The park is within easy reach by road from Jakarta and Bandung, and the main entrance at Cibodas is situated about 120 km, or about 2.5 hours by car from Jakarta and 85 km or about 2 hours by car from Bandung.
It is also accessible from Cipanas and Pacet through Gunung Putri, just east of Cibodas; and from Sukabumi through Selabintana from the south at about 60 km or 1.5 hour by car from Bogor. Another entrance is at Situgunung, which can be reached through Cisaat, just west of Sukabumi. From these entrances (except from Situgunung) there are trails to the summits of Gunung Gede and Pangrango.

What to bring/Where to stay

Cool-weather clothing, rain coat, strong shoes for hiking, and camping equipments are recommended. Visitors have also to bring their own food, especiall for those who want to stay overnight in the park. Accomodation in the park is in simple guesthouses. The park also provides some camping grounds, including one at the Alun-alun Suryakencana, a flat area near the top of Gunung Gede. There are many hotels, villas and bungalows in the Puncak Pass-Cipanas area. This area is quite close to the Headquarters of the park.

Activities

Among the mountains in West Java, the twin volcanoes Gede-Pangrango are very famous for hiking and mountain climbing. There are 4 trails to go up to the summits of of the mountains; two trails are from Cibodas, one from Gunung Putri and another one from Selabintana, Sukabumi. Climbing the mountains and watching the sunrise from the top or the crater wall of Gunung Gede are the most exciting attractions for visitors.

Permit

A park entry permit is required for each visitor, and is available at the Park Headquarters, Cibodas.

You can enter the park by one of four gates :

Cibodas Gate (Cianjur) is the main entrance and the site of the park Headquarters. It is located about 100 km from Jakarta/2.5 hour drive; 89 km from Bandung/2 hour drive.

Gunung Putri Gate (Cianjur) is close to Cibodas and can be reached via Cipanas and Pacet.

Selabintana Gate (Sukabumi) is 60 km from Bogor/1.5 hour drive, and 90 km from Bandung/2 hour drive.

Situgunung Gate (Sukabumi) is 15 km from Selabintana in the direction of Bogor.

Except from Situgunung, Mount Gede and Pangrango summits may be reached on clearly marked trails.

HIKING RULES

1. All visitors must buy a ticket when entering the park. Recreational visit tickets can be obtained from ticket hatches at each of the four gates. In addition, mountain climbing permits are required:
   
• when living the main trail from Cibodas gate to Cibeureum Waterfall in order to climb to the hot water stream/Air panas;
• When turning off the trail to Cibeureum waterfall of Selabintana, Selabintana Gate;
• beyond Bobojong camping ground upon entering the National Park proper from Gunung Putri Gate.
2. Should you wish to climb the mountains you must obtain the permit either at the National Park Headquarters, Cibodas or at Selabintana Resort Office.

Register at the National Park Office :

Monday-Thursday 07.30 - 14.30
Friday 07.30 - 11.00
Saturday 07.30 - 13.30

You must submit:


• a photocopy of your valid I.D. Card or a parental permit (passport for foreign visitors)
• a travel statement from your local police (Indonesians)
• a health certificate from a physician (Indonesians)
3. A park guard will ispect your belongings and permit before you enter the park.
4. No domestic animals, including pets, are allowed in the park.
5. Do not bring weapons, such as knives, or hunting equipment into the park.
6. Radios and noisy appliances are not allowed in the park and special permission is required for the use of "walkie-talkies".
7. Do not light camp fires as there is a real risk of forest fire.
8. Do not interfere with, remove, vandalise or damage park property. This includes writing on stones or trees.
9. Do not pick flowers of pull up plants.
10. Hike only along main trails. Short cuts not only damage the forest but also are very dangerous.
11. Do not drop litter. Much time and effort has to be spent picking up bottles and other rubbish. Carry all your rubbish out of the park.
12. Do not pollute or foul rivers and when bathing do not use soap or other pollutants.
13. Report to the park guard when leaving the park and hand in your permit.
14. Alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the park.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
(for mountain climbers)

Unless climbers are properly equipped they can run into serious trouble.

1. Minimum hiking gear: warm clothes, sleeping bag if staying on the mountain overnight, waterproof clothing, flashlight and medical kit.
2. Carry enough food and drink (non-alcoholic).
3. Do not climb alone: there should be at least three people in your party and prefarably you should be guided by someone with a knowledge of the trail.

Glossary

Andesitic rocks Volcanic rocks, often high in silica, produced where one tectonic plate descends under another.
Basaltic lavas Often very runny lavas containing gases and formed from rock of the oceanic crust.
Breccia Rock made up of angular fragments set in a fine matrix.
Endemic A species is endemic to a region or country. Hence, if it is a "Javan endemic" it occurs on Java and nowhere else.
Epiphyte Plants growing on trees or other plants but not as parasites.
Ericaceous Plants of the family ERICACEAE, usually with bell-shaped flowers.
Igneous "Fire rocks". Rocks formed from hot molten magma.
Quaternary Most recent geological period covering roughly the last million years.
Pyroclastic "Fire-broken rocks" ejected from volcanoes as solid fragments including ash and pumice.
Lianas Woody climbers.