Sembalun

What you gain

• ↑The Sembalun trailhead offers the best approach to Rinjani's crater rim: the savannah grassland ascent (through zebra grassland unlike anything else in Indonesia) is less jungle-dense than the Senaru route and gives expansive views throughout the climb. Most crater rim and lake circuits are done as 3-day/2-night treks: Day 1 Sembalun to Plawangan II crater rim camp, Day 2 descent to Segara Anak crater lake (2,000m) and hot springs, Day 3 ascent to Senaru rim and descent to Senaru village.
• ↑The Sembalun Valley itself is extraordinary for those who don't want to trek Rinjani: the flat valley floor is surrounded by volcanic walls on three sides, and the Bukit Pergasingan hill (600m above the valley floor, 2-hour hike) provides the classic view of the Sembalun landscape that has made it one of Instagram's most shared Indonesian locations.
• ↑The strawberry farms along the Sembalun road sell fresh-picked fruit directly from the fields: pick-your-own strawberries at 1,000m altitude, sold in paper bags for a few thousand rupiah, is a distinctive local experience unavailable anywhere else on Lombok.

What you sacrifice

• ↓Sembalun is 2 hours from Mataram (the main city) and 1.5 hours from Senggigi by road — it's genuinely remote and requires either a rented car/motorbike or a pre-arranged transfer with a trekking operator. Public transport does not serve the valley reliably.
• ↓Accommodation options are limited to basic homestays and simple trekking lodges: the Sembalun Lawang and Sembalun Bumbung villages have comfortable but modest options, and those expecting air-conditioning or en-suite facilities will be disappointed. The cold mountain nights (below 15°C) require warm clothing regardless of season.