Masokut Island

Credit: booked.net

Masokut is one of the islands in Mentawai that attracts many local and foreign tourists. Besides enjoying the beauty of the beach, playing on the waves is their favorite activity. This island, which is adjacent to Siberut, also provides several accommodations and surf camps.

Siberut Island

Credit: mentawaisurfretreat.co

Siberut is the largest island in Mentawai. It covers 4,030 square kilometers and is home to the indigenous Mentawai Tribe. Not only the culture, but the exotic waves that roll up to 3 meters are also a magnet to attract extreme sports enthusiasts. Pananggelat and Mainuk are the two main spots hunted by surfers on this island.

Sipora Island

Credit: kelananusantara.com

Another surfing spot in Mentawai Island is Sipora. it is known as Surfing Island because it has several world-class surf spots. There are at least seven best spots called the Hollow Trees, Lance’s Left, Telecopes, Mancaronies, Iceland and Scarcrows. The beauty of these waves makes Sipora Island a frequent location for international surf championships.

Sikakap Island

Credit: surfindonesia.com

Sikakap, the other side of the Mentawai Islands, is already famous as an international surfing area. One of the most famous and favorite one is the North Pagai. Apart from being a spot for surfing, some tourists who have fishing hobby also come to this place to catch fish.

Do you have a surfing hobby or love to watch this kind of sport? Usually in August, there is always a surfing event held in the Mentawai Islands. Make a note of it on your agenda. Or contact Authentic-Indonesia Travel Operator team to arrange some best adventure activities in Indonesia.

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The charm of the Harau Valley makes it one of the most beautiful valleys in Indonesia. Entering the Harau Valley area, tourists will be presented with a stretch of rice fields and green trees flanked by high cliffs. In the morning, the Harau Valley is surrounded by fog, adding to its appeal. Plus, there are seven charming waterfalls that complement the charm of the Harau Valley.

Every tourist who visits the Harau Valley will definitely be hypnotized by its beauty.

The Harau Valley is a fertile valley located in Harau District, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra Province. Located about 138 km from Padang and about 47 km from Bukittinggi or about 18 km from the City of Payakumbuh and 2 km from the center of government of Lima Puluh Kota Regency. This place is surrounded by colorful steep granite stones with a height of 100 to 500 meters.

Public transportation is ready to take visitors through Bukittinggi. Renting a minivan or motorbike will ensure that your visiting time in the Minangkabau highlands is more precise and this is one of the most beautiful valleys in Indonesia. Harau is believed to have originated from the word ‘parau’, a local term which means hoarseness.

Credit: chaptersunday.com

In the past, the residents who lived on Jambu Hill often faced floods and landslides which caused uproar and panic. The inhabitants often scream hysterically and eventually make hoarse voices. With the characteristic voice of the people who hear hoarse, the area is called ‘orau’ and then changed its name to ‘Arau’ until finally the mention is more often to ‘harau’.

Traveling 44 kilometers to Pekanbaru and Riau, you will stop at the Harau Valley with steep granite cliffs as high as 80-300 meters. Steep rock cliff fence and straight upright reddish color surrounding the valley is so captivating for you to see and perfect in photo recording.

The Harau Valley has a tropical climate and fertile land, as well as the beauty of a charming natural landscape. The Harau Valley is nicknamed the Yosemite Valley of Indonesia because it has a beauty like the Yosemite National Park which is located in the Sierra Nevada of California which has been famous throughout the world.

In the Harau Valley, there is a waterfall called Bunta Waterfall or locally called Sarasah Bunta. This waterfall flows fresh water from the highlands with three other waterfalls in this valley.

Sarasah Bunta Waterfall was first opened on August 14, 1926 by the resident assistant of Lima Puluh Kota (City), F. Rinner with Tuanku Laras Datuk Kuning Nan Hitam and the assistant Demang Datuk Kodoh Nan Hitam. This marker inscription indicates the beauty of the waterfall Sarasah Bunta.

The Harau Valley is actually a nature reserve covering an area of 669 hectares. The results of a survey by a geological team from Germany in 1980 found that the rock types found in this area were identical to those found on the seabed in the form of breccia and conglomerate rocks. The legend of the people of Sarasah Aka Baraya also tells that around the Harau Valley Nature Reserve there used to be a sea.

The Harau Valley consists of three areas, which are the Aka Barayu Resort, the Resort Sarasah Bunta, and the Resort Rimbo Piobang. Aka Barayu Resort has a beautiful waterfall and swimming pool plus a beautiful natural atmosphere. In addition, it also has the potential for the development of rock climbing because it has steep rocky hills and is able to reflect sound (echo). Here, there are also lodging facilities such as homestay complete with amenities. This is where rock climbing enthusiasts like to find their paradise.

The steep walls are not only an attraction for photographers but rock climbers are also interested in climbing the walls in this valley where there are 300 rock climbing locations. On the other hand, the steep rocky cliff fence has created a beautiful and challenging relief, especially for those of you who like rock climbing.

The steepness of the cliffs in this place reaches 90 degrees with a height of 150 to 200 meters. Climbers dubbed this valley the Yosemite of Indonesia.

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Apart from being a conservation area, Kerinci Seblat National Park also offers attractive natural tourist destinations, such as the Lake Kerinci, Tapan Hill, Mount Kerinci and Lake Gunung Tujuh.

The climatic conditions of Kerinci Seblat National Park is vary according to topography, but in general this area is classified into Type A (wet) according to the Schmidt and Ferguson climatic classifications.

The Kerinci Seblat National Park area has a topography in the form of a steep valley that divides the Barisan Mountains into two parallel parts. As a series of hills and mountains, Kerinci Seblat National Park has a very steep slope, about 70% of its total area, with an altitude between 200 to 3,805 meters above sea level.

Credit: Media Indonesia

There are several mountains in the Kerinci Seblat National Park, which are:

– Mount Kerinci (3,805 m above sea level)
– Gunung Tujuh (2,604 m above sea level)
– Mount Seblat (2,383 m above sea level)
– Gunung Raya (2,543 m above sea level)
– Mount Nilo (2,400 m above sea level)
– Mount Masurai (2,600 m above sea level)
– Mount Sumbing (2,500 m above sea level)

The Kerinci Seblat National Park area together with Gunung Leuser National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park are included in the World Heritage Site list established by UNESCO in 2004.

Credit: Wisata Kita

Kerinci Seblat National Park is a tropical rainforest with various types of vegetation ranging from lowland forest to mountain forest.

The biodiversity of flora in Kerinci Seblat National Park reaches 4000 species of plants with the majority distribution is around 60% in lowland forests. The dominant flora are the Dipterocarpaceae, Leguminosae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae as well as the Bombacaceae.

Other flora include 300 types of orchids, various types of bamboo, cinnamon, rattan and edelweiss (Anaphalis sp.). In addition, there are also lotus flower Rafflesia arnoldii and Rafflesia hasseltii, as well as Amorphophallus titanium carcass flowers.

Credit: Wild Sumatra

Kerinci Seblat National Park is also home to Sumatran tigers. Moreover, in this area there are a number of other endemic animals such as the Sumatran rhino, tapirs, Sumatran elephants, forest goats, Sumatran rabbits, Sumatran pygmy kuau and kerinci celepuk (kerinci owl) as well.

Although the richness of biodiversity in the Kerinci Seblat National Park area is very high, the threat to this area is also quite high. In one of the “Sumatran Tiger Project” activities, monitoring of animals and plants is carried out outside and inside the national park area. From the results, it turns out that the threat of hunting using snares or with an air rifle, encroachment and illegal logging is still numerous and often found in this area.

Meanwhile, Other fauna wealth possessed by Kerinci Seblat National Park are 139 species of birds with nine types of hornbills, 150 species of mammals and 30 species of them are large mammals, six types of primates, six types of amphibians and ten types of reptiles.

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The waterfall slips between the hills which has also beautiful scenery. Geographically, part of the Lahat area is also part of the Bukit Barisan (Barisan Hills). No wonder waterfall attractions become the dominating natural tourism here.

There is one waterfall you should not miss while enjoying the beauty of Sumatra. In fact, many travelers come from outside the cities just to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of this waterfall.

The name of this waterfall is Buluh Waterfall. It is located in Lubuk Selo Village, Gumay Ulu District, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra Province. In the local language, the waterfall is also called “Curup”. Buluh itself in the local language means bamboo. Often the local society calls the waterfall as Curup Buluh. This waterfall is called Buluh because there are bamboo trees on the rocks. It is composed of 7 levels of stone steps with a height of up to 40 meters.

However, to reach this waterfall requires quite an effort because of its location in a remote area. Behind the long duration of travel with tiring terrains, there is a beautiful natural scenery that will spoil the eyes.

Credit: DodoNulis

The road to Curup Buluh is indeed a little extreme and steepy. The road is winding and there are ravines on either side of the road. Visitors will pass a lot of steep inclines and descents. There are also sharp bends track to pass.  On the way, visitors can also see the neatness of the hills that line up known as the Bukit Barisan (Barisan Hills). Between the Barisan Hills, there is a mountain with a height of 3159 meters above sea level which also extends this hill line, namely Mount Dempo, located in Pagar Alam City.

Not only natural scenery, during the journey to Curup Buluh there are also some beautiful local-made selfie spots that are quite up-to-date and instagramable. Visitors usually stop briefly at these spots to take pictures and capture the moment with the background of the Barisan Hill.

Arriving at the vehicle park, visitors can not immediately enjoy the freshness of the waterfall. It takes extra energy to be able to descend hundreds of steps leading to the waterfall location. After 10-15 minutes walking down, visitors can immediately feel the sensation of the fantastic Buluh Waterfall.

Credit: Srivijaya

Usually, visitors will immediately take a shower, swim or take pictures around the waterfall area. Some even climb the rocky rocks to several levels and feel the granules of the water fall on their head. Really fresh!

The water that comes down from Curup Buluh is very refreshing and the place is not too crowded either. You can only hear the sound of a waterfall and also the sound of the river across from Curup Buluh without the hustle and bustle of vehicles and others. This place is perfect for urban residents who want to avoid the noise of the city. For visitors who bring children, don’t worry, because this curup is safe for children because the bottom of this waterfall is not too deep, which is only 1 meter.

The facilities around this pretty waterfall are quite complete and you can easily find public toilets, prayer rooms, canteens, seating place and rooms to change clothes. After enjoying the beauty of Curup Buluh, don’t forget that you will face another challenge, which is climbing hundreds of stairs which will certainly be quite fatiguing. But don’t worry, for those of you who are lazy to climb the stairs, there are motorcycle taxis ready to take you to the top. The rates are quite affordable.

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You will be amazed by the charm of Sipiso-piso Waterfall, when you are in Tongging Village, the place where this waterfall is located. Before you see the waterfall up close, pay a visit at the viewing post located at the top of the hill. You will see the beautiful scenery of Tanah Karo. From this viewing post, you can also enjoy the beauty of Samosir Island, an island in the middle of Lake Toba.

Credit: Pinterest

After feeling satisfied enjoying the beautiful natural scenery from the top of the hill, you can continue the journey along the ridge to mingle with the beauty of Sipiso-piso Waterfall. However, you don’t need to worry about tracing the ridge, because a path in the form of a ladder has been provided for tourists to walk safely. The trip takes about one hour to reach the bottom of this waterfall. During the trip, don’t forget to capture the beautiful moment by taking pictures with the background of Lake Toba.

Arriving at the base of Sipiso-piso waterfall, direct your gaze to the hills that surround the waterfall. With the combination of lush green pine trees and the roaring sound of the waterfall, it makes your mood and mind feel peaceful and serene. Don’t forget to bring some food to enjoy after getting tired of playing water at Sipiso-piso Waterfall.

Sipiso-piso name has its own meaning. The name of this waterfall comes from the word piso (pisau) which means blade. This name was given because of the heavy flow of water that falls from the hill is resembling a sharp blade.

Credit: Nisura

Sipiso-piso Waterfall is situated in Tongging Village, Karo Regency, North Sumatra Province. Its location approximately 24 km from Kabanjahe City. If you use public transportation from Medan, North Sumatra. You can take a bus with the route heading to Kabanjahe City, which takes about 2 hours. Then, after arriving at Kabanjahe, the journey continues by bus to Lake Toba. The trip takes about 30 minutes with a distance of about 24 km.

Some of the facilities at Sipiso-piso Waterfall are quite adequate, such as the availability of parking lots and food stalls. For lodging, you can find them around Tongging Village and Kabanjahe Village. To buy souvenirs for relatives or friends, you can buy them at a souvenir shop in this tourist spot. If you still have time, you can also go to visit the Two Colors Waterfall which is located not too far from Sipiso-piso Waterfall.

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Ecotourism Tangkahan stand in Mount Leuser National Park, which is located in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. Various kinds of trees that grow and tropical forest vegetation combined with hilly land making Tangkahan Ecotourism not only a tourist spot but also a place to learn about nature, mortal, flora and fauna. Tangkahan has added the nature beauty of Sumatra and it is getting more and more popular.

Previously, Tangkahan is known as a paradise for illegal loggers who logged the Tangkahan forest wealth systematically, relied on arrogance of power and violence. The involvement of many parties who did not want to obey the regulations and did not want to think about the negative impacts in the future, has made the illegal logging of Tangkahan forest assets run smoothly and over a long period of time.

Credit: WeAreSumatra

Luckily in the early 2000s, a group of local idealistic young people, slowly but surely struggled with all the obstacles and challenges from the people who were still complacent about illegal logging, have succeeded in changing the mindset and behavior of the Tangkahan people to concern more on Tangkahan conservation.

The Tangkahan forest is generally very dense where there are rivers, waterfalls, hot springs, valleys and even rare plants like Raflessia, are also in this place. It is no wonder that foreign tourists had started to look at Tangkahan as The Hidden Paradise of North Sumatra and as a favorite tourist destination. If you are not satisfied with just enjoying the natural scenery of Tangkahan, there are many activities you can do such as rafting on the Alas River, visiting the Sumatran orangutan rehabilitation site which was first carried out by WWF and the Frankfurt Zoological Society 1973 in Bukit Lawang.

Tangkahan which has the longest list of bird species in the world, reaching 380 species and 129 species of mammals, provides an opportunity for visitors to observe various biodiversity and fauna found inside the Tangkahan forest. Hill topography with cliffs is suitable for those who like rock climbing, mountain climbing and camping as well.

One unique activity that is rarely found in other tourist area around Indonesia is the opportunity to bathe the elephants. After a tired day, you can try to relax your body by taking a hot shower or bathing in a waterfall. Almost all tourist activities are available here. Those are some tourists attraction that can be carried out while vacationing at Tangkahan. You just need to choose which one suits you best, want to do soft trekking or an adventure tour.

Credit: SumatraEcoTravel

It is not difficult to reach the Tangkahan location because there are many public transportation such as buses or private vehicles that are ready to take you to your destination. To go to Tangkahan from other provinces in Indonesia, you can go through the Kuala Namu Airport (Deli Serang) – Medan – Tangkahan. Tangkahan area can be reached for 4 to 5 hours by road trip with a distance of approximately 95 km from Medan City. The road condition is relatively good and only around 20 kilometres you will pass bumpy road.

In Tangkahan, there are usually tour guides who are ready to take you to various places you want to visit. For visitors who intend to stay for a few days, there are various lodging places such as Bamboo River Lodge, Green Lodge, Jungle Lodge, and Tangkahan Inn.

Credit: Medium

If you want to go to the ecotourism area, you must first pass through the Batang Serangan River which has a fairly swift current. There are some raft for crossing over the river . Try to stay vigilant when you get on the raft, but don’t be afraid. Enjoy the adventure sensation of being on a raft while cruising the rushing river.

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Kulukubuk is a beautiful waterfall located in the village of Madobag which is located in the forest about three kilometers from the Modabag settlement. Kulukubuk has its own charm in the rural area of Siberut Island. This waterfall is located in the Kulukubuk Backwoods, Madobag Village, South Siberut District, Mentawai Islands Regency, West Sumatra Province. This waterfall is one of the tourist destinations both for foreigners and locals.

Kulukubuk Waterfall in Siberut Mentawai consists of two levels with a height reaching 70 meters and is very suitable as a refreshing natural bath. Fresh air with cold water and shallow waters supports the beauty of water that glides swiftly. To access the area, visitors must take a path filled with mud and pass two small rivers that flow from the waterfall. Kulukubuk Waterfall Tour is an attractive program if you have plan for holiday in Mentawai Island, West Sumatra.

Credit: Smithsonianmag

There are two paths that can be used to reach the location of the waterfall, which are by land and the waters. Using the land route, tourists can come on foot as far as 20 kilometres from the district center. Tourists can also ride a motorbike or a car which is rented from the district center, but before reaching the exact waterfall location tourists still must continue the journey on foot because the road to be passed is still not adequate yet.

Meanwhile, for the waterway, tourists can rent “pompong” (similar to speedboat-type) and can also ride with Madobag residents who want to return to their villages. Pompong rentals can be found in Bipak area, where Madobag villagers taking a rest when they come to the sub district center (Muara Siberut).

Pompong – Credit: Flickr

This beautiful waterfall is always full of visitors because besides being managed as a tourist spot, this place also becomes a barrier spot between Madobag Hamlet and Rogdong Hamlet so that anyone who passes around the waterfall always takes time to stop by even for just taking pictures, washing face or washing feet. Formerly this place was never managed as a tourist spot because it is said that this place is a bit haunted and also the water is very cold so that no one wants to stop by or take a bath there, but now the situation is different and well preserved for tourism purpose.

For tourists who come from far distance, a halfway house can be rented per room for overnight. Usually tourists who visit the location of the waterfall stay in this halfway house 2-3 days to enjoy the beauty of Siberut’s rural. In this halfway house no food is provided unless the tourists have made the reservation well in advance, but the tourists can buy food at the local food stalls before reaching to Kulukubuk Waterfall in Siberut.

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Besides having the Toba Lake, North Sumatra has also other natural tourist destinations that are very interesting to visit. For you that have a plan to travel to North Sumatra, Bukit Lawang is one of the destinations that have to be visited. Let’s review more about Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra.

Bukit Lawang Location

Credit: PariwisataSumut

Bukit Lawang is located in North Sumatra, precisely in Bahorok Village, Langkat District. If you traveled from Medan City, the location has a distance of about 80 kilometers and can be reached in about 2-3 hours drive. The atmosphere is cool because the location is inside the Gunung Leuser National Park area. For you that want to have cool and refreshing atmosphere, this place is perfect.

The Allure of Bukit Lawang

Credit: PariwisataSumut

For your information, Bukit Lawang is also a protected orangutan conservation site of the Sumatran Orangutan species which has the Latin name, Pongo Abelli. The Pongo Abelli is the most threatened orangutan species among the two species of orangutans in Indonesia. Compared to their ‘siblings’ in Borneo, Sumatran Orangutans have differences in physical as well as behavioral. The species, which is currently only found in the northern and central provinces of Sumatra, is losing its natural habitat quickly due to forest clearing for plantations, settlements and illegal logging.

As a place for the orangutan conservation, Bukit Lawang has a very cool and beautiful location. The panorama around is surrounded by forests, rivers and also the “barisan” mountains which are unfolded along the island of Sumatra. Because of its location which is arguably very beautiful, many tourists visit here. Not only from Indonesia, there are also many foreign tourists.

When you enter Bukit Lawang, you will also see tourists chatting with local residents, which is a common things to see in this area. Coupled with many restaurants that serve local menus, you will feel “like home” in this one tourist destination.

What You Can Do in Bukit Lawang

For those of you that like outdoor activities, Bukit Lawang in Langkat, North Sumatra can be a suitable place to fulfill your adventurous desires. Here, many choices of challenging activities are guaranteed will test your adrenaline. The following is the review.

1. Trekking

Credit: JungleSumatra

Trekking is a mandatory activity you must do when visiting Bukit Lawang. The reason is that Bukit Lawang has relatively hilly land contour. So, your trekking will be fun and full of challenges. Also, soil conditions in this region also tend to be wet and muddy like soil types in tropical rain forest areas. Guaranteed your Bukit Lawang adventure through the forest will be exciting. If you’re lucky, you can also see the blooming corpse flower (Amorphophallus Titanum).

2. Seeing Animals

Credit: BukitLawang

Like the common national park, Bukit Lawang is also a habitat for a variety of wild animals. When you are exhausted trekking through the forest, don’t be surprised if you see lots of animals. For example, the endangered animal Orangutans, Sumatran Tigers and even Sumatran Rhinos.

In addition, you can also see the original form of the Sun Bear which apparently likes to eat fruit, not honey. To be safe, you must keep a distance from the wild animals. Because in principle, if they do not feel disturbed, they will be calm and even tend to be indifferent to our presence.

3. Feeding The Orangutan

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Well, if you see orangutans hanging freely in the trees, you can also be closer to them. Every 08.30 and 15.00, the guards will provide the orangutan foods at the feeding station. You can join to feed them but please follow the rules if you want to meet an orangutan in Bukit Lawang.

4. Tubing

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Tubing is the adrenaline-boosting activity you can not miss while visiting Bukit Lawang. To be able to feel the swift flow of the Bahorok River using tires (tubing), you only need to pay around IDR75,000 to IDR100,000. The price is all according to agreement and depends on bidding skills.

Before crossing the river, you have to do trekking through the jungle first and then throw yourself into the river. Do not be confused, if you are not given a life jacket after sit on the tubing tires, because in fact the excitement of tubing in Bukit Lawang is precisely there. You will feel insecure but at the same time your adrenaline rise rapidly.

5. Caving

Credit: Mko-Photography

Inside the Bukit Lawang area there is a cave containing thousands of bats so it is named Gua Kelelawar (Bat Cave). The distance between the Bat Cave and Bukit Lawang entrance is around 15-minutes walk.

You can see the phenomenon of the cave ceiling that looks hairy, but actually it is a horde of bats that are sleeping. Besides bats, you can also see the beauty of the cave interior which is made up with a very large stalagmite ornament.

6. Waterfall Bathing

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In Bukit Lawang, there is a waterfall that you can reach without the trouble of hard trekking first. The waterfall is quite beautiful and the atmosphere is cool. The current is also quite calm so you can swim freely here.

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However, you can also leer to the tourism potential in western part of Indonesia, such as the Sumatra Islands and beyond. Sumatra has also tourist attractions that are no less beautiful than those destinations in eastern part of Indonesia.

Nature tourism is one of the mainstays of Sumatra. For example the marine tourism, mountains and huge lakes. You can explore Sumatra either by hiking, trekking, or water sports.

To get the most of Sumatra tourist attractions, here are our recommended top 5 leading tourism destinations in Sumatra for your reference.

1. Toba Lake, North Sumatra

Credit: PanduanWisata

North Sumatra is a province on the northern part of Sumatra Island which has many unique and interesting tourist attractions to visit. Some tourist attractions in North Sumatra are widely known to foreign countries such as Lake Toba with its beautiful natural panorama and Bukit Lawang with its unique Sumatran Orangutan.

Medan city itself, as a gateway to various tourist destinations on the island of Sumatra, has a number of interesting tourist attractions to visit such as the Maimun Palace with the Great Mosque and the King’s Pool, Tjong A Fie’s Mansion and historical buildings from the Dutch colonial era.

As One of the Leading Tourist Destinations on Sumatra Island, Lake Toba has enchanting natural wonders which stretches along 100 kilometers with a width of 30 kilometers at an altitude of 900 meters above the Bukit Barisan Mountains. Surrounded by green forest makes Lake Toba very cool and refreshing.

Toba Lake which covering 1,145 square kilometers with a depth of 450 meters is the Largest Volcanic Lake in the World. The lake formed by the eruption of Mount Toba supervolcano which occurred around 74,000 years ago has become the North Sumatra Tourism Icon and is an interesting and challenging tourist destination to visit.

Also in the middle of Lake Toba there is an island called the Samosir Island. On this island there are also many interesting tourist attractions to visit such as stone tombs that are around 500 years old and villages with traditional houses and the unique and ancient Batak Toba culture.

2. Batam, Riau Islands

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Batam, Riau Islands is also one of the Leading Tourism Destinations on Sumatra Island launched by the Government of Indonesia. The city of Batam once held a year of tourist visits entitled Visit Batam 2010 – Experience it. Batam is also supported by international standard hotel and resort facilities as well as various tourism activities arranged specially for tourists.

Batam city government guarantees the comfort and satisfaction of domestic and foreign tourists when visiting Batam City.

3. Belitung, Bangka Belitung Province

Credit: Detik

The next leading tourist destination in Sumatra you can visit is the Belitung Islands in Bangka Belitung Province. Belitung as an archipelago has many excellent tourist attractions to visit, especially its unique and beautiful beaches, historical attractions and traditional Belitung events.

Belitung is a beautiful island that has a unique view with a clean white sandy beach and decorated by artistic granite stones. Crystal clear sea water surrounded by hundreds of small islands adding the beauty of Belitung. One of the best beaches in Belitung is Tanjung Kelayang Beach, Tanjung Tinggi Beach and Lengkuas Beach.

Aside from having stunning maritime tourism spots, Belitung also has a Mentas Stone at the foot of Mount Tajam. This place has tremendous potential as an integrated tourist destination. The beauty of nature, both the clear river and the dense forest as well as the unique flora and fauna, all you can enjoy while visiting Belitung.

Belitung is also home of a number of endangered animals such as Tragulus, Otus Siaoensis and Tupai Klaras. Exploring the uniqueness of traditional arts and culture and the expertise of the local people in making woven and rattan handicrafts will complete your activities in Belitung.

4. Padang, West Sumatra

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Padang is the largest city in west coast of Sumatra Island as well as the capital of West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This city is the gateway of Indonesian tourism in the western part of Indonesia from the Indian Ocean.

The city of Padang has a museum located in the city center called the Adityawarman Museum which has an architectural style in the form of Minangkabau Traditional House (Rumah Gadang). While in the Muara Port area, many Dutch colonial heritage buildings were found, some of which were designated as cultural reserves such as the Muhammadan Mosque which was founded in 1843 and the Kwan In Temple which was founded in 1861.

Then in Teluk Bayur Harbor area there are also several leading tourist areas such as Air Manis Beach, Caroline Beach and Bungus Beach as well as an international class tourist resort located on Sikuai Island. While in the middle of Koto District, you will find Pasir Jambak Beach and the Lubuk Minturun Nature Tourism Area which is popular with Balimau Tradition.

Padang is also famous for its cuisine. Here you can enjoy the delicacy of Gulai, Rendang, Pop Chicken, Balado Eggplant, Kapau Rice and Sate Padang.

5. Palembang, South Sumatra

Credit: Cosmopolitan

Palembang as the Capital of the Province of South Sumatra is one of the Leading Tourist Destinations on the Island of Sumatra that you must visit. The city that lies in the foothills of the majestic Mount Bukit Barisan has an attractive tourist destination to visit for its natural, historical or cultural tourism.

South Sumatra has attractions in the form of mountains with diverse flora and fauna such as the Kerinci Seblat National Park. In the city of Palembang you can go around visiting the Musi River, Ampera Bridge, Kemaro Island, Lake Ranau and also Pagaralam City to witness a variety of unique and interesting traditions and cultures.

Meanwhile natural attractions that you can visit include Lake Ranau which is located in Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, Musi Rawas and Musi Banyuasin. Meanwhile waterfalls attractions available in Muara Enim and Lahat Regencies.

Cultural tours include Bukit Serelo, Mount Dempo, Limas and Kubu Houses. Historical tours include the Sriwijaya Site in the form of ancient stones, ancient statues and museums in Palembang, the Funeral Complex on Bukit Siguntang as well as the Benteng Kuto Besak.

Besides having many interesting tourist attractions, Palembang is also supported by international standard lodging facilities such as hotels, villas, restaurants and other tourist support facilities.

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But actually this volcanic island is a large island, covering an area of ​​630 square kilometers and inhabited by around 96 thousands people, which majority of them come from Batak tribes.

There are various ways to get to Samosir Island. The first is from Tigaraja Port, which serves the route to Tuktuk Siadong and Tomok.

Second through the Ajibata Port which serves the route to Tomok. The ferry that serves this route is large, because it also transports motorized vehicles. The duration of the trip by ferry is around 30 minutes one way.

For those who want to drive from Medan, can go through Kabanjahe – Dairi – Pangururan – Tomok (Samosir Island). Later, tourist cars will pass through Pangururan Bridge. Samosir Island is indeed connected with the mainland.

Arriving at Samosir Island, tourists can choose to go around all day or stay overnight. The hotel choices are varied and most of them have a direct view to Lake Toba and Samosir Island.

The volcanic island in the middle of Lake Toba, North Sumatra has a special attraction for visitors who want to explore the beauty of natural tourism in the Toba Lake region or get to know more closely the Batak culture in North Sumatra.

Have a vacation plan to Samosir? Let’s take a peek at the following most recommended tourist attractions in Samosir Island.

1. Tomok Village

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Located at the gate of Samosir Island, Tomok Village is a traditional village with stiff Batak traditions and culture.

If you come to this village, tourists will be welcomed with traditional houses view complete with Sigale-gale dolls. Sometimes local residents will also do Tor-tor Dance for welcoming the guests.

There is also the Batak Museum and the cemetery of kings for those who want to understand Batak culture deeper.

2. Pangururan Hot Springs

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Tired after exploring the Samosir Island? Hot water baths can be a reliever.

Located on the slopes of Mount Pusuk Buhit, this hot spring has an unspoiled source. While bathing visitors can view the hills around it.

There are several pools available for visitors to use. The temperature of the water has also been adjusted to human body because the original temperature of the water is quite hot.

3. Lumban Suhi Suhi Village

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If you want to find a typical Batak Ulos Cloth, then Lumban Suhi Suhi Village is the place. Already known as the Ulos producing village, most of the women here are craftsmen.

In this village, tourists can see how to make Ulos Cloth from the first stage. For your information, it is not easy to make a single sheet of cloth. It takes 1-4 weeks to produce it, depending on difficulty level.

4. Batu Hoda Beach

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Having white sand, Batu Hoda Beach is one of the beaches on Samosir Island.

This beach turned out to have a lot of stories. It is said that in the past there was a mare stranded on this island and faithfully waited for her stallion until she finally turned into a stone.

5. Binanga Bolon Waterfall

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Binanga Bolon Waterfall is located in a residential area, but to reach the waterfall area, visitors must pass rough terrain.

Once there, tourists can take pictures or to swim around the waterfall area. But still maintain safety, because the current is quite heavy.

6. Pandang Tele Tower

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The Pandang Tele Tower is the next Samosir tourist attraction located in Lumban Pinggol. This tower offers stunning view of the Samosir landscape from a height. Pandang Tele is also popular as one of the best spot to take instagramable pictures.

7. Sidihoni Lake

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Located in the middle of Lake Toba, who would have thought on Samosir Island there is also another lake. Nicknamed as a lake inside a lake, Lake Sidihoni is one of attractive tourist destinations on Samosir Island.

The phenomenon of the lake inside the lake itself is not much in the world so it is a pity to miss when you visit Samosir.

8. Aek Sipitu Dai

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Located in Aek Sipitu Dai Village, visitors can come to a natural spring that produces water with seven different flavors. The origin of the spring itself is very close to the myth and legend of the local community.

That said, in the past Ompung Langgat Limbong, which is the second generation of the Limbong Clan, was looking for water sources. After he prayed, he stuck his staff seven times to the ground. But his efforts were not successful.

After praying once more, the seven holes he made by sticking his stick began to release water and become a source of water that still exists today.

9. Beta Hill

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Beta Hill is another tourist attraction on Samosir Island located in Tuk-Tuk Siadong. Tuk Tuk itself has been famous as one of the centers of tourism on Samosir Island because of its natural view.

This small hill become favorite photo spots for photography enthusiasts including for pre-wedding photo shoot. Beta Hill offers amazing views ranging from beautiful landscapes, paddy fields and other hills.

10. Holbung Hill

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Located in Janji Marhatan Village, Samosir Island, Holbung Hill is one of the best spots to enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Toba from a height. From this beautiful hill, visitors can see the activities of fishermen fishing in Toba waters or the exotic landscape of Samosir and its surroundings.

When entering the rainy season, Holbung Hill will be filled with refreshing green grass so no wonder that this tourist spot is also nicknamed as the “Teletubbies Hill” of Samosir Island.

Samosir Island is indeed one of the very unique and attractive tourist destinations in North Sumatra. If you have time while vacationing in Indonesia, Samosir Island must be included in your traveling destination.

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