Sumatra measures 473,607 km² (184,706 sq miles) and it is Indonesia's most tropical island. It boasts natural rainforests, large rivers that provide ground for mangrove estuaries and a wide variety of flowers and plants. Some of the world's most wonderful animal species live on Sumatra, including two-horned rhinos and the endangered Sumatran tiger. Sumatra's countless outlying islands and islets, as well as many towns in the island's interior, are only accessible by boat.
Although Sumatra has a wealth of natural resources, it's economy is struggling. The island is often hit by devastating earthquakes and during religious violence between Christians and Muslims in 1998, much of Sumatra's infrastructure and businesses were destroyed.
The best times to visit Sumatra are the months of May/June and September/October, although it can be quite busy with tourists during these periods. In July and August it is even busier, as countless Europeans arrive to spend their summer holidays on the island. In these two months prices usually rise and accommodation and transportation can be hard to find. The same problem occurs when Indonesians themselves have their main holiday periods. At the end of Ramadan (Buluan Puasa) and around Christmas the resorts are absolutely packed with high school students and Indonesian families who can afford a holiday on Sumatra. During the rainy season from November to March, travel in the island's interior and less developed areas can be difficult.
There are some fine festivals on Sumatra, which are quite interesting if you are visiting the island at the same time. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is commemorated during Idul Adha, one of the most important Muslim holidays. Just like Ramadan, it follows the lunar calendar and falls on different dates over the years. The same applies for Muharram, the Islamic New Year and Isra Miraj Nabi Muhammed, which commemorates the ascension of the prophet Muhammad in December. The Prophet's birthday is celebrated during Hari Natal. A regional Calendar of Events, where national holidays and festivals are listed, is available from tourist offices all over Sumatra.
On 17 August, Independence Day is celebrated. During that day (military) parades and other special events take place.
There are many interesting towns and sights in Sumatra. The island's capital of Medan is Indonesia's third-largest city and an important transportation hub. Other interesting cities and towns include Banda Aceh, Batusangkar, Berastagi, Bohorok, Bukittinggi, Jangga Village, Kerinci, Lingga Village, Padang, Palembang, Pandaan Beach, Pandai Sikat and Parapat. The lakes of Danau Ranau, Maninjau, Singkarak and Toba are surrounded by beautiful countryside, which is excellent for hiking. The same can be said for the Harau Valley, the Karo Batak Highlands, the Ngalau Indah Caves, Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon) and the marvelous Sipiso-piso Waterfall.
The best places to see Sumatra's wildlife are Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park), Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci-Seblat National Park, Rimba Panti Nature Reserve and Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta. There are numerous smaller islands not far from Sumatra. Some of the most interesting ones are the Mentawai Islands, Pulau Nias, the Riau Archipelago, Samosir Island and Siberut Island.
Most visitors to Sumatra arrive at the international airport of Medan. From there countless buses and minibuses are available to most other towns on the island. There are also high-speed catamarans that connect Medan with nearby cities. From Medan you can fly to Jakarta, Singapore, Penanga and Kuala Lumpur, as well as several other cities. Domestic flights should be booked well in advance, especially during the main tourist season in July/August.
Sumatra is connected to Java by a number of ferries, the most popular of which is the Merak-Bakauheni ferry. Other ferries connect Padang with Jakarta, Penang with Medan, Melaka with Dumai and Singapore with Pakanburi. This last ferry runs via the Indonesian island of Tanjung Pinang.
Transportation on Sumatra is good around the major towns, but the farther you go from these towns, the worse the roads get, especially during the rainy season from November to March. Buses are usually the only way to travel between cities, although many places can also reached by boat. Sumatra's rail network is very limited. Trains vary from slow, miserable and cheap to comfortable and expensive. Train tickets should be purchased a day in advance to assure a seat. Cars and motorbikes can only be rented in major cities and in the larger tourist centers.
There are countless hotels and apartments on Sumatra and even during the peak tourist season there is always some accommodation available. Restaurants, bars and other nightspots are also easily found, especially in the tourist resorts. Sumatra is in the west of Indonesia, just west of Malaysia.
Warning: Because of the political and economic situation on Sumatra it is advised to contact your embassy and get the latest update on the security situation before traveling to the island.
