Can porters carry my backpack on Mt. Rinjani?

The porters on a Lombok-Indonesia.org trek carry all the communal equipment, including tents, mattresses, cooking gear, and food, but they’re not there to serve as personal pack mules for your individual luggage. You’re expected to carry your own day pack with personal essentials, and this is by design. It’s how the system works.

A day pack on Rinjani should only weigh three to six kilograms, which is entirely manageable for anyone in reasonable physical condition. If you have a large backpack or suitcase, leave it in the secure storage at the homestay in Senaru before the trek begins, not on the trail. This isn’t the place for extra luggage.

Some trekkers ask if they can pay extra for a porter to carry their personal bag, but this generally isn’t part of the standard arrangement and can disrupt the load balance the porters are already managing. The porters have more than enough weight with the shared gear, and adding personal packs pushes their loads into unhealthy territory.

The system is built so you travel light and self-sufficient on the trail while the porters handle the infrastructure. Respecting this division keeps the team moving efficiently and ensures everyone arrives at camp with energy to spare. Your day pack is your responsibility, and it’s not heavy enough to be a burden.