Lombok's Bukit Pergasingan to Reopen with Mandatory Waste Deposit for Hikers

Bukit Pergasingan in Sembalun, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, is set to reopen after being closed for more than a week. Visitors and hikers will be required to pay a rubbish deposit and repack their belongings.

The head of Bukit Pergasingan’s management, Royal Sembahulun, explained that the new rules will take effect when hiking resumes on Wednesday, 12 August. The new rules are an effort to reduce rubbish at Bukit Pergasingan.

“We are reopening Bukit Pergasingan on 12 August with a more competent waste management system,” Royal said on Sunday, 9 August 2026.

Under the rules, hikers will be required to pay a deposit of Rp 10,000 per item of luggage that could potentially become rubbish. Royal explained that hikers are also required to repack their belongings into containers brought from home.

“For now, we have set Rp 10,000 per rubbish item. Especially small-sized rubbish will be classified later, because that is what we are worried about, such as sweet wrappers and cigarette butts, which are quite difficult to clean up,” Royal explained.

“We provide the option to repack items that could potentially produce rubbish to avoid visitors having to pay a large deposit; it is up to them to choose,” he added.

Previously, Bukit Pergasingan had been temporarily closed since 30 July. The closure was made after a video by a British national highlighting the rubbish problem in the tourist area went viral.

The video was uploaded via the Instagram account @lucy_lari_lari. In the 3-minute-13-second video, Lucy appeared unable to hold back tears as she recounted her experience of seeing rubbish scattered around the natural tourist area.

During the temporary closure of the hiking area, the management conducted an evaluation and prepared rules related to hiking. Lucy later expressed her appreciation after learning that the area’s management would make improvements.