Planning a trip to Sumatra

Hi Natalie,How long should you stay in Sumatra? is actually depending on what you really want to see,Sumatra is a big island with many kind or many different activities.If you start traveling from Medan city,the 1st option maybe you can go jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang or even in Ketambe to see Orang Utan and stay in the jungle atmosphere for 4-5 days then continued relaxing in Lake Toba and Berastagi will spent another 5-6 days for both places.After it you can decided to go down to the south to Padang and Bukit Tinggi or back to medan city then take a direct Bus or even flight up to Northern Sumatra (Aceh) the place where you can find a really nice beach and snorkeling and diving activities..

Any question will be welcome,just email me at

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Hi,
I just saw your posts ngrogan82 and Geschiere. I travelled through Indonesia last year as a lone female and spent 3.5 months in West and North sumatra and 18 days in Aceh visiting Ketembe via a bus to Kutacane from Medan ( 7 hr bus trip). This year the flights from Medan to Kutacane resumed again in June, but not sure if they continue in the wet season.
Yes, you can do a jungle trek in Gunung Leuser. I trekked with Pak Mus up to the hot springs areas and we slept in a tent by the river. I loved every minute of it.
You can see my photos at www.webshots.com/user/ppamela2006.

In regards to staying in Sumatra I believe you need at least 4 weeks to experience North and West Sumatra.
In North Sumatra I visited Bukit Lawang (5 weeks) and during that time did a side trip of 5 days to Tangkahan a paradise. I went via ojek ( on bakc of motor bike) from Bukit Lawang.
Posts on Tangkahan http://forum.indahnesia.com/topic/4404/0/tangkahan_-_jungle_paradise_in_north_sumatra.php
Bukit Lawang/Tangakahan information http://forum.indahnesia.com/topic/4553/0/visit_to_bukit_lawang_and_tangkahan_in_septoct_2006.php
From Bukit Lawang I headed back to Medan and then went to Ketembe and stayed at Pak Mus for 8n days and then bussed it to Takengon stayed a day and then bussed it up to Banda Aceh staying at Uncles Homestay with Abdul and Yulia. From there I got the ferry over to Pulau Weh for 3 days- sheer bliss- really primitive- beach hut by the water. See my photos.
Ketembe/Takengon Report http://forum.indahnesia.com/topic/4280/0/currently_in_aceh-_information_update.php

Many options to get to Sumatra from Penang via ferry -400,000 -takes all day with immigration both ends or you can fly for about 600,000 one way and it only takes 20 minutes- sadly no AirAsia flights anymore- they used to be so cheap.
Or if you are in Singapore you can buy very very cheap tickets with tigerAirways from Singapore to Padang and do West Sumatra- Padang, Bukittinggi, Lake Maninjau, Payakumbuh-Harau Canyon.
Report of a trip of 3 months to West Sumatra from a young Aussie woman Emma whom I heelped gete a social visa through my good friend and guide Hendri in Bukittinggi..
http://forum.indahnesia.com/topic/3985/0/recent_trip_report_from_west_sumatra.php

Another fabulous untouristic place is Painan- 3 hrs south of Padang- lots of accomodation in town for travellers mostly Indonesian. My friend Edi has very simple accomodation 2kms out of town.
See photos of Painan in link above and also here http://community.webshots.com/album/349086449oYfNie
Hope the above information has been of some help to you all.
Pamela- passionate lover of Indonesia. Reply to this

Hi,

Thanks a lot.

Kind REgards,

Elma Reply to this

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Hi,
Sorry, I think it should be this link http://www.expeditionjungle.com/ Reply to this

Hi,
Here are a lot of recent photos of Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba taken by travellers on the facebook site that is associated with Expedition Jungle. http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=3302925060&view=all
Pamela. Reply to this