Attractions Nearby Sumatra, Day Trips and Excursions

(Sumatra, Indonesia)

Being such a large and spreading island, Sumatra offers more than enough attractions to spend an entire holiday exploring. However, Sumatra is also near to a number of nearby islands, with Java to the south-west, and Kalimantan (Borneo) to the east, along with both Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore.

Kuala Lumpur is surprisingly close to Medan, north-eastern Sumatra, and really is a very special and cosmopolitan city. The skyline of Kuala Lumpur is particularly distinctive, with the Petronas Twin Towers dominating much of the city, along with the needle-like Menara KL Tower attraction, which stands at the top of the Pineapple Hill (Bukit Nanas) and features an observation deck and revolving restaurant.

Bandung (West Java)

Bandung resides within West Java and is to be found directly to the south-west of southern Sumatra. Those taking an excursion to Bandung can expect to find a vast and modern city, which is now so big that it is the fourth largest in the whole of Indonesia. Bandung attractions include several reliable museums, an Institute of Technology, and the much celebrated Jean's Street, where the local textile industry is certainly thriving. For families, Bandung Zoo is worth considering and has lots of colourful, exotic creatures.

Banten

Covering a large chunk of West Java, the region of Banten is worthy of considering and is to be found directly to the west of Jakarta, and east of the Krakatau Islands. The beaches of Anyer and Labuan (Labuhan) are especially prominent attractions in Banten, while further places of interest stand within the Pandeglang, Rangkasbitung, Serang and Tangerang areas.

Kalimantan

Part of the island of Borneo and located to the east of Sumatra, Kalimantan covers a vast area and is actually bordered to the north by Eastern Malaysia. Kalimantan is divided into a total of four separate regions (East, West, Central and South), with its main cities including Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Palangkaraya, Pontianak and Samarinda. Attractions in Kalimantan are certainly varied and include floating markets, canal cruises, friendly native proboscis monkeys, zoological gardens and even crocodile farms. In the Balikpapan region, Dapur Bunda Beach, the Lamaru Beach and the Manggar Beach always draw sun seekers.

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

The myriad of attractions in Kuala Lumpur really do suit all ages, with true highlights including the Jame Mosque (Masjid Jame), the Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana), the Merdeka Square and the Muzium Negara (National Museum). Close by and just outside of the city, the Batu Caves comprise a series of giant caverns and almost resemble a sprawling labyrinth in design. If you are visiting Kuala Lumpur in late August, then you may well be able to join in the celebrations on National Day, which is held each year on August 31st and features processions, music and general partying, soon after the Indonesian Independence Day.

Jakarta (West Java)

An epic city and Indonesia's busy capital, Jakarta occupies a sizeable portion of West Java and has a population now not far from nine million. Jakarta's tourist attractions and museums are extremely plentiful, with cultural tours being popular with visitors and providing one of the best ways to familiarise yourself with this vibrant city. If you are holidaying in Jakarta with children, then the amusement park known as the Ancol Dreamland (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol) is not to be missed. Sightseers, however, may prefer to check out the city's towering National Monument, the Istiqlal Mosque and the Vihara Dharma Bhakti Temple.

Mentawai Islands

For many centuries, the Mentawai Islands remained quite isolated from the rest of Indonesia. As a direct result of having very little contact with the world outside, the native Mantawai inhabitants were amongst the most 'pure' of all the Indonesian indigenous societies. Siberut is the largest of all the Mentawai Islands and features some glorious beaches, lush mangrove forests, stunning coral reefs and world-class surfing breaks. The Mentawai Islands are easy to reach, with regular boat trips departing from Padang Harbour, in West Sumatra.

Pulau Bangka

Pulau Bangka is a charming island sited to the east of Sumatra. The capital of Pulau Bangka is Pangkal Pinang (Pangkalpinang), which is largest city on the entire island and filled with interest. Many day trippers come to Bangka to relax on its tranquil and undeveloped beaches, often arriving at the port of Sungai Liat.

Pulau Belitung

Known for its former tin mining industry, Pulau Belitung is a small island sitting to the east of Sumatra. Belitung Island is now a very beautiful spot and can be completely overlooked by tourists. Those who do make the effort to come to Pulau Belitung will discover enchanting beaches, such as Tanjung Kelayang and Tanjung Tinggi, which really are hard to better anywhere in Indonesia. Belitung's scuba diving attractions and snorkelling possibilities are almost endless.

Riau Islands (Kepulauan Riau)

The Indonesian archipelago that is the Riau Islands lies to the east of Sumatra. Dotted around the South China Sea rather like sprinkled confetti, the Riau Islands are to be found directly to the south of Singapore. The main islands include those of Bintan, Batam, Karimun, Kundur, Moro and Natuna, all of which offer some idyllic beaches and coastal attractions. Bintan is the largest of the Riau Islands and is where the capital of Tanjung Pinang resides.

Singapore City (Singapore)

Singapore is a large and spreading city-state situated in South-East Asia, and east of Central Sumatra. Those wishing to take an excursion to Singapore should really consider spending a minimum of a few days here, since there is just so much to see. The Riverside (Civil District) is very much central to life in Singapore and is filled with museums and theatres, as well as eateries and bars. If you come to Singapore City for the shops, then Orchard Road is the place to be, since it boasts literally miles of malls. For a taster of some local oriental cultures, then the Chinatown and Little India districts may appeal, particularly if you fancy a bite to eat, since both areas are renowned for their restaurants. For beaches and sunbathing, consider a trip to Singapore's southerly island of Sentosa, which is connected by the Sentosa Express monorail.