Lombok Love Affair
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Trip Highlights
- Volunteering and living with the wonderful Sasak people
- The mountain resort of Tetebatu
- Rice fields and plantations
- Mt Rinjani National Park four day trek
- Gili Trawangan island - relax, sunbathe, swim, snorkel, horse ride or explore
- Luxury boutique hotels on Gili Trawangan & Senggigi Beach
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
It is the local Sasak people who will guide your trek, and in turn you will assist them by teaching English. Get immersed in the Sasak culture and way of life as you live in their village and contribute directly to their well being by actively participating in their village-based eco-tourism project.
Trip Summary
Your trip starts at Lombok’s Mataram Airport where you are met by your English speaking local guide and transferred to Tetebatu village, a hill station with views of Mt. Rinjani providing an area perfect for relaxation and walks in the countryside.
The following day you will visit Loyok village, famous for the bamboo crafts that it produces. Many local designs are created by skilled craftsmen working each day on an amazing array of products. On to the village of “Masbagik” , which is rapidly gaining an international reputation for the quality of its pottery. Pringgasela, is known for its traditional cloth weaving and the cloth is still produced on hand-looms by skilled female weavers. On to the local market in “Paokmotong”, a great place to people watch. You continue to Tanjung Luar, a friendly fishing village and the most colorful fish market in Lombok.
The next day, you will walk to an isolated village through tropical forest inhabited by monkeys (we may even spot the rare ebony leaf monkey during the walk). The path takes you along a small river and past the Jeruk Manis Waterfall (which is said to cure baldness!). Then Enjoy the awesome views from the foothills of Rinjani Mountain. In the afternoon you leave for Sembalun Lawang.
The Mt Rinjani trek starts on the 4th day and contunues for 4 days/3 nights. The nearby Volcanology center houses a seismograph and a wealth of information on volcanos and their eruption patterns. The trek starts from Sembalun Lawang with a gentle ascent through open grassland used for grazing cattle by the local people and on to Pos I Pemantauan (1,300m). About three hours from Sembalun, you reach Pos 2 Tengengean (1,500m) and fantastic views of Mt. Rinjani’s summit (3,726m). After another hour’s ascent to Pos 3 Pada Balong (1,800m), you start the steep 3.5 hour climb amidst the pine-like Casuarina species locally known as Cemara, you may even get a glimpse of wild pigs and the long-tailed grey macaque monkeys. The camp site at Plawangan 2 Sembalun crater rim (2,639m) is your resting point for the night.
The following day, the 3.00 am start and the demanding three-hour climb to the summit (3,726m) on volcanic scree (loose rocks and stones), are soon forgotten as you savour the amazing sunrise views over Sumbawa and Mt. Tambora. Feel satisfied as you look west across the Wallace Line to Bali & Mt. Agung, and down to the stunning lake Segara Anak (2,000m) inside the Rinjani crater. Return down the ridge, passing numerous edelweiss plants, to the crater rim camp for a well-deserved breakfast. It takes a further two to three hours down the steep trail to the crater-lake and the evening's camp. The rest of the day is spent relaxing, swimming in the lake and exploring the caves and soaking in the hot springs, believed to have healing powers.
The next day, leave the lake and climb for two hours up to Plawangan 1 Senaru Crater Rim (2,461m). After lunch enjoy the views of the lake from the other side, relax, explore and await the sunset.
On the last day of the treck, descend down the trail to Senaru village (601m), through thick tropical forests rich in flora, bird life and a variety of butterflies. You might see orchids and, if you are lucky, the rare black ebony leaf monkey, known locally as lutung. Rest stops are taken along the way, with village stories and local legends related by your guide. After seven hours walk from the rim, the trek ends at Rinjani Trek Centre at the road head in Senaru. The rest of the day is free to relax after checking-in at your guesthouse.
The following day stretch out your weary legs on a panoramic walk guided by female guides. This half day walk explores the foothills of spectacular Rinjani volcano in Lombok’s northern district of Bayan. Starting near the border of Gunung Rinjani National Park, your route follows old pathways amongst shady bamboo groves, visits a traditional village to discover the highlight of Senaru before entering a wide, open landscape of rice terraces and palms. Following a winding irrigation canal you reach the lush rainforest of the famous Sindang Gila Waterfall Reserve. Passing small hamlets where age-old traditions are practiced, you gain insight into the colorful village life of the Sasak people.
Your Volunteer Project of teaching English by way of being a conversational reading partner to mountain guides, women guides and porters begins in the afternoon.
The next day, you have some free time in the morning, although there is an optional visit to a “second waterfall”: Tiu Kelep. This is another hour’s walk upriver from Sendang Gila. The scramble over rocks through the tropical forest is rewarded by the beauty of the waterfall and a swim in the deep pool. The locals say that every time you swim behind the main waterfall of Tiu Kelep you become a year younger, so keep swimming! Your volunteering work continues in the afternoon.
Your volunteering work continues on the next two afternoons with free time in the mornings.
After 4 days, you say goodbye to your new friends and leave for Gili Terawangan. You drive from the village to Bangsal and from here take a small boat to Gili Terawangan. There are three small islands called “Gili Air, Meno and Terawangan” with beautiful reefs, and white sandy beaches. Check in to your luxury boutique hotel and have the rest of the day to relax and explore.
The next day is a free day and if you are feeling active there are many optional activities: an island horse-cart ride, snorkeling or scuba diving on the nearby reef, horse-riding, fishing, cycling and swimming.
On Day 14, take a boat to Bangsal then drive to Senggigi, and check in to your luxury boutique hotel.
The following day, you have some free time to relax on the beach, and enjoy the hotel.
On the last day you still have enough time during the morning to explore Senggigi before you leave. Your adventure finishes with a transfer out to the airport. Your adventure ends in Lombok, but flights can be arranged to Bali or Jakarta.
* Comfort Level: Your accommodation is in luxurious boutique hotels (4 nights), simple hotels and guesthouses (8 nights), and camping (3 nights), with a homestay option in the village during the Volunteer Project.
For a full trip description PDF format, click here .
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
China - The Road to Shangri La
Laos - Sticky Rice
Nepal - Everest Bound
Thailand - Thai/Lao Explorer
Vietnam - Hanoi & Hilltribes
Feel free to contact us if you have any enquiries about this trip.
