Sumatra Region
Large Indonesian island with rainforests and active volcanoes
Dense rainforest, Lake Toba, and orangutan habitat in Gunung Leuser attract wildlife and trekking travelers to Sumatra; coffee regions, active volcanoes and remote beaches add variety.
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=600)
Sumatra at a Glance#
78°F
Indonesia’s vast, wild western island - a land of steaming rainforest, volcano-ringed crater lakes and orangutan-filled jungle, stretching over 1,700km down the equator, far less touristed than Java or Bali.
Why go / don’t miss: the immense volcanic Lake Toba (the world’s largest crater lake), trekking to wild orangutans at Bukit Lawang, the Gunung Leuser rainforest, the volcanoes and surf, the Minangkabau highlands around Bukittinggi, and the Mentawai islands’ surf and tribes.
Areas: the north (Medan, Lake Toba, Bukit Lawang) for jungle and the lake; the west-central highlands (Bukittinggi, Padang) for Minang culture and canyons; and the islands (Nias, Mentawai) for world-class surf.
Getting around: flights link the main cities (Medan, Padang, Palembang); long bus and ferry journeys connect the rest - distances are huge, so allow time.
When to go: the drier May - Sep is best; the equatorial climate is hot and humid year-round.
Where to stay: around Lake Toba (Samosir Island) and Bukit Lawang for jungle-and-lake, or the surf islands.
Dining: fiery Padang cuisine (rendang was born here), plus Batak and Acehnese fare and superb coffee (Gayo, Mandheling).
Local tips: it’s wild and adventurous rather than polished - see the orangutans at Bukit Lawang, relax on Samosir Island in Lake Toba, and the west-coast islands have legendary surf.
