Activities in Sumatra
Activities
 Surfing
The Indonesian archipelago is one of the world’s top surfing
destinations. The best time to surf is from April to September with
the best waves generally found on islands facing south and southwest,
including Bali, Flores, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sumba and Sumbawa.
Some well-known surfing beaches, such as Ulu Watu on Bali, tend
to get overcrowded, but organized trips to isolated areas are widely
available. Surf camps such as those at Cempi Bay (Sumbawa) or Lagundri
Bay (Nias) offer basic accommodation and simple food. Windsurfing
is particularly popular
on Bintan Island and Sanur and Nusa Dua beaches on Bali.
Diving
There are approximately 80,000km (50,000 miles) of coastline, reputed
to contain 15 per cent of the world’s coral reefs. In spite
of the obvious opportunities, Indonesia’s diving industry
is still relatively young, though the number of companies offering
courses and excursions is rising rapidly.
On Java island, the best diving is on the west coast, where three
volcanic islands mark the remains of the Krakatoa volcano (which
last erupted in 1883). Bali’s tourist stronghold in the Kuta,
Nusa Dua and Suar triangle offers easy and moderate diving, with
easily accessible reefs. Tours to more remote (and less busy) areas
are available. On the northern tip of Sulawesi island, the Taman
Nasional Laut Bunaken Manado Tua is a national marine reserve with
particularly steep coral walls; international air connections to
the island facilitate access. Further north, the lesser-known Sanggihe-Talaud
and Togian islands are reached by live-aboard dive boats. In the
south, Take Bone Rate is the world’s third-largest atoll,
while the Tukang Besi islands have featured extensively in the films
by the French underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. Nusa Tenggara’s
most popular sites are the three Gili islands near Lombok, whose
calm shallow waters are ideal for beginners. Maluku consists of
approximately 1000 islands and has only recently been discovered
as a top diving destination. Southeast of Ambon, the Bandana islands
are accessible by air and offer a number of sites suitable for beginners
and experienced divers. The major resort in the Sumatra and Riau
islands is Bintan, easily accessible from Singapore. The clearest
and most colorful dive sites are in Pulau Sikuai off the Padang
coast (western Sumatra) and Pulau Weh off Banda Aceh (northern Sumatra).
Irian Jaya also offers good diving around the famous Mapia Atoll
(where dolphins and killer whales can sometimes be spotted) and
the waters of Cenderawasih Bay off the western end of Bird’s
Head peninsula.
Climbing
The island of Sumatra is perhaps the best location. Gunung Padang,
near the island’s capital, Padang, is a small black basalt
cliff reached via a river-paddling trip followed by a trek through
rainforest. Further inland, Bukittinggi offers challenging cliffs
overlooking rice paddies. The dramatic canyon rocks in nearby Harau
National Park are still largely unexplored and should only be attempted
by experienced climbers.
Caving
Indonesia’s most accessible caves are on the island of Java
and include Luweng Jaran, stretching over 20km (125 miles) beneath
the Gunung Seuw mountain range; Gua Barat, which has the longest
underground river system in the southern hemisphere; and Gombong,
whose stone towers rise spectacularly to some 40m (132ft) above
sea level. On Kalimantan island, Mangkalihat offers a rarely visited
underground world of giant limestone corridors. Even less explored
are the isolated caves near Wamena on the remote Bird’s Head
peninsula in Irian Jaya.
Sailing
The majority of companies offering whitewater rafting are located
in Bali, where several rivers – including the Ayung, Balian,
Telega, Ubaya and Unda – are commercially rafted. Spectacular
rapids can also be found on the Citartik River (western Java), the
Sadan River (Sulawesi) and the Alas River (Sumatra). Rapids are
generally at their strongest between November and March. River tours
up the great Mahakam River on the island of Kalimantan, which is
dissected by a network of rivers running from the mountainous interior
to the coasts, are billed as a trip into the ‘heart of darkness’.
Starting from the port city Samarinda, such tours last for several
days (with onboard accommodation available) and continue deep into
the upper jungle reaches, where tribal communities have largely
preserved their traditions.
Trekking
Indonesia has some 120 active volcanoes and numerous volcano treks
are possible: on Java island, popular volcanic destinations include
Krakatoa (reached by a five-hour boat trip followed by a 30-minute
climb), Mount Bromo (the most visited of Indonesia’s volcanoes)
and Kawah Ijen (whose crater is filled by a turquoise-blue lake).
Those preferring dormant volcanoes may head to Gunung Agung in Bali
(known as the ‘Navel of the World’), Gunung Rinjani
on Lombok island (which has hot springs at the top and is revered
for its mystical qualities) and Keli Mutu on Nusa Tenggara Barat
(whose crater contains three spectacular mineral lakes). For jungle
trekking through the Indonesian rainforest, the islands of Irian
Jaya, Kalimantan and Sumatra offer the most remote and untouched
terrain. The best trails include trips to Bukit Barisan National
Park, a
remote and beautiful peninsula in Sumatra (with routes leading through
tropical rainforest onto a beach inhabited by turtles); the Muller
Mountain on Kalimantan (with a trail following the traditional jungle
route used by the native Iban people); and Lake Habbema on Irian
Jaya (a week-long trek to remote villages and mountains).
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