Destination: Sumatra --> North Sumatra

• Sightseeing, Culture & Heritage:

1. Medan

The city of Medan is the provincial capital of North Sumatra and is also the country's third largest city. Although it is not really a tourist destination, it is a convenient stepping stone to other places such as Lake Toba. However, because of it was home to traders and seafarers in the past and was also a colony of the Dutch, many buildings with historical value are left in the city, waiting to be explored. One example is the Maimoon Palace (Istana Maimun). Built in 1887 by the Sultan of Deli, this building has become a popular tourist destination not just because of its age, but also of its interior design, a mixture of Islam, Malay, Spanish, and Indian style. If you are dying to capture its beauty, make sure you ask for permission first.

Annai Velangkanni

Another proof of the city's multi-cultural past is the Annai Velangkanni, a Catholic Shrine with Indo-Mogul architecture. Since its inauguration in 2005, its has attracted many pilgrims from Indonesia and Malaysia. Resembling a towering temple, it consists of two floors with a community hall on the first floor and a room for praying on the second. Because of its convenient location, this majestic building will not be hard to find. 

You can get to Medan by ferry, bus or plane, although it is recommended to go by plane. There are direct flights from Jakarta and Hong Kong to Polonia International Airport in Medan. If you are coming from Malaysia, you can board ferries from Lumut in Malaysia and get off at Belawan port in Medan. Schedule changes so make sure you check first.

• Eco-tourism, Culture & Heritage:

1. Lake Toba

Parapat

Your worries and stresses will be swept away in an instance by the beauty and the calmness of this lake. With an altitude of 900 meters above sea level, the climate here is cooler than main cities in Sumatra, and the surrounding mountains and forests make this lake a favorite escapade destination. By the lake there is a town called Parapat and it is inhabited by the  The Batak Toba and Batak SImalungun people. You will feel very welcomed by their hospitality. This small town has a guesthouse  and a hotel for accommodation. You can also rent a speedboat or water scooter with a fairly cheap price.

 Ancient Batak Statues

In the middle of the lake there is the Samosir Island, a massive island said to be the home of Batak Toba people and this is where most tourist venture to. Peppered with ancient tombs and traditional villages, this is where you can explore and learn the unique and ancient Toba culture. There are many things you can do here. Discover mountains covered in cool mist, swim the clear waters below the waterfall or just enjoy a drink with the locals. Hospitality is everywhere, so making new friends will not be hard at all.  

You can to Parapat from Medan in 4 hours by car or by public bus in around 4 to 6 hours. If you want to continue your journey to Samosir Island, you can cross from Parapat by boat.

Samosir Island

    2. Berastagi

The town of Brastagi is located in the Karo highlands, about 70 kilometers from Medan. An altitude of 1300 meters makes the air here cool, refreshing enough to break free from the polluted, hot city. 

Brastagi is famous for its fruits and vegetables markets. Freshly harvested fruits and vegetabl;es are transported to the markets directly. Its famous product is probably marquisa, passion fruit and sweet orange. Besides that, you can see the locals doing business, a perfect way to get the traditional way of living.

Berastagi

Located behind the village are two active volcanoes, Mount Sibayak and Sinabung. You can either enjoy the scenery form below or hike the two mountains. There is also a hot spring in Mount Sibayak, where you can enjoy a dip in the geothermally-heated water.

• Eco-tourism:

1. Tangkahan

Tangkahan

If you are looking for a chance to interact with Sumatra's nature, then Tangkahan is probably the right choice for you to go. It is a paradise that has remained untouched by spoiled hands filled with many exotic beauties of Sumatra. The local "elephant school" protects elephants living there from harm. Spend your day with the elephants, or trek the forests to explore other flora and fauna such as otters and leopards. When you are done, you can choose to return to you bungalow for a meal or choose to be one with nature itself by taking a refreshing shower under the waterfall or soak yourself in the hot spring inside a cave by the river. 

Tangkahan is located west of Medan and you can reach it by public bus. There are three departures from Pinang Baris Terminal daily with a very low fare. It is recommended to go by car since it can be very crowded.




     2. Bukit Lawang


Bukit Lawang is the perfect place for those of you who want to to explore the thick jungle or just spend some quality time with your families. Formerly an orangutan rehabilitation center, it is now a great tourist destination. It has its own accommodation and restaurants, many nicely located along the clean Bohorok River.

The biggest attraction in Bukit Lawang is the feeding of orangutans. Here you can enjoy a closer look at the them, a primate species now considered endangered. Normally up to 4 orangutans show up. To reach the feeding site you will need to cross the river since its on the other side. The show is held twice daily, one in the morning at 08.30 to 09.30 and one in the afternoon at 15.00 to 16.00. Keep in mind that it is strictly forbidden to touch of feed the orangutans. Although they are not aggressive, they can be very dangerous when they are angry. And please do not enter the quarantine area since you can spread diseases.


Other exciting things you can do here is jungle trekking. This place is recommended for those of you who have never done it before. It ranges from a one-day trek to a five-day trek, each with its own destination. To go trekking you will need to purchase a trekking permit and you will probably need to hire a guide, ranging from 150,000 rupiah to 300,00 rupiah per day. This normally includes a permit, food and the camping gears needed. Trails can differ depending on the guide, and some can even speak in English. Feeding orangutans on the way are strictly prohibited and please do not leave your trash behind even if others do.


You can also do water sports here like tubing, rafting and kayaking. The location of each sports are different, since each sport needs a certain rapid. The gears are managed by the Sumatra Savages, a member of the American Canoe Society and can be rented at a fair price.


Other things to do include off-road driving with jeep between Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan through rural areas and villages, such as Maryke. You can stop by here to explore the caves and the waterfall in the vicinity. You can also go visit the Eco-farm, an organic farming center situated 10 to 15 minutes from Bukit Lawang by the traditional tricycle. Here you can take part in planting and harvesting. Walk around the farm to enjoy fresh coconuts and exotic fruits.

Eco-farm

Getting here will not be a problem, since big public bus leave Pinang Baris Terminal in Medan every hour. But these bus can sometime overload, so renting a minibus with a minimum of 4 passengers is preferred. To get to Medan, you can take a flight from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Medan's Polonia Airport.

• Culture & Heritage:

1. Jangga Village

A trip to this village will reward you with an insight of the culture of the Batak people, one of many prominent ethnic groups in Indonesia. Here you can see how the modern world has failed to touch this village and its people. 

Jangga is famous for its beautiful ulos cloths which are produced manually here. Young girls and women weave this cloth so that it can be used not only for clothing, but also as presents on rituals such as births, marriages and deaths. 

Besides that, you can also see ancient relics and monuments left by the Batak people's ancestors such as the King Tambun and King Manurung monuments as well as traditional houses. 

Jangga Village

     2. Lingga Village

This village is another village you might want to visit if you want to know more about the unique Batak Karo culture. A short trip from Brastagi, you can discover how the Karo life was and is like.

What makes Batak culture so distinctive is its achitecture. Houses are built on stilts, two meters above the ground with a roof designed to resemble buffalo horns. You can see the Rumah Raja (king's house) or the Sapo Ganjang (house of young bachelors). The walls are filled with carvings of serpents, lizards and beasts. 

Batak Karo House

• Culture & Heritage, Dynamic Sports:

1. Nias Island

This place is one place you cannot afford to miss when you are visiting Indonesia. Nias is a part of a chain of islands running alongside Sumatra separated by a deep trench. An ancient land, Nias is is an island inhabited by the the Ono Niha (children of the people) bound by their hierarchical culture that has remained unchanged by foreign influences. 

There are plenty of things to do here. The island is famous for its Stone Jumping or lompat batu, en event where local young men jump over a two-meter high stone with spikes on the top. Another event is the War Dance, specially performed for tourists visiting the island. 

Lompat Batu

Nias War Dance

Nias Island is also internationally famous among surfers because of its massive left and right-hand breaks. There are great surfing areas such as the Sorake Bay and the nearby Hinako Islands.