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Pergasingan Hill Hike In North Lombok (Bukit Pergasingan)

Pergasingan Hill Hike In North Lombok (Bukit Pergasingan)

Pergasingan Hill is an epic viewpoint at the top of a steep 1-hour trail north of Lombok. Locally known as Bukit Pergasingan, the trail is suitable for most hikers and offers some of the best views in all Lombok! It is best done for sunrise or sunset and you can even camp at the top with the help of a trekking guide.

I’ve hiked up Pergasingan Hill both the front way and the back way. When I did it the front way I did it just for sunrise and when I  did it the back way, I actually camped up the top. Both times hiking up Bukit Pergasingan were with Rinjani Dawn Adventures which I will discuss later in the blog.

PERGASINGAN HILL (BUKIT PERGASINGAN)

Pergasingan Hill is in Sembalun, which is right near Mount Rinjani. In fact, you pass by the launch-off spot for the Mount Rinjani Trek and the big volcano looms in the background on the other side of the valley throughout the Pergasingan Hill Trek.

a man standing on a hill overlooking a valley.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY ON LOMBOK

a view of the ocean at sunset from a resort.
a couple of houses that are next to a pool.

WHERE IS PERGASINGAN HILL

Below I have placed a map with Pergasingan Hill pinned so you can find the way. Pergasingan Hill is a popular hiking destination located in the village of Sembalun in East Lombok, Indonesia. To get there, you can take a private car or hire a driver from Mataram city, which is about a 2-hour drive away. Alternatively, you can take a public minibus, also known as a “bemo,” from Mandalika terminal in Mataram to Sembalun village. Once you arrive in Sembalun, you can hire a local guide to take you on the hike up to Pergasingan Hill.

The trail is relatively well-marked and quite easy to follow, with a gentle ascent that takes approximately 2-3 hours to reach the summit. The panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys from the top are well worth the effort. It’s recommended to start the hike early in the morning to avoid the heat and to bring plenty of water and snacks.

The best directions you will get are to head past the Rinjani Trekking Center in Sembalun and then take the left fork in the road. From here you will take another left about two minutes later before hitting a small river where we parked at a little hut. Walk across the river and follow the path until you see the sign pictured below. This is the beginning of the trail and it is hard to go wrong from here.

DO YOU NEED A GUIDE 

It isn’t incredibly difficult to trek up Pergasingan Hill and is possible to DIY. However, because the directions to the trailhead are a bit vague and the track can be slippery it would be a good play to book a guide. I went with the team from Rinjani Dawn Adventures.

It was myself, Angus, the co-founder and Aef the co-founder, and one more local lad trekking up together. It was great to have them chat and share experiences about the trek and the region. At the top Aef prepared some coffee, biscuits, and then even an entire meal of rice, fish, and tempeh. It was a great way to start off the day with the crew and they were all super friendly and great hiking companions.

Contact Rinjani Dawn Adventures: If you would love to get in touch with Rinjani Dawn Adventures about trekking Pergasingan Hill or other hikes in Lombok you can do so by clicking through to their booking page here.  You can also contact Rinjani Dawn by email to organize a tour: rinjanidawnadventures@gmail.com

Pergasingan Hill is open all year even though Mount Rinjani is closed until April each year due to the weather. I hiked this trail in February and the conditions were great.

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MY EXPERIENCE TREKKING UP PERGASINGAN HILL

At 430am I woke up at my homestay in Senaru. We could have left even earlier to catch the full sunrise but this ended up being good timing for some morning light. I joined up with the Rinjani Dawn guides at the front of the homestay and jumped on the mopeds.

It was an hour-and-a-half drive up the rocky roads to Sembalun. The roads were being redone after the earthquake of 2018 so I expect by mid-2019 they will be nice and smooth for your early morning drive. We cruised into Sembalun with the clouds on fire over Mount Rinjani on our right. After the Rinjani Trekking Center, we took a left and then another left a few minutes later as we cruised through a small village looking straight up towards the mountain.

You will pass a small sign on the right and this is where you are meant to pay the 50,000 rupiah entrance fee. No one was there at sunrise but they were on the way back to pay.  We dropped the bikes and gave our helmets to a local to hold onto safely. You first cross a small river before you reach a little trail on your left with white signs that mark the trailhead.

The trail entrance after turning off the main road. You park your bike just to the right of this archway sign.
This is the bridge you need to cross that was broken when we went in February 2019. It should be repaired shortly.
When you see this sign, you have arrived at the trailhead. Turn left here and you follow the trail all the way up to the summit.

The trail starts off with a steep set of stairs and it doesn’t level out for a few hundred meters. The incline is quite aggressive on this trail and you will be breathing and sweating as you tackle the steep trail of Pergasingan Hill. The stairs soon disappear and are replaced by rocks and boulders, which make the trek up quite exciting. Make sure you keep your hands free and go slowly as the rocks can be quite slippery in the cool conditions of the early morning.

The trek up Pergasingan Hill takes about 1 hour but it was halfway up that the light flowed into the valley and the conditions were just prime. Fog covered the farm fields and the base of the mountains while the morning light created beautiful shadows in the creases of the sharp ridges on the mountains in the distance. It was a pretty spectacular view and my favorite part of the morning.

Mount Rinjani looming in the background

What are my favorite pieces of hiking gear?

There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Here are my hiking essentials.

  • Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
  • Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots: For the best ankle support, waterproofing, and durable exterior I’m a fan of tough but light hiking boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
  • Black Diamond Head Torch: I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve arrived back from a hike unexpectedly late. I always keep this lightweight but strong headtorch in my bag for the unexpected.
  • Darn Tough Socks: These are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever worn and last for years. They also have a lifetime warranty and you just send them in with a hole and they replace it no questions asked.

About halfway up the trek, the trail levels out and becomes quite thick. The cool morning dew of the bushes swept past us on every step and before long my shorts were saturated. From here the trail emerges from the bushes and you begin another short climb to the summit, which is a small plateau. I believe you can continue on up towards the true peak of the ridge but this may be the better view as there are no trees or obstructions to the view.

The trail thickens on either side and levels out about halfway up.

The viewpoint, with the right lighting, is phenomenal. A patchwork of multi-colored farmland covers the valley below.  Huge ridges tower over the valley in all directions with dramatic drop-offs. As you look down from the summit, you can see the town below and hear the sounds of the morning routine as the prayer from mosques bellows out over the city.

Not to be outdone by the beautiful farmlands below, Mount Rinjani demands your attention on the other side. The famous volcano is to your right in full view. Having been at the top of the summit before, I know how tough it is to reach the top, although from Pergasingan it doesn’t seem so intimidating.

We sat at the top and Aef, our guide, brewed some Lombok Coffee and shared some coconut biscuits. We chatted about the different vegetables being grown below, the other trails in the area, and stories about Mount Rinjani. It was great to be at the summit with experienced locals to hear their insights about the region. 

After a couple of drone flights, Aef made us some rice, fish, and tempe. This gave us more than enough us enough sustenance to make our way down the trail. On the way down it was quite slippery and I made a couple of small tumbles so be sure to tread carefully.

We spent almost two hours at the top and it took us just over an hour for the trek up and a little less on the way down. Our total trip time was 4 hours but this trek could easily be done in 1.5 hours if you rushed up enjoyed the view for 20 minutes and came down. We just took our time because we were in no rush.


CAMPING ON PERGASINGAN HILL

Most of this blog was written from my first visit to Pergasingan Hill so it is from the angle of just a trek but I will this segment to talk about camping, which is how I experienced Pergasingan Hill the second time around. This time I came from the backway in a small village and instead of an hour up it took 2.5 hours to wind our way around the ridge. You will only find this private access point at the back of houses with tour guides. 

The porters carried the tents, food, water, and equipment and we carried our personal belongings much like on Mount Rinjani. At the summit, the guides set up the camp and cooked the food. It is luxury camping and didn’t we know it? It was great though as it gave us time to enjoy the views and explore a bit.

We had a bonfire at night and an epic sunrise in the morning.  If you do have the time to camp here it is a great place for an overnight stay. There are lots of little areas to explore and an awesome experience. My first hike was great but camping was 10x better.

ADVENTURE BAG FROM PERGASINGAN HILL

This is an adventure bag (I forgot the bag). It is full of trash. Every time I go on an adventure I collect one adventure bag full of trash. It’s my small way of saying thanks to mother nature for allowing me to enjoy her beautiful creations.

If we have time to go on an adventure we have time to collect an adventure bag on the way back out of the trail once we have enjoyed the waterfall, the hike or the beach. Adventure hard!

Tag your @adventurebagcrew on Instagram and mention @adventurebagcrew in your Instagram stories to be featured and inspire your friends, family, and followers to join the movement!

WHERE TO STAY IN NORTHERN LOMBOK

If you are visiting attractions in the north such as Tiu Kelep or Mount Rinjani you should choose one of the three accommodations in the ‘Northern‘ section below.

  • Jeeva Santai VillasLuxury Villa: Great location on the beautiful Mangsit Beach but also within driving distance of Tiu Kelep and Mount Rinjani. It is a location that offers the best of both worlds.
  • Hakiki Inn Bungalows – Value: Set on the edge of rice fields with the jungle feel but the comfort of a private bungalow.
  • Blue Mountain CottageBudget (but also value): This is where I stayed. The room was very basic but it was comfortable enough with a basic private bathroom.
a view of the ocean at sunset from a resort.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF LOMBOK

If you are staying in the south to enjoy the beaches and surf in Kuta, Lombok you should choose one of the three accommodations in the ‘Southern‘ section below.

  • Harmony VillasLuxury: The beautiful white theme throughout the property contrasts against the emerald green pool and plants. The villas are laid out impeccably and the best part about this 4-star villa is that it actually isn’t as expensive as it looks.
  • Martas Windows  – Value/Luxury: This place is incredibly beautiful. Bungalow-style villas surround the modern pool at this amazing property. For less than $80 a night, you can get yourself what would cost hundreds of dollars in most other countries at Martas Windows.
  • Boogie Hostel Kuta LombokBudget: The Boogie Hostel is everything you ask for in a hostel. It’s super modern and clean and has lots of chill spaces as well as lockers for your gear and blinds for privacy at your dorm.
a couple of houses that are next to a pool.

READ MORE OF MY LOMBOK GUIDES

a person standing on a hill overlooking a valley.

Ryan Mazure

Friday 18th of October 2019

Hey man! I took that entry to Pergasingan this morning but they have blocked the entry and put a huge fence up. Someone has made a hole so you can just go under anyways. Coming back looks like there is another trail up the adjacent ridge to the east just maybe 200m over. Maybe this is the new path I'm not sure. The earthquake certainly destroyed those stairs! There were a few people on the top but mainly locals. There are heaps of other mountains to climb around Sembalun too as the Rinjani 100 race uses the trails so they are in good nick ?