What to do in North Sumatra, the secret Indonesia keeps from you

North Sumatra has been one of the most exciting regions that we visited in Indonesia. Sumatra is the second biggest island in the country and, while it has many attractives, its main draw is its natural richness, being home to diverse ecosystems and some of the most elusive and endangered species of animals, such as the the Sumatran tiger, orangutan or elephant; and plants, such as the corpse flowers Amorphophallus titanum or Rafflesia arnoldii. Within this natural beauty we can find dramatic landscapes in Sumatra, including lush jungles, extensive plains, cliffs and volcanoes, paradisiac islands and abundant lakes and waterfalls.

Sumatra is too big a territory to sum up in one post, so I will focus on the region of North Sumatra. From its intense capital Medan to the biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park, the dramatic beauty of Lake Toba and the picture perfect Nias islands, North Sumatra is like a miniature Sumatra. Continue reading to discover what to do in North Sumatra in your next Indonesian adventure!

lake toba

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Post Contents

1. Go jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra

On of the main reasons people visit North Sumatra is to explore its jungles and, more specifically, to see orangutans. There are only two places in the world where orangutans can be seen in the wild and, while Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo is the more popular option due to the way it is set up for tourists to see semi-wild orangutans, Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra is more authentic, respecting more the animals’ natural behaviour.

orangutans sumatra

Gunung Leuser is an extensive territory, but the unbeaten location to see orangutans has for a long time been Bukit Lawang, a small river town at the border of the jungle and former home of an orangutan rehabilitation center. While this is the main gateway for tourists to find orangutans in North Sumatra, there are other alternatives that we think may be better and more sustainable, which we have explained in the following posts:

Where to see orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia

Our experience in Batu Katak in Sumatra, Indonesia

2. Climb Mount Sibayak in Berastagi

It is no secret that one of the biggest attractives in Indonesia are its volcanoes, and Sumatra is no exception. While Sumatra is home to 68 volcanoes (it is located in what is known as the Pacific ring of fire), one of the most visited is Mount Sibayak.

volcano sumatra

Mount Sibayak is a volcano located on the outskirts of the city of Berastagi. Because of the low difficulty of climbing, it has been a touristic attraction since colonial times. The trekking takes approximately 3h and can be done without a guide, although if you’re aiming to reach the summit for the sunrise we strongly recommend hiring a guide. Since Mt. Sibayak is the main attraction of Berastagi, it is very likely that your accommodation can help you arrange a guide for your trek. When you summit, if the weather allows, you’re in for amazing views of the region, including the active Mt. Sinabung. For more details keep reading this useful post by North Abroad:

Sibayak Volcano Sunrise Trekking Guide: All You Need to Know

3. Explore the Batak culture in Lake Toba

One of the most unique regions in North Sumatra is Lake Toba. This lake is located within the crater of a dormant volcano, and it is the largest of its kind. Within the lake, there is an island called Samosir, roughly the same size as Singapore. The isolation of the island within the lake has given the people that live in it a unique culture, the Batak Toba, a lot of which remains to this day and can be easily explored when visiting the region.

Batak Toba houses in Tuk Tuk

The high altitude of Lake Toba gives it a moderate alpine temperature, a very welcome refreshment from the high heat and humidity in other areas. This is also reflected in the landscape, with dramatic hills and tropical pine forests. The area is full with incredible viewpoints, beautiful waterfalls, delicious local food and interesting cultural sites.

Have a look at my dedicated post about Lake Toba:

What to do in Lake Toba, Sumatra

lake toba

4. Go chasing waterfalls in Sipiso Piso

If volcanoes are one of the major attractions in Indonesia, waterfalls are another one. There is no shortage of them around the country, but the most famed waterfall in Sumatra is, without a doubt, Sipiso Piso. This waterfall is very special because it comes from an underwater river and falls down a cliff uninterrupted for 120m (400 ft).

sipiso piso

You can easily take some nice pictures from above, but we highly recommend doing the short trek down to the waterfall for even more amazing picture opportunities. It is a very easy trek with steps along the way, but make sure you bring some decent shoes as the floor can get slippery.

5. Get a taste of real Indonesian food in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra

Medan is the capital of North Sumatra and, most likely, your entering point to the region. While this massive city is not exactly an attractive tourist destination, it does not lack some charms. The most important one being the food, as Medan is considered one of the best places for food in Indonesia.

This could be a whole post so I will just give you some key recommendations. Try the beef or chicken curry at Rumah Makan Tabona (my favourite), delicious duck noodles at Bihun Bebek Asie, heartwarming Soto Medan soup at Soto Kesawan or char siu at Chasio Asan. For street food stalls, have a go at Jalan Selat Panjang or Jalan Semarang, and inside the market at Pasar Ramai. Medan is also home of great coffee, so get your share of caffeine at Poppin Coffee or Guzva Coffee.

: Beef curry @Rumah Makan Tabona

: Chicken satay from a street food stall (Jl. Selat Panjang)

: Specialty coffee @Poppin Coffee

6. Catch a wave in Nias island

You thought surf was out of the picture in North Sumatra? Well, think again. This is still Indonesia so you can always catch some waves. And the best place to do this in North Sumatra is Nias, a relatively big island located on its Western coast.

Nias Island off the coast of North Sumatra. Image by Janice Reid from Pixabay

The Nias island is a little tricky to get to, since it is a bit isolated from main touristic locations. However, a few airlines operate from Kuala Namu airport in Medan. To my knowledge, Lion Air is the only one offering online booking (although I must say I am not a fan of the company). Another option (probably easier) is to get to Sibolga Port and catch a ferry to Gunung Sitoli Port (8 to 12 hours, yikes! but if the sea is calm is quite nice) by Pelni company.

Where to stay in North Sumatra

While not as touristically developed as Bali, North Sumatra can still cater to all kinds of travellers, especially in tourist hot spots such as Bukit Lawang and Lake Toba. Book your accommodation through Booking.com or using the map below:

Booking.com Booking.com

Closing remarks

North Sumatra is not only dramatically beautiful but it is also abundantly diverse, unapologetically wild and, most importantly, touristically unexploited. You can spend days without seeing a single tourist but you can also find them if you need to. There are rarely lines or overpriced attractions, but it has enough infrastructure to make your travels relatively easy. Also, Sumatra is a BIG island, so you can pair your visit to North Sumatra with other Sumatran regions.

Aceh is the northernmost region in Sumatra and it is home to the interesting city of Banda Aceh and the paradise island of Pulau We. Alternatively, West Sumatra may charm you with the dramatic Harau and Sianok valleys of Bukittingi, the vastness of Lake Maninjau, Mt. Kerinci, the highest volcano in Indonesia, the lively and gastro-oriented city of Padang and the waves of the Mentawai Islands.