West Java day trip recommendations
Jul 20, 2018 | 10:22 am
#1
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West Java day trip recommendations
I am travelling to Jakarta at the end of August/start of September for a fortnight and booked into a city centre hotel but I would like to get out of the city on some day trips to see some of the countryside. I am learning bahasa Indonesia but so far I am only at a very basic level. On my previous, much shorter, trip to Jakarta I did not have time to get out of the city.
As car rental is not an option I am considering getting a train to Bogor but is there any recommeded tour guides to visit Mount Gede Pangrango National Park?
I have no idea how to visit Mount Karang, Ujung Kulon National Park or Mount Halimun Salak National Park or are these even worth it?
Could get the train to Bandung but that is about as far a day trip by train I can see possible.
Any other recommendations for day trips with guides out of Jakarta?
Thanks
As car rental is not an option I am considering getting a train to Bogor but is there any recommeded tour guides to visit Mount Gede Pangrango National Park?
I have no idea how to visit Mount Karang, Ujung Kulon National Park or Mount Halimun Salak National Park or are these even worth it?
Could get the train to Bandung but that is about as far a day trip by train I can see possible.
Any other recommendations for day trips with guides out of Jakarta?
Thanks
Jul 20, 2018 | 2:06 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indonesia
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Fortnight means couple of weeks, right? (Sorry)
Gede Pangrango would be the obvious choice. It's not that hard to climb or so I heard. I don't know about reliable guides, but take a look at wisatacibodas[dot]com (bahasa only, translate with google) and contact the numbers/email.
Ujung Kulon is awfully far (for me) and relatively hard to reach from Jakarta. Anyway take a look at ujungkulontours[dot]com, it has english pages and seems to be good. If you planned to do some island hopping, ask them about the seastate (wave, current, etc) in your dates of visit.
The real hike of West Java, would be Mt. Ciremai. Base yourself in Cirebon (3 hr train from Jakarta).
ps: I don't really know the service quality of their guides, just pointing out some usable links. I am not really into mountaineering/outdoor trekking either, so can't help you with the details
And I think Bandung and its nearby area have a lot more to offer than a day trip. Bandung itself is just a city, but the surrounding areas are nice and there's a lot of interesting places.
Gede Pangrango would be the obvious choice. It's not that hard to climb or so I heard. I don't know about reliable guides, but take a look at wisatacibodas[dot]com (bahasa only, translate with google) and contact the numbers/email.
Ujung Kulon is awfully far (for me) and relatively hard to reach from Jakarta. Anyway take a look at ujungkulontours[dot]com, it has english pages and seems to be good. If you planned to do some island hopping, ask them about the seastate (wave, current, etc) in your dates of visit.
The real hike of West Java, would be Mt. Ciremai. Base yourself in Cirebon (3 hr train from Jakarta).
ps: I don't really know the service quality of their guides, just pointing out some usable links. I am not really into mountaineering/outdoor trekking either, so can't help you with the details
And I think Bandung and its nearby area have a lot more to offer than a day trip. Bandung itself is just a city, but the surrounding areas are nice and there's a lot of interesting places.
Jul 21, 2018 | 11:05 am
#3
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Thanks for the information.
I am not specifically after just trekking (although that is enjoyable) but day trips out of Jakarta and into the countryside. If I could hire a car there then I think it would be easy, but from what I have read it is not recommended to drive in Indonesia, thus thinking better to have a guide/driver and also for local knowledge. Here in the UK it is very easy to take a train directly to a national park or similar and get straight on the walks and explore rural regions and then take a return train home. e.g. London to the South Downs, Manchester to the Lake District etc.
I am not specifically after just trekking (although that is enjoyable) but day trips out of Jakarta and into the countryside. If I could hire a car there then I think it would be easy, but from what I have read it is not recommended to drive in Indonesia, thus thinking better to have a guide/driver and also for local knowledge. Here in the UK it is very easy to take a train directly to a national park or similar and get straight on the walks and explore rural regions and then take a return train home. e.g. London to the South Downs, Manchester to the Lake District etc.
Jul 22, 2018 | 12:32 am
#4
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Thanks for the information.
I am not specifically after just trekking (although that is enjoyable) but day trips out of Jakarta and into the countryside. If I could hire a car there then I think it would be easy, but from what I have read it is not recommended to drive in Indonesia, thus thinking better to have a guide/driver and also for local knowledge. Here in the UK it is very easy to take a train directly to a national park or similar and get straight on the walks and explore rural regions and then take a return train home. e.g. London to the South Downs, Manchester to the Lake District etc.
I am not specifically after just trekking (although that is enjoyable) but day trips out of Jakarta and into the countryside. If I could hire a car there then I think it would be easy, but from what I have read it is not recommended to drive in Indonesia, thus thinking better to have a guide/driver and also for local knowledge. Here in the UK it is very easy to take a train directly to a national park or similar and get straight on the walks and explore rural regions and then take a return train home. e.g. London to the South Downs, Manchester to the Lake District etc.
And it's sufficiently different to the South Downs to make it interesting to you
You could always stay there overnight - there are some nice hotels, and a stay makes it easier to relax and enjoy the walk around the gardens.
I rate Bandung and its surrounds. But a day trip would be pointless. And avoid weekends when half Jakarta seems to go there, and good part of KL too!
Jul 22, 2018 | 12:43 am
#5
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As someone who lives in Bandung part of the year, I’d strongly advise you not to visit on weekends or holidays. And do not, I repeat, do not, drive there. The train is fine.
Going mid week is fine. Angklung is fun, and there are cool things to do outside the city.
If you have more time, Yogyakarta is a nice trip. 6-7 hours on the train each way. My wife and daughter went last month, and some really nice activities off the normal ones you see people doing. I’d do this as a 2-3 day trip, though.
You can often find a car with driver for $30-50 per day. Trains can be fine. Buses and shuttle buses can be hit or miss.
I don’t really recommend driving your own car here. While it’s not really dangerous, if you get in an accident, there can be mobs of people who gather and dispense “justice” if they think you’re trying to escape without paying, or lord forbid you hit a kid.
Going mid week is fine. Angklung is fun, and there are cool things to do outside the city.
If you have more time, Yogyakarta is a nice trip. 6-7 hours on the train each way. My wife and daughter went last month, and some really nice activities off the normal ones you see people doing. I’d do this as a 2-3 day trip, though.
You can often find a car with driver for $30-50 per day. Trains can be fine. Buses and shuttle buses can be hit or miss.
I don’t really recommend driving your own car here. While it’s not really dangerous, if you get in an accident, there can be mobs of people who gather and dispense “justice” if they think you’re trying to escape without paying, or lord forbid you hit a kid.
Jul 22, 2018 | 1:21 am
#6
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Thanks for all the information.
No doubt staying overnight would be better to give me more time but my schedule only allows for a few sporadic free days. Future return trips my be more flexible in giving me more consecutive days away from Jakarta.
Bogor seems to be an easy day out by train. But how can I get to Pangrango area? Is there a one day tour guide company/office which meets in Bogor and them off you go into the ....ryside?
No doubt staying overnight would be better to give me more time but my schedule only allows for a few sporadic free days. Future return trips my be more flexible in giving me more consecutive days away from Jakarta.
Bogor seems to be an easy day out by train. But how can I get to Pangrango area? Is there a one day tour guide company/office which meets in Bogor and them off you go into the ....ryside?
Jul 22, 2018 | 2:10 am
#7
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Thanks for all the information.
No doubt staying overnight would be better to give me more time but my schedule only allows for a few sporadic free days. Future return trips my be more flexible in giving me more consecutive days away from Jakarta.
Bogor seems to be an easy day out by train. But how can I get to Pangrango area? Is there a one day tour guide company/office which meets in Bogor and them off you go into the ....ryside?
No doubt staying overnight would be better to give me more time but my schedule only allows for a few sporadic free days. Future return trips my be more flexible in giving me more consecutive days away from Jakarta.
Bogor seems to be an easy day out by train. But how can I get to Pangrango area? Is there a one day tour guide company/office which meets in Bogor and them off you go into the ....ryside?