Everything you need to know about hiking Pergasingan Hill in Northern Lombok. Includes options on booking the right guide, or hiking independently without a guide to find the trailhead, hike information, & what to expect at the top!
Pergasingan Hill, or Bukit Pergasingan is an epic hike located in the small mountain village of Sembalun. This is considered a great warm-up hike before tackling the Mount Rinjani trek, or as an easier alternative for great views.
It is possible to complete the Pergasingan Hill hike without a guide if you’re fairly confident on steep trails. However, keep in mind that many local people depend on tourism income. So, if you’d prefer to be shown the way to the top by a local, I’d recommend booking a guide.
Otherwise, if you’re adamant about an unguided adventure, keep reading and I will break down both options.
How to Book a Pergasingan Hill Guided Tour
If you prefer a guided trek, or an overnight adventure camping at the summit, then you can book this guided hiking tour online. This is the top-rated option in terms of reviews and price since it includes all entrance fees and includes transport (return) with an experienced mountain guide.
This tour is available to book as a sunrise hike, or as an overnight camping trip, which you can select on the availability screen.
If you choose the overnight option, you'll also get all camping equipment and food included in the price.
Do I Need to Stay in Sembalun to Hike Pergasingan Hill?
Travelers who book a tour will get transport to Sembalun included in the price, which is an attractive option if you just want to do the trek.
However, there’s so much opportunity for adventure in Sembalun that I’d definitely recommend staying here for at least a couple of nights.
I stayed here for three days as we climbed Pergasingan Hill, explored rice and strawberry fields, found viewpoints like Bukit Selong and even located some nearby waterfalls like the super underrated Mangku Sakti Falls.
Below you'll find a quick list of the best accommodation options close to Pergasingan Hill.
Where to Stay in Sembalun
Sembalun village isn’t exactly the most touristy location on Lombok. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any great guest houses or hotels available.
- Bukit Tiga Lima Boutique Hotel - the location is hard to beat with impeccable views over the surrounding rice fields. The 3-star hotel features triangular rooms with BBQ facilities and an included breakfast. Perfect for couples wanting to relax away from the bustling center.
- Radiya Guesthouse - one of the best-value accommodation options in Sembalun. The rooms are small, but very clean and have everything you need. There’s unlimited free coffee and tea, as well as a free breakfast included.
- Sembalun Kita Cottage - set among the mountains the Sembulan Kita Cottage offers its guests incredible views from its rooms, hot water, free breakfasts, and the option of sleeping in a 100-year-old traditional Indonesian house.
Do I Need a Guide to Hike Pergasingan Hill?
If you skipped the intro above, then the short answer is no. This simple guide will get you to the top of Pergasingan hill without a guide. However, if you want to enjoy the view at the top for sunrise, then I recommend booking the overnight camping trip, which includes a guide.
Also, if you are not staying in Sembalun, then booking a guided trip online will cover the transport, making things much easier.
I chose to hike Pergasingan Hill without a guide because I'd just finished the Rinjani Crater hike the day before and I wanted an unguided hike. Also, since I was already staying in Sembalun, it was easy for me to wake up and walk to the trailhead before sunrise.
However, if you're not staying in Sembalun, then it's possible to ride here yourself from Senaru or Senggigi. Although, the road in is a little bumpy to say the least.
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How to Hike Pergasingan Hill Without A Guide
The Pergasingan Hill trek is a fairly steep hike reaching an altitude of roughly 1750 meters above sea level. Although the trail is poorly marked, it is quite easy to follow unguided as it is regularly used by tourists.
The trek will take roughly 1.5-2.5 hours to reach the summit of Pergasingan Hill, and about 1 hour to 1.5 hours on the way down.
The exact starting point for the trek is conveniently pinned on Google Maps as: "PERGASINGAN HILL - Start point Hiking". You'll reach a small village where a tourism official will ask for your entry payment. The entrance fee for Pergasingan Hill is 50,000 Indonesia Rupiah per person.
From here, there's a narrow dirt road that follows around some strawberry fields and eventually comes to a dodgy bamboo bridge.
Once you brave the bridge crossing, the trail immediately steepens as you begin climbing Pergasingan Hill. Once you've actually found the trail, you can't really miss it.
The first section is steep and sandy. If you come for sunrise on a good day, you'll get to watch the Rinjani's summit slowly light up orange as the fog begins to dissipate over the carpet of ricefields below.
After the first climb, the trail levels and walks through an area of thick trees and bushes before finally steepening again all the way to the top.
It's hard to tell where the actual top of Pergasingan Hill is since the ridge seems to stretch for miles. However, you'll quickly know you're at the top when you find the campsites below a small hill of trees.
We kept walking as the sun rose along the ridge where we found some extra viewing points to the east. Surprisingly to me, we also found some cows that seem to live up there!
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Pergasingan Hill GPX Map
For your convenience, I've included a GPX file that you can follow or download to your phone or GPS watch below. I've also got a link to my Strava activity which you can follow on your phone.
GPX File: Download
My Strava: Visit
Pergasingan Hill Hike After the Earthquake
Fortunately, Pergasingan Hill is still open for hiking following the earthquakes. It seems that the tracks haven't been damaged at all, which is a good sign.
However, tourism is still recovering. If you're really set on hiking Pergasingan Hill without a guide, I'd suggest staying in Sembalun and supporting the community in the way of homestays and food.
View From the Summit of Pergasingan Hill
From the top of Pergasingan Hill, you'll have sweeping views across the ricefield landscapes of Sembalun. For sunrise, you'll hear the echoing rumble of morning prayers as they bounce around the mountain valleys.
This hilltop viewpoint is also one of the best places to see the Rinjani Summit. In fact, Sembalun is where all trekking activities to the summit depart from.
More Photos from My Trek
More Lombok Travel & Adventure Guides
I hope that you've enjoyed this updated travel guide to hiking Pergasingan Hill in Sembalun, North Lombok. Before you head off, check out some of my other guides below for more adventure travel inspiration on Lombok!
Margaret
Friday 27th of January 2023
/thank you. I may not make it but your photos are so very special. I've been surfing the web on this region for 3 days and never seen any thing like your photos. Wonderful and inspiring.