Explore Mount Tambora | The Largest Volcanic Eruption

8 min readJul 28, 2019

Mount Tambora is a mountain with the most devastating eruption in the history of human civilization. Its last eruption in 1815 has eliminated nearly half the altitude from 4,300 masl to 2,851 MASL and left the widest caldera in Indonesia.

Since inaugurated as the National Park on 11 April 2015 and the celebration of 200 year, Mount Tambora again present greet the community, lovers of nature and mountaineers around the world.

Mount Tambora is located between Dompu Regency and Kabutapen Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

There are two hiking trails of Mount Tambora:

Hiking via Pancasila Village
Hiking via Doro Peti
Hiking via Doro Canga

Line hiking Mount Tambora is a hiking trail via Pancasila Village. In addition to the less difficult terrain, this trail is shorter than the Doro Peti line. The frequent hiking trail of Mount Tambora is a hiking trail via Pancasila Village. In addition to the less difficult terrain, this trail is shorter than the Doro Peti line.

To get to Pancasila Village, the access is not easy, can use bus or car rental. For bus to Pancasila Village just depart 7 am, Itupun also hard to find if from Bhandara Sultan Hasanuddin Bima. So if it is in Bhandara, better charter a car. More effective when booking travel services in previous days. Another way can take a bus heading for Dompu, followed by bus to Calabai, then proceed with Ojek “Motorcycle Taxi” to Pancasila Village.

The journey from Bima to Pancasila Village takes about 6–7 hours by private vehicle. Pancasila Village is the last village and is at an altitude of about 600 MASL. There is a field where Basecamp hiking Mount Tambora is in the middle side of the field.

In addition to registration, Basecamp provides cottages for adventurers who want to spend the night. There are 3 units of cottage Model House with a tariff of Rp. 100.000/night with public bathroom facilities and a place to dry clothes. This cottage can be for 4 people.

Basecamp Post 1

From Basecamp hiking Mount Tambora to Heading 1 takes about 2–3 hours on foot. But quiet, by riding Ojek can save time to 30–45 minutes. The path from Basecamp to the forest door is quite far, difficult and check after the rain.

Riding a motorcycle taxi is not uncommon to make passengers too, because the terrain is challenging. Ojek can drive to the forest gate of Mount Tambora and concrete stairs to Heading 1 line which is closer to Heading 1. Ojek tariff around Rp. 50,000-Rp. 100,000 (Negoisasi).

Starting from the concrete staircase to post 1 is not linked far. The track is flat solid ground and not quite difficult as early warming.

Post 1 has a height of 1,200 MASL. It is a large flat land with a shelter to rest. There is a water source to fill logistics provisions.

Travel from Heading 1 to post 2

Continuing to post 2, the path starts to tightly and narrow so it is not uncommon to get the tall grass. Post 2 is at a height of 1,280 MASL. Post 2 on the hiking route of Mount Tambora is also a flat, uneven land, so it seems narrow and can be for 2 tents contents of 3/4.

There is a shelter for rest. Post 2 is suitable for cooking logistics because there is abundant clean water source from the river flow. To take it should be down about 15 meters not far from the post location. In addition, passing through the river is a hiking path to Heading 3.

Travel from Heading 2 to post 3

From Post 2 down crossing the small river, then back up to continue the journey to Heading 3. There is a wide enough uphill path that is very slippery if wet, so need to be careful. The line to post 3 is still a meeting and many grow fern plants. Sometimes there are fallen trees to go through.

Post 3 is at an altitude of 1,600 MASL. Is the most widespread post on the hiking trail of Mount Tambora and can be to set up 10–15 tent Contents 4. In Pos 3 There are 1 shelter, water source and also boar. This post 3 is arguably the place where the boar is ambush against humans.

This is where the climbers can cancel the special dinner if the logic is stolen by the boar. In addition to stealing, boar will also destroy the items around. So beware of luggage as well as tent at night.

Travel from Heading 3 to post 4

If the boar becomes ‘ Primadona ‘ post 3, then the journey to Heading 4 will meet the ‘ Primadona ‘ other namely nettle. From Post 3 to post 4, the hiking route of Mount Tambora is rising and this is the path of nettle field (Jancukan/API-API/Rengas) that can sting the skin if exposed to thorns leaves.

Nettle plants ranging from small to high 2 meters will be found very abundant on this path. The road will open before returning to the dense forest and overgrown by large trees.

Post 4 has a height of 1,900 MASL, the form of an open area with corrugated soil conditions and no shelter. Post 4 is surrounded by large and tall trees, a comfortable shady place to take a break.

Travel from Heading 4 to post 5

From Post 4 to the 5-lane post is still a meeting and remains uphill, but this is the shortest hiking path of Mount Tambora among other posts.

Post location 5 at a height of 2,080 MASL, provides 3 areas that are not wide enough to set up 1–2 tents. Post Area 5 is quite open and the peak of Mount Tambora is already visible from here. Like Heading 2, there is a river water source here about 30 meters below.

The river flows during the rainy season. The water can still be obtained here but not as clean as the water in Pos 3 and this is the location of the last water source. Look for clean water that drips not far from the cave over the river. The road down to the dry river is also the hiking path of Mount Tambora.

Post 5 — The Caldera lips Mount Tambora

Continuing the climb of Mount Tambora, from the post 5 lane down crossing the river which was wide enough then back up. The pathway is open with evergreen vegetation, small perdu plants and grass. There is a flat location where you can set up a tent near a single Cemoro. Near the location there is a in memoriam which is often referred to as ‘ grave ‘.

After a single fir, the hiking track of Mount Tambora is rising. Only the grass dominates the track. Not last long, the sandy tracks mixed with rocks will be welcomed and this is quite draining. There will also be sand dunes that will be traversed to the top of Mount Tambora.

In this area if you are walking to the ground, you will hear a sound that indicates there is a cavity inside Mount Tambora, quite unique. A dense sandy track that is still dominated by grass will lead up to the caldera lips of Mount Tambora.

The caldera of Mount Tambora is widely bordered by a very beautiful layered crater wall. The Diameter of the caldera that reaches 7 kilometers with a depth of about 1 kilometer certainly imagined how the history of Mount Tambora eruption used to be.

A child of Mount Tambora is at the base of the crater. Named Doro Afi To’i, the son of Mount Tambora is still small with a crater hole in the middle, similar to the mother. So, what would the son of Mount Tambora erupt like his mother?

Caldera Lips-Mount Tambora Peak

Caldera lips are not linked away from the top of Mount Tambora. The top direction of the caldera lips is towards the right. The dense sand tracks that are quite rocky still dominate the tracks up to 2,850 MASL altitude.

The peak of Tambora is not quite spacious, it is hard ground and a little rocky. Its peak is characterized by concrete foundations and flagpoles. A In memoriam is also next to it. From the top of Mount Tambora, it looks like Moyo Island, Satonda Island and its largest caldera.

When the sunset plus the weather is sunny, this is a magnificent view of Mount Tambora where it will be seen the beautiful peaks of Mount Rinjani and Mount Agung in the west with a rear of orange sun rays.

The blend of mist with the reddish orange rays of the sun at the same time that drowned in the mist sweep is really a beautiful scenery, hidden paradise at the sunset.

Tips on hiking Mount Tambora

Choose a good season for hiking.
Use complete mountain hiking equipment and supplies for comfort and safety.
Post 3 and post 5 prone to boar. To overcome the disturbance of the boar, a piece of equipment such as a tent and a carrier bag before being abandoned, then hanging on a tree that is not accessible to the boar because the boar is also disturbing during the day.
Make a small fire safe to prevent the arrival of the boar.
Use a long outfit or other body armor such as a glove when heading to the 4th post, due to the nettle fields reaching 2 meters along the track.
In addition to the early morning summit, hiking Mount Tambora can be done during the day. Sometimes the fog at the top that looks from the bottom does not necessarily cover the climb path at the summit. Even the sunset view is very special than sunrise.
Mount Tambora has a cavity that is easily porous. We recommend keeping a safe distance with the crater lips and do not close to the crater lips.