48 Hours in Sumatra
First, I’d like to just say a big thank you to Ashley and Mike for allowing me to guest post. I often travel as a back-packer and stay in hostels. I love their Hostel Hopping features and I look forward to going to this one, as soon as I can.
If you’re looking for an island escape for your next vacation, look no further—Sumatra is a stunning place and is, in fact, the sixth-largest island in the world. It’s a place of spectacular natural beauty, home to lush and tumultuous jungles, quiet and pristine beaches, delicious and full-bodied coffee, and orangutans—which are currently only found in the wild in Sumatra or Borneo. It offers a wide range of activities, from trekking to sunbathing to elephant rides.
Medan
If you fly into Sumatra, you’ll likely fly into Medan, which has frequent flights from Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and others. Medan is the fourth-largest city in Indonesia and is located in the north of the island. It’s an ethnic melting pot, which is reflected in the many different types of food on offer—Batak grilled pork, Chinese noodles, Indian curries, and more. Medan may not be the most charming city in the world, but it offers a good base for exploring the sites of Sumatra, many of which are concentrated in the north of the island.
Besides the food, there are a few sights that you should see. Stop by Istana Maimoon, a late 19th-century palace with a lavish interior and daily traditional music performances. You may also be interested in Vihara Borobudur and Vihara Gunung Timur, a pair of Buddhist temples, and Mesjid Raya Mosque. Plus, there are many markets that sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices.
Bukit Lawang
Head about two hours to the west of Medan and you’ll find Bukit Lawang. This town is located right on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, but that’s not what it’s primarily known for—which is the Orangutan Sanctuary. The sanctuary was set up in the 1970s to help orangutans adjust before releasing them into the wild, teaching them to climb trees, build shelters, and more. There are twice-daily feedings which are likely your best chance to see orangutans in the jungle and outside of zoos.
From the Orangutan Sanctuary, head into Gunung Leuser National Park for a hike. This national park has an incredible amount of diversity in terms of vegetation and is home to plenty of exotic animals like tigers, elephants, and rhinoceros. Although you may not see all of these, you’re likely to see at least a few primates, such as the white-breasted Thomas leaf monkey. Keep your eyes peeled and you may spot an orangutan or two as well.
Gunung Sibayak
Indonesia is a volcanic archipelago, so a visit to Sumatra would not be complete without a visit to a volcano. Head down to the village of Berastagi, about an hour and a half from Medan, and wander out to Gunung Sibayak, which is billed as one of Indonesia’s most accessible volcanoes.
The hike should take about five or six hours round trip (without counting the time you spend at the summit), so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time. Know that if you don’t want to walk all the way up and back, you can turn off on your way down after about an hour and end up at Semangat Gunung, a village with some hot springs, where you can take a bus down to Berastagi.
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake with an island in the middle. It’s incredibly beautiful, but if you only have 48 hours in Sumatra, you’ll have to make some decisions about what to do—getting from Medan to Parapat, the town located nearest to the lake, takes from four to six hours, so if you choose to visit Lake Toba, you likely won’t have time for much else in Sumatra.
At the lake, you’ll have opportunities to swim in volcanically-warmed waters, take a boat out on the lake, hike and explore, and take some beautiful pictures. It’s a great place for a relaxing vacation, a way to get away from the often hectic pace of the rest of Sumatra.
Sumatra is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with great offers for trekkers, beach lovers, or wildlife enthusiasts. But you don’t have to take my word for it—check out Globe Trekker’s show about Indonesia, which is available on Netflix for free streaming. Note that if you’re streaming outside the US, you may need to install a VPN first. Netflix, and other popular entertainment sites, are often geo-restricted outside the US. A VPN will allow you to get around these blockades. Sumatra, with its mixture of various cultures which all come together to create a unique backdrop for your memories, should be high on your list of places to visit.
Hi, my name is Jess Signet. My parents were travelers since before I was born. Even in the womb, I was able to travel all over the place! Boy, did things NOT change as I grew older! Knowing there’s more to the world than the bubble I live in made me want to travel even further. Traveling is my drug and I’m addicted (please, no intervention!).
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