Berastagi Town and Karo highlands

pictures of volcanoes, maps, bus from Medan, Tahura national park and Sipiso piso waterfall

Berastagi's two active volcanoes are its main attractions. Sibayak, probably the most accessible of Indonesia's volcanoes, is 2,100 meters high and relatively easy to climb (but people have died while climbing). It takes about 3 hours to climb and the hot springs at its base are very relaxing after climbing down. Sinabung, the other volcano, at 2,400 meters is higher, steeper and much harder work. More information and safety advice on the climbs is provided by local guesthouses. Berastagi's altitude of 1,300 meters gives it a cool and comfortable climate. The countryside around Berastagi is the main fruit, vegetable and flower growing area for northern Sumatra and is famous for its passion fruit. Berastagi has a colorful fruit market, but the presence of so many tourists means that you are unlikely to get a good deal. To the south of Berastagi is lake Toba and the impressive Sipiso-piso waterfall. Villages around Berastagi contain some fine examples of traditional Karo Batak architecture. Just ten minutes, by bus, from Berastagi is Tahura National Park, a small but pleasant area of jungle. Guides also offer treks through plantations and jungle to Bukit Lawang. Such treks normally take three days, unless your guide becomes lost.

Photos of Berastagi, lake Toba and Sipiso piso waterfall, click to enlarge.
All photos © Imtiaz Dharssi

Travel information for Berastagi

 
• Location of Berastagi: Northern Sumatra, nearest city is Medan. Berastagi is north of Lake Toba and south-east of Bukit Lawang.
  
  
• Getting to Berastagi: Public buses leave frequently from Medan (Padang Bulan bus stand) to Berastagi (one and a half hour journey). These buses are very cheap but crowded and luggage has to stowed on the bus roof. Make sure that your luggage is securely locked as theft can be a problem. Tourist mini-buses are also available, these will pick you up from your hotel but only run once a day and are not as cheap as the public buses. Tourist mini-buses also connect Berastagi to Lake Toba and Bukit Lawang (via Medan).
  
  
• Flying to Sumatra: For Berastagi, the nearest international airport is Medan (airport code MES). MAS (Malaysia airline system), Jatayu air, Adam air and Lion air fly between Medan and Penang in Malaysia. A return ticket costs about US$70. Air Asia flies between Medan and Kuala Lumpur, a return ticket costs about US$60. There are also flights between Medan and Singapore.
  
  Cheap flights to Medan
  
  
• Accommodation: Wide range of accommodation to choose from. My favorite is Hotel Elshaddai which offers single rooms with shared bathrooms for Rp 20,000 per night. The bathrooms have showers with hot water. Top of the range is the Hotel Sibayak International (not to be confused with Wisma Sibayak or Sibayak multinational), this place is usually empty except at weekends when wealthy people from Medan visit or when package tourists arrive. There are also camping grounds which are popular with visiting students from Medan. 
  
  
• Food: Some very good restaurants. My favorite is the Villa Flores Restaurant which has great steaks and also offers pizza, pasta, falafels and more. Hotel Elshaddai restaurant serves very good Indonesian food. Cafe Raymond also serves good Western and Indonesian food.
  
  
• Costs: Great value, during year 2005 one pound could be exchanged for about Rp 18,000. The public bus fare from Medan to Berastagi is Rp 5,000, tourist mini-buses charge Rp 30,000 for the same journey. Tourist mini-buses to Lake Toba charge Rp 30,000 and the fare to Bukit Lawang is also Rp 30,000. Budget hotel rooms cost about Rp 20,000 per night. Cheap meals cost about Rp 10,000, a steak dinner costs about Rp 40,000. 
• Activities: Climbing volcanoes, jungle trekking, walking.

Good Points about Berastagi

• Lots of invigorating activities.
• Clean air, clean water, pleasant climate and good food.
• Great value.

Bad Points about Berastagi

• People have died trying to climb Sibayak or Sinabung. If in doubt, take an experienced guide with you. It is best to attempt the climb early in the morning before cloud covers the volcano.
• It can rain a lot and feel very cold.
• Very slow Internet access in Berastagi.