Java, Bali & Lombok The Giants of the Sunda Islands

The morning is dedicated to visiting Java's cultural capital: the Sultan's Palace (built in 1756) and the pleasure gardens in particular. Also visit the central observatory of the Merapi volcano, a place where all data concerning the volcano's activity is collected, dominating the city.

Transfer to the Hindu temple in the afternoon, then strolling along Malioboro Avenue in the early evening. Same hotel. Visit to the Prambanan Hindu temple, renovated since the earthquake that severely affected it in 2006.

Late at night, beginning of the climb of Kembar 2 peak (45 min), at the summit of which you will enjoy a superb panorama over the entire region of Malang & Surabaya.

Return to base camp around 7am, and, after a hearty breakfast, you then begin the climb of Welirang volcano, via Kembar 1 peak (2h30-3h).

Return to base camp around 1pm and free time after lunch.

Hiking: 4h (round trip)

Located in an elongated valley at the foot of the Agung volcano, Sidemen is a very charming traditional village, which a walk around the area will help you appreciate even more (approximately 3h30 of hiking). This will be an opportunity to meet an indigenous population that has remained authentic.

Night in the same hotel.
Hiking: 3h30

You start, in the morning, the first stage of the climb of the famous Mt Rinjani (3,726 m). The first hour of hiking on rolling hills crosses vegetable fields and agricultural areas. This is the easiest part of the entire trek. Once this area is passed and a small stream is crossed, the trail follows a 30-year-old project, when, under the reign of President Suharto, a road was under construction from Sembulan Lawang to Rinjani's crater lake. Fortunately, due to the fall of the regime and a lack of funding, this project was abandoned. What remained has been returned to nature, which gradually reclaims its former possessions. However, the lucky hiker benefits from many bridges crossing old lava flows, which makes the path very pleasant. There is a short stretch of forest trail at approximately 1,220 m, but after that, there is very little shade. The second hour continues along rolling hills through meadows. Post 1 (Pemantuan) has a shelter and is located at an altitude of 1,428 m, but most hikers stop at Post 2 (Tengengean, at 1,513 m), to have lunch on one of the bridges.

Post 3, Pada Balong, is located at 1,772 m altitude and this is where things get serious. The trail becomes increasingly steep and the hike becomes difficult and exhausting. Over the next three hours, you will have to push yourself to gain altitude and for almost the entire duration of the climb, you will continuously see a summit that, to the disappointment of most hikers, turns out to be just another ridge. But when the last ridge is finally conquered, the hiker is rewarded with an absolutely magnificent panorama. The summit of Rinjani rises to the left, and just ahead, 600 meters below, lies Lake Segara Anak (the child of the sea lake), which offers one of the most spectacular views in Indonésie.

The path then runs along, for 20 minutes, the edge of the crater to the final destination of the day - Sembalun Rim or Plawangan Dua (2,658 m) - where the camp will be set up for the night. The crater rim offers plenty of comfortable space for many groups of tents. Following another trail at the far end, you will reach a rock wall from which crystal-clear spring water flows. This is the ideal place to wash in the icy water of a pure mountain spring and to refill your water bottles.

Hiking: 5-6h
Elevation gain: + 1,665m

The first 350 meters departing from the camp are quite steep and follow a fairly compact trail that crosses high-altitude vegetation. They then give way to purely volcanic gravel, starting from an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters. The first part of the path ends on the crater rim (2,969 m), offering a breathtaking view by moonlight of the Rinjani, at the very top, and over the crater edge all around.

The next 400 meters of altitude gain are very pleasant, with a trail that slowly becomes increasingly steep, but with a rather compact surface. It is evident that being at over 3,000 meters altitude slows down your movements and your pace. Once again, the ridge offers unforgettable views and, as you climb higher and approach sunrise, the horizon gradually brightens. With each step, the summit seems to draw closer and yet, you still have at least another hour to cover and three hundred meters of elevation gain to climb.

For those who believe that Rinjani is a health walk, this is certainly not the case, as the final three hundred meters are truly pure volcanic climbing. The final stage, very steep, confronts you with very soft and deep sand that offers no grip. One step forward, ½ step back, and this for an hour that seems endless. Due to the high altitude, you need to catch your breath every 10 meters before approaching the summit. At this stage, daylight has transformed the scene into a totally different atmosphere, as you can now clearly observe the entirety of the volcanic complex. The final meters become a race against time and the approaching sunrise. Five meters further, there is another rock - ideal for sheltering from the wind if necessary - and another corner, from which you can see the next ridge, another rock and finally a last turn before passing one last small and narrow ridge to the summit of Indonesia's second highest volcano. The colors of the first hour after sunrise are simply breathtaking and change minute by minute, offering unlimited opportunities for photography. At this stage, it is essential to have spare clothing, a spare t-shirt and a fleece jacket that will protect you from the often very hard, strong and cold trade winds. Avoid at all costs being at the summit before sunrise, unless you have very good high mountain protective clothing.

When descending, follow the same path back to camp, which will take you less than half the time it took you to ascend. It is tempting to slide on the gravel and forget to continue admiring the magnificent views. The next stage to the lake itself is less physically demanding but rather technical as the surface can be quite slippery. The first hour of walking is very steep and slow. Eventually, the trail levels out and leads through high-altitude meadows crossing several old vegetation-covered lava flows. After an hour, the lake gradually comes into view. The dramatic and jagged edge of the volcano surrounds and protects the lake at its center, while the Rinjani to the east descends vertically nearly 1700 meters from the summit into the waters of the crater lake.

Hiking: 9-10h Elevation gain: +1,070m / -1,710m

The lake area (2,020 m) is not always very clean, as large groups of Muslim and Hindu pilgrims often use it as a rest point and leave behind large quantities of plastic and other waste. One of the main reasons for the importance of this campsite is the presence of hot springs (Aik Kalak), only ten minutes' walk away. To find them, you must follow the opening of the lake where the waters flow out, cross the stream twice and follow the path for 200 metres down a very steep hill.

Efforts have been made to build natural bathing pools by retaining the hot spring waters in natural basins to allow swimming. These basins are often filled with algae, however. The highest hot springs are also too hot for most hikers (and too dirty). The larger, lower basin, with its two miniature waterfalls, is at ideal temperature and much cleaner.

From these hot springs, you head north in late morning via Goa Susu ("milk cave", 1,885 m) to Torean, which is more than 10 kilometres away, where a vehicle awaits you to take you back to Sembalun Lawang. Transfers: 30 mins Hiking: 4-5 hours Elevation loss: -1,450 m