The island of Sumbawa gained worldwide recognition largely thanks to its volcano, Mount Tambora, whose eruption was among the most devastating in human history. Despite its dramatic past, this natural wonder, located east of Lombok, remains one of the island's must-see attractions. Indeed, numerous travelers visit each year to climb this massive peak rising to nearly 2,857 meters in elevation. It's worth noting that before its eruption, Tambora stood at approximately 4,000 meters.

History

The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora was undoubtedly one of the deadliest natural disasters Indonesia and the world has ever experienced. The eruption claimed more than 92,000 lives. In terms of raw power, the shockwave it generated far exceeded that of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Tambora explosion was classified as level 7 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index, which has 8 levels in total. The sound of the detonation was heard hundreds, even thousands of kilometers away from Sumbawa. Its blast triggered tsunamis on several nearby islands. The volume of ash ejected by this giant of nature was estimated at over 150 cubic kilometers. Beyond the human and material losses it caused, the eruption also had severe global climate consequences, triggering the infamous Year Without a Summer of 1816. This caused cold waves during the summer season in parts of the world such as the United States, Europe, and Asia. In China, for example, rice harvests were catastrophic. Moreover, Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo was partly caused by the cold wave generated by climate disruption following the Mount Tambora eruption.

Climbing Mount Tambora

Travelers planning to climb Mount Tambora typically depart from the village of Pancasila. Generally, a trek on this massif takes between 3 and 5 days depending on the pace adopted by hikers and their physical fitness. However, before attempting the ascent itself, it's wise to be accompanied by a local guide and porters.

As for the itinerary, the beginning of the route is marked by a traverse through magnificent rainforest. As you venture into this humid jungle, be careful of leeches. These hermaphroditic parasites hide on leaves awaiting the passage of their host. They especially love settling in socks and often work their way through the eyelets of your laces. As you progress, the landscape changes and you'll pass by rivers and streams, which are leech-prone areas. Once you reach the summit, you can admire the beauty of an immense caldera approximately 6 kilometers wide and over 1,100 meters deep. The panorama from Mount Tambora's summit is simply magnificent, leaving you with an overwhelming sense of humility before the grandeur of Mother Nature.

Climate

Sumbawa's climate is tropical, and generally the weather is pleasant nearly year-round. To enjoy favorable weather during your stay, visit between May and October. As for the average annual temperature, it hovers around 27°C.

To reach Mount Tambora, you can first rent a car to head to the Sanggar peninsula. The road leading there is quite rough, so consider choosing a four-wheel-drive vehicle if possible. Plan for approximately 6 hours of travel time to reach your destination.