The Rinjani 100 Ultra Marathon 2026 is provisionally scheduled for May 15-17, 2026, with three distance categories — 100K, 60K (50K in some years), and 36K — across the trails surrounding Mount Rinjani. Most courses start in Sembalun and traverse high-altitude tea plantations, rice terraces, waterfalls, and volcanic ridges. Registration through Trail Run Indonesia opens approximately 5-6 months ahead.
# Rinjani 100 Ultra Marathon 2026: One of Asia's Toughest Trail Races
The Rinjani 100 is Indonesia's flagship mountain ultra marathon and one of the most spectacular trail running events in Southeast Asia. The race traverses the foothills, rice terraces, waterfalls, and volcanic ridges around Mount Rinjani — Indonesia's second-highest volcano — across distances of 100K, 60K (occasionally 50K), and 36K. For elite mountain runners and trail enthusiasts, it's a destination race. For weekend trail runners, it's a serious challenge that requires real preparation.
For 2026, the race is provisionally scheduled for May 15-17, 2026, with all distances staggered across the weekend. The May timing places the race at the start of dry season — drier trails, cooler nights, and clearer mountain visibility than June-September.
The Rinjani 100 launched in 2017 and has run annually with one COVID-era pause. It's organized by Trail Run Indonesia (also responsible for Bromo Tengger Semeru 100 and Tahura Trail). The Rinjani route is widely considered the more technical of Indonesia's two flagship ultras — more elevation, more technical descents, and longer remote sections than Bromo Tengger Semeru.
The race has grown from ~400 entrants in 2017 to roughly 1,200-1,500 runners across all distances in recent years.
Rinjani 100 (100km):
Rinjani 60 (60km, sometimes 50km):
Rinjani 36 (36km):
All distances start and finish in Sembalun Lawang village (1,200m elevation), the eastern trekking gateway to Mount Rinjani.
The trails wind through some of the most beautiful terrain in Indonesia:
Sembalun rice terraces: emerald-green terraced paddies in the high valley, photographed in every Lombok travel article. The race traverses several kilometers of terrace ridges.
Bukit Pergasingan: 1,800m hilltop overlooking Sembalun, summited on the 60K and 100K courses. Brutal climb but extraordinary views of Rinjani.
Tetebatu rice terraces (60K and 100K): southern foothills with traditional Sasak villages.
Waterfalls: courses pass Tiu Kelep, Sendang Gile, or Mangku Sakti depending on the year's exact route.
High-altitude tea plantations: Sembalun's eastern slopes have working tea estates traversed by the 100K.
Volcanic black-sand sections: technical descent through old eruption deposits.
The terrain is 70% single-track trail, 20% jeep track, 10% paved village road. Surfaces include deep mud (early-season sections), volcanic gravel, slippery black ash, rooty forest, and occasional river crossings.
Registration opens through trailrunindonesia.com approximately November-December 2025. Approximate 2026 pricing:
The 100K typically caps at 350-400 entrants and sells out within 2-3 months. The 36K has more capacity (700+) and stays open longer.
This is a mountain race with significant remote sections — gear checks are mandatory at the start line. Required for the 100K and 60K (subset for 36K):
Recommended:
The Rinjani 100 is not a beginner ultra. Realistic prep for the 100K:
For the 36K, fitness equivalent to running a hilly marathon with confidence is sufficient.
May timing is strategic. Conditions:
Sembalun is the standard race base. Most runners arrive 2-3 days early for acclimatization. Approximate race-weekend rates:
Book 2-3 months ahead. Sembalun has limited capacity and ultras fill it.
Wednesday-Thursday before race:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Yes if you:
Skip if you:
The race is broadly supportive of women trail runners. Female-specific aid station support, separate sleep tents on the 100K, and growing female participation (around 25% of entrants in recent years). Solo female international runners attend annually without issue. Sembalun is a traditional Sasak village; modest dress between runs is appreciated.
A natural temptation is to run the race and then trek Rinjani's summit. Don't do this. The post-race body needs 7-14 days minimum recovery before high-altitude effort. If you want to summit Rinjani, do it 2 weeks before the race (and treat it as long training) or 2-3 weeks after.
A safer combination:
Realistic budget for an international 100K runner:
It's increasingly recognized as one of Asia's signature mountain ultras — alongside Hong Kong 100, Mount Fuji, UTMF, and Vibram Ho Chi Minh. The terrain is genuinely world-class and the relative isolation creates an experience that more polished races have lost. For ultra runners building a life list of destination races, Rinjani belongs on it.