Natural Attractions in North Sumatra that Will Make Your Vacation Perfect
Field. The largest city outside of Java turned out to be rich in variety of natural attractions that would make anyone chuckle. The Bukit Barisan Mountains which stretch from north to south have guaranteed the availability of beautiful panoramas. As a bonus, in the mountains lies Lake Toba and Samosir Island whose beauty is well known abroad.
| white crater in dolok tinggi |
But for those of you who feel that the main sights of Lake Toba are too
mainstream, there is no harm in coming with us to explore the other side
of Lake Toba and other natural attractions that are not less stunning.
Let's explore other natural landscapes, both on mountains and beaches,
each of which has its own uniqueness.
Well, for you nature lovers, before you start packing, it's a good idea to
open and revisit your itinerary and get ready to meet the new natural
attractions in Medan that are no less exciting.
How to get there from Jakarta
- The flight to Medan takes around 2 hours 30 minutes. Your journey will end at Kuala Namu Airport, one of the best airports in Indonesia. From here, you can continue the journey by train, the schedule here (Currently, Medan is the only city in Indonesia where the airport is connected to the train), DAMRI bus, or taxi.
- For those who prefer to travel overland, the travel time ranges from 2 to 3 days. So, before starting the journey by bus, make sure you are in top condition. Although, beautiful scenery along the island of Sumatra will be your loyal travel companion.
1. Feel the unique and white snow that doesn't make you freeze: Dolok Putih Raja High Crater
Okay, there really isn't snow here. This is a crater filled with hot water
with turquoise water. The crater is surrounded by white limestone, so the
arinya looks like a stretch of ice.
This place is quite similar to the White Crater in the Ciwidey Region,
West Java. It's just, much quieter and not too exposed by the traveler.
There is also a stream of river water that blends with the hot water flow.
However, this water alloy does not feel hot so many visitors use it for
bathing.
King Dolok Kawah Putih
Price: IDR 5,000 for parking
Address: Dolok Marawa, Silau Kahean, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra.
How to get there: There are two alternative roads that can be taken from
the city of Medan, which takes about 3-4 hours.
1) Medan - Lubuk Pakam - Tebing Tinggi - Dolok Tinggi Raja,
2) Medan - Lubuk Pakam - Galang - Dolok Masihul - Dolok Tinggi Raja.
It should be noted that this path can only be traversed by motorcycle
because of the narrow road.
2. He exclaimed through rapids in the midst of the silence of the forest: Wampu River Rafting
The Wampu River does have a variety of unique and interesting offers for
you. Challenging rapids, enchanting tropical forests, waterfalls and
breathtaking river valley views.
Sometimes, you can see the activities of the locals who are fishing in the
river, interesting, right?
This river has several tributaries that will make your rafting adventure
even more memorable. The often traversed path usually starts from Marike
Village and ends at Bahorok Bridge
If you are still not satisfied, it is better to stop by the hot spring
which is also available there to relax for a moment.
Wampu River Rafting
Price: Starting from IDR 250,000 per person (min. 6 people)
Address: Maryke Village, Kutambaru District, Langkat Regency, North
Sumatra.
Getting There: It is recommended to start the rafting from Maryke Village
which is 1.5 - 2 hours drive from Medan City via Binjai.
3. The excitement of seeing the flow of water in tandem breaks down between rocks: Beach Snow
Disclaimer: This place is called "Snow Beach" with quotes, because this
is not a beach and not snowy. But that does not mean there is nothing
extraordinary here.
This place is actually a river whose flow is filled with a variety of
unique rocks. The river water flows hand in hand and breaks down when it
crashes into rocks, which according to the locals become like "snow."
The rocks that stick out in the middle of the river flow are unique. A
time to stop by at the ideal Spot to add to your photo collection!
The facilities of this place are not yet widely available, however you can
rent tires from the surrounding community to enjoy the cool water there
Snow Beach
Price: IDR 15,000 (car park)
Address: Mabar Village, Bangun Purba District, Deli Serdang Regency.
How to Get There: This place is approximately 3 hours from Medan, via
Tanjongmorawa, then turn right after the office of PT Perkebunan Nusantara
II, then continue on towards Batu Lokong, Bangun Purba, until reaching
Mabar Village.
Coordinates here.
4. Play with elephants and discover the beauty of nature behind the lush forests: Tangkahan - Langkat
Behind the lush forests in Gunung Leuser National Park, hidden exciting
tourist attractions that have been loved by many travelers: Tangkahan.
One of the attractions of this place is that travelers can bathe elephants
while in the midst of the forest.
For those of you who are not satisfied to go around the forest and play
with elephants, trekking paths are available with an equally interesting
sight.
Tangkahan also has several waterfalls that are very clear water, you know.
You can choose to swim or just soak to enjoy the cool water and beautiful
panorama.
Tangkahan
Price: IDR 3,000 per person, IDR 10,000 (car park) IDR 5,000 (motorcycle
parking)
Address: Namu Sialang, Batang Serangan, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.
Telephone: 0813 158 9019, 0878 8800 2004
How to Get There: From Medan, go to the City of Stabat, then proceed to
Seberang Palm, Batang Serangan, then head to Tangkahan.
Coordinates here.
Dive into the beauty and absorb the sounds of nature in the swift waterfall
The headwaters of the Bukit Barisan Mountains carve many beautiful
waterfalls that will amaze your entire senses. And each of these
waterfalls has their own uniqueness and beauty. Even though there are only
3 waterfalls recorded here, the actual list of unique waterfalls around
Medan is even longer.
But there are things that visitors need to watch out for, namely the flow
of water that can become swiftly in the event of rain on the mountain. So,
visitors must always be vigilant so as not to be washed away by the flow
of the river.
5. Simangande Waterfall
This waterfall with two large levels rises as high as 500m! Right. Maybe
this waterfall has not been included in the highest waterfall archives in
Indonesia, because if it is true then this waterfall will undoubtedly
become a new champion.
Do not stop there, the stone walls are heart-shaped, so that visitors are
often dubbed "the waterfall of love." Yup, adding romance in the middle of
the wilderness. What are you waiting for, prepare your camera and snap!
Unfortunately, this waterfall can now dry up in the dry season. So, try
your luck in the rainy season.
As a bonus, you can also enjoy views of Lake Toba from here while waiting
for the sun to rise in the eastern horizon. Perfect!
Simangande Waterfall
Address: Between Tuktuk and Tomok Village, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra
Getting There: The journey begins by ferry from Parapat Harbor to Tomok
Harbor on Samosir Island. After that, you can continue with a motorcycle
taxi to Garoga Village and proceed to this waterfall. Travelers can also
see it from Bukit Beta in Tuktuk Village.
Coordinates here.
6. Two-Colored Waterfall
The foot of Mount Sibayak has a waterfall that is quite unique. Waterfalls
with two gradations of color, underneath are white and gray, while the
falls are light blue. Not only the color, the temperature of the water is
also different where the white water will feel warmer.
This waterfall has a height of 100 meters and is located at an altitude of
about 1,400m above sea level. Coupled with the lush forests around him,
making this waterfall worth visiting.
It is said that the water here contains sulfur which is good for skin
health. But, it is not recommended to drink it, because it will be
dangerous.
Access to the waterfall is quite difficult you know. Therefore, it is
recommended to wear shoes and clothes that are comfortable for trekking.
Don't worry, all fatigue is guaranteed to pay off after arriving here.
Two Colored Waterfall
Address: Suka Makmur Village, Sibolangit District, Deli Serdang Regency,
North Sumatra.
How to Get There: This waterfall is located near Jalan Raya Sidikalang -
Medan. This waterfall can be reached in 2-3 hours on foot from the main
entrance of the Sibolangit Campground.
7. Sampuren Putih: A seven-level waterfall
Right, as the name suggests, this waterfall is seven stories high with a
total height of about 150m. Water that falls forms white foam, so it is
given the name "Sampuren Putih."
But this "timid" waterfall only leaves its final level clearly visible.
The remaining six levels are covered by cliffs and extra effort is needed
to climb the forest with quite challenging terrain.
The base of the waterfall is quite shallow and filled with small rocks. In
addition, it is said that the water also has sulfur content so that many
travelers choose to soak here.
Sampuren Putih Waterfall
Address: Basukum Village, Sibolangit District, Deli Serdang Regency, North
Sumatra
How to Get There: From Medan, you have to go to the Sibolangit area and
then go to Simpang Bukum, then turn left past the village of Sikeben, then
then pass
Martelu Village, Ketangkuhen Village, Sukamaju Village, Sanggehen Village,
and Basukum Village.
8. Visiting the orangutan's original habitat: Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang's journey as a tourist attraction stems from captive
orangutans established by an organization from Switzerland. Well, since
then the travelers began to come there to see the orangutan's original
habitat.
This is the perfect place to see orangutan behavior in their natural
habitat.
You can also do other activities. There is an awesome bat cave, the
Bohorok River which is definitely not to be missed by tubing enthusiasts.
Other options? Pamper your tongue while relaxing in the Bamboo Ship
Restaurant, the latest attraction designed to blend with the beautiful
natural surroundings.
For those of you who want to visit it, it is strongly recommended not to
feed orangutans, because it turns out human food can be dangerous for
them, you know. Remember yes!
Bukit Lawang
Price: Rp. 5,000 per person, Rp. 20,000 (car park) Rp. 3,000 (motorcycle
parking)
Address: Bukit Lawang, Bohorok, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.
How to get there: From Medan, you have to pass Binjai, then look for Jalan
Gatot Subroto and follow that road all the way to Jalan Binjai - Kuala.
Keep going and you will reach Bukit Lawang. You can take public
transportation from the Pinang Baris terminal to Bukit Lawang.
9. Immersed in the temptations of natural exoticism: Mursala Island, Sibolga
Mursala Island is located off the coast of Sibolga which is surrounded by
the Indian Ocean. Some sources say that this island became famous because
it became the location for filming a King Kong movie made by Hollywood,
you know.
Despite the truth of that claim, this island does have topnotch tourism
potential! The nature is still original and the underwater biodiversity is
extraordinary. Want to meet Nemo, the clown fish in the movie Finding
Nemo? There is!
Visit the island's most popular uniqueness: a waterfall that directly
empties into the sea. the sea passes through a reddish granite cliff on
the edge of the island. The height of the cliff is around 35 meters. How
charming!
We suggest leaving in the morning and returning to Sibolga in the
afternoon, because it is not possible to spend the night on this island.
Mursala Island
Price: Rp1,500,000 (rent a wooden boat), Rp.2,500,000 (rent a speedboat).
Address: Tapian Nauli, Kabupaten Tapanuli Tengah, North Sumatra.
Getting There: Come to the wooden boat or speedboat rental at Bosur Beach
or Kalangan Beach to visit Mursala Island. Travel time to this island is
around 3 hours by wooden boat or 1 hour by speedboat. Another option is to
follow the minicruise (link here) from Naulicruise.
10. Explore the new natural atmosphere in the middle of the mangrove forest: Kampoeng Nipah Mangrove Beach
Here, visitors will be treated to a row of mangroves from the footpath 1.5
meters wide above sea level made of wood and bamboo
Spot that you must visit is the bridge that connects the beach with
mangrove forests. The most suitable place to capture the beauty of the
entire forest, while adding to your Instagram photo collection.
After enjoying the mangrove forest, relax while enjoying the beauty of the
white sandy beach, or visit the shop managed by the local community.
Apparently, this tourist attraction is managed independently by residents
around you know, from the entrance ticket, parking guard, to the food
seller, under the guidance of the local Tourism Office. Extraordinary!
Kampoeng Nipah Mangrove Beach
Price: Rp10,000
Address: Muara Maimbai Village, Sei Nagalawan District, Serdang Bedagai
Regency, North Sumatra Province.
Operating Hours: 8:00 - 18:00
11. Feel the natural properties of sulfur baths while at the foot of the mountain: Sidebuk-debuk Hot Spring
Already know that sulfur water has various properties to rejuvenate the
skin, or for those who often suffer from aches or lumbago.
This natural hot spring located at the foot of Mount Sibayak contains 16
to 20 percent sulfur. Here you can enjoy the cool mountain air, warm hot
spring baths, and restore freshness at once.
The manager provides several ponds with different water temperatures,
which can be chosen according to taste. But, the properties remain the
same, because the sulfur contained in each pool is still the same.
Oh yes, unlike natural hot spring baths in general, here there is a
circular slide that is quite high. Anyway exciting!
Sidebuk-debuk Hot Spring
Price: Rp10,000
Address: Daulu Village, Berastagi District, Karo District, North Sumatra.
Telephone: 0823 4679 7958
Operating Hours: 8:00 - 18:00
Getting There: This tourist attraction is located on the edge of the
highway between Medan and Berastagi. Note the junction to the right near
the radio transmitter pole and sutet. Turn right and the bath is located
not far from the T-junction.
Coordinates here.