Sumatra
Discover the largest island of Indonesia and its uniqueness
A long time ago Sumatra had another name: "the island of gold", this was because of its large gold mines. The island was a dutch colony for many years even though control of the island switched between various countries for centuries.
It is the largest island of Indonesia and the sixth largest island in the world.
Sumatra attracts a great number of tourists every year mainly due to its unique wildlife and the excellent conditions for surfing.
Without a doubt the main attraction of Sumatra is its wildlife, the island hosts many species which can only be found inside of it. the island is home to many endangered species, most notably the sumatran tiger, the sumatran rhinocerus and, most notably, the sumatran orangutan.
The sumatran orangutan is in serious risk of extinction with approximately only 250 adult specimens alive, they are unique to the island and differentiate themselves from other orangutas by its smaller size, they are solitary and like to live on the trees, their uniqueness has drawn the attention of many tourists and scientifics.
Sumatra is a surfist's heaven, providing quality locations for lovers of the sport, the most popular spots are Banyak islands and Mentawai islands.
There are many interesting locations to enjoy in Sumatra, here are some ideas.
Medan, the largest city on the island is home to indonesia's biggest buddhist temple.
After enjoying the city its time to pay a visit to the famous orangutans, Bukit lawang allows the traveller to appreciate nature's beauty and grants access to Gunung Leuser national park.
For travellers looking to marvel themselves we recommend Berastagi and its numerous volcanos.
Way Kambas National Park is the perfect place for animal enthusiasts as it is home to the Sumatran elephant.
FAQ ABOUT SUMATRA
1 / How to get to Sumatra?
It is possible to get to the island by plane at the Bandara Kuala Namu airport in Medan. Travellers can also get to the island by taking a ferry from Java island to the south of Sumatra.
2 / How to get around in Sumatra?
The public transport of Sumatra is well functioning and provides many bus connections, other option to move around would be in taxi or renting a car or a scooter (quite common method of transportation for tourists).
3 / It is safe to vist Sumatra?
Generally speaking the island is very safe and peaceful, if tourists act cautiously around animals and take necessary measures accidents are unusual.