Sumatra

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Introduction

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Sumatra, the sixth largest island in the world, is in western Indonesia.

Geography

The island of Sumatra is crossed by the equator near the centre. It is the westernmost island of the Sunda Islands. To the north of Sumatra is the Malay peninsula, separated by the Straits of Malacca. Across the Karimata Strait, to the east, is Borneo. Java is on the southeast, separated by the Sunda Strait. To the west of the island is the Indian Ocean.

The backbone of the island is on the west coast and is lined by a chain of active volcanoes. Many beautiful sceneries, such as those at Lake Toba, are a result of the volcanic activity on the island.

Regions

The provinces of Indonesia on the island of Sumatra are:

• Aceh
• North Sumatra
• West Sumatra (Sumatra Barat)
• Riau
• Riau Islands
• Jambi
• South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan)
• Bangka-Belitung (Kepulauan Bangka-Belitung)
• Bengkulu
• Lampung

Cities

• Medan, North Sumatra
• Palembang, South Sumatra
• Padang, West Sumatra
• Banda Aceh, Aceh
• Pekanbaru, Riau
• Sibolga, North Sumatra
• Bukittinggi, West Sumatra

Sights and Activities

• Lake Toba (Danau Toba)
• Lake Maninjau (Danau Maninjau)
• Berastagi
• Bukit Lawang - Sumatran Orangutan Sanctuary
• Pulau Nias - an internationally famous surfing destination

Events and Festivals

Weather

Sumatra has tropical climate with hot and humid conditions throughout the year. Temperatures at sea level are around 30 °C during the day and 23 °C at night with little variation during the year. There is no real dry season just a less wet season which last from February to August. More rain falls from September to January when temperatures during the day are just a few degrees lower as well.
Note that regional variations regarding rainfall can be high and also that temperatures in the higher areas of Sumatra can be significantly lower. Even within the thick rainforests temperatures can feel much cooler sometimes, especially during rain.

Getting There

By Plane

Sumatra is big and there are quite a few airports you can fly into. Not all have international connections though.
Polonia International Airport near Medan has many flights, including to destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Penang, Ipoh and Singapore.
Minangkabau International Airport near Padang has flights with Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur, while other cities served are Jakarta and Singapore.
Palembang and Pekanbaru have connections to the cities mentioned above as well, and there are several more airports which mainly have connections to Jakarta.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

From Malaysia:

There is a daily ferry operating between Penang in Malaysia to Belawan (the port of Medan) on Sumatra. From Penang, it leaves at 9 am, arriving at 1 pm. From Medan it leaves at 10.30 am arriving in Penang at 2.30pm. Check the Langkawi Ferry website for more details about schedules and prices.

• Daily ferries from Port Klang near Kuala Lumpur to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra and Tanjung Balai Asahan* in North Sumatra.
• Daily ferries from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan to Dumai in Riau, Sumatra.
• Daily ferries from Malacca to Dumai and Pekanbaru in Riau.
• Ferries from Kukup, Johor to Karimun Island in the Riau Islands.
• Ferries from Johor Bahru, Johor to Batam and Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands.

From Singapore:

• Frequent ferries to Batam.
• Frequent ferries from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at Changi Airport to Tanjung Pinang.
• Frequent ferries to Karimun Island in the Riau Islands.
• Daily ferry to Tanjung Batu* in Kundur Island.

* Not a visa-free or visa-on-arrival port of entries. However, there may be exceptions for visa-free visitors.

Getting Around

By Plane

Travelling by plane is a very attractive option compared to the alternative of travelling long distances on an uncomfortable bus. Domestic carriers serving Sumatra include Merpati, Mandala Airlines and Lion Air. All Sumatran aiports charge an airport departure tax of between 15,000Rp and 30,000Rp that needs to be paid on the spot.

By Bus

The most common way to travel around Sumatra but far from being comfortable or efficient. The roads are not in good condition, with many potholes and other hazards not making the journey easy. Its easy to be fooled by looking at a map and thinking its not that far, when in fact a journey of only 100 kilometres can take several hours or more.

By Car

If you are travelling in a group then taking a private car is a good alternative to taking the bus. In the main tourist spots like Bukit Lawang and Lake Toba you'll get many offers from drivers wanting to take you to your next destination. The rates vary and you will need to negotiate.

By Boat

Boat travel in Sumatra links the mainland with the smaller islands lining the coast. Common routes are from Banda Aceh to Pulah Weh and Sibolga with Pulau Nias.

Eat

As with many other areas of Indonesia the staple food of Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and Mie Goreng (fried noodles) can be found everywhere throughout Sumatra. This can be served plain with vegtables, or 'special' which often includes chicken and tofu etc. Prices of course vary depending on whether you are eating in a local eatery or more tourist orientated restaurant. For a cheap eat then Warungs (street stalls) are your best bet. These are just simple, open-air eating-places that provide a small range of dishes based on rice and one meat or vegetable. It's unlikely you'll find a menu in them – the dishes are often on display and you can just ask for what you fancy. Other popular dishes include:

• Redang - a tasty dish, normally made from beef (or occasionally chicken or vegetables) which is slowly cooked in coconut milk and spices for several hours, which allows the meat to absorb all the spices and become tender.
• Gado Gado - a vegetable salad served with a peanut sauce dressing.

Drink

Sleep