برچسب: Update

Antarctica Vs Arctic Travel Guide (2025 Update)
What is the difference between Antarctica and the Arctic? Our Antarctica vs Arctic travel guide highlights the key points of each region!

A thick ice shelf, harsh winter, vast ice cover, whales breaching across the ocean surface – are we describing the Arctic or Antarctica? It could be either!

The Arctic and the Antarctic have much in common. They are both cold, remote regions at the end of the Earth. Both regions have incredible wildlife and endless opportunities for adventure.

Whichever polar region you visit, you are sure to walk away with incredible memories and photographs.

But there are some key differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic! Not only are they at opposite ends of the planet, they have different animals, landscapes, temperatures, cultures, governments, and tours.

This guide dives into the specifics of each region to help you better understand what your trip might look like.

You won’t find polar bears or human cultures down in the Antarctic Circle, and you won’t find penguins or an entire continent of ice up around the North Pole.

Let’s break down the differences between Antarctica and the Arctic!

The Arctic – a gorgeous part of our planet!

Antarctica vs Arctic Travel Guide

Our travel guide compares both the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the Earth. These two areas are absolutely stunning and a favourite destination for adventurous explorers.

Though the two polar regions have many similarities, they are also very different. Our Antarctica / Arctic Travel Guide compares both areas across key categories to help you decide which is best for your adventure.

We’ll also dive into some FAQs about Antarctica and the Arctic region.

Important Note! Before you book any international trip, we honestly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know when things will go wrong, and medical bills can add up quickly if you get sick or injure yourself overseas.

Our personal recommendation based on our own experience is World Nomads.

Overview of Antarctica

Antarctica is famous for penguin-spotting, whale watching, zodiac cruises, mountain ranges, massive icebergs, and wild landscapes of Antarctic sea ice.

Visitors generally explore by expedition cruise, which may visit places like the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, South Shetland Islands, and more.

Here is an overview of Antarctica and its key selling points for those looking to book a trip!

Cruise ship around the Lemaire Channel in Antarctica

Geography & Landscape

Antarctica is a continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. It covers around 14 million square kilometres and is the fifth-largest continent on Earth.

It is also the coldest place on Earth! Air temperatures range from -60°C (-76°F) in winter to around -2°C (28°F) in summer.

Most of the continent is covered in vast mountains and ice sheets. The continent itself is a massive Antarctic ice sheet that can be up to 4km thick.

Surrounding the main landmass of Antarctica, you’ll find giant icebergs, huge amounts of sea ice, and subantarctic islands with their own unique geographies.

Antarctica has minimal vegetation and no full-time human inhabitants.

Read these fun facts about Antarctica that will blow your mind!

Wildlife

Despite its harsh environment, Antarctica has a diverse range of wildlife! Most animals reside in the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent, with some making temporary stops on land or ice floes. There are no animals that permanently live on land in Antarctica.

Antarctica is most known for its incredible penguin colonies. Emperor, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins thrive around the Antarctic Peninsula.

Common bird species include albatrosses, skuas, and snow petrels.

For sea-dwelling creatures, visitors to Antarctica can often spot weddell seals, leopard seals, and elephant seals lounging on sea ice around Antarctica or South Georgia.

Humpback whales, blue whales, minke whales, fin whales, and orcas also frequent the waters of the Southern Ocean around the continent.

Kayaking with whales in Antarctica

Tourism

Antarctica is the most remote and wild place in the world. A trip here is generally very expensive and time-consuming, but the adventure is like nothing else you’ll ever experience.

Most tours to Antarctica depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, with alternate options departing from New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa. You can only visit between October and March, with December and January being peak travel season.

Guests have to visit Antarctica with a reputable tour operator. Most trips to the Antarctic continent are expedition cruises, or some sort of fly/cruise options.

Tours are pricey, with most costing $10,000 – $15,000 USD or more for 10-day expeditions. But the price tag includes the highest-quality ships, gear, food, accommodation, and expert tour guides. You wouldn’t want to skimp out on a trip to the South Pole, where the environment is one of the harshest on Earth.

Read next: Antarctica Trip Cost – The Ultimate Guide

Overview of the Arctic

The Arctic differs from Antarctica, mainly in that it’s a region and not a continent. It encompasses the Arctic Ocean and various islands and landmasses that are part of different countries.

The Arctic is more accessible than Antarctica. It has human civilization and unique wildlife such as polar bears and narwhals.

Here are the key factors that make the Arctic special!

Geography & Landscape

While Antarctica is a continent, the Arctic is a region. It encircles the north pole at the very top of the Northern Hemisphere, and includes parts of Canada, Alaska (USA), Greenland (Denmark), Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.

The Arctic region includes the Arctic Ocean surrounded by landmasses, islands, fjords, tundras, and Arctic sea ice. In total, the Arctic is about 16 million square kilometres.

With slightly warmer temperatures than Antarctica, the Arctic has more diversity in its landscape and human activities.

Coastal summer temperatures in the Arctic range from 0°C to 10°C (32°F–50°F). There are also several settlements of humans living around the Arctic Circle, including Indigenous groups that have lived around the North Pole for centuries.

Read next: The 16 Best Wildlife Experiences in Canada

Wildlife

The Arctic has its own variety of marine life that Antarctica does not, such as walruses, beluga whales, bowhead whales, and narwhals. There are killer whales and seals in both polar regions, though the Arctic is home to harp seals, harbor seals, ringed seals, and more.

The main difference between Antarctica and the Arctic’s wildlife is that the Arctic has an abundance of land animals. The climate and landscape is more conducive to life on land up in the Arctic!

Polar Bears are the most famous Arctic animal, and they share the snowy terrain with Arctic foxes, reindeer, snowy owls, Arctic hares, and more.

Polar bear in the Arctic

Tourism

The Arctic is more accessible than Antarctica in terms of tourism.

The Arctic Region is in closer proximity to Europe and North America, so guests can find a wider variety of tours, flights, and cruises departing from Scandinavia, Canada, Iceland, Alaska, and more.

There are more flexible itineraries to the Arctic as well, which makes the trip more affordable at around $3,000 – $10,000 USD.

Aside from cruises and touring the icy landscapes of the Arctic, tours may also have additional activities like seeing the Northern Lights or going dog-sledding.

You can also embark on cultural tours with Indigenous groups as there are thriving cultures in the area.

June to September is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the best time to visit the Arctic. This is when the sea ice melts and you can see more wildlife like polar bears and Arctic foxes.

Read our review of the Quark Expeditions Greenland Arctic Cruise!

FAQs about the Arctic and Antarctic Regions

Now that we’ve given a brief overview of both polar regions, let’s cover some common questions that people may have.

Both polar regions are fascinating places to visit, but they offer different experiences that may be better suited to certain types of travellers.

What is the difference between the Arctic and Antarctic regions?

Though we’ve covered this in each location’s breakdown, here is a quick summary!

Antarctica is a continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It’s located at the South Pole and is home to vast mountains, penguin colonies, whale species, and subantarctic islands. Antarctica is very remote and expensive to visit!

The Arctic is a region that includes the Arctic Ocean and surrounding sea ice, islands, and continents. Its area extends into several different countries around the North Pole, and the Arctic is home to polar bears and numerous human settlements. The Arctic is slightly more accessible and affordable to visit than Antarctica.

So while the Arctic and the Antarctic are both cold, icy, and full of wildlife, they are vastly different.

Exploring the Arctic

Which is colder, the Arctic or the Antarctic?

Antarctica is colder than the Arctic! Both polar regions are some of the coldest places to visit on Earth, but Antarctica takes the cake for the coldest temperatures.

This is mainly because of geography. Antarctica is drier and more mountainous than the Arctic, allowing heat to escape into the air more quickly without a protective cloud cover.

Land also loses heat more quickly than water. Antarctica is a continent comprised of the Antarctic ice sheet, so it cools down more quickly than the ocean.

The Arctic, on the other hand, is mostly the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding islands. The Arctic Ocean actually regulates temperatures better in the region, keeping it a little warmer than Antarctica.

Winter temperatures in Antarctica can drop below −60°C (−76°F), and even in the coastal summer months, temperatures often remain below freezing. In contrast, Arctic winters typically range between −20°C and −40°C (−4°F to −40°F), and summer temperatures can climb to 0°C to 10°C (32°F to 50°F).

The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 89.2°C (−128.6°F) at Vostok Station in Antarctica, far colder than any temperature recorded in the Arctic.

Read next: How to Travel to Antarctica Responsibly (Must Read)

Are polar bears in the Arctic or Antarctic?

Polar bears live in the Arctic! If you’re getting your polar regions confused, you’re not the first.

Polar bears are land-dwelling mammals that roam the Arctic Circle. They occasionally swim in the ocean to catch prey or to travel between floating ice shelves, but they mainly live on land.

Antarctica does not have any animals that permanently live on land. You won’t find any polar bears at the south pole!

Are penguins in the Arctic or Antarctic?

Penguins live in Antarctica. They are well adapted to the freezing coastal temperatures of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, and the surrounding islands.

Common penguin species to see in Antarctica include emperor, chinstrap, gentoo, Adélie, macaroni, and more.

Emperor Penguins in Antarctica

Why do people live in the Arctic but not Antarctica?

There are several reasons why people live in the Arctic but not Antarctica, and it’s mostly due to climate and geography.

Antarctica is the coldest and most inhospitable place on Earth. There are no trees, agriculture, or permanent flowing water sources. It’s also extremely isolated, and wasn’t even discovered by humans until the 19th Century.

The Arctic better supports human life. It’s slightly warmer, has more resources, and is accessible from the northern countries such as Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and more.

Arctic areas have supported human life for thousands of years, with Indigenous peoples like the Inuit, Sámi, Nenets, and others adapting to the cold environment. Human settlements have their own tools and techniques for surviving around the Arctic Circle!

Read next: 11 AMAZING Things to Do in Iceland

Which countries govern the Arctic and Antarctica?

This is another interesting difference between the Arctic and Antarctica.

The Arctic is a region that belongs to several different sovereign nations. That means people live there just as they do in other regions of those countries, supported by infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and transport.

Antarctica, on the other hand, is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System. The Antarctic Treaty was created in 1959 by 12 countries that had scientists exploring the continent. The goal is to keep Antarctica as a reserve for peaceful scientific research.

Permanent settlements and governance from a single nation are prohibited in Antarctica. There are no cities or towns, only temporary research stations where scientists and support staff can live for short periods of time.

Why is Antarctica a continent but the Arctic isn’t?

Antarctica is considered a continent, but the Arctic is not, because of their fundamental differences in land and structure.

Antarctica is a massive landmass – a solid continent made of rock and mountains, covered by a thick ice sheet. It meets the definition of a continent: a large, continuous area of land surrounded by ocean.

The Arctic is not a landmass. It’s mostly sea ice floating on the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by landmasses like Russia, Canada, Greenland, and Norway.

Since there’s no central landmass, it doesn’t qualify as a continent. While it includes parts of other continents, the central Arctic itself is just ocean, not a separate continental landform.

When we visit Antarctica, it always blows our minds at just how interesting the ice covered continent is.

Should I visit the Arctic or Antarctica?

If you’re planning an epic getaway to either the North Pole or the South Pole, it’s important to understand the differences we’ve covered so you know what to expect!

An Antarctic or Arctic expedition will likely be the trip of a lifetime. Here is a quick comparison of trips to either location so you can choose the best adventure for you.

We’ll mention the fun experiences you can have in each place, as well as logistics for planning a trip such as cost, departure location, and time of year.

Reasons to visit Antarctica
- Visit one of the most untouched wilderness areas on the planet
- Visit research stations and learn about climate science
- Stand on the 7th continent—a bucket-list destination
- Experience vast ice sheets, blue glaciers, and surreal icebergs
- See penguin colonies, whales, seals, and more
- Ride Zodiac boats through iceberg-filled waters
- Try kayaking, hiking, or even polar plunges
- Disconnect completely in one of the most remote places on Earth
Logistics of visiting Antarctica

Aside from these amazing experiences, consider the logistics of visiting Antarctica.

Most trips depart from South America, with other options departing from New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa. Consider your travel to the starting point for the expedition cruise!

Antarctica expedition cruises tend to cost around $10,000 USD per person, with longer or more luxury cruises jumping up to $20,000 USD or more.

Also note that you can only travel to Antarctica between November and March, as these are the summer months for the South Pole.

NOMADasaurus Tour Group in Antarctica

Reasons to visit the Arctic
- Explore tundras, glaciers, fjords, and icebergs
- Try dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, hiking, or kayaking
- Visit remote islands like Svalbard, Greenland, and Arctic Canada
- See majestic polar bears, Arctic hares, narwhals, puffins, beluga whales, and more
- Enjoy vibrant wildflowers and stunning summer light
- Travel in shoulder seasons to see the Northern Lights
- Visit Indigenous communities and learn about traditional lifestyles
- Discover Viking ruins, whaling stations, and exploration history
Logistics of visiting the Arctic Circle

Traveling to the Arctic is more accessible than Antarctica. The visiting window is wider, costs are lower, and departure points are more varied.

There is easier access to the Arctic via Norway, Iceland, Northern Greenland, Canada, Alaska, or Russia, and you can combine it with other nearby land destinations.

Peak season is June through August. There is 24-hour daylight above the Arctic Circle, wildlife is more active across the Arctic tundra, and the Arctic environment is more alive.

You can also visit in shoulder seasons of May or September to get the best views of the Northern Lights. Costs for a tour tend to be around $3,000 – $10,000, which is more affordable than most Antarctic cruises.

See the Northern Lights in the Arctic!

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02/07/2025
The Ultimate Mount Rinjani Trekking Guide (2025 Update)
A Mount Rinjani trekking tour is not for novice hikers or casual travellers. But if you’re ready for an epic 3-day journey to the summit of the second highest volcano in Indonesia, here’s everything you need to know before you go in our guide.

At 3,726 metres above sea level, Mount Rinjani looms large over the entire island of Lombok in Indonesia.

Of the 130 volcanoes in the country, Rinjani is the second-highest (topped only by Mount Kerinci on Sumatra).

Rinjani’s ominous silhouette is a constant reminder of the powerful forces rumbling just beneath the surface of the earth.

That power is what draws hundreds of intrepid hikers to Rinjani every day.

You can see Rinjani from almost everywhere on Lombok.

Why Do a Rinjani Trek?

The tough hike to the crater rim is rewarded by absolutely magnificent views.

Rocky black soil at the summit drops off into a lush valley filled with purples so deep and greens so bright they don’t look like they should exist in nature.

Lake Segara Anak, nestled in the bottom of the gaping crater, is a deep turquoise, echoing the spectacular colour of Lombok’s seas.

On the edge of the lake sits an active volcano, Mount Barujari, which steadily spews threatening clouds of smoke into the air.

Mount Barujari, inside the Rinjani crater, is still active and can erupt at any time.

And at night, the sky is blanketed with stars so thick they look painted on.

While the views inspire awe, the most compelling reason to trek Mount Rinjani is to challenge your body and your mind, leap firmly out of your comfort zone, and be able to shout “Hell yes, I did it!”

If that sounds good to you, read on for everything you need about…

How to Plan Your Epic Mount Rinjani Trekking Adventure

Could You Handle a Rinjani Trek?

I’ll admit, we went into the Mount Rinjani trek with a bit of a cavalier attitude. Sure, we’d read the stories about how hard it was supposed to be, but we’re experienced trekkers with decades of challenging mountain hikes behind us.

We’ve trekked all over Canada, Europe, and even in Vietnam.

How much harder could trekking Mount Rinjani possibly be?

As it turns out, trekking Rinjani is hard. Really freaking hard.

The Rinjani trek starts with a climb of 1500 m over 8 km. Most of that elevation change takes place during in the final 4 km, which take about 4 hours.

Yep, that’s just one measly kilometre an hour.

To make matters more difficult, there is next to no trail maintenance, so the route is sandy, slippery, and ridiculously steep.

Unless you’re a trail running hero or an actual superhero, be prepared to have your will and your body pushed to their limits on your way up Mount Rinjani.

And that’s just the first day.

The second day starts in the middle of the night, so hikers can summit for sunrise. To get the summit, there’s another 1000 m of elevation gain, along a narrow trail of slippery loose scree.

It’s cold up there, too. Even in August, the temperature hovers around freezing.

After all the climbing, the descent should be a relief. Instead, it seems to go on for days, requiring every ounce of hamstring strength you can muster, plus knees of steel, and an excellent sense of humour.

The descent from Mount Rinjani will put your whole body to the test.

If you come away without any scraped knees or sore muscles, you’re definitely part mountain goat!

So, could you handle trekking Rinjani?

If you’ve read all of this and you’re thinking “Hell, yeah! Bring it on!” then keep reading.

If you’re still not sure, check out my 7 Essential Tips For Surviving A Mount Rinjani Trek →

What Are The Options For a Rinjani Trekking Tour?

Sembalun Or Senaru: Where To Start?

There are two main points of entry to Rinjani National Park.

You can ascend from the village of Sembalun or from Senaru. On three- and four-day hikes, you depart from one village and descend to the other.

We highly recommend starting in Sembalun because of the way the trails are configured.

The first day of ascent from Sembalun is steep and sandy. It looks like it would be absolutely brutal going in the opposite direction.

Likewise, the descent to the crater lake is so steep and rugged, that it would be a real leg-breaker going the other way.

If you want a more off-the-beaten track experience, book a private tour and ask about one of the less-used routes, like the trails from Aik Berik or Torean. We wish we had known about them before our trek!

How Many Nights on Rinjani?

Three Days, Two Nights

The most popular option (and the one we recommend) is the 3-day, 2-night trek. This gives you just enough time to climb to the summit and also visit the crater lake and hot springs.

If you’re in no rush, consider the 4-day, 3-night option, which goes to the same locations but provides a little more free time to relax and enjoy Mount Rinjani.

Two Days, One Night

The 2-day, 1-night tour from Sembalun includes the option to summit at sunrise. If you’re in amazing shape and love to punish your machine, go for it!

Otherwise, take pity on your poor body and give yourself more time on the mountain.

The 2-day, 1-night trek from Senbaru takes trekkers to the crater rim opposite the summit. This is the easiest (not to say that it’s easy) of the Mount Rinjani trekking options.

You don’t get near the summit or the lake but it does provide incredible views of the crater. If you think you can’t handle a longer trek but still want to experience Rinjani, this is probably the best option.

If you book the full 2-day, 1-night tour on Klook they will pick you up from anywhere in Lombok and provide everything for you.

BONUS – Booking ahead of time ensures you won’t miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount code “NOMADS10” on the website when checking out, you’ll get $10 off your first booking!

The view of the crater lake from the Sembalun side is worth the trek!

Be aware that “one night” or “two nights” refers to number of nights on the mountain. Most Rinjani trekking companies encourage you to spend a night in Senbaru before the tour to get an early start. This hotel is often included in the price, but be sure to check!

Private Tours and Hiking Rinjani Without A Guide

While it is technically possible to trek Mount Rinjani without a tour or a guide, it is actively discouraged both by the government and the community. Unless you are an extremely experienced hiker and have hiked in the tropics before, don’t even consider it. If you’re injured on the mountain without a guide or porters, you’ll be in some serious trouble.

If you do decide to trek Rinjani independently, please sign in at the park office and pay the entrance fee. Though it’s questionable whether the fees are used to maintain Rinjani, signing in is for your own safety.

What’s The Food Like On A Rinjani Trek?

On our day-one lunch break, we were astonished to see full-on camp kitchens being set up by all the guides and porters on the mountain.

In Canada, you’re lucky to get a squashed peanut butter sandwich for lunch on a long hike.

On Rinjani, you get a heaping plate of fried vegetables, tofu and tempeh, a pile of freshly cooked rice crackers, all the rice you can eat, plus a massive fruit plate for dessert. And that’s just the vegetarian option!

Not bad for a camp meal!

This meal was not unusual. Everything we ate on Rinjani, and everything we saw being served to fellow trekkers, was freshly cooked and plentiful. There was so much food, we were rarely able to finish our meals.

Where Do You Sleep On Rinjani?

You’ll sleep snuggled in a tent at a campsite on the crater rim or by the lake.

Our tent was clean and modern, if a little bit short for our long bodies! The sleeping bags had been freshly laundered and the camp pillows were also clean.

You won’t find much solitude at your campsite though, since hundreds of other trekkers will be camping right alongside you.

What Does A Rinjani Trekking Tour Cost?

There’s a huge range of prices for trekking Rinjani, depending on which company you go with, where and when you book, and which tour option you choose. I saw prices quoted anywhere between $80 and $450 US for similar tours.

Avoid the cheapest companies, as many don’t provide essential services like an experienced guide, good sleeping bags, garbage pack-out, and a toilet tent.

You can save money by booking once you’re already on Lombok. Just make sure you know which Rinjani trekking company you’re going with so you can ask the essential questions and check their reviews.

If you don’t have time to wait around on Lombok looking for a tour with availability, it is best to book ahead. Check out some of the tours I’ve linked to on this page.

Porters carry around 40kg on bamboo poles. Please tip them!

Budget a little extra for tipping. After you see how hard your porters and guide work, you will be happy to supplement their incomes.

A minimum of 100,000 IDR (around $8 US) per guide/porter from each hiker is a good guideline.

Other Important Things To Know For Your Trek

All visitors are not allowed to bring any plastic that can potentially become waste. So visitors are advised to bring refillable drinking water bottles, food containers to carry food such as snacks, biscuits, bread, and the like.

There are only 400 trekking permits issued a day (240 permits for international hikers and 160 permits for domestic hikers). So make sure you reserve your place in advance!

How To Choose The Best Rinjani Trekking Service

Choose your Mount Rinjani trekking package carefully. Yes, you can pick up el cheapo tours after you arrive in Lombok but you tend to get what you pay for on Mount Rinjani.

I recommend ignoring the cheapest options and spending a little more to ensure you are comfortable and safe on the mountain.

Hajar Trekking took excellent care of us during our Mount Rinjani tour. We can enthusiastically recommend them.

Hajar grew up in Senbaru and he cares deeply about the mountain and the future of tourism there. Our guide, Adi, was funny, informative, and always put our safety first.

He has been up the mountain hundreds of times, knows every rock and tree root on the trail, and was patient with our endless stops for photos and videos.

If you mention the code “NOMAD TO RINJANI” when you contact them via WhatsApp or email they’ll offer you a special discount 🙂

Stephen and our guide, Adi, still smiling after three days with us!

The two porters who took care of us were just amazing, too, working their butts off to lug our camping gear and food up the mountain and to get our campsite set up and perfect before we arrived.

What’s Included On A Mount Rinjani Tour?

These are the things that should be included in your Rinjani trekking package. If they aren’t, look for another company.
- One English-speaking, licensed, experienced guide
- One porter per person in your group
- Meals, snacks, soft drinks and water
- Tent and sleeping bag
- Transportation to and from any town on Lombok
- Transportation between Senbaru and Sembalun
- Hotel stay in Senbaru the night before the trek
Some companies provide a few nice-to-have extras. This is what we got:

A toilet tent allowed us to do our business in private and to bury our waste. Without a toilet tent, you take your chances in the bushes where privacy is very hard to come by.

A camping pillow which helped us get a better night’s sleep.

Two camping chairs that kept us out of the thick Rinjani dust at mealtimes.

Winter jackets to keep us warm at the top of the mountain. Even in August, the summit was around 5 degrees celsius! Brrrr.

We recommend having a good backpack for hiking as well.

It’s cold at the top of Rinjani all year round.

Headlamps to make the ascent to the Rinjani summit possible. A headlamp leaves your hands free to carry trekking poles or help you scramble up the steepest sections.

Trekking poles to save your knees on the steep descents and give you extra ability to balance on the often treacherous trails.

Other Essential Questions To Ask About Your Rinjani Trekking Package

What do the porters carry? Usually, hikers carry all their personal items (clothes, toiletries etc) and the porters carry food, water and camping equipment.

What is the group size? We were on a private tour, but if you go with a group, be sure to ask about the group size. The larger groups on the trail tended to be noisy and experience more delays.

What do they do with garbage? You are going to go through a lot of food and water on the trail. Make sure your tour company pays their porters to carry your garbage out, instead of dumping it or burning it on the mountain. There is a lot of garbage on Rinjani – please don’t add to it!

Are there restrictions for what we can bring? To reduce waste on the mountain, visitors are not allowed to bring any plastic. Pack food and drinks accordingly!

Who runs the company? What is their story? We love to travel with private companies run by local people. They tend to care deeply about the environment and the longevity of their business and less about earning a quick buck.

Tips For Trekking Mount Rinjani

Request trekking poles. We had never trekked with poles before but they were indispensable for this trip. They’ll help keep you upright through the sandy, slippery slopes and will save your knees after hours of steep descents.

Be prepared. The trail will probably be harder than you think. Take your time, stopping every few steps to catch your breath if you need to. If you just keeping taking the next step and then the next, you will eventually make it to the top. Read up on our top hiking tips for beginners for more help.

Be OK with not summiting. Don’t be ashamed to say “no” to the sunrise summit trek. Plenty of people don’t go up! If the first day nearly killed you, stay in your tent and rest. There is plenty of exciting hiking to come without risking injury or exhaustion just to see the summit.

Don’t get too cocky on the descent. The trail down is steep and precarious. It’s easy to slip and fall and even easier to injure your knees. Just because the porters are running down the trail in flip-flops doesn’t mean you have to do it too!

Be respectful. Try to stay aware on the trail, even when you’re exhausted. Let faster hikers go by you and always move over for porters. Remember, they are working while you are there for fun!

Don’t add to the Rinjani litter problem. It’s no secret that there is a lot of garbage on Mount Rinjani. Bring a bag with you and please pack out your own toilet paper, baby wipes, cigarette butts and other personal garbage. If you want to do more, bring a garbage bag and pick up rubbish along the trail. You are not allowed to bring plastic!

Rinjani Trekking Packing List

Bring as little as possible. If you think you’ll survive without something, leave it behind! You’ll regret the extra weight when you’re on your 1200th metre of ascent for the day!
- Hat, gloves & scarf (it’s very cold at the top)
- Good hiking shoes (running shoes are not grippy enough)
- Headlamp (for the night hike to the summit)
- One/two sweat-wicking t-shirts
- One pair of shorts
- One pair of long pants
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Sun hat (if you don’t have one make this easy DIY hat)
- Sunscreen
- Lip sunscreen (our lips got burned – not a good look)
- Sunglasses
- Socks & undies
- Swim suit
- Tiny towel
- ID and cash for tipping
Optional items:
- Base layer (it gets freaking cold at the summit)
- Baby wipes (if you pack them in, pack them out)
- Soap or hand sanitizer
- Flip-flops
That’s everything you need to know before you book your Rinjani trekking tour. If we missed something or if you have questions, ask away in the comments section below!

Disclaimer: We were guests of Hajar Trekking for our Rinjani trip. But we would never recommend something we didn’t love ourselves and you know Jarryd and Alesha wouldn’t let us get away with it either!

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14/04/2025