In Reply to: tour company? posted by sara on Tuesday, 30. July 2013 at 14:02 Bali Time:
Sarah
I climbed with Jhn's adventure tours....you really do get what you pay for. We even got a toilet tent, which is nothing more than a sheltered hole in the ground, but finding somewhere to go on the crater rim is difficult. Not so much if you are a boy, but the girls that we met would have liked a little privacy. We got great meals, a small group (3) and very professional service.
This is a difficult trek.....about6 to eight hours on day one which after the first hour, is pretty much hard work carrying your pack (keep it down to less than 6 kg if you can). You are then at the crater rim where you camp the night, before being woken at about 2 30 to climb to the summit, which took me another 5 hours. It's very cold on the crater rim and VERY cold on the summit, though you really only need your thermals and layers when you are stopped and sleeping. I wore thermal top and bottom (merino) a long sleeved T shirt, a fleece and a shell layer. Plenty warm:) Remember that you can climb it in good shoes or boots, but make sure they are well broken in.
Your night on the crater rim is magnificent, search travel fish for Rinjani for some good pics and info.
The push to the summit is hard, but the satisfaction is unbelievable:)
Let me know if you want any further info
Sean