Rainforest, Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

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Sumatra

Few isles tempt the imagination with the lure of adventure quite like the wild land of Sumatra. An island of extraordinary beauty, it bubbles with life and vibrates under the power of nature. Eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are Sumatran headline-grabbers. Steaming volcanoes brew and bluster while standing guard over lakes that sleepily lap the edges of craters. Orangutan-filled jungles host not only our red-haired cousins, but also tigers, rhinos and elephants. And down at sea level, idyllic deserted beaches are bombarded by clear barrels of surf.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • jambi, September-2018,View of Candi Muara Jambi complex on a cloudy day. Candi Muara Jambi is a Buddhist temple complex located in Jambi province - indonesia

    Muara Jambi

    Sumatra

    This scattering of ruined and partially restored temples is the most important Hindu-Buddhist site in Sumatra. The temples are believed to mark the…

  • Sibayak volcano at sunrise, northern Sumatra, Indonesia; Shutterstock ID 283076438; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Gunung Sibayak

    North Sumatra

    Famous for its steamy sulphurous fumaroles, Gunung Sibayak (2094m) is one of Indonesia’s most accessible volcanoes. Getting to the summit for sunrise is a…

  • Mesjid Raya Baiturrahman

    Mesjid Raya Baiturrahman

    Banda Aceh

    With its brilliant-white walls, ebony-black domes and towering minaret, this 19th-century mosque is a dazzling sight. The best time to visit is during…

  • Pulau Penyenget

    Pulau Penyenget

    Pulau Bintan

    Pulau Penyenget, reached by frequent boats (7000Rp) from the Tanjung Pinang pier, was once the capital of the Riau rajahs. The ruins of the old palace of…

  • Gunung Kerinci

    Gunung Kerinci

    West Sumatra

    Dominating the northern end of Kerinci Seblat National Park is Gunung Kerinci (3805m), Southeast Asia’s tallest volcano and one of Sumatra’s most active…

  • Fort Marlborough

    Fort Marlborough

    Sumatra

    Set on a hill overlooking the Indian Ocean, the star-shaped Benteng Marlborough, a former British fort, became the seat of British power in Bengkulu after…

  • Museum Pusaka Nias

    Museum Pusaka Nias

    Sumatra

    This superb museum, housed inside several traditional-style buildings, offers an in-depth introduction to the indigenous culture of Nias. The displays run…

  • Tsunami Museum

    Tsunami Museum

    Banda Aceh

    A visit to this beautifully designed, hard-hitting museum commences with a walk through a dark, dripping tunnel that symbolises the 2004 tsunami waves…

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Articles

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Hiking on the forested slopes of Gunung Tujuh, Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra. Image by Mark Eveleigh

Wildlife & Nature

Exploring Sumatra’s Kerinci Seblat National Park: where tigers still roam

Feb 2, 2015 • 5 min read

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Go Beyond

Sumatra and beyond

Beyond Sumatra
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