The mighty silhouette of Mount Rinjani, the second highest volcano in the country dominates the island of Lombok and the turquoise waters of the Bali Sea. This soaring summit is held sacred by the Balinese and the local Sasak tribes’ people as the abode of their deities; its regular eruptions, rumblings and expulsions of volcanic ash plumes are very much considered the work of the heavens. Today, hikers flock from far and wide to wax the walking boots and join qualified Mount Rinjani tour guides on a three to four day hike from the base of the mountain to its peak. Leaving from the lowlands of Senaru, groups pass through lush jungle before hitting the treeline, where stark ridges of rock and volcanic stone take over. Higher up, the crater rim Plawangan gives way to a colossal caldera, along with breath-taking views of the bubbling waters of the Segara Anak Lake, the steaming cinder cone that’s left over from recent eruptions and sweeping panoramas of Bali and Sumbawa in the distance-making it all worth it!