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

FAQ about Sumatra

What are the visa requirements?

Visitors to Indonesia can obtain a visa-on-arrival from most ports of entry. There is a 7-day or 30-day visa at a cost of $10 or $25 respectively. You can pay in rupiahs but it works out much more expensive. If you're coming from an ASEAN country you can enter with on a free visa for trips of less than 30 days. It's also possible to arrange a 60-day visa but this must be done through an embassy.

You must have return or onward tickets to show at Immigration or face deportation. Theoretically you're supposed to show a health certificate too although I've never known anyone to be asked to show one. The passport of the applicant must be legal for at least 6 months starting from the day of entry in Indonesia.

Overstaying foreigners need to pay a penalty worth 20 US dollars a day on a per person basis. This penalty remains active for 60 days. If foreigners overstay after this period, they will be reported to local police authorities where they face the possibility of spending jail time worth 5 years or being fined 25.000.000 Indonesian Rupee.

How do I get to Sumatra?

Please see our "Getting to Sumatra" entry in the "What to Know" section.

When's the best time to come?

Anytime! Unlike many places in South East Asia, Sumatra doesn't have very distinctive seasons. In theory there is a wet season from September until February and then a dry season from March to August, but global warming appears to have blurred the distinction. You're just as likely to be rained on in May as you are in November. When it does rain, it's generally a heavy downpour, often in the evening, and it quickly dries up. The month of Ramadan can make it tricky to find food during the day but it shouldn't be a problem in any of the tourist destinations.

What's Ramadhan?

Ramadhan is the Islamic fasting month. During the hours of daylight, nothing may pass the lips of a Muslim. This means that many restaurants and cafes are closed until the evening. In Medan, the street next to the Grand Mosque (Mesjid Raya) is closed off and filled with many food stalls; it's quite a festive atmosphere at night and well worth a visit. Ramadhan follows the lunar calendar and so is earlier each year. The end of the month is Idul Fitri, a cause for great celebration when everybody visits family and eats lots of of food. Bus, plane and ferry travel is much more expensive around this time.

What are the people like?

Friendly and polite. They will often ask you questions about where you are from, whether you're married, how old you are etc. Such direct questions aren't customary in the West, but you shouldn't feel offended by them; it's normal here. It's also polite to ask questions in return, otherwise you may cause offence!

Should I take Malaria medication?

The advice and information about malaria in Sumatra is scarce and contradictory. The facts are that there is malaria here and you should do all of the usual things to help prevent getting it: use a deet-based mosquito repellent, sleep under a mosquito net etc. However, I know nobody who has contracted it here and nobody who takes malaria prophylactics. My advice would be to not take any but see a doctor immediately if you should experience any flu-like symptoms during or after your holiday; also infrom your doctor that you have been in Sumatra. But at the end of the day, the choice is yours to make. More common here, but still not prevalent, is Dengue Fever which is also carried by the mosquito. The symptoms are similar to malaria, with headache, nausea, aching bones and fever. It is not curable but rarely fatal; treatment involves drinking plenty of fluids and taking paracetamol. It is usually over within a week to ten days.

Is Sumatra safe?

Yes! Violent crime is unusual here and it's quite safe to walk the streets, even at night. As in any city you should be careful about keeping your valuables safe and hidden away, but it's safer here than in most Western cities. Tensions between the government and Aceh have relaxed considerably since it was granted a semi-autonomous status, and there have been no terrorist attacks in Sumatra.

What's the best way to get around?

There are plenty of buses in Sumatra, and they go everywhere. They're usually crowded, dusty and hot, with seats made for people a couple of sizes smaller than most of us Westerners. But they are an experience and a great way to meet the locals. There's no real train system to speak of, other than a couple of rickety old lines to uninviting destinations. You can hire a car or motorbike if you trust yourself on the roads; Sumatrans are not the most considerate or careful of road users; and you will need an international driving licence. If your budget stretches to it, hiring a car & driver is probably the most ideal method of getting about; it gives you a chance to relax and see the country without the hassle of thinking about directions or timetables.

Is food included in the price of my tour?

Food is provided when trekking, rafting, tubing or elephant trekking all day or longer. Otherwise we leave you free to sample the fine delights of Sumatran cuisine at your own leisure and expense. Food in Sumatra is exceedingly inexpensive.

Book now!
Jungle trek tours starting at only €99pp! Visit the famous Bohorok Orangutan Centre, trek into the jungle and experience Gunung Leuser National Park. Click here for more details.

"The journey to Lake Toba from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, is quite long and arduous -- three to four hours should be allowed -- but as one approaches the lake's shores, one is simultaneously filled with a sense of relief and exciting anticipation about what is about to be revealed..." read more from The Jakarta Post.