What to See in Sumatra

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Sumatra has 3 sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, actually grouped into a single ensemble called "Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra" (2004). These are:

Gunung Leuser National Park ★★★
This vast park is home to a large population of orangutans. You can also trek and go rafting here. Gunung Leuser is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kerinci Seblat National Park ★★★★
With its lakes, waterfalls, caves, and volcanoes, this is the largest and one of the most beautiful national parks in Indonesia. You can hike here and spot tigers, rhinos, elephants, bears, and a variety of birds. It is one of the island’s three UNESCO-listed parks.

Island of Sumatra

Banda Aceh ★
The capital of the Aceh region, devastated by the 2004 tsunami, is primarily a great starting point for diving around nearby islands (Pulau Tuan, Weh) or surfing in the surrounding areas (Lhoknga).

Bukittinggi ★
This town in western Sumatra has various Dutch colonial remnants and tunnels dating from the Second World War.

Medan ★
Indonesia’s fourth-largest city still holds some fine Dutch-era buildings.

Padang ★
On the west coast of Sumatra, the city generally serves as a stopover for those looking to surf or hike in the surrounding areas.

Karo Land ★★
This region in northern Sumatra, around the town of Kabanjahe and Lake Toba, is home to the Karo-Batak people, who have preserved their customs and traditions.

Minangkabau Region ★★
In the highlands of West Sumatra, around the town of Batusangkar, the Minangkabau people have preserved a vibrant culture, architecture, and traditions.

Natural Heritage

Lake Maninjau ★
It’s a pretty volcanic lake in western Sumatra.

Lake Toba ★★★
It is the world's largest volcanic lake and a "highlight" destination of Sumatra. Beyond the stunning landscapes, you can also discover the culture and traditions of the Batak people living around it.

Mount Sibayak ★★
This volcano, located in the northern part of Sumatra, can be climbed fairly easily.

Gunung Leuser National Park ★★★
This vast park is home to a large population of orangutans. You can also trek and go rafting here. Gunung Leuser is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kerinci Seblat National Park ★★★★
With its lakes, waterfalls, caves, and volcanoes, this is the largest and one of the most beautiful national parks in Indonesia. You can hike here and spot tigers, rhinos, elephants, bears, and a variety of birds. It is one of the island’s three UNESCO-listed parks.

Way Kambas National Park ★★
Large park of forests and marshes in southern Sumatra, home to tigers, elephants, rhinos, and many bird species.

Harau Valley ★
Located near Bukittinggi, this valley offers great hiking opportunities.

"Associated" Islands

Bangka-Belitung ★★★
These two islands east of Sumatra are among the region's most beautiful, with white-sand beaches and diving opportunities. Belitung's capital, Tanjung Pandan, features many Dutch-style buildings.

Batam ★
Next to Singapore, to which it is connected by ferries, the island is popular with Singaporeans for its beach resorts.

Bintan ★★
In the Riau Archipelago, this island near Singapore offers beautiful beaches, resort complexes, and a capital (Tanjung Pinang) with various traces of its past.

Tanjung Pinang ★
Located on the island of Bintan, this city is home to several temples and the remains of a palace.

Krakatoa ★
This famous still-active volcano is located on the island of the same name, between Java and Sumatra, to which it is actually connected. It has become a popular tourist excursion spot.

Mentawai Islands ★★★★
These beautiful islands off the west coast of Sumatra are renowned for surfing, diving, and their natural environment. Their inhabitants, often called the "flower people," have their own cultures and traditions.

Siberut ★★★
The largest island in the Mentawai archipelago. It offers beautiful jungle landscapes perfect for hiking. The island is also known for the culture and traditions of its inhabitants.

Nias ★★★
While this large island off the west coast of Sumatra is known for its beaches and surfing, it is equally renowned for the still-vibrant culture and traditions of its people.