White Crater — Attraction in West Java

Greenish water meets with white color of sulphur field. It is a breathtaking view inside of Kawah Putih (White Crater).

Yes, as it is normal (still active) volcanic crater, it is very common be fulfilled with water that comes from the rain. Situated approximately 2.228 meters above sea level makes the temperature breeze and cool.

We drove our car headed to southern part of Bandung following narrow paved road of Ciwidey to reach Kawah Putih. It was one and half hour trip, even though the distance from Bandung is not quite far.

Arrived at the main gate of management office --which beautifully located among pine trees-- we paid IDR 150.000 for our car and 25.000 for person. They allowed us to brought the car to climb the mount Patuha, where Kawah Putih lies. The road has broken in some parts and very steep in few parts. It was around 9 kms climbing from altitude 1.800 meters to 2.300 m above sea level.

A quite representative parking lot provided at the top of Mount Patuha and can accommodate around 50 cars. There were some toilets as well with super cold water.

You can also use Ontang-Anting, from main gate to parking lot but I did not ask the fare the person should pay for Ontang-Anting (shuttle) vehicle. Be careful if you decide to use it as it just a normal pick up car with canvas on the top and may carry 15 people. Prepare your heatbeat ticks faster.

To reach Kawah Putih's "beach", we stepped down our foot on staircase made from parking lot to Kawah Putih. From alt 2.300 to 2.228m.

Kawah Putih lies in front of us, surrounded by white "sand" which actually sulphur material. Its diameter is not that big. Only around 300 meters I think. Do not stay more than an hour inside the crater as the smell of sulphur may strike your lungs.

Amazing combination of water color, sulphur material, rocks, and the leaves inside the crater makes this crater famous. Yes, it is true. No wonder, many wedding photo organizer often pick this place for pre-wedding activities.

The "lake" itself probably has acid level more than normal lake. So nobody swim in the "lake" and nobody did canoing inside. Practically, take the photo, feel the fresh air, enjoy the simple food offered by hawkers at parking lot are the activities you can be done.

The beautiful scenery has to be preserved to retain its natural condition by not littering every where. We saw trash every where at parking lot and we hope someday it will have better garbage management by enforcing visitor to bring litter by themselves on the way down from...

🌟 Kawah Putih: A Mesmerizing Natural Wonder

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Kawah Putih, also known as the White Crater, during my trip to Ciwidey, Indonesia. Let me tell you, it was an otherworldly experience that left me in awe!

🌋 The Crater Lake: As I approached the edge of the crater, the first thing that caught my eye was the striking turquoise color of the lake. It's like nothing I've ever seen before. The water's hue changes subtly, sometimes leaning toward green or blue, depending on the sunlight and sulfur content. Standing there, surrounded by mist and the faint smell of sulfur, I felt like I'd stepped into a dream.

🚶‍♀️ Exploring the Surroundings: The walk around the crater's edge is relatively easy, and it offers breathtaking views. The contrast between the white mineral deposits, the dark volcanic rocks, and the vibrant water is simply mesmerizing. Don't forget to snap some photos—you'll want to capture this surreal beauty.

🛶 Pontoon Ride: For an up-close encounter with the lake, I recommend taking the pontoon ride. Gliding across the water, you'll feel the cool breeze and witness the ever-changing colors. It's a peaceful and serene experience that allows you to appreciate nature's artistry.

📸 Photography Paradise: Whether you're a professional photographer or just someone with a smartphone, Kawah Putih provides endless photo opportunities. The mist swirling over the lake, the gnarled trees, and the distant mountains create a magical backdrop.

🌿 Surrounded by Nature: Beyond the lake, the surrounding forest adds to the allure. If you're up for a forest hike, you'll encounter unique flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for the elusive Javan hawk-eagle and other bird species.

🍃 Tips for Visitors: Timing: Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and catch the best lighting. Dress Comfortably: The weather can be chilly due to the high altitude, so bring a jacket. Respect Nature: Let's all do our part to preserve this natural wonder. No littering, please!

In summary, Kawah Putih is a must-see destination for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone seeking a magical escape. It's a place where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and time seems to...

An okay site for adult, probably a good place for children or teenager (primary/junior high) to go on a study tour, if their teachers could explain what's inside or what happened in this site. A natural hot bed of sulfuric lake and mud/swamp made by volcanic eruption from ages ago, nowadays its the indonesian and much cheaper version of Yellowstone park (USA).

The entrance will set you each idr 25k for local, and idr 75k for foreigner (about 5 usd). If you're not using your own car you have to use local transport called ontang-anting, group using buses would have to use ontang anting as well, it will set you each 20k for coming and going to the site, just brace yourself and prepare for rough riding for a while, these ontang-anting driver sometimes acted as rally drivers so becareful and just warned the driver if the started acting up.

Nowadays it just transformed into a place with lots of natural instagrammable spot. For adult this place is where you can find a GOT (Game of thrones)-esque withered tree and white sandy flooring reminiscent of not existence snow. The air was perpetually cool, around 18 to 21 celcius, it was fresh air with hint of sulfuric smell, a big hint. Lots of stairs which was hell for an obese like me, but still manageble (stair not too steep), some set of stairs was wheelchair accesible (not recommended though, because in the lake area no stable / paved floor, for wheelchair, i recommend using only the observation deck, quite good view)

Lots of private fotografer offering printed photo for idr 20k or transferred to your phone for 10k, each fotografer will direct and take your photo with their camera, quite good actually.

You can ride horse for few minutes (15 minutes top) for idr 100k, you will ride it through a nearby local tea field

You can get a very cheap coffee (idr 5k) inside the male toilet, which is free by the way.

That's it that's the whole package, 2 to 3 hour...