Are there mosquitoes on Mt. Rinjani?

Mosquitoes are present at lower elevations, particularly in the forested sections near the trailheads and around our Senaru homestay. But they diminish significantly as you gain altitude and basically disappear above the crater rim where the air is too cold and thin for them.

The rainy season and early morning hours are when mosquitoes are most active. So if you’re starting early or hiking during wetter months, apply insect repellent and consider lightweight long sleeves for the first few hours. At the crater rim campsite, you won’t need to worry about them. That’s one of the small benefits of altitude camping that partially offsets the cold.

Malaria risk on Lombok is very low compared to other parts of Indonesia like Papua or rural Sumatra. Most travelers don’t take malaria prophylaxis specifically for a Rinjani trek, though you should consult your doctor if you’re combining the trek with travel to higher-risk areas elsewhere.

Our guides at Lombok-Indonesia.org don’t consider mosquitoes a significant issue on the mountain, but they do recommend bringing repellent for the lower trail and for nights at the homestay before and after the trek. A small bottle of DEET-based repellent is usually plenty for the entire trip.