Island near Sumatra. Sumatra in Indonesia: interesting places and useful information. Entertainment and attractions of Sumatra
Map of the island of Sumatra.
Sumatra is the fifth largest island in the world in the northeast of the Indian Ocean as part of the Greater Sunda Islands, which are part of the Malay Archipelago. The island lies south of the Eurasian peninsula of Malacca and is separated from it by the Malacca Strait. The origin of the name of the island is rooted in antiquity, when in the language of the tribes that inhabited Indochina, the word "sumatai" meant "behind the water."
The island of Sumatra is washed by the waters of many straits of the basin of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, separating it from many neighboring islands and rocks. In the north of the island, its coast is washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea, which passes into the Strait of Malacca, connecting it with the South China Sea of the Pacific Ocean. The straits of this sea, Berhala and Banka, separate the island of Sumatra from the islands of Pinga and Banka, respectively. The southeastern coast of the island is washed by the waters of the Java Sea, which, through the Sunda Strait, which separates Sumatra and the island, connects to the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. A fairly large number of islands and island groups are located off the southwestern coast of the island: Mentawai, Batu, Nias and Simepue, separated by the Mentawai, Mekua and Samagu straits.
Administratively, the island of Sumatra is divided into several provinces and is an integral part of the territory of the state of Indonesia.
West coast of Sumatra.
Story.
Experts say that the first people appeared on the island of Sumatra around the second millennium BC. A lot of evidence of this is currently being found during excavations on the territory of the island. At the same time, archaeologists distinguish at least three cultures, whose representatives replaced each other in different time periods.
In the period of the II-V centuries AD, the first states of the region began to form on the island of Sumatra, among the most famous and significant powers of that period, it is worth noting the kingdom of Srivijaya with its capital in the modern city of Palembang. The kingdom of Srivijaya constantly waged wars of conquest and was able to subjugate the islands of Java and, as well as the Malay Peninsula and part of the territory of the current state of Thailand.
At the beginning of the 10th century AD, the island of Sumatra began to be mentioned in ancient writings, and in the writings of the 11th century, the name "Isle of Gold" was assigned to it, since gold mines began to operate here.
In the XIII century. the kingdom of Srivijaya was weakened by internecine strife, which led to its fragmentation. Against the general background of the collapsed kingdom, the principality of Pasai began to stand out, which at the end of the 14th century became one of the most powerful on the island of Sumatra and beyond.
A typical river village in the eastern part of the island of Sumatra.
In 1291, the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo visited the island of Sumatra, who rather colorfully described it in his writings.
Starting from the end of the 13th century, the island of Sumatra became part of the Majapahit empire, which lasted until the middle of the 16th century. In the period 1496-1904, the Aceh Sultanate, which is considered a follower of the collapsed Majapahit empire, was on the island.
At the end of the 16th century, Dutch missionaries and merchants began to arrive in Sumatra, who began to establish their settlements on the coast. By the end of the 17th century, Sumatra completely fell under the rule of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, like most of the islands of Indonesia.
World War I bypasses Sumatra, as the Netherlands was officially a neutral state. But during the Second World War, Sumatra fell under the occupation of Japanese troops.
After the capitulation of Japan, the Netherlands decided not to fight for the restoration of its power over Indonesia, and in 1945 the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed, which territorially includes the island of Sumatra.
Sunset on the east coast of Sumatra.
Origin and geography of the island.
The island of Sumatra is quite large in area, so it is customary to consider its geographical coordinates according to its geographical center: 0 ° 23′44 ″ S. sh. 101°46′38″ E d.
The island of Sumatra, according to its origin, experts refer to the mainland islands, which are formed as a result of the movement of the continents. The island of Sumatra is believed to have formed about 6 million years ago, like most of the islands of the archipelago of which it belongs.
Sumatra is considered the surface part of the mountain range separating the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, which stretches from Burma (Rakhine Range) through and continues with the Pusat Gano Mountains, the Batak Plateau and the Barisan Range already in Sumatra itself. The mountain range of the island stretches from north to south along the west coast. The highest point of the island is the Kerinci volcano, reaching a height of 3800 meters above sea level.
A small Sumatran village on the shores of Lake Toba.
If the western part of Sumatra is mountainous, then its eastern part is low-lying and replete with many swamps and small streams.
It is worth noting that in the northeastern part of Sumatra there is one of the largest volcanic lakes in the world - Toba, formed in the crater of a volcano that erupted about 70,000 years ago.
The coastline of the island passes in such a way that it forms a large number of small bays and bays, convenient for mooring ships. The coast of the island, almost throughout its length, is represented by beaches with dark volcanic sand, and in some places even low sand dunes. In the coastal waters of the island, especially off the east coast, there are short coral reefs.
The island of Sumatra has rich deposits of minerals - oil, iron, coal, gold, nickel and tin.
View of Kerinci volcano.
Climate.
The position of the island of Sumatra on the equator forms the climate in these places accordingly. The climate here, by its type, is equatorial, sufficiently humid and hot. There are no significant seasonal temperature changes here. The air temperature throughout the year on average ranges from + 25 to +27 ° C. From December to March, the island is dominated by winds from the northeast, and from July to September - southwest. On the east coast of the island, about 1000 millimeters of precipitation falls in the form of tropical showers per year. In the western regions, this figure is higher, here it is about 4000 millimeters, and in the mountainous regions it reaches 6000.
View of the valley in the intermountain of the Barisan ridge.
Population.
Currently, the population of Sumatra is approximately 50.6 million people, which makes the island the fourth largest in the world in terms of population. By ethnic composition, the majority are Indonesians (divided into several ethnic groups of Javanese, Madurese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, and so on), among other representatives of peoples and ethnic groups, it is worth noting the Chinese, Thais, Indians, Vietnamese and Laotians. The official language of Indonesia, including on the island of Sumatra, is the Indonesian (Malay) language, which belongs to the Austronesian language family.
The local population is employed in agriculture, mining, textile and processing industries.
The largest and most populous settlement of the island and the center of the province of the same name is the city of Medan, inhabited by more than two million inhabitants. Among the large and densely populated cities of the island are Padang, Palembang, Belawan, Pematangsiantar and Pekambaru.
Administratively, the island is divided into 10 provinces, the largest of which are North and South Sumatra, Aceh and Lampung.
The monetary unit in circulation on the territory of the island of Sumatra, as well as actually throughout Indonesia, is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR, code 360), which the Indonesians colloquially call perak. 1 Indonesian rupiah is officially divided into 100 sen.
Great Mosque in the city of Medan.
Flora and fauna.
More than 30% of the territory of Sumatra, mainly in the eastern part of the island, is covered by equatorial rainforests. Palms, ficuses, giant bamboos, creepers and tree ferns predominate in them on the eastern plains of the island and in the foothills of the ridges. In mountain forests at altitudes of more than 1500 meters, laurel trees and evergreen oaks grow in large numbers, here you can also find maples, chestnuts and some species of coniferous trees. In the mountains, intermountain areas and on the plateau, to a greater extent, you can find shrubs, herbaceous plants and alang-alang, which is an emdemic for these places.
The fauna of Sumatra is diverse. Only 196 species of mammals live here. A large number of reptiles (more than 250 species), more than 270 species of tropical river fish and over 450 species of birds. Emdemic for these places are 9 species of mammals, 19 species of birds and about 30 species of river fish.
The most prominent representatives of the Sumatran animal world are the Indian elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros (emdemik), buffalo, Sumatran tiger (emdemik), black-backed tapir, orangutan, gibbon, Malayan bear, pig-tailed macaque, siamang, striped pig, woolly wing, leopard and island civet (emdemik ). Of the reptiles, it is worth highlighting the Sumatran boa constrictor (emdemik), the “flying dragon” and the gharial crocodile.
Lake Toba.
Tourism.
Local authorities have only recently begun to pay attention to the development of tourism on the island of Sumatra. The climate and natural conditions here are such that they create extraordinary prospects for the operation of tourist facilities for various purposes.
On the coast of Sumatra, only minor areas do not have sandy beaches. In areas where rivers do not flow into the seas, the beaches are washed by the purest sea waters, especially the Indian Ocean. The sand on the beaches has a dark brownish color due to its volcanic origin. In those parts of the coast where coral reefs are located, fabulous conditions for diving and snorkeling are created. In the bays and bays protected from strong winds, you can recently meet a large number of windsurfers.
Tourists - lovers of wildlife, local tour operators organize eco-tours to the equatorial rainforest, where you can enjoy the view of pristine wildlife.
Fans of sights and ancient monuments will be presented with architectural structures of the Middle Ages: the Great Mosque and the first city railway on the island in the city of Medan.
It is worth noting that about 80,000 people visited the island of Sumatra with a tourist mission in 2012, which surpassed similar indicators of previously recognized leaders in the tourism business in different parts of the world.
Coast and beach of Sumatra island.
Sumatra is one of the largest Indonesian islands, famous for the ruins of ancient temples, palaces, long coastline, virgin nature. The Barisan mountains stretch along the western coast of the island, the highest point of which is the peak of Kerinchi - a height of 3.8 km. In this part of Indonesia, tectonic layers regularly collide, causing devastating earthquakes. The eastern part of Sumatra is dominated by flat areas. Where is ?
The island is a territory stretched for 1.8 thousand km; in width reaches 435 km. Curiously, the island is located in two hemispheres, and is divided into two equal parts by the equator.
History of Sumatra
At the beginning of the 17th century, the Dutch colonialists fought with the Aceh Sultanate in Sumatra, which traded spices. The natives established trade relations with the British, which put the Dutch East India Company in a difficult position. As a result, the two European maritime powers fought for dominance in Sumatra for a long time, while the authority of the Aceh Sultanate only strengthened.
At the end of the 19th century, the Krakatoa volcano buried the island in the deep ocean, thus ending the wars and eradicating the Aceh civilization. Japan occupied Sumatra in the 20th century, and after the end of World War II, the island became part of Indonesia.
Things to Do in Sumatra
The Paradise Mosque with characteristic black domes is the main symbol of Sumatra. The following architectural and natural attractions are also noteworthy:
- the 1888 Maimun Palace (the current residence of the royals);
- a military museum containing military exhibits from various eras;
- Lake Tobo (the world's largest lake in the crater of a volcano);
- Lake Samosir, which is popular among lovers of secluded recreation.
Thermal springs can be found on Mount Belirang, and the performance of the traditional Toba Batak dance can be seen in Simanido. At Ambarita, natives display stone thrones that only an elder can sit on.
During the holidays, everyone seeks a change of scenery. And where to do it, if not in Southeast Asia? Of course, the first thing tourists flock to is India, Thailand, the islands of Bali and Java. But there are no less interesting places in those parts. This article will focus on Sumatra - one of the largest islands on Earth.
Location and climate of Sumatra
It ranks sixth in size among the largest islands in the world.. It is located in the Indian Ocean and belongs to the group of Indonesian islands. To the south lies the island of Java, which is separated from Sumatra by the narrow Sunda Strait. To the east is the huge island of Kalimantan, and in the north through the Gulf of Malacca begins the elongated peninsula of the same name. Malaysia and Singapore huddle on it.
Sumatra has a very interesting location relative to the entire globe. It lies in two hemispheres at once - northern and southern, and the equator line divides it almost in half. The climate here is appropriate - in Sumatra it is very hot and humid. And it's hard to forget that the Indonesian islands lie in a seismic zone. Just a few years ago, a terrible tsunami caused serious damage to island nations and claimed many lives.
Since Sumatra is located in the equatorial climate zone, the climate here is not very diverse. From December to March, the island is slightly cooler, northeasterly winds blow. From April to November they change direction to the southwest, it gets hotter. But the heat is easier to endure, due to the reduction of humidity. Most precipitation falls from September to December. The driest months are January and March. The humidity also varies by region. The driest area is located in the eastern part of the island, towards the west coast the humidity increases. And most of the precipitation falls in the mountainous regions.
Attractions of the island of Sumatra
There are not too many cultural and historical attractions in Sumatra, as well as large cities. However, some of them are still worth visiting. The city of Medan is not much different from other cities of the Indonesian islands. However, this is a fairly large settlement with its own flavor and history. Here you will see a combination of dilapidated buildings and beautiful palaces, colonial and Indian architecture.
One of the most beautiful sights of the city is the Masjid Raya Mosque.. This beautiful white building is made in the Moroccan style. It is known for its black domes, graceful galleries with many arches and intricate Islamic designs. In the evening, the mosque looks just magical. Sunset paints the snow-white walls in all sorts of shades - from bright orange to pale lilac. And the black domes stand out against the background of the setting sun. The Masjid Raya Mosque is considered a symbol of the culture and religion of Medan. It was built in the 19th century, but is revered by the locals as a real antiquity.
Another attraction of Medan is Istana Maimun, which means "Sultan's Palace". This building is like a small copy of the city - a huge building, made in a slightly chaotic colorful style. The palace is surrounded by a spacious green lawn, reminiscent of English meadows. However, the rows of palm trees do not let the imagination run wild and bring us back to reality. In the middle of the lawn stands a structure based on the Italian Rococo style. Here you can see the already familiar black domes and air arches with complex ornaments. But the color scheme is completely different than that of the Raya mosque. Cheerful ocher-orange color is found everywhere in the decoration of the palace. Many arches, terraces, gazebos and turrets merge into a single intricate composition. This is Istana Maimun - another symbol of the island of Sumatra, just as colorful, chaotic and exotic.
These are the brightest sights of the city of Medan. Here you can also see the Protestant Church of the Savior Emmanuel, the Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Chinese Temple Vihara Gunung Timur. You can get a closer look at the history and culture of Medan at the Bukit Kubu Museum.
Nature of the island of Sumatra
How poor Sumatra is in cultural and historical sights, so rich is its nature. If you stopped by this island during an excursion, do not waste time on mosques and museums, the analogues of which you will find on any other island.
Head straight to the dormant supervolcano Toba. This is a legendary place that at one time played a role in the fate of the entire planet. Researchers report that the Toba volcano erupted about 70,000 years ago. It was so strong that the ash enveloped the entire planet, weakening the penetration of sunlight and provoking an ice age. At this time, the diversity of flora and fauna dropped sharply, many species simply died out.
Changes have affected every continent. Some scientists believe that until that time the population of the Earth numbered millions of people, after the eruption they remained from 3 to 10 thousand. Now this place is considered the most picturesque on the island. A beautiful lake has formed in the crater of the volcano, where tourists from all over the world flock. On the way to Lake Toba, it is worth stopping at the Sipiso Piso waterfall. The view of the waterfall is truly spectacular. A stream of water rushes through the upper plateau, with a roar overcomes a distance of 120 meters and falls into the bay. You can go down a winding concrete ladder to the foot of the waterfall. But it is worth considering that the return rise under the scorching sun is not an easy task. In the middle of Lake Toba rises the island of Samosir. An island within an island is an amazing phenomenon in itself. But even more interesting is the local population. Bataks live at their unhurried pace. It seems like nothing has changed here for centuries. Adults work in the fields and gardens, feed livestock, mend nets and smoke fish right under the scorching sun. Dark-skinned children run wherever they please. For tourists, whole performances with traditional songs and dances are held here. Photographers like Samosir the most. Here you can take unique shots, soaked in the sun and local color.
In the northern part of Sumatra there is a huge park Gunung Luser. It is the largest national park in all of Southeast Asia. Thousands of various birds and monkeys live in thickets of tropical forests - macaques, gibbons, orangutans and many others. If you are lucky, you can see leopards, Sumatran tigers, rhinos or elephants. Fans of extreme types of recreation can make a ten-day ascent to Mount Lucer or Loser or kayaking along the Whampoo River.
If you like everything unusual, visit the Querinsi-Seblat park. In the middle of the dense jungle is the formidable volcano Kerisi. To climb to its muzzle, you will have to spend at least two days. But the conductor can be found right among the local population. Also, for a small fee, you can be taken to places where exotic plants grow. Rafflesia is the largest flower on the planet. And here the tallest flowers grow - Amorphophallus. To admire the size and exotic colors of these flowers is only one thing - their terrible smell, which they spread for meters around.
These places are just a small part of the beauties of the island of Sumatra, which are worth exploring. Here you can relax in silence, and go fishing by the lake, and make a whole trip to the wild and untouched corners of the island.
Sumatra… One of my favorite islands in Indonesia, if not the most! Sumatra is huge, diverse and unique. Now, if they asked me: “Where do you want to stay to live, start a family, children, a house?”. Then my answer would be "Sumatra!". Yes, Sumatra is a mother. Here you lie, sometimes, in hot springs in the open air ... To your right is the Sibayak volcano, and to your left - the jungle, from where you can hear the songs of the siamangs and you understand how good it is to live and feel every moment with every cell of the body. Or you sit on the beach of a desert island in the Banyac archipelago and think: “Is there anyone else on this planet besides me? Or maybe I don’t exist either ... there is only a boundless sea, sand, palm trees, waves ... ”. Sumatra is my personal paradise, but it can be yours…
Sumatra is divided into 10 provinces, I have been to half of them
Provinces of Sumatra
Aceh
The northernmost province of Sumatra, famous for its supposedly radical Muslims. Yes, Islam is strict here, but, of course, not as much as in Arab countries. Indonesia remains Indonesia in Aceh. I have been here a few times when I traveled around Sumatra on a motorbike. I really liked Aceh for its nature preserved in almost its original form, mountains, many kilometers of beaches on the west coast, wild people in remote villages. There are practically no tourists here, only foreigners regularly visit Veh Island. Meanwhile, there is something to see and I still plan to come back here. I visited the city of Takengon located at an altitude of 1100 meters at sea level and Lake Laut Tawar, the capital of the province of Banda Aceh, the village of Ketambe, from where you can go trekking through the Gunung Leser National Park, the uninhabited islands of the Banyak archipelago, where is a real tropical paradise!
Bengkulu
Bengkulu is a quiet and isolated province that stretches along the west coast in the southern half of Sumatra. It has the lowest population density on the island of Sumatra, but few forests have survived, only in the mountains of the Barisan range. In the lowlands, everything is cut down for oil palm plantations. In the cities of the province of Bengkulu, there are a lot of buildings specialized for growing nests of swift salangans without windows and doors. But the locals do not know how to cook bird nests: everything goes straight to China. The capital of the province of Bengkulu, the city of the same name is very pleasant, clean and quiet, somewhat similar to provincial Thai cities, only without dogs and temples 🙂 I lived here for several days while extending my visa. There are practically no tourists. Although there is something to see and do in the province, the cat wept for information in Runet. The most famous mountain in the province is Kaba volcano. Very easy to climb: it takes less than 1 hour to walk along a short path to the crater. The crater itself, or rather the craters are very beautiful and active: they soar, smoke, there are mud geysers, large fumaroles, colored lakes, like changing color on Kelimutu.
.North Sumatra
North Sumatra is the most touristic region on the island, but only due to the largest caldera lake in the world, Toba, and the village of Bukit Lawang, where you can watch orangutans. I have been here many times and in many places, so I have a lot of material on Sumatra Utara. In addition to the above two points, I highly recommend stopping by the city of Berastagi, located at an altitude of 1400 meters next to two active volcanoes: Sinabung and Sibayak. The latter is very easy to climb, if you drive up to it by car or motorbike as close as possible, go to the crater for only half an hour, or even less. Also in the vicinity of Berastagi there is a unique two-color waterfall, with cold blue water, next to it there is an ordinary waterfall with warm water. The main point of arrival in North Sumatra is Kuala Namu Airport, which opened in the summer of 2013. This is the second largest airport in Indonesia, very pleasant. The transport system in North Sumatra entangles the entire province, getting somewhere is not a problem, but the buses are old, sometimes quite. I have prepared several local guides for North Sumatra:
West Sumatra
West Sumatra is my favorite province on the island! I love the city of Bukittinggi located in the mountains on the equator. For me, duck there is the most ideal climate for life! Warm, but not cold and not hot, humid, but not flooding or overdrying, high (900 meters), but not really. I have been here many times and alone with friends and with clients ... I do not get tired of coming back here and I hope to come back again more than once. As well as in the province of Aceh in West Sumatra, the primary equatorial forest has been preserved. In general, the trekking opportunities for nature lovers are endless here: the Marapi, Singgalang, Thalang, Talamau volcanoes ... And there are so many lakes: Maninjau, Danau Bawah, Danau Atas. I did not like the capital of the Padang region, but there are good islands near it, where it is convenient to swim from the Rimba Ecolodge guest house.
.Jambi
Jambi is a vast province in the southern half of Sumatra. I've only been here once, when I climbed Indonesia's highest volcano, Kerinci. Its height is 3805 meters. The ascent takes 2 days and is surprisingly easy for such a high mountain. During my ascent in July 2013, the weather was bad, everything was overcast and I could hardly see anything from the top. In addition to the volcano, the Danau Gunung Tujuh crater lake at an altitude of 2000 meters is interesting in the region, where I was also. Actually these two mountains are next to each other. Near these mountains, elite varieties of tea are grown, which are exported directly to Holland and England. I didn’t manage to visit the factories: everything is serious there, the entrance is by passes and machine gunners are everywhere. I don’t know what kind of tea this should be, if it is so severely guarded. There are several large cities in the province, including the capital Jambi, but I have not been there and apparently they are not of particular interest.
.Lampung
Lampung is the closest province to Java in Sumatra and as a result has a large Javanese population. The local cities are more like Java. But in the province, the wilderness is still there. I have been here several times, exploring geothermal anomalies in the Suoh Valley for almost a week, climbing the Krakatoa volcano twice, seeing the Sumatran rhinoceros in the Wai Kambas National Park. There are many potential tourist sites in Lampung province, but there are very few foreign tourists due to lack of information. I really liked the island of Sebesi, from where the cheapest option is to sail to the volcano Krakatau. Mostly Javanese live on Sebesi, and if you want to look at a real seaside Javanese village, you are here. Traditional crafts, fishing and boundless attention and smiles of the locals await you there.
.South Sumatra
A huge province with its capital in the two-million city of Palembang. I have so far been only in the city of Pagaralam and its environs.
.Realizing how little information there is about the sixth largest island on the planet, I have already written dozens of detailed articles on this island and continue to please with something new every year. Below I have sorted the available articles into thematic categories for ease of search. This page is regularly updated with new material.
Sumatra is perhaps the most dangerous and most beautiful island in Indonesia. Traveling in Sumatra is a worthy challenge for any self-respecting adventurer. On one side of the scale - absolutely gorgeous nature, incredible cultural experience, low prices and lack of many tourists, on the other - constant natural disasters: volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, floods and tsunamis.
Among the main treasures are the picturesque Lake Toba, national parks that are home to rare species of orangutans, magnificent crater lakes, original villages and the beautiful coral reefs of Weh Island.
Sumatra is a large island, in terms of area - the 6th in the world. Geographically, Sumatra stretches from the north of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands south to the island of Java, the northeast coast is adjacent to Malaysia and is washed by the Strait of Malacca, the west coast is washed by the Indian Ocean.
North Sumatra is the most popular region of the island among travelers, it is here that the main attractions of the island are located - Lake Toba and Bukit Lawang.
Plan to spend at least a week in Sumatra.
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is the most popular and easily accessible region of the island. Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully here. The main airport of the region is located in the city of Medan, the largest city of Sumatra and the capital of the Northern region, from which almost all travel around the island begins.
Medan
Medan - This large, densely populated city, located on the northeast coast of the island, is the starting point for most travel in Sumatra. Usually travelers try not to linger in Medang, but for those who want to experience the atmosphere of urban non-tourist Sumatra, Medang is a great place.
A popular way to explore the city's sights is to rent a besak (motorbike with a passenger cabin). It should be noted that Medang is famous for its special local cuisine, the dishes of which can be tasted in the restaurants of the city.
How to get there: by plane to Medan (Medan, KNO) from Kuala Lumpur and Pedang (Malaysia), Bangkok and Hai Yai (Thailand), Singapore and Hong Kong, from the island of Java (Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya), as well as from Banda Aceh and Weh Islands in Sumatra.
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is the largest crater lake in the world and a favorite destination for backpackers in Sumatra. Samosir Island, located in the center of Lake Toba, is actually the goal of those who come to Toba. Here, a lot of modern guest houses coexist with the traditional houses of the local Batak people.
In addition to incredible landscapes and local attractions, the Toba region is also famous for its pleasant, relaxed and very lazy atmosphere, seasoned with a slight internal jitters from the fact that you are in the center of an extinct but extinct volcano.
Most of the local guest houses are located right at the water's edge. The format of recreation on the lake is long walks, motorbike rides, fishing with locals, or just a hammock book.
How to get there: by bus from Medan (4-6 hours) to the city of Parapat, located on the banks of the Toba, from there by boat to the island of Samosir; on tourist minivans from Berastagi and Bukit Lawang.
The largest crater lake in the world is Lake Toba. Photo credit: Claudio Schlossmacher, Flickr
Samosir Island, Sumatra. Photo credit: Marc Veraart, Flickr
Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang is a small village located next to Gunung Leuser National Park. From the 70s of the last century until recently, Bukit Lawang operated an orangutan rehabilitation center, thanks to which the small village has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sumatra. At the time of writing, the Bukit Lawang Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is closed (check for up-to-date information when planning your trip), but 1-2 day hiking tours to the national park are actively offered in the village.
Trekking through the jungle in search of orangutans is the main goal of travelers in Bukit Lawang. Trekking is offered in different formats - from easy walks through the jungle to more complex programs.
How to get there: by bus from Medan, by tourist minivans from Lake Toba and Berastagi
Bukit Lawang village. Photo credit: Nick Jensen, Flickr
Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, Bukit Lawang. Photo credit: Flip Flop Crusaders, Flickr
Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, Bukit Lawang. Photo credit: N/A, Flickr
Berastagi
Berastagi is a small, very pretty town located in the mountains, not far from Lake Toba. The city itself, except for the fruit and vegetable market, which sells local delicacies, is deprived of special attractions. But, there is a pleasant colorful atmosphere, interesting cultural traditions of the small Karo people living in the region, and incredibly picturesque surroundings.
Trekking to the Sinabung and Sibayak volcanoes and to the Sipiso-Piso and Sikulikap waterfalls, as well as visiting the local traditional villages, is why it is worth making a stop in Berastagi.
How to get there: by bus from Medan, by tourist minivans from Lake Toba and Bukit Lawang
Nias Island
This small island, located just over 100 km off the southern coast of North Sumatra, is well off the traditional hiking trails. Lagundri Bay on Nias Island is one of the "secret places" for adventurous surfers. From housing there are a couple of surf camps and homestays, from activities - surfing, walking around the island, swimming with big turtles and delicious food.
How to get there: by plane (Nias, GNS) from Medan and Padang.
Beach on the island of Nias. Photo credit: DocBudie, Flickr
Pulau Weh Island - This tiny island in the far north of Sumatra, which is "zero kilometer", is included in the list of the best dive destinations in the world. White sand, emerald water and magnificent coral reefs attract more and more travelers who are looking for an alternative to the popular islands of Thailand and Malaysia. The format of housing on the island is from ascetic bamboo bungalows to nice hotels.
How to get there: by plane to Sabang from Medang; by regular ferry (1.5-2 hours) or by high-speed ferry (about 45 minutes) from Banda Aceh.
Weh Island
Pulau Weh Island, Sumatra. Photo credit: Romaric Juniet, Flickr
West Sumatra
West Sumatra borders North Sumatra, and if you have time, it is definitely worth the attention of travelers.
Padang
Padang - once a great Danish port, today - the largest city and capital of West Sumatra. Like Medan, Padang most often serves as a transit point for travel, but avoiding at least one night in Padang is quite difficult. The best way to make the most of your time is culinary adventures, the local food is famous for its spiciness and the use of unusual ingredients. In Chinatown, in the very center of the old city, you can find good guest houses and a lot of very tasty and very spicy food.
How to get there: by plane to Padang (Padang, PDG) from Kuala Lumpur, from the island of Java (Jakarta and Bandung), as well as from Medang and Nias Island.
Showcase with traditional dishes, Padang. Photo credit: stratman² (2 many pix and busy), Flickr
Bookittings
Bukittinggi is a rather large city, picturesquely spread out on the hills, which will please both nature lovers and seekers of interesting places. Even without leaving the city, you can see the traditional houses of the Minangkabau people, admire the incredible views of the Ngarai Sianok canyon from the park areas and spend time with benefit in local cafes and souvenir shops.
Renting a motorbike, you can go to the flourishing Harau Valley, Lake Maninzhau and visit the traditional Minangkabau villages.
How to get there: by bus from Padang (3 hours), Lake Maninzhau (2 hours), Toba Island (about 15 hours).
Bukittinggi, Sumatra. Photo credit: alice emilie, Flickr
Canon Ngarai Sianok. Photo credit: hanif (mhanif), Flickr
Lake Maninzhau
Lake Maninjau cannot boast of the same popularity as the legendary Lake Toba, travelers very rarely stop here. But, the places here are magical and absolutely relaxing. Having settled in one of the guest houses on the lake, you can spend a day or two doing nothing surrounded by beautiful nature. Of the available "entertainment" - long walks in the vicinity and paragliding over the lake.
How to get there: by motorbike or local bus from Bukittinggi
Lake Maninjau, Sumatra. Photo credit: mark.rutgers, Flickr
Mentawai Islands
The Mentawai Islands are several small islands located 100 km off the west coast of Sumatra. There are some great but dangerous surf spots here, so most of the island's visitors are experienced and adventurous surfers. From housing here surf camps and surf resorts.
How to get there: by regular ferry (about 8 hours) or by high-speed ferry (about 3 hours) from Padang.
Surfing on the Mentawai Islands, Sumatra. Photo credit: Cynthia, Flickr
A tribe on Siberut Island, one of the largest Mentawai Islands. Photo credit: DocBudie, Flickr
