Mount Rinjani Hiking Opened With Limited Access, Online Booking Temporarily Suspended.

Mount Rinjani hiking trails in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) will be reopened starting 1 September 2026. However, trekking operations will not return to full normal capacity, as the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) Management Authority is implementing a limited reopening scheme to mitigate wildfire risks during the dry season.

Budhy Kurniawan, Head of West Nusa Tenggara TNGR Management Authority, confirmed this policy was established after assessing the elevated forest and land fire hazard levels across the protected park area.

"Nature tourism activities within Mount Rinjani National Park are being opened on a restricted basis," Budhy stated in Mataram on Tuesday.

This measure follows Circular Letter No. SE.4/KSDAE/SKSDAE/KSA.02.02/08/2026 issued by the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, which regulates temporary closures and limited reopening of mountain trekking routes as part of national wildfire prevention protocols.

Not Limited Only To Hiking

The restricted access provisions do not only apply to visitors intending to climb Rinjani, but cover all other permitted activities within the national park boundaries.

"This limited reopening covers trekking tourism, traditional rituals, religious activities, cultural events, community gatherings, and academic research," he explained.

Under the restricted operation scheme, activities may still proceed within Mount Rinjani, however park management will roll out enhanced precautionary measures to minimise fire ignition risk.

Area security and monitoring protocols will be tightened. Patrol frequency and access control measures will also be increased for the full duration of the limited reopening period.

Additionally, park rangers will conduct mandatory inspections of all visitor belongings that may pose a fire hazard.

Unauthorised Open Fire Is Prohibited

Safety remains the absolute top priority during this limited operational period. One strictly enforced regulation is the total ban on unregulated open fires anywhere inside the park.

"Careless use of fire is strictly prohibited. We have also strengthened wildfire emergency response preparedness in coordination with all relevant stakeholders," Budhy confirmed.

Visitors are requested not to bring or operate any items that could accidentally ignite a fire. Rangers and partner agencies have also increased on-site readiness to respond immediately to any potential fire incidents within the Rinjani area.

This regulation is particularly critical during the dry season, when vegetation and ground cover become extremely flammable.

eRinjani Online Booking Temporarily Suspended

Alongside the implementation of limited park access, the official eRinjani online hiking booking system will be temporarily suspended effective 1 September 2026.

The booking service will only be restored once authorities confirm wildfire risk levels have returned to safe thresholds.

"All bookings that have already been completed and paid for prior to this date will still be honoured in accordance with applicable park regulations," he added.

This means hikers who completed registration and full payment before 1 September may still proceed with their planned trek per the original booking terms.

Prospective hikers who have not yet made a reservation are advised to wait for further official announcements regarding resumption of the booking service.

The operating status of Mount Rinjani will not remain fixed. TNGR management will conduct regular periodic evaluations to determine whether the limited reopening will be extended, expanded to full capacity, or rolled back to temporary closure.

These assessments will consider multiple factors including current wildfire risk levels, dry season progression, and any recorded forest or land fire incidents within the national park area.

Under this adaptive management approach, trekking access will be adjusted according to real-time on-ground conditions. For this reason, all visitors are urged to monitor official updates before planning any travel to the mountain.

"Rinjani remains open to the public, but safety and environmental preservation will always be our first priorities," he stated.

Hikers Urged Not To Take Unnecessary Risks

TNGR management is calling on all members of the public and visitors to participate in protecting Mount Rinjani. Wildfire prevention is not solely the responsibility of park rangers, it requires compliance and discipline from every person entering the protected area.

Budhy appealed to all visitors to never light unauthorised fires, and ensure all ignition sources are fully extinguished after any activity.

"Do not light fires carelessly. Do not leave any ignition source unattended. Do not take unnecessary risks," he concluded.