How much time do i need for this transumatran trip?

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsSouth-East Asia Islands & PeninsulaIndonesia
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
340
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
baikan
baikan

Hi Guys,

For this year, no more islands in the east, i decided to go back to Sumatra which i had last visited almost 8 years ago (MOstly Banda Aceh, Medan and Pulau Weh)

I will most likely be around bangkok or penang before reaching Sumatra and have to end up in Singapore for a few days before back home.

As a first shot of an itinerary i was thinking of flying from Penang to Banda Aceh then heading southwards to Takengon, over to Toba through Kutacane, Ketambe and Berastagi.
After a few days i'll have to go to Medan to catch a flight towards Padang and stopping by in nearby Maninjau, bukittinggi and harau before flying out to Singapore from either Padang or Pekanbaru:

I am interested in low scale hiking, beautiful landscapes, coulourful markets, great food, cultural experiences and craft shopping (antiques and well done contemporary, mostly jewels and textiles), i don't fancy overtouristed places and don't mind roughing a bit

I will mostly likely be travelling somewhere between early october to Mid November (Bangkok/Penang/Sumatra/singapore).

I already spotted the three lakes to stop by: Tawar, Toba and Maninjau
An experience in Leuser NP somewhere on the road with tropical streams, day hikes, wildlife spotting, waterfalls...
Harau valley and Padang food (i looooove rendang)

-I need to know how much time is enough to do this itinerary? I am planning on not staying more than the 30 days free visa! This is my real concern!

-How best should i work out the Takengon to Lake Toba leg with a stop for Leuser NP to get the best of it? wildlife spotting, rivers, landscapes maybe a hot water source, waterfalls...

-If i decide to throw in a side trip to the Banyak islands, will i have to extend the 30 days free visa? If i can fit them in in 30 days, how easy is to catch the flight to Singkil or maybe a better not overly time consuming overland solution in between the above mentionned places?

-I had been searching for flighst to Singapore from Padang to get out of the country but nothing, the closest i could find is from Pekanbaru!
So the solution is to travel from Harau valley/Payakumbuh (my last step in West Sumatra to avoid backtracking to Padang) straight to pekanbaru airport to catch a Singapore bound flight. I don't know how to manage this leg!! Any insights?
-How does this compare to backtracking to Padang airport and fliying to Batam then boating out to Singapore budget, confort and time wise?

-I have a good list of shops/markets to visit in West Sumatra (mostly Butkittinggi) to shop around for souvenirs, crafts, antiques....Anymore good places ? Any info on similar places in the Batak country(Berastagi, Toba) or Medan? Also in Banda Aceh or takengon?

-I had visited Banda Aceh, Weh and Medan In december and did not find that the rainy season was unbearable or prevented me to go by my daily activities (some huuge powerful storms on Weh, which i confess , i had enjoyed greatly on my roofed terrace facing rubiah island!!), So i guess October and November should be fine ?

-Lastly i would be grateful of any other places that i had not mentionned on this itinerary that are interesting and worth a stop

Thank you very much for your help again, i am very excited to break the very archipelagic experience i had in Indonesia for the last visits and indulge in more "continental" experience in Sumatra

Cheers

Edited by baikan
View last reply
Report
1
thelawnet
thelawnet

takengon - kedah - berastagi - tuktuk via Tele Hill - Parapat - Medan - Padang

padang fly to batam ferry to Singapore. Pekanbaru much less pleasant. or padang - KL - sin

maninjau not so nice really (best from above), try Danau Singkarak

To Singkil easiest from Toba (Tuktuk - Tele - Sidikalang - Singkil).

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
baikan
baikan

@thelawnet
Thank you for your reply
I am bookmarking Kedah which seems to be very interesting for a couple days to explore Leuser NP

Why do you not recommend Maninjau? It seems very photogenic from the pictures! I'll give Singarak a second thought.

"Tele Hill" & "Tele" i can not seem to find them on a map!!

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
Giora
Giora

Stop in Kedah or Ketambe to enjoy Gunung Leuser park. Kedah's a nice, quiet spot, with an interesting owner in charge of the guesthouse. There's a nice weekly market nearby (no souvenirs for sale of course!).

I think your 30 days is pushing it. I'd give yourself 3 weeks for Banda Aceh-Medan. You could do it faster by rushing a bit, but it's not a region to rush through, if you ask me. It's easy to get a 60-day visa for Indonesia in Penang. You might want to look into that as an alternative.

Getting from Harau to Pekanbaru should be straightforward. Someone on here did it recently. Either ask your guesthouse to help, or go to the main Pekanbaru road and wait for something to come along.

Learn all about the island of Awaji, the largest island in Japan's Inland Sea. You can contact me through that website, if you wish.
Also, Japan's architectural and historic heritage.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
baikan
baikan

@thelawnet
OK got TELE Hill where it is, basically a view point over lake toba, interesting . thanx

@Giora
Thanx for your input, unfortunately i am not able to stay more than 30 days this time for different reasons. So if i have no choice i'll drop North Sumatra and focus on Toba + West Sumatra and possibly 5 or 6 days in the banyak to chill out.

I am reading lots on info on how to access the Banyak and got the ipression that the archipelago was accessible from Singkil which would be perfect step after Toba and Sibolga (?) which would be great to reach padang, saves times and money and no backtracking to Medan!

Any recent info on Banyak to Sibolga transportation?
Similarly from Sibolga to Padang ? Frequencies, duration and cost?

Harau to Pekanbaru seems good then, will just make sure to get to PB a day before my flight to SPORE is due to leave.

Thanx again

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
Giora
Giora

I've never been to the Banyak Islands, or Sibolga.

I wouldn't drop the northern bit of Sumatra! It's the highlight of your route, in my opinion. Banda Aceh to Lake Toba, through the highlands, is gorgeous, and Gunung Leuser National Park is fascinating. I would drop something else if I was you.

Learn all about the island of Awaji, the largest island in Japan's Inland Sea. You can contact me through that website, if you wish.
Also, Japan's architectural and historic heritage.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
baikan
baikan

@Giora
Thanx again, helpful to get a hint on which direction to go as Sumatra keeps unfolding never ending possibilities.

I will gladly drop Banyaks ( ihad my fix of tropical islands last time and planning of heading back to malukku next year), i won't have to drag my snorkeling gear around and travel lighter. The archipelago does not seem to have any outstanding features rather than perfect coconut fringed beaches....even snorkeling seems to be low

of all the places i mentionned on OP, what would be the least interesting part one may drop without regrets?

I was reading again on NP options and then KERINCI just popped out of the blue and i am right now pondering wether i could just stick to one end ....either Leuseur and Toba (with Takengon as a side trip) or West Sumatra with a foray into kerinci for the whole stay...take it easy....stay longer in relaxed places ...ect...?

I am definetely not considering dropping West Sumatra or at least the area around Bukittinggi which i was intending to visit for ages....Just an inconsiderate attraction!!

thanx again

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
7
Giora
Giora

I don't think much of Lake Toba - the main tourist base there (Tuk-Tuk) is very, very touristy. There are places much more to my taste elsewhere around the lake, that are much less touristy, and the lake is unmistakably beautiful, but if your main interest is in hanging out and doing low-key activities, you might be happy enough at Lake Maninjau. It sees fairly few tourists these days, has some lovely lakeside guesthouses, and offers a very attractive setting and some good day-hikes.

I've never been to the Harau Valley.

There's lots around Bukittinggi. Some nice volcanoes in the region as well. Kerinci is beautiful, and has Indonesia's highest volcano, as well as Gunung Tujuh (which is beautiful, and also has a lovely lake; you can camp alongside the lake there in perfect peace, if you're lucky - ie. no large Indonesian hiking groups around). You're much less likely to see wildlife around Kerinci than in Gunung Leuser though. And notably, there are no orangutans down there. You might get lucky and see gibbons, though personally I've only seen them in Gunung Leuser.

If you're happy flying, you might consider Banda Aceh-Medan in two weeks through the highlands, flying to Padang, heading to Kerinci for a few days, and then spending the rest of your time around Bukittinggi/Maninjau. That would work. If you want to take it fairly slowly, you'll want to pick and choose where you visit, and perhaps cut out a few places. But that would be possible.

Learn all about the island of Awaji, the largest island in Japan's Inland Sea. You can contact me through that website, if you wish.
Also, Japan's architectural and historic heritage.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
8
baikan
baikan

@Giora
Thanx again for your kind help.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
9
trjp1972
trjp1972

Two weeks is plenty for Banda Aceh to Medan via the central highlands and Alas valley. Takengon to Blangkejeren takes about 4-5 hours, Blangkejeren to Kedah about half an hour, Blangkejeren to Ketambe about 2-3 hours. Blangkejeren is the capital of Gayo Lues region - my favourite place in the world - and could be a good base for exploring the region.

And if you are in Ketambe on November 13, there will be a big party (pesta sunat) there with kids in traditional costume, horse riding and a massive feast.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner