© istock/Elena Odareeva
© istock/Elena Odareeva

West Sumatra


West Sumatra is situated in the central part of the western coast of the island of Sumatra. Stretched from North Sumatra in the north-west to Bengkulu in the south-east, West Sumatra faces the Indian Ocean, together with its capital city Padang....

From spectacular volcanic highlands, picturesque valleys and lakes to surfer-friendly beaches, West Sumatra is for good reasons considered as one of the most beautiful provinces of Indonesia. Only in the territory of the Kerinci Seblat National Park, you can find South Asia’s tallest volcano Gunung Kernici (3805 m), a beautiful caldera of Danau Gunung Tujuh, as well as a lovely lake Danau Kerinci and impressive waterfalls of Air Terjun Telun Berasap. Water sports enthusiasts should know that an offshore archipelago of the Mentawai Islands is popular with surfers. If you are looking for an ideal off-the-beaten-path destination, head to the hill town Bukittinggi, from which you can explore a spellbinding Ngarai Sianok Canyon with gorgeous vistas. This area is also the heartland of Minangkabau people, an indigenous West Sumatra’s tribe and the world’s largest matriarchal society. They are also allegedly considered as the friendliest in Indonesia.