Mention Indonesia as a tourist destination and most people would think of Bali. In fact, there are other attractions that are as worthy a mention as Bali. A little known gem is Bukittinggi, a small town on the island of Sumatra.

Located two hours from Padang by road, Bukittinggi is situated in the Minangkabau highlands. Because of its elevated position, it offers a cool respite for tourists during the summer months. With the frequent Tsunami scares, it is also a safe haven for some residents from Padang.

Avid climbers would be interested in nearby Mount Singgalang and Mount Merapi. Additional sights worth visiting are the Sianok Canyon and Japanese caves. Bukittinggi is also one of the few places on Earth where you can view the world’s biggest flower – Rafflesia.

A key highlight of Bukittinggi is Lake Maninjau. The caldera lake of Maninjau has an area of almost 100 km² and is more than 100m deep. The scenic beauty of Maninjau is simply breathtaking.

The Bukittinggi and Maninjau, Indonesia trip report is divided into the following sections:

1. Introduction (You are here)
2. Route & Motorcycle
3. Journey Day 1-2 (Singapore to Bukittinggi)
4. Journey Day 3 (Bukittinggi)
5. Journey Day 4 (Bukittinggi)
6. Journey Day 5-6 (Bukittinggi to Maninjau to Padang)

Disclaimer: This trip was taken in December 2007. The information is provided ‘as is’ with no warranties and confers no rights. Please feel free to post a comment. 🙂