You can go rafting on the river nearby and watch the orangutans as they come up to the riverbank. Visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center at Bukit Lawang, located 45 miles, or 72 kilometers, from Medan.

Today, however, the crater is a gentle, picturesque lake ringed by forests and the distinct, angled houses of the Batak minority. One former volcano is Lake Toba, which, 70,000 years ago, erupted in a massive explosion that killed off almost all plant and animal life at the time – including much of the human race. Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, Sumatra is known for its heavy volcanic activity. Tour the coffee plantations and taste some of the choicest blends, including Arabica, which is exported to countries around the world. Sumatra is the largest producer of Indonesian coffee. Among them are the Lubang Jepang, or Japanese caves, a series of tunnels dug by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, and considered a marvel of military engineering Lake Maninjau, a large crater lake an hour from Bukittingi and the Jam Gadang, a cluster of food stalls surrounding a clock tower built by the Dutch. Once a major destination on the Southeast Asian travel circuit, Bukittingi has slowly fallen from prominence, though there are a number of interesting attractions in the area. Visit Bukittinggi, home of the Minangkabau people, who are excellent craftswomen and live in one of the world's last true matriarchal societies. Additionally, coffee is also grown in the park –about 450 square kilometers. Nature lovers and photographers will be happy to see that the Tiger, Rhino and Elephants live freely within their natural habitat, and are protected within the bounds of the park - designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Perhaps the best example of the astonishing diversity of plant and wildlife on Sumatra, Bukit Barisan Selatan is home to the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Sumatran Elephant. Us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts.