Situ Gunung: An Adventure Above the Valley

Last year, I took a 2-day, 1-night trip to Situ Gunung, Sukabumi, West Java. It is a natural tourist destination located within Mount Gede Pangrango National Park. Since it is relatively close to Jakarta, Situ Gunung is a great choice for a short getaway or even a one-day trip. Most visitors come to see the area’s most famous attraction, the Suspension Bridge.

From Jakarta, I took the commuter line to Bogor Station. From there, I continued to Cisaat Station by the Pangrango Train, which took about one and a half hours. Finally, I took an online taxi to the Situ Gunung area.

There are many interesting places to explore in Situ Gunung. Here are five fun activities I did during my trip:

1. Passing the Suspension Bridge

The Situ Gunung Suspension Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Southeast Asia. It was built in 2017 and is 243 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, with the bridge suspended 121 meters above the ground.

Interestingly, because it is a suspension bridge, I could feel my body swaying as I walked across it. What an exciting experience! But don’t worry. All visitors crossing the bridge are required to wear a safety harness, so you can enjoy the experience safely.

Standing at 35 meters high, Sawer Waterfall has a powerful flow of water. When I visited, the current was quite strong, and the water was a little turbid because it had rained earlier.

Because of the heavy flow, the water splashed around and got my clothes wet. Nevertheless, seeing the waterfall and listening to the sound of the rushing water made me feel relaxed and refreshed.

The Situ Gunung area has a rocky river, and there are several ways to enjoy the view of the river. One of them is riding the Keranjang Sultan. I sat in a rattan chair that had been modified to look like a cable car. Then, the chair moved along the river, giving me a unique view of the surrounding scenery.

It was a fun experience, but I felt that the ride was too short.

4. Riding Keranjang Sultan Langit

I really liked the height! In Situ Gunung, there are many attractions that can give you an adrenaline rush, and one of them is Keranjang Sultan Langit.

While Keranjang Sultan takes you along the rocky river, Keranjang Sultan Langit takes you across the Purba Situ Gunung Valley. It is a rattan chair that moves above the valley, offering an amazing view from high above the ground. The attraction is approximately 100 to 160 meters above the ground.

I would not recommend riding Keranjang Sultan Langit to people with acrophobia or a fear of heights. When I sat in the rattan chair and it started to move, I felt like I was flying in slow motion. It was both thrilling and a little scary, but I really enjoyed it!

5. Riding the Flying Fox

Riding the Flying Fox in Situ Gunung was my favorite activity. I could see Situ Gunung Lake from above while riding along the 733-meter-long Flying Fox track. It sounds like a long track, but the ride only lasted about one minute.

I would love to ride it again, but the ticket was quite pricey at Rp150,000 per person. Besides the Flying Fox, I also bought a package that included a 360-degree camera, which allowed me to capture the experience from a unique perspective.

Exploring Situ Gunung can actually be done in one day. However, I decided to stay for one night to enjoy the area at a more relaxed pace. I booked Halimun Tent, a glamping tent with a capacity of up to four people.

One of the benefits of staying here was that the room rate included access to several attractions, except for the Flying Fox. The tent also had complete facilities, including an indoor bathroom with a wooden bathtub, a water heater, and breakfast.

At night, I ordered dinner, which came with free roasted corn for guests. The dining area was located in the center of the tent, with a campfire to keep the guests warm. It was a cozy way to end the day in the middle of nature.

Visiting Situ Gunung was a memorable journey for me. I was able to relieve my stress by exploring nature and enjoying exciting attractions. The convenient access and complete facilities also made my trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

Overall, Situ Gunung is a great destination for anyone looking for a short getaway from Jakarta, especially for those who want to combine nature, adventure, and a relaxing stay in one trip.