Sembalun

Sembalun is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, no joke. Come here and see for yourself, I dare you. Nestled inside the crater rim of an ancient volcano, Sembalun sits on the island of Lombok and is most famous for its hike up Mount Rinjani. While visiting Bali and Lombok, you will most likely see millions of shopfronts advertising Mount Rinjani tours and think it could be a fun trip to do. 

We recommend that unless you are an experienced hiker and have a good level of fitness, don't do this hike. It seems to be a common consensus among Mount Rinjani guides and other travellers who have experienced the hike themselves that the over-advertisement and popularity of this hike undermine the danger and extremities it entails. 

Instead, we'd recommend hiking Pergasingan hill! This hike is much more friendly and much less risky and offers some of the most magical views of the town of Semblaun and Mount Rinjani. I mean... why stand ON the volcano when you can watch the sunset and sunrise from behind it. The hike can be done in a day, but there's also the option to pitch a tent at the top and camp the night, then get up early to watch the sunrise. We went for this option and had the most epic time. To find out more about this hike and the town of Sembalun, check out our YouTube video!