Being the largest island in Indonesia and the 6th largest island in the world, Sumatra is home to some of the wildest travel experiences you can have. From trekking the jungle of Bukit Lawang to see wild orangutans to spending 5 days living with the Mentawai tribe, you can't find any place quite as wild and adventurous as Sumatra.
If you are looking for a real adventure and don't mind roughing it, Sumatra is where you should be. The tamed and well-trodden Java and Bali pale in comparison to the wild, wild west of Sumatra, and that is what makes it one of my favorite places to visit in Indonesia.
Within this itinerary, you will find all the information you need to plan a perfect backpacking trip to Sumatra. We will be spending an entire month exploring this wonderful island, hiking active volcanoes, sleeping in the jungle, and tracking down orangutans. So without further ado, here is a complete itinerary for Sumatra.
- One Month Sumatra Itinerary Map
- One Month in Sumatra Itinerary
- Sumatra Travel Video
- When to Visit Sumatra?
- How to Get to Sumatra?
- How to Get Around Sumatra?
- How Much Money Do I Need For A 1-month Trip To Sumatra?
- Is it Safe in Sumatra?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Indonesia?
- What to Pack for Sumatra?
- Further Reading for Indonesia
One Month Sumatra Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1-4: | Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang |
| ☀️ Day 5-6: | Berastagi |
| ☀️ Day 7-10: | Lake Toba |
| ☀️ Day 11: | Medan |
| ☀️ Day 12-15: | Bukittinggi |
| ☀️ Day 16-17: | Padang |
| ☀️ Day 18-20: | Tuapejat, Mentawai |
| ☀️ Day 21-26: | Stay with the Mentawai Tribe in Siberut |
| ☀️ Day 27: | Fly home from Padang |
One Month in Sumatra Itinerary
Day 1 - 4: Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang
Our itinerary begins in Medan, the capital city of Sumatra, but we won't be exploring the city or stopping here for very long. The beauty of Sumatra lies within its thick jungles, not in a crowded city like Medan, so we are going to hit the ground running and travel to Bukit Lawang straight from Kualanamu Airport.
At this point, you should have already booked an orangutan trekking tour and they should help you organize a tourist bus or private taxi to take you straight from the airport to Bukit Lawang.
I highly recommend Sumatra Orangutan Explore if you haven't booked any tours yet. I went on their 3 days 2 nights tour and it was amazing. For this itinerary, we are going with the 3D2N option, but you can choose the 2D1N tour if you are short on time.
- Sumatra Adventure Multi-Day Tour (9 days)
- 3 Days 2 Nights Orangutan Jungle Trekking (3 days)
- Live with the Mentawai Tribe (5 days)
The journey should take about 3 hours before you arrive in Bukit Lawang where you will then be greeted by your Orangutan tour company, and they will take you to your accommodation, which is often located along Orangutan Road where only motorcycles can travel. I highly recommend you stay at either Garden Inn while you are in Bukit Lawang. They have massive rooms and are located right by the Sumatra Orangutan Explore meeting point.
Once you arrive, you will be briefed about the trek, what to pack, what to wear, etc., and then you can retreat for the night and prepare to spend 3 days in the jungle. Be sure to wear long hiking pants and socks as the jungle is infested by leeches.
Over the next 3 days, you will be spending time trekking through the jungle. Although you are not guaranteed to see orangutans, you will notice right away that it is pretty easy to find them, as they are quite curious about us and always like to hang around near human settlements.
On our first day, we saw 2 groups of semi-wild orangutans, one wild orangutan, many gibbons, Thomas Leaf Monkeys, and macaques, all in one day, which was pretty impressive. You will be trekking all day, but the guide will stop for breaks many times throughout the day, and the first day did not feel exhausting or rushed at all.
Every night, you will be sleeping in a different pre-set-up camp right by a river. You can spend the evening relaxing and chilling until dinner time, and then your guide will entertain you with card tricks and puzzles all the way to bedtime. Seriously, after trekking all day, these relaxing moments were all I looked forward to every day.
The second day was a little tough as you will spend most of your days jungle trekking across many hills to get to the second camp. You will still see orangutans and monkeys along the way, but since you have a lot of distance to cover, it is going to be less relaxing than the first day.
On your third day, you will be able to enjoy a bit of waterfall fun time in the morning, and then you will be rafting the river back to Bukit Lawang in the afternoon. There's no trekking involved today, just plain old fun action activities.
The tour should be completed by the afternoon, and you can spend the rest of the day exploring Bukit Lawang, checking out its markets, and interacting with locals. It's great to know that the money we paid for the tour goes into developing schools and other facilities in this village.
After exploring Bukit Lawang, you can spend the rest of the day resting and retreating for the night, and prepare for the journey to Berastagi the next day.
Getting from Bukit Lawang to Berastagi
From Bukit Lawang to Berastagi, you can ask your accommodation to book a tourist bus for you the day before, and they should pick you up in the morning the next day. It should cost around 200,000 IDR and take between 4 - 6 hours, depending on whether they are going through Medan to drop people there or not.
Day 5 - 6: Berastagi
On day 5, you will likely spend the rest of the day getting from Bukit Lawang to Berastagi. Once you arrive, you can check in to your guesthouse and book the sunrise volcano hike tour via your accommodation.
Usually, most will organize one, but if not, I highly recommend you reach out to Kaesa Homestay. They run the tour every morning and it costs only 200,000 IDR per person. Their place is also amazing to stay at, and the owner can provide you with more information on what to see in Berastagi.
If you prefer to go on a private tour, I highly recommend Berastagi Adventure. They can make a custom tour for you that includes visiting Spiso-piso Waterfall as well as the sunrise volcano tour, all in one go for around 900,000 IDR. You can book the tour here.
The volcano hike at sunrise is definitely the highlight of Berastagi. The tour will pick you up at 4:30 AM and you will be taken to the trailhead. From there, it's only around an hour and a half of moderate hiking until you arrive at the top of Sibayak Volcano where you can watch the sunrise.
Sibayak Volcano is probably one of the most accessible volcanoes out there, and if hiking a volcano is on your bucket list, here is your chance. From the top, you can also see Mount Sinabung, a beautiful cone-shaped volcano that is still active and spewing smoke and vapors all the time.
After the volcano hike, you will be taken to a hot spring where you can relax and enjoy the view of the volcano you just climbed before you are dropped off in Berastagi in the afternoon.
You can spend the rest of the day visiting the Fruit Market, check out all the cool cafes in town, or visit Museum Pusaka Karo to learn more about the Karo tribe that resides in this part of Sumatra and its unique culture.
Getting from Berastagi to Lake Toba
From Berastagi to Lake Toba, you can ask your accommodation in Berastagi to book a tourist bus for you the day before, and they should pick you up at your accommodation the next day. It should cost around 230,000 IDR and take about 3 hours.
The bus will only take you to Parapat, though, and you will have to catch a ferry across to Tuk-tuk on Samosir Island in Lake Toba. The ferry leaves from Tiga Raja Port between 8:30 AM and 7:30 PM every hour, and it costs about 25,000 IDR per person. The ferry will drop you off right in front of your accommodation in Tuk-tuk.
Day 7 - 10: Lake Toba
After Berastagi, you can then travel to Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, and it is the perfect place to spend time relaxing from all the trekking and hiking you just did. You will have 3 days here, so take it slow and enjoy the pristine lake!
You can spend the first day relaxing at your accommodation, go for a swim in the morning, enjoy a little downtime in the afternoon, and swim again in the evening. It is best that you book accommodations by the lake as it will make this much easier for you.
I highly recommend Romlan Guesthouse as they are perfectly located right by the lake. They have a restaurant so you can just chill at the guesthouse all day. Best of all, they are quite affordable with a wide range of rooms to choose from.
For the next 2 days, you can either spend your time walking around the area or rent a scooter and go explore the island. You can visit the Tomok Market to buy some souvenirs, learn more about the Batak people at Batak Museum, and admire the beautiful heritage village of Huta Siallagan and its impressive architecture.
You can rent a scooter from your guesthouse for around 120,000 IDR per day with a full tank of gas. If 3 days relaxing by the lake get a little boring for you, I highly recommend you get a scooter and go for a spin around the island.
Getting from Lake Toba to Medan
From Lake Toba to Medan, you can ask your accommodation to book the transfer for you the day before, and then you will have to catch the early 8 AM ferry back to Parapat. There should be a car waiting for you at the airport to take you to Medan.
The trip should cost around 200,000 IDR per person and it should take about 4 hours before you arrive at your accommodation in Medan. I recommend you stay near the airport as we will be catching the flight the next day.
Day 11: Medan
After 3 days in Lake Toba, you can travel back to Medan and stay overnight here, preferably at a hotel near the airport with a free airport shuttle service like D'primahotel Kualanamu Medan, so you can easily catch the flight to Padang tomorrow.
Getting from Medan to Bukittinggi
For this leg, you will have to rely on airplanes, as the public bus from Medan to Bukittinggi takes over 18 hours. I wouldn't wish that journey on anyone, not even my worst enemy.
The Medan-to-Padang flight is operated by Super Air Jet and they run the route every day, taking about an hour and costing around 100 USD, including luggage loading. It will be cheaper if you are traveling only with a carry-on.
Once you arrive in Padang, you can either catch a shared taxi straight to Bukittinggi if you can find one (they are usually at the Airport's Exit) or take the DAMRI bus into Padang and tell the driver to drop you off at a local bus company that runs the route.
The DAMRI bus to Padang city costs about 30,000 IDR and it took 30 minutes before it dropped me off at a local bus company where I then had to buy another ticket to go to Bukittinggi. It costs about 35,000 IDR for the last leg and usually takes about 3 hours. In total, I paid 65,000 IDR for the tickets from Padang Airport to Bukittinggi.
Keep in mind that it is a local bus and is often in rather poor condition with no AC. Ask them to put you by the window if you must. As of June 2024, the main road between Padang and Bukittinggi remains closed and you will have to take the long winding mountain road which will extend the travel time to almost 6 hours, so be sure to prepare for the trip.
You can also opt for a private taxi for about 500,000 IDR per car and you can organize it from one of the many kiosks at the airport's exit. It will either take 3 hours via the main road or 6 hours via the mountain road if the main road is still closed.
Day 12-15: Bukittinggi
After you arrive in Padang, you can catch a public bus or shared taxi straight to Bukittinggi, the beautiful highlands of the Minangkabau people with a long and rich history we will be exploring in the next 3 days. It is also a good place to introduce the Minangkabau culture and its people that live in this part of Sumatra.
First and foremost, you can visit Kinantan Wildlife and Cultural Park, a pretty large zoo/museum where you can stroll around, see animals, and visit some of the attractions inside like Fort De Kock, the remains of a Dutch fortress, a lovely Minangkabau museum, and Limpapeh Bridge, the iconic bridge that connected the 2 sides of the hill together.
One of the most unique attractions you can visit is the Japanese Tunnel, an underground network of tunnels that were built during the Japanese occupation in World War 2. It was built as a military complex and as a hiding place as the Japanese were being pressured by the Allied forces towards the end of the war.
Once done, you can check out the view of Sianok Valley from Sianok Valley Viewpoint or go down and hike the Great Wall of Bukittinggi, which is similar to the Great Wall of China but much MUCH smaller in scale 😂. You can begin your hike from this trailhead and it should take about 10 minutes to reach the suspension bridge across the river that leads to the wall.
In the evening, you can visit the iconic Jam Gadang Clock Tower, a colonial-style clock tower with a touch of Minangkabau influence, one of the most famous landmarks in the city.
The area is surrounded by a dizzying array of shops where you can stroll around and buy souvenirs. There are also traditional horse-drawn carriages you can hire to take you around the city. It's not something I am particularly interested in doing, but it seems very popular among the local tourists!
For the second day, you can go on a cultural tour around Bukittinggi with Lite 'n' Easy tour where they will take you to some of the best tourist attractions in West Sumatra like Museum Bustanul Arifin PDIKM, a great museum to learn about the Minangkabau, Balimbiang, home to the oldest surviving traditional house, and many other places.
One of my favorite places has got to be Pagaruyung Palace, a massive palace showcasing just how beautiful the Minangkabau architectural style really is.
The palace boasts a striking curved roof design that resembles a boat or a bull's horn, which is characteristic of the Minangkabau architectural style. However, it is on a much larger scale with multi-tiered, upswept gables. The sheer scale of it will blow your mind.
The tour should take the entire day from 9 AM to 6 PM and it should cost around 500,000 IDR for a car. Since you have another day to spare, you can either spend that day resting, or you can go on another day trip and visit either Maninjau Lake or Harau Valley with Lite 'n' Easy.
Getting from Bukittinggi to Padang
Again, you can take the same bus back to Padang or go with a private taxi. You can organize the private taxi via Lite 'n' Easy tour operator for about 500,000 IDR per car.
Day 16-17: Padang
Padang is the capital city of West Sumatra and it is a launchpad for those who are looking to visit the Mentawai islands, which we will do next, but first, let's spend the day exploring what this port city has to offer.
First and foremost, you can spend the morning exploring the beautiful Old Town of Padang where you will find some of the most beautiful architecture in Sumatra, with many Dutch colonial buildings still standing to this day.
In the old town, you will find many newly renovated colonial buildings like Geo Wehry & Co, which was used as an office for an insurance and trading firm that still exists to this day, but in the Netherlands. Another cool structure is Padangsche Spaarbank, an old colonial building that was built in the early 20th century and used as a headquarters for a Dutch Bank.
Right next to Padang's Old Town, you will also find the city's Chinatown, the old Chinese quarter with beautiful Chinese buildings, temples, and more, waiting for you to explore.
One of the best attractions here is Kelenteng See Hin Kiong, a Taoist temple built by the Chinese traders who settled around this part of Padang in the 19th Century. The temple was built in 1861 and has some really impressive sculptures and decorations inside. You don't usually see many Chinese temples in West Sumatra, so it was definitely a welcomed change of scenery.
Last but not least, you are going to want to see the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra, the largest mosque in the region and one of the most beautiful mosques I've seen in Indonesia.
The mosque was constructed in 2007 and designed with a distinctive roof form that combines the traditional Minangkabau roof style with the beautiful geometric patterns of Islam. It is definitely quite a sight to behold.
Once you are done, you can retreat for the day early so you can wake up in time to catch the 7 AM ferry to Tuapajet, Mentawai, our next destination.
Getting from Padang to Tuapejat
To get from Padang to Tuapejat, you will have to buy the ferry ticket at Mentawai Fast Ferry Port the day before and catch the ferry to Tuapejat the next day.
The ticket price for Padang to Tuapejat/Siberut is 350,000 IDR per person, and it should take about 3.5 hours. Keep in mind that the ferry doesn't run this route every day, so make sure you consult the Mentawai Fast Ferry official Facebook page.
If you want to follow my Mentawai itinerary completely (3 days in Tuapajet and 5 days with the Mentawai tribe in Siberut), I highly recommend you make this journey on a Friday and your itinerary should be perfectly aligned with the ferry schedule.
Day 18-20: Tuapejat, Mentawai Islands
Once you arrive in Tuapajet, the capital city of Mentawai Islands, you can spend the rest of the evening getting acquainted with the area. It's not a city but a really small town that is blessed with some of the most pristine and stunning beaches I've seen here.
On your first day, you can spend your time relaxing at Jati Beach. Go sunbathing, swim in the crystal-clear water, or get snorkeling gear from your homestays and go snorkeling along the beach. It doesn't have the prettiest coral reefs, but it is in a very accessible shallow area, so you can do it anytime you like.
I stayed at Crow's Nest when I was in Tuapejat, and the beach is right in front of the homestay. I often jumped into the water every morning and swam around before breakfast; it was incredible. I highly recommend staying there or at Jelita Beach Resort for direct access to the beach anytime.
For the second day, you can charter a boat for half a day or a full day and either go island-hopping or surfing. The local boat guy will take you to all the cool places around for around 600,000 IDR for a boat for half a day or 1,000,000 IDR per boat for a full day.
After you are done with the tour, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the beach before retiring early as you will have to catch the ferry to Siberut the next day.
Getting from Tuapejat to Siberut
From Tuapajet to Siberut, you can catch the Monday morning ferry at 7 AM, but make sure to be there 30 - 40 minutes earlier so you can buy the ticket at Tuapajet Port before boarding. For this trip, it should take you about 2 hours and cost 175,000 IDR per person.
Day 21-26: Staying with the Mentawai Tribe in Siberut
And now we have arrived at one of the highlights of visiting Mentawai, to spend 5 days in the jungle with the Mentawai tribe. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I highly recommend you reach out to Mentawi Tribe Company to help organize this trip for you.
On your first day in Siberut, your tour company should put you in a hotel near the port, and you can spend the day exploring the area or resting up before the big day tomorrow. If you think the tourism infrastructure is lacking in Tuapajet, Siberut is even worse with very little to no proper guesthouses or homestays on the island, so make sure you keep that in mind when you are here.
After a night in Siberut, you will then be taken to Muntei Tourism Village and start your journey from there. You will take a canoe deep into the jungle, and trek through the muddy forest to a communal longhouse called "uma", where the Mentawai people live. It is typically built on stilts and made from local materials such as wood, bamboo, and palm leaves.
You will then spend the next 3 days learning about their ways of life, making loincloths with a shaman, going fishing, digging tree barks for coconut worms for lunch, making poison arrows, and so much more.
You will be sleeping on the floor and going to the toilet wherever there is a bush high enough for you to squat behind, so make sure you are prepared for that. You will then have plenty of downtime between each activity so you can talk and hang out with the Mentawai people and your tour mate. Huge shout out to my friend Ugnė from Lithuania, who joined me on this trip. I would be out of my mind if I were there alone for 5 days!
We were grouped together by the Mentawai Tribe tour company that I went with, and they helped me find the group to join as well as put me in contact with one of the Mentawai guides who took me into the jungle. Usually, each group will have between 2 to 6 people, which I think is perfect as it is not too crowded.
They also helped me organize transportation and everything I needed for the trip. I ended up spending 5 days in the jungle with the tribe, and the cost was 360 EUR, including a roundtrip ferry ticket between Padang and Siberut Island. If you are looking to experience the same, I highly recommend you reach out to them via email or WhatsApp.
After spending 5 days in the jungle, you will then be taken back to Muntei Tourism Village, and your guide will take you to the ferry at around 2:30 PM. You will arrive back in Padang by 6 PM, thus completing your trip staying with the Mentawai people.
Getting from Siberut to Padang
From Siberut to Padang, your Mentawai Tribe tour company should manage this leg for you and it should already be included in the tour price (the ticket should be around 350,000 IDR). The ferry leaves from South Siberut at 2:30 PM and you should arrive back in Padang in 3 hours, give or take.
Day 27: Flying Back from Padang
Spend a night in Padang before you catch a taxi to the airport and fly home the next day. Congratulations, you have completed this one-month backpacking itinerary around Sumatra! Kudos and have a safe journey home!
When to Visit Sumatra?
The best time to visit Sumatra is during the dry season from June to August, which is the peak season for this region. Thankfully, Sumatra doesn't get as many tourists, so the crowd should not be a problem.
The dry season is also great because it will allow you to enjoy outdoor activities more, and there are a ton of outdoor activities to be done in Sumatra, from trekking the jungle to find orangutans to hiking an active volcano in Berastagi.
That said, since Sumatra is an island, the weather can be unpredictable at times with rain showering at random intervals, so be sure to pack a rain jacket even if you are visiting during the dry season.
It can also get pretty hot and humid, just like the rest of Indonesia, so be sure to pack light clothing. You might still need a jacket for the highlands though, so do not forget to pack that too.
I backpacked through Sumatra for a month in June, and the weather was just perfect. It did rain a couple of days, but it usually didn't last very long, and it rarely ever rained on me when I was jungle trekking in places like Bukit Lawang and Mentawai, for which I am thankful. If you are looking for the best weather, I highly recommend June.
How to Get to Sumatra?
From the US, there are no direct flights to Medan, the capital city of the island, so your best bet is to either fly into Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur via your local airline and then fly to Medan, where this itinerary begins, via AirAsia.
From Europe, you will also have to do the same by taking any flights to regional hubs like Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and flying to Medan from there via AirAsia.
From Asia, there are several flights within Southeast Asia that fly to Medan, mostly transiting via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, so you should have no trouble getting to Medan from Asia.
To find a cheap flight to Sumatra, I would recommend you use AirAsia, Skyscanner, or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Sumatra?
Sumatra is definitely not an easy place to get around due to its poor road conditions and its mountainous and thick jungle terrain that covers much of the island. To get from one place to another, you will likely have to dedicate an entire day for it, so be sure to keep that in mind when planning.
Tourist Bus: This is probably one of the easiest ways to get around North Sumatra. These tourist buses are operated by travel agencies, and they often run between tourist towns like Lake Toba, Berastagi, Medan, and Bukit Lawang. You can often book them through your accommodation, and they will pick you up from there.
They are a bit more expensive than public buses, but a bit faster as they go direct. When it comes to comfort, it's pretty much the same as they will often fit as many people as they can to maximize profit. That said, it varies from case to case and it's not as bad as you might think. I've been in way worse buses in West Sumatra.
To give you an example, when I was traveling from Lake Toba to Berastagi, we were put in an SUV with 1 person in front, 3 in the middle, and 3 at the back. It was definitely cramped at the back, but people got off along the way, so it got easier as time went on. When I traveled from Bukit Lawang to Medan, there was only another person in my car, so it was much more comfortable then.
For the price, it ranges from 100,000 IDR to 300,000 IDR depending on how far you are looking to travel. For example, Lake Toba to Berastagi is 250,000 IDR, while Lake Toba to Bukit Lawang is 280,000 IDR per person.
Shared Taxi: Another option that is similar to the above but a bit cheaper is to go with a shared taxi. You can often find these at the airport or bus terminals. They are basically a driver with his car, trying to pool people together just like the tourist bus, but for the locals and the price is a bit cheaper.
This is how I got around in West Sumatra as there is no tourist bus operating outside of North Sumatra (that I know of). The problem with this is it is subject to availability and so if you get to the airport and there is no one heading the same way, you might have to rely on public transportation instead.
Public Bus: This is your last resort when it comes to getting around Sumatra. In North Sumatra, the public bus/minivan is actually not bad at all. It is extremely cheap, comes with AC, and they don't pack too many people in a car. You just have to know where to go and make your own connection.
I did the Medan to Lake Toba leg, and it went smoothly. I took a DAMRI bus from the airport to the bus terminal in Medan and then caught another bus to Parapat. Then I boarded a ferry to Tuk-tuk, where I stayed overnight. Traveling with public transportation in North Sumatra is not hard as long as you plan carefully.
Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same for West Sumatra. West Sumatra is less developed when it comes to tourism infrastructure, and you will either have to rough it out or pay for a private taxi.
The bus I was on from Padang to Berastagi was a ride from hell. It had no AC, they fitted 22 people in a 16-seat van, and the main road was closed due to a recent disaster, so we had to take the mountain road. Instead of taking 2 hours like it used to, it took me 6 hours! It's definitely not for the faint of heart!
Private Taxi: Last but not least, you can hire a private taxi to take you from one place to another if you don't mind paying more. For long distances, the price for a private taxi should be around 500,000 IDR or more. You can organize it via your accommodation or travel agencies.
How Much Money Do I Need For A 1-month Trip To Sumatra?
From this 1-month itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: You can expect to spend a minimum of 300 USD for 26 days' worth of accommodation.
Food: For 27 days, you can expect to pay around 62 USD for food at local restaurants.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 3,013,000 IDR (187 USD) for transportation including tourist buses, flights to Padang, and a ferry around Mentawai.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 550 USD for activities, including the 3D2N orangutan trek, 5D4N tour visiting the Mentawai tribe, etc.
Total Budget for one month in Sumatra: $1,099 USD
Is it Safe in Sumatra?
I found Sumatra to be quite safe compared to places like Bali, where petty theft can be more common. Nonetheless, it's always wise to stay vigilant, especially if you're traveling alone. Avoid leaving your belongings unattended, ensure they are securely stored, and trust your instincts; following these precautions should keep you safe.
One thing to consider is transportation. The roads in Sumatra are often narrow and mountainous, which can make for challenging driving conditions. Drivers may also drive aggressively to avoid prolonged traffic delays, so it's essential to always wear seatbelts for safety whenever you travel around Sumatra.
For this itinerary, you will also be trekking in the jungle many times, always wear appropriately. Cover yourself up to avoid mosquitos and leeches, stay away from fluffy caterpillars, and make sure you have good travel insurance that covers just activities before you make the trip into the jungles. You can get travel insurance here.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Indonesia?
The best sim card operator in Indonesia is Telkomsel, and you should be able to grab one right at the airport. For me, it worked wonderfully in every place I mentioned in this itinerary except in the jungles, which is pretty understandable.
If you have a smartphone that supports eSIMs, I highly recommend you take a look at Klook eSIM. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from. I got a 30-day 10 GB data esim for only 10 USD.
The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it prior to your trip, so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local SIM card with 4G speed across the entire country.
WIFI connections are also readily available and reliable in most hotels and guesthouses in Sumatra nowadays, so you can also rely on that if you do not want to get a sim card for this trip. I would still recommend you get one though just in case you need to navigate around with your phone.
For more information on eSIMs in Indonesia, click here: Check Indonesia' Available eSIM.
What to Pack for Sumatra?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Indonesia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Indonesia
I hope this travel guide will help you plan your trip to Indonesia. I have visited Indonesia more times than I could count, and I have written many articles about the country.
If you are looking for more articles about Indonesia, here is a selection of articles that might help you plan your trip to Indonesia even more.
- Being the largest volcanic lake in the world, you can't visit Sumatra without visiting Lake Toba. Here are the 10 Awesome Things to do in Lake Toba, Sumatra.
- Want to travel to Lake Toba from Medan, but not sure how? Here's a guide for you: How To Get From Medan To Lake Toba.
- Berastagi is home to some of the most accessible volcanoes in Sumatra. It's definitely worth a stop if hiking a volcano is on your bucket list. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Berastagi.
- Want to see orangutans in the wild in Indonesia? The best place is Bukit Lawang and here's A Complete Guide to Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang.
- For West Sumatra, your journey will likely begin in Padang, the capital city of the province, with a ton of things to do. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Padang.
- Get off the beaten path in Sumatra and visit Bukittinggi, the old capital of the Pagaruyung Kingdom, and explore the highlands with this guide: 12 Best Things to Do in Bukittinggi.
- Want to visit Bukittinggi? Here are all the best ways you can travel there: How to Get to Bukittinggi: A Complete Guide
- One of the best islands to visit in Sumatra is Mentawai. It's not just a place for surfers. You can enjoy the beach, snorkeling, and even spend days living with the Mentaway tribe. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Mentawai.
- If you want to visit and live with the Mentawai Tribe in the jungle for a few days, this guide is for you: Visiting the Mentawai Tribe: A Complete Guide.
- Not sure how to get to the Mentawai Islands? Here is all the information you need from ferry schedules, costs, and more: How to Get to Mentawai: A Complete Guide
- Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Indonesia? One Month Itinerary for Indonesia.
- Are you planning to travel to Indonesia as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- If you are visiting Bali for the first time, here is a travel guide to get you started: 10 BEST Places To Visit In Bali.
- Jakarta is a massive city unlike any other, and there is quite a lot to do here if you know where to look. Here are the 8 Best Things To Do in Jakarta.
- Yogyakarta is a great cultural and historical place to visit in Indonesia, and there are plenty of things to see and do there. Here are the 9 Best Things To Do in Yogyakarta.
- Did you know that there is an island in Indonesia that is free of tourists? One of them is Karimunjawa, a true hidden gem island of Java. Here's a complete guide on how to travel to Karimunjawa island.
- Looking for an article that summarizes a trip through the Java island? Check out my photo essay of Java, Indonesia.
- Lombok is now gaining in popularity, but one of the best things you can do on the island is to trek Mount Rinjani, a volcano on a lake in another volcano on an island. Here's a complete guide on how to trek Mount Rinjani.
- Gili Trawangan is one of the most popular Gili islands in Lombok, and even though it's crowded, you can often find solitude if you know where to look. Plus, it's cheap. Here's an article about exploring Gili Trawangan.
- Komodo Island is one of the most unique experiences you can never experience anywhere. Here's a backpacking travel guide on how to explore the Komodo Islands (what to do, which cruise to pick and more).
- Want to visit Kelimutu lakes? Here's a complete travel guide on how to get to Kelimutu lakes in Flores.
- Flores is another great island that deserves way more credit than it receives. There's the Komodo islands, Kelimutu tri-colored lakes, and so much more. Here is a 10-day travel guide for Flores and Komodo Island.
- Watch a travel video I made about Bali, Lombok, and Flores here: Nusantara, a journey through Bali, Lombok, and Flores, Indonesia.
- Not convinced by my words about Indonesia and Southeast Asia? Check out my photographic journey through the subcontinent: 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia.
- Wondering where you want to go next? How about Timor Leste? Visit Timor Leste Travel Guide page for more information about traveling to Timor Leste.
- To see all articles about Indonesia, visit the Indonesia Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for Southeast Asia? You can find more on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
6 Comments
Thanks for a very useful guide.
However as a warning to other travellers I cannot recommend they stay at Ida guesthouse in Bukit Lawang.
I booked via one of the online booking sites after reading this and just tried to to check in. They
were rude from the start and then told me I couldnt stay because I had not booked a tour with them. He got ruder and the said I could stay a night or 2 but he couldnt care less.
For a country of kind, friendly people this guy who is the owners husband is a real piece of work.
Hi Steve,
Did you book it with Booking.com? Because you can raise the issue with the platform and they will be able to find you new accommodation in case things like this happen. That's pretty sad to see though as a friend of mind recommended me the place. :(
I love your blog and everything you recommend! As a fellow traveller I find your adventures such an inspiration for my own so thank you 🥰 however, I just want to update that Romlan has a very serious noise issue with karaoke next door which hinders what is meant to be such a relaxing experience!
Hey Emma, thank you for the update! I have read about this but I didn't hear anything. It could be that I was there on the weekdays! Were you there on the weekends?
Hi, thanks for the amazing work, I use your itineraries almost everywhere I go :)
One little note on the agency Lite N Easy, because you specialise in solo travelling, I want to mention that they only organise privete trips (minmum 2 people), so I wasn't able to go with them. But they were so kind to give me some suggestions.
Hey Dan, that's great to hear! I'm glad you found it useful. But yes, I did that trip private with the company as there aren't many travelers in Bukittinggi so that was my only option to see the surroundings. A little pricier but was worth the trip. :)