day. Our guide actually told us that we were sort of crazy because we opted for the 2D1N trip cuz its very rushing and many hikers actually didn't manage to climb up to the summit... but we made it! :D The only thing that I regret is not taking a longer trip. Otherwise, we would have had the chance to go to the lake and head down to the other end. So i guess i'll make a comeback, someday. :) It was an amazing hike.Thank you Rinjani Samalas. Oh btw! Our group photo was featured on Rinjani Samalas website months ago. Terima kasih Mas Azmi :D

We are a Danish family consisting of 5 children (age 11, 12, 14, 17 and 20) who climbed Gunung Rinjani (to the crater rim). We chose a three days (2 nights) trip and went down to the crater lake on the second day. The tour was perfectly organized by Haerul Azmi and his team from Sambalas Tour & Trekking. They picked us up at the airport and had arranged everything for the trip. Guides, porters, tents and sleeping bags were just perfect. We were impressed of the porters ability to produce good food under simple conditions and carry so much on their backs - and still with a smile!! The trekking was hard especially for the youngest children but they all had a great experience. The scenery is stunning and the view is more beautiful than you can imagine. Our best advise is to bring warm clothes for the night and walk slow (especially the first day which is the hardest). A great experience is in front of you....

I signed up for the 2D1N crater lake tour with my cousin. Azmi took really great care of us throughout the trip and ensured that the whole journey from the airport to our final destination in Gilli Islands was a seamless one. Our guide (Ahmad) and porters were very patient and attentive to our needs and they prepared the most delicious meals with an amazing variety (banana pancakes, fruit platters, nasi goreng, mee goreng, there was even fried chicken!). The camping equipment was of high quality (thick mattresses, sturdy tents to keep out the cold) and made our overnight stay a comfortable one. Of course, the views were gorgeous, but the extra touch that Rinjani Samalas provided made our journey even more memorable.

We were particularly happy with our hike and tour arranged with the Senaru Women's Guide Association. We had two wonder women escort us through the forest, villages, and waterfalls and we learned an amazing amount from them. Their were excellent guides and really made the tour interesting, fascinating, and fun. Highly recommend this chance to give these women a hand in community-supporting tours. A highlight of our stay on the hillsides of Mount Rinjani.

8 of us went Rinajni from 28 Dec - 30 Dec with Tutik Rinjani. Overall, It was a good trip. Pros: 1) For 2 months before the trip, I emailed tutik and he replied very efficiently with the required details. I asked a lot of questions and he replied very patiently 2) We reached Lombok airport on the late evening of 27 and there was two large and comfortable cars for 8 of us. 3) The guesthouse we stayed at for the first night was really nice. Quiet, good view, comfortable rooms, hot water. We had the whole place to ourselves. (2ppl per room, can ask for mattress and extra pillows if want to squeeze more. 4) The equipment provided were luxurious - tents were high quality (2 ppl per tent), sleeping bags were warm, there were camping chairs and mat set up for us at places we stopped for meals. 5) Service was good. Tutik personally fetched us at the airport. For a group of 8, we had 2 guides, 6 porters and 1 medical personnel. Guides were nice to talk to as they had a relatively good grasp of english. Porters treated us like kings which were quite embarrassing sometimes for us. We could have coffee or tea at any meal stops. Special mention: a lot of our trekking shoes soles came off throughout the trek. They specially delivered a pair they had for one of us and helped us fix the rest with glue and cigarette filters. Really good! Water was provided everytime we asked. 6) At our request beforehand, tutik provided transport to sendang gile waterfall and we had a guide down, and there was also transport to the jetty for a private boat to gili islands after the usual public boat hours. For cars, it was always the two large cars. 8) Tutik seemed to be quite well connected - he helped us arrange boat to Gili Islands and also offered to help us settle lodging but we declined for personal reasons Cons 1) We stopped for dinner along the way and the restaurant seemed questionable in terms of cleanliness (We saw a rat on the counter), but none of us fell sick. Dinner cost was not included. One off event. 2) Cost might be an issue - we paid a total of 18 million Rp for 8 of us inclusive of waterfall component and 3D2N trek with crater lake. did not go lake due to smoke coming from main volcano. This is higher than other companies. The private boat ride to gili cost us extra 1.3million Rp due to it being after official hours. We choose reliability and thus were wiling to pay the higher than others' cost. Highly recommended and would go with tutik again.

We did the climbing with Jimmy from Rinjani Samalas Tour & Trekking and the porters did all the carried of the food and camping equipment. Basically it was a premium climbing experience. The weather was quite cool and cloudy starting from Sembalun village, turning quite cold at night about 10 degrees on crater rim Sembalun campsite, so bring cold wear for your climb, especially for when you are not moving at night, better in sleeping bag inside tent. Most of our friends was quite ok but for the last part of the summit the route steep climb filled with little rocks. You walk one step forward and you slide back. Having Jimmy our guide familiar with the terrain is essential as they can show you where to climb so that you don't slide back so often, making the climb easier. Along the way we passed independent climber who were struggling trying to force their way up directly while we were doing an easier zig zag route. Took about 3 hours to reach the summit of mount Rinjani from our base camp at crater rim Sembalun.

We made the trek 3 days and 2 nights. Everything went very well. Contact by Whatsapp very easy with Azmi before the trek. He organized our trips before and after the trek. Our guide Awal was great, he speaks very good English, is friendly, professional, listening to everyone's level. We ate very well throughout the trek: very hearty meals, snacks, fruits, .. The equipment was very good: tents, mattresses, little pillows. We highly recommend this agency.