The Wonderful Harau Valley

One of the beautiful spots in Harau Valley

Have you ever heard of Harau Valley? If you are not from West Sumatra, I tell you that it is such a beautiful landscape! Locating between large, high cliffs, make this area suitable for hiking and cycling. Even you can do climbing cliff sport. This valley is also beautified by some waterfalls and rice fields belonging to local people. It is truly a rural atmosphere!

The rural atmosphere in Harau Valley

It is in Harau sub-district, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. I had ever stayed there for a month. I actually did not go there for recreation; recreation was my second planning. I stayed because I had an English class. Learning and free recreation, why not? I slept, eat, and learned at the course house, so I did not need extra fee for my recreation.

One of the waterfalls in Harau Valley

When days off in my course, it was on Saturday and Sunday, I enjoyed walking farther some kilometers into the Harau Valley area. I prefer going by foot than by motor. Touching directly with nature is always more satisfying. Many foreign tourists (western people and others) that also chose to walk by foot as I did.

Harau Valley English School, an English Course in Harau Valley

If you are a foreign tourist, please do not forget to visit Harau Valley English School. The students of this English course need you for practicing their English. Feel free to visit because the owner and tutor had some times invited a foreign tourist here.

Have a good vacation!

Mount Kerinci: The Roof of Sumatra

On the top of Mount Kerinci: 3805 masl

What are the best tourist destinations in Sumatra? The best in the challenge category is Mount Kerinci because it is the highest land on Sumatra island, I think. With height 3805 masl, it is also the second highest mountain In Indonesia after Mount Jaya Wijaya 4884 masl in Papua, so it is called The roof of Sumatra. It is in Jambi Province in Kerinci Regency. 

I, with my two older sisters, had been there several months ago. So I have things to share with you.

There is a basecamp for climbers namely Mak Jus basecamp. You can lodge and eat here at a cheap cost. From this, you will be escorted to The Gate of the Jungle using pick-up car. It is an entrance to the jungle of Mount Kerinci; its outside is farmland and, its inside is wilderness. It is lovely for seeing the tea farm and vegetable farm throughout the journey to The Gate of the Jungle.

My sisters are in Mount Kerinci

Inside this gate, in the middle of the jungle of Mount Kerinci with its steep tracks, to reach the top, you will pass through Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, then Shelter 1, Shelter 2, Shelter 3, and then finally the top of Mount Kerinci. There is a big water source in post 3; here you can fill your water bags. Climbing is a hard journey. You need to set a trick to save your energy.   

We took about 5 hours from the gate to Shelter 1. We set up a camp here, but other climber groups kept continuing their journey. You can choose to set a camp at shelter 1, Shelter 2, or Shelter 3; but I do not suggest you to reach Shelter 3 in one day. We ourselves continued our journey the next day.  From Shelter 1 to Shelter 3, we took 8 hours. This area has such a beautiful view. What I love the most are the rare yellow dandelions.

Mount Kerinci, you are....

Many climbers spend the whole night here. They will move to the top of the mountain in the next morning, passing through stones land and strong cold wind. It takes hours to reach the top. If you are lucky, you can enjoy the magnificent sunrise, great crater, beautiful clouds, other smaller mountains, the view below over there, and more.

We ourselves had extraordinary experiences such as eating sweet potato with its rind because worrying about our palms get cold if we took off the gloves, walking in the jungle at night that people say there are tigers in it, seeing trance people, and much more.

We were in the jungle of Mount Kerinci for 3 days and 3 nights!