Alternate Itineraries since Mt Rinjani is closed?

My one month itinerary for Indonesia was this:

-5 days in Bali/Ubud
-3 days in Nusa Penida
-5 days in Lombok to hike Mt Rinjani
-4 days in Gili Air
-Fly from Bali to Komodo, spend 5 days scuba diving
-Fly from Labuan Bajo to Yogyakarta, 3 days there
-Fly from there to Singapore and home.

I literally booked everything, hotels and flights, the day before the earthquake hit Rinjani. I can cancel my hotel bookings for free (minus deposit), but I'm stuck with those flights. What can I do instead of Rinjani? I really wanted to do some volcano trekking, so I was thinking Ijen and Bromo, but how could I fit that in without having to do a headache of traveling back and forth (I'm already going to Jogya on the tail end with a flight I can't unbook).

Suggestions welcome!

Thank you!

You could easily travel from Bali to East Java overland, visit Ijen and Bromo, and get a bus back, all in 5 days or less. Java is actually much closer to Bali than Lombok.
Of course you must travel back and forth, though you could fly back from Surabaya if you prefer.
You could also climb the volcanoes of Bali, but they are less spectacular and kind of ovepriced tourist traps.

Thanks! Since I am traveling alone, do you know of any good tour companies that I could join a group to do this with? I prefer being in a group so I have people to hang with, but I've checked out a few companies that only do private tours of 2 or more people.

Most people do this either by public transport, or on tours starting from Yogyakarta, so I can't recommend anything from Bali.
Mind you, once at Ijen and especially Bromo, you certainly won't be alone any more...

For Ijen starting from Ketapang harbour you can join a group tour, about IDR175K not including entrance fee. For Bromo starting from Malang it's about IDR600K including entrance fee. There are direct buses, minibus shuttles & train from Banyuwangi to Malang.
For all-inclusive group tours starting from Bali or Ketapang harbour to Ijen & Bromo I have no recommendation.
PM me if you want more info.

We have exactly the same problem (5 spare nights), when are you going? I'm currently looking into the option to fly to Surabaya from Bali, do the 3D/2N trek to Semeru summit via Bromo and either fly to Lombok directly or squeeze in Kawah Ijen before flying to Lombok.

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Oh! Yeah, that sounds pretty similar to what my new plan is. I would be doing that August 16 or 19 depending how I rearrange my trip. I am traveling solo though and struggling to find tours that aren't private. How about you?

If you are desperate to do it all as a group tour, and can't find one from Bali, you could consider flying to Yogyakarta and starting from there.
To make it more worthwhile, you could take a day tour to Borobudur and Prambanan temples from there as well.
It should still be doable in 5 days.

Just to throw another option out there, why not look at Sumbawa?

Lofgreli, I'm travelling with my boyfriend, so that's better. We're probably leaving on the 21st.

Cuscus, what do you recommend on Sumbawa? I have actually considered trekking Tambora before, but I find so little information about that that it seems a bit scary.

Travelfish has a recent and pretty thorough first hand report of hiking and adventures in Sumbawa. You can do a search on their site..travelfish.org I've only been around Bima myself however.

Fly to Sumba & back to Bali. 9 days there would be fine. East & west different. Fascinating island and minimal guiding. I spent a month there.

Shame you aren't exploring more of Flores. Kelimutu and many villages. Lots of animism & fascinating burials.

What was there to do in Bima and is Sumbawa only really for hiking? I'd love to find another Indonesian island to travel in! Never seemed to be as compelling as the other islands. Please tell me I'm wrong!

Oooh Sumba seems pretty interesting! And easy to get to. I'll definitely look into that thank you. Yes, I was considering doing Flores longer as well (scrapping my initial flight and just rebooking earlier). Other consideration is going to Borneo to see Orangutans and/or Karimunjawa (which seems difficult to get to). OR Sumatra (though it annoys me that it would be backtracking). LOL so many options I'm stressing myself out!

Thanks for the ideas everyone! Lofgreli have you found an option yet?

We decided to head to Java on the 21st, it just seems easiest most appropriate for us as first-time visitors in Indonesia. Bromo, Ijen, Semeru, Sukawade all seem pretty interesting and we can even take the ferry.

I would love to see Sumba, Sumbawa, and Flores though, but maybe at a later point. We also don't haven't got rabies vaccination or malaria prophylaxis so Java feels a bit safer.

Hello, i was planing to visit Mt. Rinjani too this september and canceled everything due to the major quakes. So I'm planning to take an alternative to climb Mt. Semeru on early October. Since i'm an Indonesian citizen, I'm planning this trip independently and trying to find some friend to split the budget

Thanks! I don't really have a solid choice, but I have a few ideas in mind. I'm going to just show up to Bali and wing it from there.
Either just do Java (like you said), Book an earlier flight to Flores and spend more time on that island, or fly over to Sumatra. We shall see. I hope you have fun on your vacation!

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lofgreli good choice … to wing it! I think you will just have to go back to Indonesia!
Sumatra is great (and huge!) and easier to see Orang Utangs there than in Borneo. But you have Lake Toba (largest volcanic crater in the world … now a lake with Samosir Island and Batak people), Bukittinggi with Minangkabu people (marriachal) and Lake Maningau (through 44 hairpin bends to get there).

You will have a great time wherever you end up. Do let us know where you go.

Thinking of all the people in Lombok.

Forget Rinjani. There are landslides there, some trails are blocked and it is not safe if there are many tremors.

Sleep in Senggigi, and try to visit Gili Air to see the condition. Note: Senggigi is more safe than Gilis when another earthquake maybe happen.

You can visit Gili Kedis cs to snorkel.

You can spend your holiday at Kuta Lombok.

You can visit Pusuk Sembalun and trek several small hills around it.

You can hiking in Mount Tambora in Sumbawa Island. There are airplane from Bali or Lombok to Sumbawa Island.

There are flight from Sumbawa island to Labuhan Bajo.

You can trekking in Mount merapi and Mount Merbabu.

I hope my answer not make you more headache.

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