Solo Camping at Gunung Putri, Bandung, Indonesia - Catch up With Nature

Hi, it's Sal. I'm going to tell a bit of a story about my experience solo camping at Gunung Putri, Bandung, in February 2024. Solo camping has been a dream of mine since childhood, inspired by seeing people sleeping in tents, cooking with portable pots, and stargazing alone with their thoughts. I always told myself that once I had enough money as an adult, I would definitely do it. However, my parents didn't approve (honestly, they prohibited mountain hiking as well).

I vividly remember deciding on this trip; it was quite spontaneous without any prior schedule or preparation. Originally, I planned to take a day off for my late mom's birthday, as I do every year. But somehow, I ended up booking a ticket to Bandung and decided to make a quick trip, returning to Cilegon on Monday.

I booked the earliest ticket at 6 am with BTM Travel, the only direct service to Bandung that bypasses Jakarta. It took about 4.5 hours to arrive. Since it was a Friday, I was anxious about making it in time for Friday prayers, but as expected, I arrived after they had finished. A bit disappointed in myself for not planning better, I decided to make the best of my time in Bandung. I ordered a Gojek and headed to the Museum of Geology as my first stop, only to find it closed on Fridays. Undeterred, I took a brief stroll around the area and visited Gedung Sate, where I snapped some photos outside without going in. With still five hours before heading to Gunung Putri, I opted to visit the Nuart Museum (details for another post).

Next, I went to Dipatiukur to check out Parc19, a cozy café with an integrated library, but it was closed for an event until the afternoon. Hungry and in need of a charge for my power bank, I found refuge at Tomoro Coffee, where I ordered a Tuna Sandwich and Chocolate Coffee (I forgot to take a picture, though I remember the names). Around 4 pm, I booked a Gojek ride to Gunung Putri and arrived by 5 pm.

To get to Gunung Putri, you can order a Gojek from Bandung Kota or Dipatiukur directly to the destination. Alternatively, if you have your own vehicle, Google Maps can guide you effectively. There's also an Angkot available—a small, bluish-colored public transport resembling a car—that runs from Bandung Station to Lembang, costing only 10Rp (please correct me if I'm mistaken; I've never tried it).

At the entrance, the admission fee is 25K per person for locals and around 50K for international tourists. If you didn't bring your own tent, rentals and other camping necessities are available for around 250K per package, if I recall correctly. Food stalls and firewood vendors are also available near the entrance. Since I didn't have camping gear with me, I bought a meal for 25K before embarking on a 15-minute hike to the camping area. Setting up my tent took nearly an hour—a challenging task for a novice like me.

After some effort, my slightly lopsided tent stood, providing adequate shelter. I settled in, changed clothes, and returned to the stalls for another meal. Despite some fog, the weather was clear enough for stargazing that night. Around 9 pm, I was surprised by an unexpected visitor in my tent—a cat! I had read about this friendly cat in tourist reviews, known for seeking company and food. Though startled at first, I eventually let the cat inside. We didn't exactly chat (as cats do), but I played with it until it grew bored and left. I slept and woke up around 6 am to head towards what some call the summit—a slippery trek that took about 5 minutes. After taking photos, I descended and by 9 am, packed up my belongings and dismantled the tent.

By 10 am, I was on my way back to Bandung via Gojek and caught a shuttle straight to Cilegon. Overall, it was quite an experience!

See you on another adventure!

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