While Bandung is renowned for its shopping and culinary delights, venturing further afield unveils a new world of adventure and discovery. In this article, I will share some places outside of Bandung.
During a trip to West Java in December 2015, I had the opportunity to explore some of these hidden gems and immerse myself in the diverse landscapes and attractions beyond Bandung.
Places to Visit outside of Bandung
Read on as I share some of the standout destinations in the districts of Garut, Tasikmalaya, and Pangandaran, offering a glimpse into the captivating experiences awaiting travellers willing to journey beyond the confines of Bandung.
However, you should note that getting to these places requires overland travel, either via car, van, bus, train, or even domestic flights, and the average land travel time from one place to another is around one to three hours.
Three main districts are covered here: Garut, Tasikmalaya, and Pangandaran, which are in the West Java districts.
1. Garut
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| Garut's Kampung Sumber Alam Hot Spring Resort. |
A former Dutch hill station, it is also the closest tourism destination to Bandung, only a 90-minute drive away. Apart from the cooling weather, you can experience the true West Javanese lifestyle, less visited by the typical tourist.
Where to go in Garut?
Garut has several interesting places. However, this city is also well known as the city of Dodol, a sweet toffee-like confection very popular among Indonesians and Southeast Asians.
In Garut, the Dodol is called Dodol Garut, and it has been produced there for the past 60 years, making Garut the capital of this sweet dessert.
To experience this, you can take a Dodol factory visit Picnic, the pioneer company that mastered the art of Dodol making (Jl. Pasundan, Garut Kota, Garut; http://www.picnicdodolgarut.com/ ).
What to do in Garut?
What to do in Garut?
Outdoor activities in Garut are huge, as trekking and hiking are available at places like Papandayan Mountain, Haruman Mountain, and Guntur Mountain.
There is also a historical place of worship called Candi Cangkuang, an intriguing Hindu temple, and the Kawah Darajat (Darajat Crater), which is similar to other volcanic craters in the region.
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| Batik Garut being made at the Rasya Batik Garutan workshop. |
What to buy in Garut?
Home industries are Garut's main products; therefore, you are in for a treat as Garut is well known for West Java Batik, Leather Goods, and Bamboo Crafts. Those who love traditional Batik fabrics can visit Rasya Batik Garutan (Gallery Jl. Otto Iskandar Dinata, Komplek PLN No. 1, Tarogong, Garut), one of the best batik shops. They offer a tour of how the Garut Batik is made step-by-step in their workshop.
Garut Leather - In Garut's main town (along Jalan Ahmad Yani, Sukaregang), several leather shops sell jackets, bags and anything related to leather goods. Prices are very cheap, considering the leather is mostly made from Domba Garut or the local Garut Sheep. For "Olah Oleh" or food souvenirs, Dodol Garut is also the top item to buy here.
Where to stay in Garut?
Garut is also well known for its hot springs, and there is one very impressive resort that caters to this wellness experience: Kampung Sumer Alam Hot Spring Resort. This resort is a Sundanese village-style resort, complete with timber villas and beautiful landscaping.
They have a massive swimming pool that uses hot spring water and a hot pool for those wanting the full experience. The overall resort is built with wooden walkways over hot spring ponds, and the hot water is pumped directly into these ponds from the highlands of Cipanas.
They have a massive swimming pool that uses hot spring water and a hot pool for those wanting the full experience. The overall resort is built with wooden walkways over hot spring ponds, and the hot water is pumped directly into these ponds from the highlands of Cipanas.
This place is generally great for a getaway due to the cooling atmosphere from the highlands. Kampung Sumber Alam Garut (http://www.resort-kampungsumberalam.com/en/index.html_) is highly recommended for couples or families who want to try something different out of Bandung.
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| Nasi Liwet Garut |
What to eat in Garut?
Javanese or Sundanese food will always be at the top of the list here, and for local food, Garut offers a wide variety that is more authentic than Bandung.
You can find most of the local food in the main town area of Garut, but a must-try dish is the Nasi Liwet, which is a very popular dish around Garut.
More information on Garut - http://westjavatourismboard.info/destination/garut/
More information on Garut - http://westjavatourismboard.info/destination/garut/
2. Tasikmalaya
Kampung Naga
Neighbouring the district of Garut is Tasikmalaya, and you will find one of the most fascinating places to visit, Kampung Naga or Dragon Village.
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| The stunning Kampung Naga at Tasikmalaya. |
Neighbouring the district of Garut is Tasikmalaya, and you will find one of the most fascinating places to visit, Kampung Naga or Dragon Village.
This place reminded me of Shirakawa-Go Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan, and the similarities were almost the same. This unique village is about 25 kilometres from Garut and is in a valley.
To get here, you must walk over 400 steps into the valley, passing beautiful landscapes, rivers and hill paddy fields. The best part - This entire village, totalling 1.5 hectares, runs without electricity, maintains the old ways of living and is not influenced by modernisation.
300 people live in this village, and it is truly a fantastic place to visit. They also offer homestay experiences for anyone interested.
Kelom Geulis Sagitria Tasikmalaya
Another unique place to visit is Kelom Geulis Sagitria Tasikmalaya, a traditional clog and wooden sandal maker, an important part of Indonesia's cultural heritage.
Kelom Geulis Sagitria Tasikmalaya
Another unique place to visit is Kelom Geulis Sagitria Tasikmalaya, a traditional clog and wooden sandal maker, an important part of Indonesia's cultural heritage.
The shop operates from a house that doubles as a workshop and gallery showcasing their unique creations of ladies' wooden sandals and shoes.
It is truly fascinating to see that every step of the process is handmade by skilled workers, and the thing that amazed me was the freehand design carving that was done. Some of the Kelom were also hand-painted with traditional motifs, and visitors can try them when they visit the workshop here.
What to buy in Tasikmalaya?
It is straightforward to buy traditional West Java Kelom or wooden sandals in Tasikmalaya, as they are all handmade and have high-quality finishing.
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| Some of the beautiful traditional Kelom Geulis wooden shoes in Tasikmalaya. |
It is straightforward to buy traditional West Java Kelom or wooden sandals in Tasikmalaya, as they are all handmade and have high-quality finishing.
Thinking they would be expensive, I was shocked that they are cheap too, and pricing starts anywhere from Rp150,000 per pair. The red wooden sandals in the photo above cost only Rp175.000 Rp. They would make an excellent souvenir for any woman. A tip here is to buy one size larger.
What to do in Tasikmalaya?
Generally, Tasikmalaya is a place for a day trip to see the clog maker and visit Kampung Naga, but for those wanting a truly unique experience, you can choose to do a homestay for a night or two at Kampung Naga and experience how the locals have been living without electricity for generations.
What to eat in Tasikmalaya?
Javanese food is always at the top of the menu in West Java; therefore, it is highly recommended that you try the Nasi Liwet (Liwet Rice), which is of Sunda origin and popular in this region.
What to do in Tasikmalaya?
Generally, Tasikmalaya is a place for a day trip to see the clog maker and visit Kampung Naga, but for those wanting a truly unique experience, you can choose to do a homestay for a night or two at Kampung Naga and experience how the locals have been living without electricity for generations.
What to eat in Tasikmalaya?
Javanese food is always at the top of the menu in West Java; therefore, it is highly recommended that you try the Nasi Liwet (Liwet Rice), which is of Sunda origin and popular in this region.
Most large restaurants (some in the shape of strawberries) serve this traditional dish, and one popular place to try it is at Rumah Makan Liwet Pak Asep Stroberi or Nasi Liwet Pak Asep Stroberi along the main road to Garut. (Jalan R Ikik Wiradikarta).
This Sundanese-style dish is best eaten with Liwet rice, fried chicken, fried tempeh, salted fish and raw vegetables. While you are at it, ask them if they have the Kopi Luwak or Civet Cat Coffee and if you want to experience something further.
More information on Tasikmalaya - http://westjavatourismboard.info/destination/tasikmalaya/
More information on Tasikmalaya - http://westjavatourismboard.info/destination/tasikmalaya/
3. Pangandaran
The southmost part of West Java is the area known as Pangandaran. Here, you will find the beach and some amazing ecotourism activities and destinations. Less known to mainstream travellers, Pangadaran is a very interesting and impressive destination, especially for outdoor lovers.
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| Santirah River Tubing in Pangandaran. |
A must-try adventure here is the River Tubing, which can be done at nine locations. The most famous is Green Canyon, followed by Green Valley or Citumang, which is highly popular for river tubing, nature walks, and hiking, as it is located in the national park here.
However, my group had the opportunity to experience a new river tubing area at the Santirah River in Pangandaran. This 1.5-kilometre course is amazing, and it involves passing four waterfalls and participating in many rock or cliff jumping areas.
However, my group had the opportunity to experience a new river tubing area at the Santirah River in Pangandaran. This 1.5-kilometre course is amazing, and it involves passing four waterfalls and participating in many rock or cliff jumping areas.
Truly one with nature, the Santirah River Tubing is one of my best experiences with nature. It is highly recommended and suitable for all ages. Prices are Rp.175,000 per person, and you need a guide to take you there. The area is about 15 kilometres from Pangandaran in Desa Selasari, Kecamatan Parigi.
What to do in Pangandaran?
I will be very honest with the general traveller: the best activity here is outdoor activities. Apart from that, the beach is quite unique. Pangandaran is surrounded by beaches on both sides of the peninsular, so you have options to choose which beach you want to explore.
What to do in Pangandaran?
I will be very honest with the general traveller: the best activity here is outdoor activities. Apart from that, the beach is quite unique. Pangandaran is surrounded by beaches on both sides of the peninsular, so you have options to choose which beach you want to explore.
For the adventurous traveller, you can also head further west towards the Batu Karas area, where there is another beautiful beach with restaurants and cafes.
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| Mobil Gowes VW in Pangandaran is a great way to see this place. |
What else to do in Pangandaran
Biking around Pangandaran—Yes, riding a bicycle around the village area was one of the fun things I did here, as it has been a really long time since I did some cycling.
Biking around Pangandaran—Yes, riding a bicycle around the village area was one of the fun things I did here, as it has been a really long time since I did some cycling.
Therefore, I highly recommend the Pangandaran bike tour, which takes you through fishing villages, plantations, and local villages.
Alternatively, for an evening evenings around here, you can rent a Mobil Gowes VW, a Volkswagen-shaped family bicycle that can seat 4-6 persons for Rp.100,000 an hour.
Surfing in Pangandaran is also popular; you can take surfing lessons here, based on the season. Most of the hotels by the sea offer surfing lessons too. For sunset lovers, catch this at
Pangandaran Sunset is a spot where people can see beautiful sunsets. One of the guides told me that Pangandaran is magical and unique because you can catch the sunrise in the morning and sunset in the evening in one place.
What to eat in Pangandaran?
Seafood! There are a lot of restaurants or eating houses called Rumah Makan or RM around Pangandaran, and one of the recommended areas is Komplek Pasar Ikan Pantai Timur Pangandaran, along Jalan Pantai Timur Road, where you will find over 10 seafood restaurants in one area.
What to eat in Pangandaran?
Seafood! There are a lot of restaurants or eating houses called Rumah Makan or RM around Pangandaran, and one of the recommended areas is Komplek Pasar Ikan Pantai Timur Pangandaran, along Jalan Pantai Timur Road, where you will find over 10 seafood restaurants in one area.
The restaurant I ate at was called Rumah Makan Karya Bahari, and they served a great selection of fresh seafood, where you pick what you want and cook it according to your style. You can also order white rice, fried rice, and other non-semic dishes here.
Where to stay in Pangandaran
There are quite a number of guesthouses, hotels, and resorts around Pangandaran, most of which are located near the beaches. I recommend trying the Menara Laut Hotel, one of the new resorts, and The Arnawa Hotel and Resort (http://www.thearnawahotel.com/), where I stayed during my visit here.
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| Arwana Hotel and Resort in Pangandaran. |
There are quite a number of guesthouses, hotels, and resorts around Pangandaran, most of which are located near the beaches. I recommend trying the Menara Laut Hotel, one of the new resorts, and The Arnawa Hotel and Resort (http://www.thearnawahotel.com/), where I stayed during my visit here.
These hotels are very modern and up to standards with the big cities, but expect something other than luxury service as they are still within the 2-3 star range. The service level of the staff was excellent.
More information on Pangandaran - http://westjavatourismboard.info/destination/pangandaran/
More information on Pangandaran - http://westjavatourismboard.info/destination/pangandaran/
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| The writer, during the river tubing in Santirah. |
Main photo by Lakone.
Transport Information for West Java
This is a very good and important tip: For those wanting their own leisure time, most travel agencies rent minibuses or vans with drivers for about 500,000 Rupiah per day, including the driver and petrol.
Therefore, from Bandung, you can rent a 'supir' or driver for a few days to explore West Java and not get lost. Also, it is best to get someone who knows the area, too.
I spent about five full days moving around West Java to these beautiful locations, and I know many more exciting places worth exploring here. Therefore, I hope that in the near future, I will have the opportunity to visit these many other places and, in return, share them with my readers.
I spent about five full days moving around West Java to these beautiful locations, and I know many more exciting places worth exploring here. Therefore, I hope that in the near future, I will have the opportunity to visit these many other places and, in return, share them with my readers.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed reading about the many exciting new places in West Java. This entire experience was made possible with the collaboration of the West Java Tourism Board, which opened my eyes and also introduced some of the stunning places to visit beyond Bandung in West Java.