Anytime a hiking vlogger gets a new drone, they head for Iceland to test it out. 😀
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Climbing Rinjani, Indonesia – day 0
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Three days, two nights in the tent.
Cost is USD $220 to $330/ person.
I’ve long wanted to climb astonishing Mount Rinjani not far from Bali, Indonesia.
I took the local boat from Gili Trawangan to Lombok island for the start of our guided climb of Rinjani. I could see it in the distance.
Our group met up at a local restaurant close to Bangsal Port ➙ then we were efficiently (if dangerously) driven up to Senaru village at 400m.
We had a typical Indonesian lunch based on rice or noodles.
We dropped bags in our surprisingly interesting rooms.
Then set off to see two local waterfalls.
Plenty of macaques await ready to grab at your purse, backpack, or any kind of plastic bag.
Here’s the 1st waterfall.
MOST interesting here is a fun tire tube ride underground through the irrigation channel. I’d be too chicken, myself. 😀
Here’s the 2nd even more impressive falls.
Back at the guesthouse we did our introductory briefing on the volcano climb. We had hoped two more would join us. One was in hospital for some reason. The other cancelled last minute.
Rinjani is 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), making it the second-highest volcano in Indonesia.
We had signed up for the longer 3 days, 2 nights in the tent option.
That turned out to be the right decision. Our itinerary the BEST HIKE.
Click PLAY or watch a preview on YouTube.
Climbing Rinjani, Indonesia – day 1
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
MOST groups on our itinerary camp on the 1st volcano ridge day 1. Our guide offered us the chance to descend 3 hours to camp at the lake, instead. Super tough 1st day — but we were all glad we did it.
We were up for the dawn. I added milk powder to my brutal black instant coffee.
Banana pancakes excellent, as always.
Driving up to the start at 600m we stopped for a blessing. An important tradition with the local Sasak people as well as Hindus.
Still clean and keen at the start.
They’ve had a lot of deaths on this mountain, the most recent June 2025.
Another died May 2025. Both from falls.
We each had to register with photo ID. The Gunung Rinjani National Park, established 1997, is trying to make this adventure safer — but they have a long way to go. It’s dangerous.
Our goal was the 1st crater rim — only 6.9km. Sounds easy until you calculate you need gain 2km in elevation over that short distance!
We started on the far right of this map.
The start through jungle was relatively easy. THEN it got steep and challenging.
Wherever hikers might stop to eat, long-tailed macaques will be waiting.
These wild cousins are more worrisome than the ‘tame’, well-fed ones in the Monkey Forest, Ubud.
Breakfast !
We hiked into and out of clouds.
Crater rim beckons.
This — really — is the best vista on the hike. Crater lake Sagara Anak is huge, the colour unforgettable. The volcano’s eruption in 1257 is considered one of the most powerful global volcanic events of the last 2,000 years.
We were scheduled to set up our camp on the ridge here at 2,600m.
But we opted, instead, to hike down to the lake at 2000m, saving us 3-4 hours on day 2.
We all agreed to go for it.
OUCH …
That decent is awful and dangerous. I took no photos. We had to concentrate on every technical step.
It was a relief to finally get to the lake. This one of my toughest hiking days of all time.
We arrived just before dusk.
Alpenglow time.
Each group has their own toilet tent.
The alternative at major camps are these good looking public toilets. This one was filthy! But some are quite new. Fairly clean.
Major camps have emergency shelters. I don’t doubt they are used frequently. The trek is risky.
Our guide sent us to the hotsprings with one of the porters. Fantastic. A highlight of the entire trip.
Tim (tim_de_bruijn on Instagram) was a full-time social media manager for a major Dutch soccer team. He showed us fantastic photography tips on his iPhone, including these two. It was pitch dark at the hotsprings!
Pitch dark at camp, as well.
Most amazing of all was his capture of the night stars. Very few of these were visible to the human eye. This from an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Climbing Rinjani, Indonesia – day 2
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
SUMMIT DAY
Awoke at the lake before dawn. Went straight to the hotsprings on my own. Had the hot bath to myself.
We packed up camp quickly.
Said goodbye to the lake.
There are only a few bridges on this adventure. More often you scramble down — and back up. It must be miserable in the rain.
Rarely are there stone steps. This ain’t Nepal.
We had about 600m to gain back climbing up to the 2nd crater rim from the lake.
It was tough.
When I say tough, in addition to being technical, we increasingly had to deal with slippery ash.
Once on the ridge, we set-up our tents. Had lunch. Then a short lie down until 2pm.
One of these pests actually went inside Mason’s tent while he was there! Cheeky.
We’d decided as a group to go for sunset today rather than sunrise the following morning. This turned out to be our best decision.
That means we’d climb another 1100m trying to get to the top before the sunset. A deadline.
It looked doable to me.
BUT it got increasingly slippery and dusty as we ascended.
Once above the clouds, we were motivated by the amazing vista.
Gorgeous views — though it was dusty plodding in sections.
Very, very slippery — we all used systems to keep scrambling slippery scree. I did bouts of 20 steps.
Made it! And well before sunset.
Only 1 other group tried our itinerary. Perhaps half their group finished, just about sunset.
In fact, I left the top even before sunset as I wanted some visibility on the scree section at the top before it got dark.
Descent turned out to be fairly easy. Mostly screeing through the loose dust and rock (scree).
Views on the way down were even better than on the ascent.
Eventually we had to turn on our headlamps. I held mine in one hand, finding it easier to direct the beam.
Exhausted, we had dinner in our tents. And went to sleep early.
Climbing Rinjani, Indonesia – day 3
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Tim posted the BEST 20 photos from our trip in an Instagram story. Scroll through.
7am UP on our final day.
I actually carried my own tent on this adventure. Air mattresses in the provided tents were not good. 😀
The crater rim vistas really are superb.
The biggest takeaway from this trip for everyone is being impressed with the porters. Rather than use the more efficient tump system, they balance these loads on one shoulder while doing big step-ups and step-downs.
They all wear flipflops. Until they break.
We were headed down, back to civilization.
Somewhat slippery — but overall fairly easy.
We had lunch in a shady forest, monkeys and cows standing by to gobble down what leftovers they could get.
It was a shock to get to the trailhead. Noisy motor cycles.
Perhaps 120 people readying to start.
Those who sign up for 2 days, 1 night begin and end here close to Sembalun village. They miss the lake and hotsprings.
It took about an hour to drive back from Sembalun to our start at Senaru village. We returned rented gear and recovered our luggage left in storage.
TIPS
- BEST HIKE is our itinerary (3 days, 2 nights in tent) with an afternoon ascent rather than the crowded, dusty line-up for dawn. Day 1 is long and hard, however.
- WAIT for a good weather forecast, if you can
- Green Rinjani looked one of the most professional companies at camp, to me. Modern tents. Tables and chairs.
- Grippy and comfortable shoes are the most important piece of gear. Wear a size larger than normal so your toes aren’t crushed on the descent.
- Protection from sun and wind is important. Sun screen. I brought a sun hoodie.
- Porters provide as much water as you can drink.
- I fell about 8 times over the 3 days. No injuries as I almost always landed on my backpack.
- I didn’t bring trekking poles. And that was a mistake. Our guide gave me one pole for long down climbs.
- It’s badly littered.
- Sanitation standards are low. No water for washing up. Not even the expected containers of alcohol gel that I’ve had on similar trips around the developing world.
I completely enjoyed Rinjani. It could hardly have gone any better for our group with the afternoon ascent.
BUT ➙ Bottom line ➙ I can’t recommend this hike. It’s simply too dangerous.
During the July 2018 Lombok earthquake, multiple climbers and guides were killed by landslides triggered on Rinjani’s slopes.
March 2007, seven people died of exposure after illegally scaling the volcano during a ban.
Be sure to have evacuation insurance, just in case.
You’ve been warned.
Trip Report
Indonesia – Bromo Volcano at Dawn
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
I’ve long wanted to get to this famous vista. It didn’t disappoint.
Mount Bromo 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) is an active somma volcano and Hindu pilgrimage site in East Java, Indonesia.
The name Bromo comes from the Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Getting there is a wild ride. Almost everyone signs up for a jeep tour. Only these small Toyota Landcruiser Jeeps are allowed up the mountain.
I departed my hostel in Malang City at 12:45am. It was a scary Mad Max ride over dirt tracks before reaching the viewpoint at 3:15am.
They get you there so early in case of road problems. And jeep breakdowns. It happens.
They also hope you’ll rent warm jackets and blankets. Or buy some souvenirs.
It’s well worth being there at very first light through dawn, in any case. The volcano vista keeps changing. Every photo a possible postcard.
Here are just a few of the dozens I shot.
It’s crowded! Everyone scrambling for the best position.
The adventurous bushwhack down the hillside looking for more unique framing.
I’ll never forget Bromo.
From here the jeep takes you down to the smouldering caldera for a crowded, dusty climb up stairs. I was disappointed with this and the sea of sand beneath. There are many better volcanoes to climb in Indonesia.
DETAILS
Of a number of 1, 2, or 3 day options, I ended up doing the most popular ➙ Bromo Sunrise Tour. Very inexpensive at CAD $50 which includes entry fees.
Itinerary:
- 00:30: Prepare for pick-up from Malang hostel by 4×4 Jeep
- 01:00: Journey to Penanjakan (sunrise viewpoint by jeep).
- 03:30: Arrive at the viewpoint and wait for sunrise
- 05:00: Witness the magical sunrise from Penanjakan.
- 06:30: Drive down to the Bromo crater area.
- 07:00: Free time exploring the Bromo Crater.
- 08:30: Visit the Sand Sea area and the Savanna.
- 09:00: Begin the journey back to Malang.
- 11:30: Approximate arrival back at the hostel.
BestHike – Tongariro Circuit, New Zealand
Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.
Tongariro Circuit
Our favourite multi-day tramp in our favourite hiking region of the world — glorious New Zealand.
AND our top volcano hike worldwide.
by Jeff Pang
AT A GLANCE
- one of our top 10 hikes in the world
- non-stop superb hiking
- mostly volcanic & desert environs
- 34+km (19+mi) depending on route
- 3-days, 2-nights minimum
- option to climb a volcano, or two
- medium difficulty hiking, with challenging sections
- wonderful variety of scenery
- Dec – Mar best months
- maximum elevation Red Crater 1886m (6188ft)
- very crowded on the Tongariro Crossing section
Read more on our Tongariro Northern Circuit information page.
Timberline Trail – around Mt Hood
Clever Hiker updated details in 2024:
Timberline Trail Backpacking Guide
- Distance: 38.3-mile loop
- Time Needed: 3-4 days
- Highest Elevation: 7,350 ft. Timberline High Point
- Lowest Elevation: 3,300 ft. Near Ramona Falls
- Elevation Gain (approx.): 9,000 ft.
- Best Time to Hike: July-September
- Permits: Yes (May 15th to October 15th)
- Difficulty: Challenging
Permits
Permits are required for overnight trips on the Timberline Trail from May 15th to October 15th, but they are free and can be found at trailheads around Mt. Hood. Simply fill one out before you hit the trail. Some trailheads do require a Northwest Forest Pass for parking.
Jon posted a detailed trip report on their August 2019 circuit of Oregon’s highest peak. It’s close to Portland.
This report is all you need to organize that adventure for yourself.
Plenty of climbs and descents. Quite a few creeks crossings. Not what we’d call an easy week.
They started and ended at Timberline Lodge. And hiked clockwise.
The report includes excellent photos so you really get a feel for what to expect.
Check it out:
TIMBERLINE TRAIL – MOUNT HOOD WILDERNESS, OR (40 MILE LOOP)
Timberline is one of our best hikes in North America.
Similar adventures in the Pacific N.W. include the Wonderland Trail around Mt Ranier and / or a partial circuit around nearby Mt Adams.
#6 best hiking region in the world is the …
Patagonian Andes
Patagonia is massive and bleak. Yet we love the Patagonian Andes, 2000km (1243mi) in length, but averaging less than 100km (62mi) in width. You could take years exploring just the eastward (drier) side of the mountains.
Towering granite peaks, untouched lakes, massive glaciers, huge volcano trekking peaks. This land is phenomenal.
Trekkers target five areas:
- The Araucania
- Lakes District
- Central Patagonia
- Southern Patagonia
- Tierra del Fuego
Start in Mendoza, Argentina and visit the highest mountain outside Asia, Aconcagua. Next bus to the Switzerland of South America (Lake District). Some of the highest volcanoes of the world are here. Finally, work your way south by air and ferry to the granite spires at the south tip of the continent.
Trekking season here is Nov-Apr. (Feb-Mar often the best weather) That said, the wind and weather in Patagonia is notorious. Independent hikers need be prepared for anything and everything.
Conversational Spanish highly recommended for those travelling independently.
More information on our new Patagonia information page.
Our favourite hike in the Patagonian Andes is the Paine Circuit in Chile.
John Grey Pass, Paine Circuit – flickr – Patagonia set – Michael Bollino
See our Paine Circuit Information page.
Click PLAY or see how to trek Aconcagua Base Camp independently on YouTube.
BEST Hikes in the World
According to one AllTrails list.
It includes both challenging multi-day and short single-day adventures.
Our favourites from this list are in bold.
- Bhutan Snowman Trek
- Grand Canyon Rim Trail
- PCT – Rainy Pass to Manning section
- Yosemite Grand Tour
- Chilkoot Pass Trail
- Tonquin Trail, British Columbia
- Bay of Fires Walk, Australia
- Queen Charlotte Track
- Na Pali Coast / Kalalau Trail
- Tour de Mont Blanc (TMB)
- Long Range Traverse, Newfoundland
- Laugavegur Trail, Iceland
- High Sierra Trail, Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal, California
- Routeburn Track, New Zealand
- Carlops to Currie, Scotland
- Laguna de Los Tres, Patagonia
- Petra, Jordan
- Cinque Terre, Italy
- Ruwenzori Mountains Trek to Weissman’s Peak, Uganda
These lists are far from definitive. They are more conversation starters to get you thinking where you might want to go next.
For example, the Tonquin Trail is a 4.0-km out-and-back trail near Tofino on Vancouver Island. I’m on the island right now and can name easily a dozen better hikes close by. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
besthike.com 