A Family Vacation to Kawah Putih
and Situ Patenggang in Ciwidey, Bandung

Kawah Putih

Kawah Putih, also known as White Crater in English, is a beautiful volcanic lake located on the slope of Mount Patuha. The scenic beauty of the crater is mesmerizing, as the lake boasts a blend of white and greenish hues, a white sandy beach, and towering limestone cliffs.

Read more on Kawah Putih ...

Situ Patenggang

As you continue your journey, you will eventually reach the stunning lake of Situ Patenggang (also known as Situ Patengan). This lake is a popular family vacation spot in Sunda due to its breathtaking scenery. You can enjoy the view from the lakebank or rent a boat to circle around the lake.

Read more on Situ Patenggang ...

Glamping Lake Side Rancabali

Glamping Lakeside Rancabali offers a combined experience of glamping and dining with a relaxing view of Situ Patenggang and the surrounding Rancabali tea plantation.

Read more on Glamping Lake Side Rancabali ...

Kampung Cai Ranca Upas

The feeding time of Javan Rusa (Sunda Sambar / Rusa timorensis) in Kampung Cai Ranca Upas, Ciwidey.

Ranca Upas is a forest that used to have a large swamp, hence its name. Ranca is a Sundanese word that means swamp, and Upas is a species of flora commonly found in the area. The place is now used for breeding Javan Rusa, also known as Sunda Sambar or Rusa Timorensis, a species of deer native to Java, Bali, and Timor.

According to the brochure, the breeding area at Ranca Upas covers an area of five hectares. However, during our visit there, we only saw twenty deer inside the pen. It is unclear whether the five hectares are only dedicated to the breeding area or if they also include camping grounds and playgrounds. It is also possible that the twenty deer we saw were only part of a feeding activity, and the rest were free to roam in the woods.

The habitat of the deer is muddy ground with a wooden platform surrounded by a wooden fence. You don't need to buy tickets to enter because it is accessible by buying carrots to feed the deer. If you want to get as close as possible to the deer, you walk on the ground, but since their habitat is so muddy, we prefer to feed them from the wooden platform. The deer are accustomed to visitors feeding them carrots, so they are generally tame and will come to whoever brings carrots.

Besides the deer breeding area, Ranca Upas has camping grounds and a water park. You don't have to bring camping gear because it can be rented on-site. Despite the cold weather in Ciwidey, the brochure assures that the water used for the water park is warm, as it comes from the nearby hot spring. So, you can enjoy playing in the water to your heart's content without worrying about getting cold.

Strawberry Picking in Ciwidey

Pick your own strawberry in the many strawberry farms in Ciwidey.

The cool weather on the slopes of Mount Patuha is ideal for growing strawberries, so there are many strawberry farms in the area. At these farms, you have the opportunity to pick your own strawberries. Although the price may be higher than buying them in a market, the experience of picking your own strawberries is always enjoyable, especially for children. Since strawberry picking is a favorite activity in Ciwidey, the farms often get crowded on weekends and holidays. Hence, it is best to arrive early.

Traditional Snacks From Ciwidey

On your way to Kawah Putih, Ranca Upas, Situ Patenggang, and other tourist destinations in Ciwidey, you will come across rows of kiosks on either side of the road. They sell traditional snacks from Ciwidey. The famous three are Kalua Jeruk, Dodol Strawberry, and Berondong Jagung.

Kalua Jeruk is a sweet treat made from pomelo skin and sugar. Besides the original flavor of palm sugar, it also comes in many different colors and flavors, such as strawberry, durian, orange, and melon.

Since there are many strawberry farms in this area, some strawberries are cooked into strawberry sweets called Dodol Strawberries. They are made of glutinous rice, sugar, and strawberry juice.

Berondong Jagung, or popcorn balls in English, looks like white and brown balls hanging on the snack kiosks. They are made by sticking popcorn together with palm sugar.

Meal and Accommodation in Ciwidey

Many years ago, Sindang Reret was the only recommended restaurant and hotel in Ciwidey. But today, there are so many options you can choose: spend a night in villas, hotels and motels, guest houses, and inns. The latest trend is to stay in the glamping camp.

Check out the best glamping camp in Southern Bandung here ...

As a resort, D'Riam Riverside features comfortable hotel rooms, glamping, restaurants, and outdoor activities such as rafting, outbound, the bamboo bridge, and various swings.

On the other hand, Bobocabin Ranca Upas offers modern, minimalist, tiny cottages under the canopy of a forest.

Although Sindang Reret Hotel looks outdated compared with the newer hotels, resorts, and glamping, the Sundanese food here is still the best. One of their specialty is Gepuk, sliced beef that is spiced and then cooked for hours until tender. The taste is rather sweet.

If you like spicy food, try the Sundanese salad named Karedok. It consists of raw vegetables such as cucumber, string beans, eggplant, and cabbage with oncom sauce. Oncom is made of beans fermented with fungi, which you can only find in Sunda. If you prefer cooked vegetables, you can order gado-gado, which comprises cooked cabbage, string bean, bean sprouts, boiled egg and potato, fried tofu, and tempe with peanut sauce.

Most of the restaurants in Ciwidey are Sundanese restaurants. Although their menus are slightly different from each other, in general, they serve fried or grilled chicken, gourami fish, Karedok, fried tofu, and fried tempeh. Continue reading about the famous Sundanese food here...

How to Go to Ciwidey, Kawah Putih, and Situ Patenggang

Tap/click the map to get directions to Ciwidey.

This highland is approximately 50 km southwest of Bandung. Thanks to the opening of the Soroja (Soreang - Pasirkoja) toll road, traveling to Ciwidey becomes much faster.
The Soroja toll road is an extension of the Purbaleunyi toll road, where you must switch lanes at the km. 132. It is a bit confusing for first-time drivers as there is a fork at the exit, where you must choose a direction to Soreang. Once you get onto the toll road, simply continue driving until the end, where you will reach Soreang. From there, just follow the road signs to Ciwidey and continue your journey to Kawah Putih and Situ Patenggang.

Ciwidey in the south, Lembang in the north, and Garut in the east, it is absolutely worth it to explore the Bandung highland. Which one is your favorite?