Adventures

Kerinci Seblat National Park is the largest national park on the island of national park on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It has a total area of 13,791 km2 and spans four provinces: West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu and South Sumatra. The park area includes a large part of the Barisan mountain range, which forms the western spine of Sumatra island and includes the highest peak in Sumatra, mount Kerinci (3,805 m), one of more than five active volcanoes in the national park. Stretching across a swathe of land more than twice the size of Bali, Sumatra’s largest national park offers ample adventure for those dreaming to see Indonesia at its wildest. The road from Padang city winds steadily up into the highlands through forests where hornbills swoop through the jungle canopies and macaque monkeys line the roads hoping for tidbits. Travelling times can often be deceptive in Indonesia but the eight-hour drive from the city to Sungai Penuh, the base for most people who want to explore Kerinci Seblat National Park, is arguably one of Southeast Asia’smost scenic. Most visitors to Kerinci Seblat National Park come to climb Gunung Kerinci. At 3,805m it’s the highest active volcano in Southeast Asia, and the trek is considered to be a wilder, more challenging alternative to the more well-trodden volcanoes of Java. The steep climb follows a straight path without any switchbacks, but the views from the summit are unbeatable. Most trekkers complete the round trip in two days, but an extra day gives you a better chance of catching clear conditions and spotting more wildlife along the way.