Where
to Go
Gunung Leuser National Park
Bukit Lawang
Tangkahan
Lake Toba
Berastagi
Mt. Sibayak
volcano
Mt. Sinabung
volcano
Sipisopiso
Waterfall
Tongging
Ketembe
Lake Kawar
Medan
What
to Do
Jungle
Trekking
Elephant
Trekking
White-Water
Rafting
River-Tubing
Volcano
Climbing
Bohorok
Orangutan Centre
Maimoon Palace
What
to Know
About "Hello
Mister Travel"
Introduction
to Sumatra
Topography
History
Getting to Sumatra
Getting Around Sumatra
Terms & Conditions
Accommodation
Bukit Lawang
Tangkahan
Berastagi
Tongging
Tuk Tuk
Ketembe
The Tours
Bukit Lawang Short Stay
The Jungle Trail
The Toba Trail
The North Sumatran Trail
Berastagi
Or
Brastagi as some spellings would have it, (I prefer it with the ‘e’ as
it forces you to pronounce the name more correctly) has been a welcome
retreat from the noise, hustle, bustle and heat of Medan
for years. It began its popular life when the Dutch and British
colonialists began to take breaks and retirement there and in fact you
can still find the original Shell Oil Company Hotel (originally known
as Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij) in town in its present guise as
the Bukit Kubu Hotel. Most of the old villas were burned down when the
Japanese invaded during the second world war and has meant that the
town itself has little in the way of beauty. However it is the scenery
and cool, clean air that most people come to enjoy in Brastagi;
snuggled as it is in the lush Karo Highlands and at the feet of Mt.
Sinabung and Mt. Sibayak; both active
volcanoes that you can climb in a day.
This
home to the Karo Batak people is famed for its plantations, fruit and
flowers and its well worth a walk around the market in the centre of
town, sampling the renowned Marquisa fruits and enjoying banter with
the vendors. Another market in town is worth a visit as it caters more
to the locals and has a more authentic feel to it. A nice stroll in the
evening is up Gundaling Hill where you can find a nice spot to look out
over Mt.
Sinabung and the surrounding area. There are a number of
losmens, homestays and hotels in town catering for all needs and
budgets.
What to Do in Berastagi
- Climb one or both of the volcanoes.
- Go horse-riding.
- Hike to Bukit Lawang.
- Relax in the nearby hot-springs.
- Visit Sipisopiso Waterfall.
- Visit Lake Kawar
- Visit a traditional Batak village.
- Wander around the markets.
- Play golf.
For Accommodation click here...
How to Get to Berastagi
