Things to See in Sumatra

Gunung Sibayak is probably the most accessible of Indonesia's volcanoes and on Sundays day-trippers from Medan are out in force. You need good walking boots because the path can be steep and slippery, and a layer of warm clothing as it gets cold at the summit. If doing the five-hour hike alone, it is recommended you hire a guide through the guesthouses.

Bukit Lawang's famous Orang-Utan Centre was set up in 1973 to help primates readjust to the wild after captivity or displacement. These days it's also about tourists with cameras. The popular feedings take place twice daily. Most days half a dozen primates show up, sometimes fewer. Get there early to see them arrive.

Only a few hours' bus ride from Bukittinggi, Danau Maninjau is a peaceful volcanic lake surrounded by verdant rice fields. Swim in the early morning dawn, watch the storm clouds climb over the crater lip and enjoy the cool climate. The road to get there is demanding - a 44-bend road switchbacks its way to the valley floor but the views are worth every turn.