If you are in the Bandung or surrounding areas of West Java, it is worth taking the time to witness the incredible Kawah Putih. This is a place that I really didn’t know too much about before I visited. And wow, did it blow me away! I am so glad that I took the time to drive up there and have a look, and highly recommend that you do as well.
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Table of Contents
- What is Kawah Putih?
- What to expect at Kawah Putih
- How to get to Kawah Putih
- Where to stay for Kawah Putih
- Summary
What is Kawah Putih?
Kawah Putih is a crater lake about 50 km south of Bandung, West Java. It is one of two craters that make up Mount Patuha, a Volcano that has not seen active volcanic activity since around 1600AD.
The lake that is Kawah Putih is a highly acidic lake, and depending upon the time of year and level of acidity, the lake can change colors. Mostly it represents a green or blue color, and is covered by steamy clouds that can be quite toxic if you stay in the area too long.
The name Kawah Putih is Indonesian for “White Crater”. Although the lake is more green in color, I suspect that the name comes more from the surrounding shorelines that are white from the sulfur that has leached into the soil and covered the ground itself. The surrounding area, away from the crater itself, is heavily forested with beautiful pines and ferns.
What to expect at Kawah Putih
Kawah Putih is a very unique place to visit, and although I liken the experience to that of Mount Ijen, near Banyuwangi in East Java, this is the only place like it in West Java. Unless you have been to Ijen, however, the experience will be something unlike anything you have seen before. Therefore, I will step you through what to expect when you visit.
Arrival Gate and Tickets
If you are on a tour, then most of the things here will be covered. This is why a tour is a good thing at times, especially if you have no way of getting there yourself. Find the link further down in this article if you are interested in finding out more about tours to Kawah Putih.
If you are making your own way, then when you arrive at the gate, you will have a choice to make. You can opt to park in the large parking area (surrounded by warungs and souvenir shops) and take the small “Angkot” style mini vans up to the crater, or simply drive yourself.
To take the mini bus option, you will have to wait around for one to fill, and then it will head off. If you are there on a weekday, you could be waiting a while, depending upon how busy it is. This option only costs you a few extra dollars. I should note that there are dozens of mini vans, so you will be almost guaranteed to be able to get a lift if you take this option!
The other option is to continue driving yourself. This is a pretty hefty price of 150k rupe, or about $15 AUD. When we were there we took this option because it was a quiet day, and also because our car was loaded up with all our personal gear, and we didn’t feel comfortable leaving it behind in the carpark.
The last option is to park and do the hike to the crater yourself. The only way there is to actually walk up the road, but it is 5km of uphill and the hike is pretty boring.
Prices for Kawah Putih are as follows:
- Entry fee – around $7 AUD for foreigners
- Entry fee – around $3 AUD for locals or Kitas/Kitap holders
- Drive yourself to crater – around $15 AUD extra
- Take mini van to crater – around $3 AUD extra
- Hike to crater – FREE
Kawah Putih Car park
Once you decide, you will head up the road to the crater car park. The road up is pretty broken in places, so if you are on your scooter, or even in a car, take care. It is a “sealed” road all the way, though, so you will have no major issues.
Once you reach the car park, you will be directed where to park by the dozen or so friendly “parking attendants” that seem to exist everywhere in Java. Keep some small money on hand to pay them.
The car park will have quite a few of the little orange Mini Buses there as well, waiting to take people back down to the main car park. If it is raining, the car park attendants will be armed with umbrellas to assist you from your car, and you will be offered the umbrella to rent for a small fee.
The day that we were there, a storm was hanging around and light rain was falling, so the umbrella definitely came in handy, even though I was wearing my trusty Kathmandu rain jacket.
Leave the car park past the sign near the entry, and follow the path up the slight hill toward the crater.
Get a photographer for the best photos!
The path will take you over the small hill and then down into the crater. Hopefully there will not be too much of a lineup. The day we were there we practically walked right in. And it was a weekend, so maybe the weather was playing a factor.
The one tip I can say here is that if you want great photos, then hire one of the local photographers. Unless you are a professional photographer yourself of course.
Like many places, the guides and photographers know their stuff! They are there all day every day, and know exactly where you should pose, and what the best angles area. They are used to tourists, and even know what sort of photos you will want. I have found this is true at temples, craters, and most major locations around Indonesia. In my opinion, they are sometimes worth paying the fee, which in this case was just 25k rupe for him to take photos for us.
Kawah Putih Crater
The Crater itself is amazing. You will find yourself walking on sulfuric white powdery sand and rock as you make your way around the edge of the lake. You can only go so far, though, as there are warning signs not to venture too far. At the entry point there is also a sign stating that visitors are limited to 15 minutes at the lakeside. This is due to the toxicity of the sulfuric clouds and steam coming from the lakes surface. I didn’t actually see anyone policing this, but would highly recommend you do not linger too long.
If you have any sort of breathing issues, such as asthma, or are pregnant, I would also ask you to think twice about entering the area. We are both perfectly healthy and were wearing our face masks, but still found ourselves starting to cough after a short time.
Once you enter, make your way around the lake to a nice spot and take some photos. There are plenty of places that are great spots. But really, anywhere is going to give you a view of the green surface and steamy outlook. If you are game, there is also a new boardwalk that stretches out across the surface to a small island that will give you slightly different views. For a nominal fee, of course. It was closed for maintenance when we were there though.
The atmosphere around Kawah Putih is incredible, and amazingly peaceful. At times, it can also be quite eerie. It is no wonder that locals have always thought the place was haunted. The dead trees around the perimeter certainly add strength to their theories, however there is a very scientific reason that flora does not grow well in sulfuric conditions!
The day we were there a storm was hanging around, and light rain was constantly falling. The thunder was rolling right above our heads, and it was almost like we had our own Hollywood director setting the tone for us. Amazing!
Viewpoints around the rim
Once you get your photos around the lake, you have the option to try out some of the viewpoints around the rim. There are a couple that are accessible from the rim where you entered. There is also another that you can get to if you drive to a different car park. Just take a look at the map nearby.
These viewpoints are accessed by bamboo walkways, and offer a different view from above the crater. If it is a clear day, the view is good. Otherwise, cloud combined with the steam from the crater really limit what you can see anyway.
How to get to Kawah Putih
Getting to Kawah Putih is pretty straightforward. Drive or ride! If you are staying in nearby Bandung, it will take around 90 mins to 2 hours to get there. Just follow THIS link for an accurate Google maps location.
To avoid driving yourself, you can hire a car and driver for the day from Bandung. Click HERE for an easy link to check out the price or book online.
Take a tour
The alternative is, of course, to take a tour. Tours from Bandung are easy to book, and will take away all of the stress of getting there yourself. Simply click the link below to book a tour through my favorite tour company, GetYourGuide.
Where to stay for Kawah Putih
If you are visiting the area, the best place to access Kawah Putih from is Bandung. We came almost specifically to see this crater, and stayed in Bandung. It is close and easy get to Kawah Putih from. For a list of places to stay, simply click the link below.
To get a little closer to Kawah Putih, you can always stay in the local town of Ciwidey. This option is worthwhile if you are just passing through. You will find the option for Ciwidey through the above link. Just use the “Neighborhood” filter on the left.
Summary
Kawah Putih is an incredible place to visit. I have seen many astounding sights in the nearly two years that I have been in Indonesia. This place however, is right at the top of my list of favorites. Do yourself a favor and head out to Bandung, and get along to Kawah Putih. You won’t regret it!
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