Destination: Indonesia

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Sultry Sumatra

ONE MONTH

This 900km journey takes in the cities of Medan and Padang, orang-utans in Bukit Lawang and the majestic volcanic lake of Danua Toba. There are markets, handicraft villages and nature reserves on the schedule, and a laze on the gorgeous Mentawai Islands.

Dominated by wild and chaotic jungle peppered with urban centres, Sumatra has its own beaten path to accommodate the inquisitive traveller.

All roads lead to Medan , which is the perfect point to stock up on necessities and creature comforts. Satisfy your craving for Dutch pottery, dazzle the taste buds with a Malay or Indian curry and down a Bintang at sunset.

But you didn’t come for the air-con, so hit the road and make your way north to Bukit Lawang , home to Sumatra’s most adored natural attraction – the orang-utan. Feeding sessions for semideprived primates offers unparalleled viewing of these graceful creatures. If you fancy roughing it, you can test your survivor skills on a two-day trek through the park, with the potential reward of seeing orang-utans in the wild.

From Bukit Lawang, bus your way down south to Danau Toba for Batak culture, a gorgeous volcanic lake and a languid ambience. Trekking is the traditional lure to this area, but there are rambling markets, handicraft villages and gargantuan orchids to behold as well.

The route then takes a dive south to Bukittinggi , a busy market town dwarfed by more volcanic peaks. The town itself is a pleasant spot to amble about for a few days but the attractions lie just outside in the handicraft village of Koto Gadang, the terraced rice fields, and the nearby Batang Palupah Nature Reserve and Lembah Anai Nature Reserve.

Your journey ends in Padang, one of Sumatra’s busiest cities. Keep yourself occupied with museums and festivals, or use the city as a launching pad to escape to the Mentawai Islands.