Memorable experience. The trek to see sunrise is like a "virgin trek" , challenging, a bit scary, but all of us were elated when we reached the top. And we were rewarded with having the place all to ourselves to take photos ( btw, we are a group of women in our fifties with moderate fitness level) . Thereafter, we hiked down slightly to see the Golden crater , and were guided to go really close to it. However, we didn't expect the last leg to the Dead Forest is a long climb of 500 steps with some steep parts. While it is said that Mount Papandayan is beginners friendly, one should still have good level of fitness or be trained for the climb. Our backup plan was to take the motorbike services should our legs "give ways" :) Rangga - the trip coordinator - is responsive , and helpful. We took the high speed train from Jarkata and were picked up from Tegalluar train station directly followed by a 3-hour drive to reach Garut without glitches. Accommodation wise, we find their home stay a bit tight for the five of us, but I believe they would be able to recommend alternatives.
Dear chweel, Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful and detailed review! We are truly impressed by your group's spirit. Conquering the sunrise trek, getting close to the Golden Crater, and tackling those 500 steep steps to the Dead Forest is a fantastic achievement! You are absolutely right—while Mount Papandayan is often considered beginner-friendly, it still requires a good level of fitness, and it is always smart to keep the motorbike service in mind as a backup plan. I am so glad that the coordination from the Tegalluar high-speed train pick-up to the drive to Garut went smoothly for you all. It was an absolute pleasure assisting your group! We also really appreciate your honest feedback regarding the homestay feeling a bit tight for five people; we will definitely keep this in mind to improve our accommodation arrangements for future groups. Thank you again for choosing us for your adventure. We hope you brought back beautiful memories and would love to welcome you back to West Java anytime! Warm regards, Rangga






























