Your travel guide to Sumatra, lying at the furthest west of Indonesia. Disclosure:  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Of all the places in Indonesia, Sumatra gives you the feeling that few tourists make it here. Suggested Read: 15 Best Things to do in Aceh Province. Meaning other than an intrepid few, you’re unlikely to bump into many other tourists. A manageable 2-3 hour climb will lead you to the summit, where a smouldering sulphur lake lay dormant. View Contents. Unfortunately, this area is most commonly known for a devastating Tsunami that took place in 2004; however, often overlooked is the beautiful nature and raw culture. 10 hours. 1 Trek Through the Jungles of Bukit Lawang. Sumatra has a hot and humid tropical climate, with average temperatures sitting at 27-28°C throughout the year. This article by North Abroad sums up the island perfectly. Select from premium Insel Sumatra of the highest quality. 19. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Medan -> Berastagi -> Parapat -> Lake Toba -> Medan -> Bukit Lawang -> Pulau Weh -> Banda Aceh. Traditional and charming, it was a great introduction to Sumatran culture. This city lies … in Java oder Lombok ist. If you use our affiliates, you are awesome, and we thank you! These cookies do not store any personal information. As well as its beautiful and peaceful nature, it’s not uncommon to encounter furry residents of the national park roaming around. Expect 120km of unspoilt beaches, a unique and vibrant culture, as well as epic surfing opportunities. Lake Toba – most popular travel destination in Sumatra, this is the largest volcanic lake in the world with resorts dotted around it. Here, you can climb to the summit of a volcano or encounter one of the tallest waterfalls in Asia. In addition to the pristine scenery and serenity, we really enjoyed learning about the mysterious traditions of the local Batak Culture. Furthermore, if you are doing a jungle trek they will store your luggage for you. Duration: 5-6hrs. The best time to visit Sumatra is in the dry season (May to September). Natürlich gibt es auch Wege die Insel auf eigene Faust und günstig zu bereisen. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. That’s a good of a reason as any for a quick stopover, don’t you think? The majority of religion here is Muslims with others like Christian, Buddhist and Hindu. You will find a couple of establishments in the Tuk Tuk area have safe places to swim, including the German Bakery (who also serve some pretty nice cakes too)! Besides Borneo, Sumatra is the only place in the world to see orangutans in the wild. Diving will be around $60-$100 depending on where and if the day has 1 or 2 dives. Diving Pulau Weh (Island) 3.1 What Not to Miss: 4 Surf Your Heart Out in Pulau Banyak. Berastagi is a small rural town, and one certainly not quite catered for tourists yet. Suggestions? Don’t worry, we have got you covered. As well as critically endangered orangutans, the region is habitat to an abundance of unique wildlife and plant species. This 4-hour trek in the UNESCO-listed Gunung Leuser National Park will take you into the heart of the jungle, for an encounter with not only Orangutans, but macaques, gibbons and Sumatran peacocks. Other than the National Park, there is little else to do in Bukit Lawang. 3. Top 10 Things to Do in Banda Aceh. Like in the rest of Indonesia, Sumatra has a lot of Padang food. The regions where we work are especially far off the beaten path, where few other travelers dare to venture. LOCAL BUS – The local bus is your cheapest option to travel to Bukit Lawang. Bus Tours. Busy, polluted and dirty – most backpackers tend to fly into the city and get a bus straight out! Sumatra has so much to offer for travellers – deep rainforests, animals like orangutans, elephants or tigers, refreshing rivers and lakes, volcanoes and sandy beaches. Furthermore, some islands boast sweeping rainforest where you can go trekking. Despite being the top attraction, you don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy the Mentawai Islands. Sounds terrible right? 2.1 Must Not Miss: 3 Explore the Town of Berastagi. Trekking in Sumatra can cost around $60-$100. While we have covered most places in the North, you may wish to consider the Aceh province as an addition to your backpacking Sumatra itinerary. In addition, we will advise what to expect when travelling this undeveloped island in Indonesia. As a guideline, we paid 230,000 IDR/pax, including the cost of the ferry. Listed below are a few of our tips on the best things to see in Sumatra. And we can continue bringing you free travel tips and advice. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hier ihre Tipps für Sumatra mit Kind! The seasons can be … The journey time is approximately 3hrs. How hair raising the experience is, will depend on the time of the year. This area of Sumatra is most commonly known for its world-class surf;  however, you don’t need to be a pro surfer to enjoy what’s around. The beautiful Mentawai Islands are a small archipelago that sits off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Gateway to the world heritage Gunung Leuser National Park, most visitors come here for one thing only… A chance of spotting orangutans in the wild. The 2014 tsunami hit North Sumatra especially hard. One of the largest Indonesian islands, Sumatra is famous for a number of things. Hii, I'll be travelling to West Sumatera for 9 days in a couple of weeks and am looking for some advice on where to go and stay. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In fact, the people of Sumatra are a diverse group of races and cultural groups. It’s recommended to avoid travelling during that time. At a height of 120m, Sipiso Piso is one of the tallest waterfalls in Indonesia. This giant island situated on the Indian Ocean hides many lush jungles and brewing many active volcanoes while the major cities are chaotic and packed. *Tip – Be sure to check out the bat cave – Although, wear sensible shoes and take 20,000 RP for entrance & torch rental. If you have any questions or feel we have missed anything, please reach out to us in the comment section below. © 2020 Our Taste For Life Blog - All Rights Reserved. Temple entrances will be in the range of $5 on the higher end unless we’re talking about Borobudur which is around $25. I'm keen to… Known for its stunning scenery and cultural traditions, Bukittinggi seems like a worthwhile addition to your Sumatra itinerary. Many flies in here to get to other locations in the northern Sumatra. As well as museums and cultural sights, the surrounding islands boast pristine beaches with amazing marine life. Respect the local culture: Be courteous of the local culture and act in such a way that leaves a good impression. … OYO 559 3 Berastagi – This simple yet modern hotel is great value for money in the heart of Berastagi. In particular, those in the know, come here to take advantage of the world-class surf conditions. TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON SAMOSIR ISLAND IN LAKE TOBA, INDONESIA, MOUNT KELIMUTU VOLCANO IN FLORES, INDONESIA, ENCOUNTERING THE DEADLY KOMODO DRAGONS ON KOMODO ISLAND, INDONESIA, ECO-TRAVEL ESSENTIALS & RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL. There’s no doubt that these are fertile lands. And you’ll be like a local celebrity with everybody wanting a picture with you. While it’s breathtaking from above, we recommend braving the 1000 stair climb to experience the sheer force of its wrath. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If you have the time, it is worth spending some time meandering the village itself. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Do not leave any rubbish on the ground: You would think this would go without saying;  however, there are some questionable humans who think it’s ok to throw trash on the ground. West Sumatra is a little more challenging to travel than the North. $292.12. Batu Mandi Guesthouse – Although the rooms were very basic, the garden surroundings are beautiful and peaceful. Well off the beaten track off the coast of North Sumatra, Nias Island is a location for the adventurous travellers. | Few isles tempt the imagination with the lure of adventure quite like the wild land of Sumatra. *Before You Travel to Sumatra, have you got your travel insurance sorted? Backpacking North Sumatra is still a raw and authentic experience. The total journey time is 3 hours. Related Read: Sipiso Piso Waterfall in Sumatra. Once you exit the airport, turn right and look out for a company called ‘Nice-Trans’. Here is our suggested North Sumatra itinerary: Your Sumatra Itinerary will inevitably begin in the Northern city of Medan. Beware of the minority of locals who will give you incorrect information regarding bus timetables etc. Formed by a supervolcanic eruption 70,000 years ago, Lake Toba is an extraordinary natural wonder of the world. It is a gigantic island largely unexplored. Here are some things you can do to minimise your footprint: 1. From Bukit Lawang: A small minivan of max. Weh Island is a small volcanic Island located northwest region of Sumatra. Boasting volcanic lakes, sweeping rainforest, and prodigious waterfalls, backpacking Sumatra feels like one big adventure. Sipiso-Piso Waterfall. Explore Sumatra holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. 19.08.2018 - Erkunde Carolin Uhlmanns Pinnwand „Indonesien“ auf Pinterest. Many tourists visiting Indonesia are now considering North Sumatra as part of their itinerary. While in the wet season they are known to get pretty intense. In this Sumatra itinerary and travel guide, we will take you through all the highlights on this wildly diverse island. The Mentawai Islands have been described as the Bali of yester-years, with the archipelago boasting some of the best beaches in Indonesia. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The total journey time is 3 hours. per adult. Weitere Ideen zu indonesien urlaub, indonesien, bali reise. Sipiso-Piso Waterfall is one of the best tourist attractions in Sumatra Island. Yet, out of the 14 million foreign tourists visiting Indonesia each year, over half only visit Bali! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Most people come to Sumatra for the orangutans. Furthermore, traditional Batak houses are truly unique and beautiful. Organise with your hotel or local tour companies. This is a common method among some guides but can be very destructive to the orangutans’ well-being. It is the largest volcanic lake in the world measuring at 1,707 sq ft. This island has a whole lot to offer for those wanting to travel here. Eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are Sumatran headline-grabbers. That said, be sure to check with locals where it is safe before diving in. The best time to go to Sumatra You can see orangutans all year round in Sumatra, but it’s much easier if you skip the annual monsoon season. Specifically, the Batak culture has a compelling history, involving stories of public beheadings and cannibalism. It even rivals those found in the surfer’s paradise of Bali. Sumatra, the largest island wholly in Indonesia, embraces wildness to the point that the region is steeped in myths and legends. Here are the transport options available: PRIVATE CAR – Although this is the most expensive option at around 50 euro, you can have your hotel in Bukit Lawang organise a private car for you. Other than surfing and snorkelling, there’s not much else to do other than enjoy the pristine beaches. It’s hard to believe that there are only 2 places in the world where you can find wild orangutans. The wet season starts in September and progresses through to around February time. Top 10 Reasons to Travel to Sumatra When you travel to Sumatra, you’ll witness exquisite rainforests packed with fabulous animals, explore pristine beaches, coral reefs, surf breaks, and volcanoes, and be welcomed. This is a private organisation founded in 2008 to help support local children. 7 people, leaves daily from Bukit Lawang at 8.30am to Parapat. Bali, Nusa Tengarra, South and East Kalimantan are GMT+8, and Irian Jaya and Maluku are GMT+9/ Fires and Haze in Sumatra Although dry season is the best time to go to Sumatra weather-wise, it does carry potential risks.