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Destination of the Day

Sumatra, Indonesia

Your trip to Sumatra could easily become one of your most memorable travel adventures. Beach cocktails in Bali are nice, but once you've felt the exhilaration of spotting wild orangutans in Sumatra, you'll be hooked! Here's a breakdown of the island's top provinces.

North Sumatra

A majority of travelers end up in North Sumatra to visit Lake Toba, the world's largest volcanic lake, and go jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang. Nearby Gunung Leuser National Park is listed by UNESCO as one of the most significant biodiverse conservation areas in the world. In addition to endangered species such as tigers and elephants, visitors to the park may see semi-wild orangutans that have been reintroduced back into nature. Hike Gunung Sibayak Volcano, or visit Sipiso-Piso Waterfall, one of Indensia's tallest waterfalls at 390 feet.

South Sumatra

South Sumatra doesn't seem to get as much attention from travelers as North Sumatra does, but that's an even better reason to visit the Indonesian province. Many of the top things to do here can be found near the capital, Palembang, one of the oldest cities in Southeast Asia. Some highlights in Palembang include wandering the 123-acre Punti Kayu Park (watch out for the fearless macaques), taking a boat to Kemaro Island, and photographing the impressive Ampera Bridge at night. Along with tea plantations, the Pagar Alam area is also home to ancient megaliths, carvings, and tombs—some thought to date back 2,000 years or more.

West Sumatra

The Indonesian island iis a glorious, volcanic playground for adventurous travelers. And there are some impressive options on offer in West Sumatra, including the 12,500-foot Gunung Kerinci, the tallest volcano in Indonesia. Lake Maninjau, a big crater lake 22 miles west of Bukittinggi, certainly encourages lazy days of reading, fishing, and recovering leg muscles after a tough volcano climb.

Vacation Like a Pro

Slow down! With a length of over 1,100 miles divided by the equator, Sumatra is larger than California and Sweden. Sumatra is the largest of Indonesia's 17,508 islands—you shouldn't expect to explore too much of it in a week or two. Avoid stress on your trip to Sumatra by allowing some extra time for delays.

Greg Rodgers
Contributing Writer

Your Packing List

Spring is rainy in most of Sumatra, but showers become less frequent until dry season begins in summer. Make room for rain gear in your suitcase!

Temperatures in Sumatra tend to stay consistent; highs are around 90 degrees F during the spring months while humidity hovers around 79 percent. Lightweight, breathable clothing is essential for traveling Sumatra in spring—or any season, for that matter.

Take extra precautions for sun protection; the equator cuts through West Sumatra, and the UV index is high.

Some parts of Sumatra such as Banda Aceh are especially devout. Be mindful when choosing clothing to wear.

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