The Rinjani Trek was lauded in the award citation as “a place doing superb work in protecting its overall natural and cultural heritage, the volcanic heart of the island of Lombok, Indonesia”. Visitors to this tropical island enjoy long jungle treks to the awe-inspiring crater valley, waterfalls and hot springs, and emerge from the forest canopy to enjoy an amazing panoramic ocean view.
 

The Rinjani program is exemplary for its strong partnership among local community groups, tourism industry and national park, and has successfully withstood the recent deep dip in Indonesia’s tourism.

At 3,726m, Mount Rinjani is the second highest volcanic peak in Indonesia and is a part of the celebrated “Ring of Fire”. Gunung Rinjani National Park lies within a major bio-geographical transition zone (Wallaceae), where the flora and fauna of South East Asia meets that of Australasia. The National Park, one of over 40 throughout Indonesia, was established in 1997. For the people of Lombok, Sasak and Balinese alike, Mount Rinjani is revered as a sacred place and abode of deities. The crater lake is a pilgrimage destination for tens of thousands each year. For tourists, the three-day Rinjani Trek route from Senaru to the crater rim, down to the crater lake then on to Sembalun Lawang, is considered one of the best treks in South East Asia. More adventurous trekkers aim for the summit, best reached from Sembalun Lawang, returning after four days to Senaru.

The Rinjani Trek Ecotourism Programme has been developed since 1999 with assistance from New Zealand’s International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID). To strengthen conservation and ensure that communities on the boundary of the National Park benefit from tourism revenues, community-run co-operatives coordinate the Trek at the Rinjani Trek Centre in Senaru and the Rinjani Information Centre in Sembalun Lawang.

 

The Rinjani National park covers an area of 41,330 ha on the northern part of Lombok and locates the three administrative district of West, East and Central Lombok. The area covers 12,357.67 ha in the west, 22,152.88 ha in the east and 6,819.45 ha in central Lombok. Rinjani dominates the National Park of Lombok, an island east of Bali on the Indonesian archipelago. At 3726m it is the second highest volcano in Indonesia, part of the infamous ring of fire that encircles the basin of the Pacific. Within the crater is the spectacular Segara Anak lake and the still – active volcano Gunung Baru (2,363m).

It is surrounded by further 66,000 ha of Protection Forest also covers the three administrative districts. The park ecosystem is in the transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Walaceae zone). Average rainfall is about 3,000mm annually.