Rafting in Citarik River

Citarik River is situated next to the fabulous Gunung

Halimun National Park. There, you can find plenty of activities and few tour operators organize trekking, rafting, adventure four wheels drive, etc… and much more. Travel Agent ArusLiar also organize outdoor management training and paintball game.

Getting There

Again, to get out of Jakarta you will have to use the Highway to Ciawi (just after Bogor) with high risk of traffic during the week-end. Especially after working hours. If you get up early morning, you should be able to get to Arus Liar or BP Tours in around 2 hours.
From Ciawi, you will have to follow Sukabumi. But don’t go until then, you have to take the smaller road in your right around five hundreds meters before Cibadak. From here, count 24 to 25 km until you reach Citarik River. This is where the base camp is installed. At least for ArusLiar and BP tours operator.

With most tour operator, the pick up from and to Jakarta is include in the package or can be done for a small additional charge. Just check with the travel agent when you make the reservation, and not after you have paid. But before, so you will be in a strongest position to bargain.

If you own a car, you will definitely get there by yourself. It will give you much more flexibility. For sample, you could spend a night or two to Pelabuhan Ratu after your Rafting Trip. PR is only around fifteen minutes from the end of the rafting. And the tour operator can bring your car to PR for you. So, you save almost two hours of driving in the all process.

Accommodation

A lot Bungalows are situated along the river. From four to ten people rooms Arus Liar provide a really nice natural environment around the Cottage. The rooms are very simple, but so wonderfully mixed with the nature around there. Toilet and shower are outside and only cold water is available.

My first impression when I walk along the river to reach the cottage was “clean”. From the parking car to the room all the area is very well maintained and cleaned regularly. What a pleasure is to find such a place after more than two hours drive from Jakarta.
You can stay in the Nusa Traditional Cottage which is situated in the Middle of the River. How nice it is to feel asleep with the sound of the river as the only noise around.

Activities

There are really plenty of activities available around here. Arus Liar alone suggests at least fifteen different type of activity. The most popular being rafting of course. But many people come over only to admire the nature. If you are courageous, you can take a long trek trip through Halimun National Park. Where you will be taken to discover the panoramic views as well as discovery a hidden forest of our world, how the traditional rural life unchanged for thousand years.For the lazier, you can also Drive through Halimun National Park to Kasepuhan Banten Kidul with 4x4 vehicle.

They also propose paintball for around 120’000 Rp. per half hour. It is much better than what you get in Jakarta as you can play in a totally natural environment. They request a minimum of ten people. If you are more people, you can even try to negotiate for a better price.
The Main activity here is definitely Whitewater Rafting and for cause, the River offers many possibilities and many different Grades. From 4 km trip (around one and half hour) to 17 km (more than 4 hours) you will find the appropriate tour for yourself. The most coureagous will try the Night Rafting. Seems to be fun, but I would suggest to have at least try once the day Rafting before tempting this acrobatic activity.

Out of the exciting moment and fun you will inevitably get with any rafting trip; it’s also a very nice way to discover the nature from a different point of view.

Many others activities are available, such as outdoor management training, campfire or surf river as they call it.

In case you come with your children, they also provide exciting activities for them in the Kid-care section. For more information go to Arus Liar website.

Wild Life

As always Wild Life in Indonesia is diversified, and he’s not different in Citarik River. From the Rafting Trip, you will be able to see many giant Lizards on the side of the river or even swimming close to the boat. Some of these specimens are really impressed.
The Gunung Halimun National Park offers much more birds variety than any other places in java. I hope I will have time to get there once and bring some nice pictures of birds.

Food

The food is including in the package. It is simple Indonesian food. In the food way. Actually, it is excellent and healthy food. Clean and tasty. You get Chicken Barbecue with lalapan (raw vegetables) with some Tahu (Tofu) and Tempe (hard to explain, but quiet nice. I should check the receipt).

In the morning you can always cook an Instant Mie (prepared boiled Noodle) by yourself or try their Nasi Uduk. Nasi Uduk is an Indonesian specialty which rice cooked in Safran flavour and accompanied with some Fried Tofu, Raw Vegetable and fried chicken. It is really delicious.
At the end of the trip, you will get a lunch in Pelabuhan Ratu in the hotel ….. The food is just OK. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant out of the package.

You can check the section about Pelabuhan Ratu for more information’s.