One of the main attractions near Bandung, Tangkuban Perahu or Overturned Boat - see/click the rare picture on the right (taken from the air over the airport) - ("Perahu" means boat in Bahasa Indonesia) is named because of its shape and also because of the famous local legend of the Sundanese Prince Sangkuriang, which illustrates the volcano's origin. It is situated at about 30 kilometers [18.6 miles] to the north of Bandung airport or 25 kilometers [15.5 miles] from the city center. This is a must-visit attraction near Bandung.
There are three "kawah" (craters) on this volcano. The biggest crater, called "Kawah Ratu", lies at 2,084 meters (6,837 feet) above sea level. Reportedly it erupted in 1826, 1952 and 1969. The other craters, "Kawah Upas", which culminates at 1,830 meters [6,004 feet] a.s.l., erupted in 1536 and "Kawah Domas" (1,650 meters [5,413 feet] a.s.l.) erupted in 1971.
Apart from two famous major craters, Ratu and Domas Craters, Tangkuban Perahu also has Upas Crater and Cikahuripan Cave. Cikahuripan Cave is quite dark, if you are interested in exploring the cave, you will need a torch, which can be borrowed at the entrance of the cave for Rp. 1,000.
If you arrive in the early morning, Tangkuban Perahu can be quite chilly, 7-9°C (around 48° F) and it will rise to 17°-23°C (63°-73° F) during the day (wearing a sweater or jacket might help) and usually Tangkuban Perahu becomes foggy in a cloudy morning. There is a tourist information centre available at Kawah Ratu, just opposite a police station. Shops selling local souvenirs are also available. If you come without a tour group, there are 75 local guides available, who work in shifts. These guides will approach you as soon as you get out of your car or bus. Official local guides have an identification card (most of the time they also wear their official jackets with "Local Guide Tangkuban Perahu" written at the back). If you are not sure, you can go to the Tourist Information Center.
The official local guide will cost you approximately Rp. 250,000/hour for foreigners and Rp. 250,000 for a full tour around Tangkuban Perahu volcano for local tourists. Approximate touring time from Kawah Ratu to Kawah Domas, including explanation, photo taking and having a short rest is about two hours to two and a half hours. It all depends on your pace, curiosity and so on.
Along the way from Kawah Ratu to Kawah Domas (about 1.2 kilometers/0.75 miles down) you will The admission ticket to Tangkuban Perahu for Indonesian residencesee beautiful landscapes, from a volcanic-rock track to rain forest pathways and, surprisingly, no mosquitoes (the locals believe it's because of the sulphurous fumes). You will also find people selling souvenirs made of "batik" wood and sulfur. At Kawah Domas, you can buy and boil eggs for a few minutes in hot spring water. Food and drinks are available at Kawah Domas but they are expensive (twice or three times more expensive than normal price!) since the sellers have to carry the goods on foot! For your reference, a small bottle of mineral water costs around Rp. 5.000. However, it's always nice to support the locals' hard effort to serve you up in the mountain and of course to support their families :)
The best time to visit is during the dry season (May-November). Early departure in the morning from Bandung city is advisable to avoid traffic congestion. In the wet season, especially December and January, it can be too foggy and the track down to Kawah Domas can be very slippery. More about the climate of Indonesia is available here: "General Information Indonesia".
Location: Mount Tangkuban Perahu, North of Bandung
Telephone: +62 22 82780654 (office) Email: [email protected]
Operating hours: daily, 7am-5pm, 7am-4pm (Domas Crater)
Admission charges (2015): Indonesians Rp. 25,000 (weekdays), Rp. 30,000 (public holidays). Foreigners Rp. 200,000 (weekdays), Rp. 300,000 (public holidays) Bicycle Rp. 7,000, motorcycle Rp. 12,000, car Rp. 25,000, bus Rp. 110,000
Facilities: English (sometimes limited), Dutch and Arabic speaking guides. Special guide volcanology. Police station. Souvenir shops. Toilets. Mosque. Warungs
How to get there: By angkot: from either Bandung"Cicaheum" terminal or Jalan Merdeka to "Ledeng" terminal (fare: ask the local on the latest cost, both will take about for 30-minute journey). From “Ledeng” terminal take an angkot “Bandung-Subang” and stop in front off Tangkuban Perahu main entrance (fare: approx Rp. 15,000). Other option is: from "St Hall" in downtown Bandung to "Lembang" (fare: approx Rp. 10,000). From Lembang then take an angkot to Cikole (fare: approx Rp. 3,000 for a 30 minute trip) and continue by taking an angkot “Bandung-Subang” to the Tangkuban Perahu main entrance (fare: approx Rp. 15,000). From there take a local transport (elf car) to the Ratu Crater (fare: approx Rp. 60.000/person for one way trip and approx Rp. 90,000/person for round trip). While for a group tour (minimum 10 person) the fare becomes cheaper at around Rp. 25,000/person for one way trip and approx Rp. 50,000/person for round trip. Since the fare is negotiable, you can try bargaining to get the lowest possible price. If you go to Tangkuban Perahu by bus, you will be dropped at Jayagiri Terminal and then continued to take a mini bus to Ratu Carter (fare: approx Rp. 5,000), but you have to be patient if your mini bus doesn't depart until it gets full or nearly full. Renting an angkot from Lembang to the crater might be a good option (it costs around approx Rp. 25,000 to Rp. 40,000 per person). It is suggested to bargain since the price is negotiable. Make sure you have an agreement on the face before going inside the car. If you go there by car it will take you 55 minutes on weekdays or around 1.5 hours to 2 hours on weekends
Remarks: Grocery stores or ATMs are rarely available in Tangkuban Perahu, hence you might have to equip yourself with enough cash and other necessary needs (many grocery stores can be found in Lembang). Please call Mr. Ahdyat Cahyadi (the Tangkuban Perahu ticketing staff) on +62 81321789581 or Mr. Heri Hidayat on +62 85220024437 for more info about Tangkuban Perahu. Not to be missed! (*note: Prices/fares may have been changed, for the latest prices/fares please check with your local guide/hotel/Tangkuban Perahu staff)
