Camping at Segara Anak Lake is not allowed for trekking groups or visitors on organized Rinjani tours. Only local residents with special permission from the national park may camp near the lake for cultural or traditional purposes. Tour operators, guides, and hikers are required to camp on the Sembalun crater rim or the Senaru crater rim, which are the designated and approved camping zones. These areas are safer, more controlled, and properly managed to reduce environmental impact.
The lake sits deep inside the caldera, and the terrain around it is steep, unstable, and difficult to monitor for safety. Allowing large numbers of hikers to camp there would create erosion, pollution, and overcrowding. For this reason, the national park strictly prohibits overnight stays at the lake for trekking groups. The official three day route simply passes by the lake for rest, lunch, photos, and hot springs before continuing up to the Senaru crater rim for the second night.
The distance and elevation changes also make it impractical to camp at the lake and then try to exit the mountain the same day. The climb from the lake to the Senaru crater rim is long and demanding, and descending entirely to Senaru after that would not be safe. By keeping camping limited to the crater rims, the park ensures that trekkers follow a safe schedule and that the lake environment remains protected for the long term.
