Senaru Village: Your Gateway to Exploring Mount Rinjani

Mount Rinjani is a summit that draws thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to Lombok’s shores annually. Usually climbed in two or three days, the 12,224 ft peak usually leaves trekkers tired but smiling! For more details about how to climb this iconic volcano, please check out our Mount Rinjani Guide.

Many people coming to climb Mount Rinjani travel from popular Lombok tourist destinations such as the Gili Isles, Kuta, Sengiggi, and Mangsit. These places are fantastic in their individual ways, but it is worth considering spending time in culturally rich North Lombok before or after a Rinjani trek.

Senaru Village, Lombok Utara

Senaru village in North Lombok is one of two main gateways for climbing Mount Rinjani. Nestled on the lower slopes of the mountain at an altitude of 600m, Senaru is home to some of the most beautiful rice fields in Lombok.

It also has two of Lombok’s most famous waterfalls, Sendang Gila & Tui Kelep. Unlike the Gili Isles, Sengiggi, and other popular tourist destinations on Lombok, Senaru’s cultural heritage remains intact. Sasak culture is vibrant and alive, with many inhabitants still practicing the Wetu Telu religion of old- a subtle blend of Islam and Animism.

For these and other reasons we strongly recommend you spend some time in Senaru before or after a trek – it has so much to offer and is becoming known as “Lombok’s Ubud” (just without the swarms of tourists and traffic!). As Senaru is not a busy tourist destination accommodation is somewhat limited. But there are a few gems that we’d love to share!

Why trek to Senaru Crater Rim?

Trekking to Senaru Crater Rim allows travelers to experience the dramatic landscapes and beautiful scenery of Gunung Rinjani National Park in a short 2-day / 1-night timeframe. Unlike our Mt Rinjani summit packages, this trek is achievable for most fitness levels, but still represents a genuine challenge requiring some endurance and determination! The tour is a total of 21km in distance, with a 2000m elevation gain on day one, including some prolonged ascents.

The Senaru Crater Rim package will leave you feeling exhilarated! Spending time in nature can be excellent for de-stressing and “re-charging the soul”. This wonderful tour may leave you feeling tired and a little sore by day two, but we hope you’ll feel rejuvenated on a deeper level, with a rekindled sense of adventure and zest for life.

Rinjani Lodge:

Rinjani Lodge is a stunning boutique hotel overlooking Mount Rinjani and the rice fields of Bayan. It has incredible infinity pools and a beautiful garden. The staff speak excellent English, are friendly, and will go out of their way to help you. The restaurant is also fantastic, with an Asian fusion menu containing many delicious options (they even make their own ice cream!).

Rinjani Lodge is the most up-market of our recommendations, but it still represents excellent value for money – I had stayed there twice and also arranged for my parents to stay when they visited for the first time. They absolutely loved it! Rated “Superb” on booking.com, Rinjani Lodge has been featured in many travel blogs and magazines.

Rinjani Lighthouse:

Situated at the top of the hill close to the start-point for the Mount Rinjani trek, Rinjani Lighthouse is a great mid-range option. It is owned by a German family who are friendly and accommodating. The accommodation has been built in a traditional Lombok style with wooden frames and thatched “Aleng-Aleng” roofs. What separates Rinjani Lighthouse from other places in Senaru is its ability to accommodate a family under one roof. Its “Rumah Adat” family bungalow has 4 x twin beds and 1 x Queen bed.

Anak Rinjani Bungalows:

Anak Rinjani is our budget accommodation of choice. Situated directly behind Rinjani Dawn Adventures’ office and restaurant, Anak Rinjani has simple but nice bungalows. What really differentiates them from other budget places in Senaru are the quality of the beds & linen, and the fact that they have hot water showers (which are nice and powerful). There is no aircon, but the rooms have wall-mounted fans, which are adequate for most travelers as Senaru sits at 600m altitude, it is cooler at night compared to the Gilis and other coastal areas on Senaru Lombok.

Rinjani Dawn Adventures has great relationships with the owners of hotels and homestays in Senaru, so if you are booking one of our awesome Packages we would be happy to help you book accommodation. Please mention it in the questions part of our booking form, or email us via our contact page.

Senaru is one of Lombok’s best-kept secrets from a tourism point of view. Although numerous Hikers transit through to climb Mt Rinjani, many miss the serene beauty of the surrounding area. The crystal water that flows from underground springs provides vitality to the rice fields below. The forest above the village hosts an abundance of flora and fauna, including micro gardens where coffee, vanilla, and other organic produce are grown. Senaru traditional village is a cultural gem, remaining a functioning community to the many Sasak families who live there. For this reason, we encourage you to come and visit!