West Sumatra

The road to Padang

An impressive trip through the rain forest

Lake Toba

The route to West Sumatra

The journey to West Sumatra along Lake Toba is a lovely route.
After leaving Prapat, the main harbor on Lake Toba, we proceed via terraced rice fields on the borders of the lake, while on our left hand the impressive Bukit Barisan mountain range rises up.
We pass traditional Toba Batak villages surrounded by waringin trees, some hundreds years old and impressive King's graves while all along the road yellow and red flowers are beautifying the region.
The temperature is sub tropical and therefore not too hot. For many visitors the Toba Batak highlands are one of the highlights of Sumatra. On the way we pass by the hot sulphur springs of Sipopholon. In due time we arrive at Tarutung, the centre of the protestant Batak Church.
After Tarutung we have the choice to take the road with the thousand curves, to the old harbour town of Sibolga, on the west coast, on the Indian Ocean, or continue the Trans Sumatra highway to Padang Sidempuan.
If we go to Sibolga you can count over eleven hundred bends on this road through the Bukit Barisan mountain ranges. Towards the end, we are rewarded with a view of the beautiful natural harbour of Sibolga high up from the mountains.

If we don’t take the road to Sibolga but continue straight on from Tarutung to Padang Sidempuan, we arrive after several hours via many Batak Tapanuli villages, in the town of the 'salak' or sweet sour snake skin fruit.
After an overnight stay in Padang Sidempuan you continue the next day for the long drive to Bukittinggi in West Sumatra.
This is a fascinating road where we drive straight through jungle covered mountains, deep valleys with rice fields and beautiful rivers. You will pass the equator in Bonjol which is marked with a huge monument. In the afternoon you will arrive in the mountain city of Bukittinggi.

To reach Padang behind the Minangkabau highlands, you travel along this winding mountain road ending in the beautiful city of Bukittinggi, the former 'Fort de Kock'.
From Bukittinggi it is four hours drive to Padang via the beautiful Anai Valley, or an additional day if you follow the costal route with an overnight stay at the borders of the lake Maninjau.

Places on your way:

along the route to the coast of the Indian ocean:

The equator at Bonjol

Or along the Trans Sumatran Highway :


South of Padang lies the Kerinci Seblat nature reserve,
can to be reached along the costal route or from the Trans-Sumatran Highway.


Route description: see
10 days program
minimum tour-duration of 8 days is advised.


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