You should definitely climb Mound Sibayak in Berastagi. In this article we will explain why. Berastagi is a place that many travelers skip in their Sumatra itinerary. Unjustified, as far as we are concerned, because it is the perfect place to take a beautiful sunrise hike on the Sibayak volcano.
Content of this blog:
1 night is sufficient in Berastagi
Besides this fantastic hike at the Sibayak volcano, there is fairly little to do in Berastagi. As far as we are concerned, 1 night is enough, and then we can continue our travels in Sumatra.
Sunrise hike on the Sibayak volcano in Sumatra
Below is our experience and description of the sunrise hike with Nachelle Homestay. We highly recommend staying here and booking the sunrise hike. Everything was well arranged and the guide was fantastic.
At 04:00 the alarm clock rings and half an hour later you leave in the car with the guide to the Sibayak volcano. It is a 30 minute drive to the start of the hike, so you can close your eyes for a while in the car.
The first 10 minutes of the hike are on the paved road. This is very steep. Therefore, don’t start too fast and keep a slow but steady pace. This will make it easier to keep up. After 10 minutes the road flattens out and you will arrive at the base camp. Here begins the climb up over the rocks, this is a fairly easy hike. You do have to climb a lot, but it’s not that hard. It took us a total of 45 minutes to get to the top and we weren’t tired at all.
Once you reach the crater rim, find a good spot and wait for the sunrise. Here you can eat your brought breakfast and enjoy the amazing view at the same time. In the vicinity of Berastagi there are several more volcanoes that you can see from the Sibayak volcano. The other large volcano in the area is the Sinabung, which you cannot climb because it has been closed for some time due to eruption danger.
When the sun has completely risen, you will also see the impressive crater on the other side. Here you descend all the way down, where you take a look at the geysers. There is an enormous sulfur smell here (this smells like rotten eggs), so don’t inhale too much. The guide can tell all kinds of interesting stories about this, so be sure to listen carefully to what he has to say. Meanwhile, the guide will teach you all about how volcanoes work, super interesting!
After this you walk back via the same route and you will see what beautiful surroundings you have walked up through. At 08:00 you get back into the car and are taken to the hot springs in Berastagi, where you can relax your muscles in the hot baths. Here you can enjoy the rest before you drive back to your hotel. Here you can freshen up and take the bus to Lake Toba at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 or 14:00. Your accommodation in Berestagi can help you book the bus tickets.
Tip: We slept at Nachelle Homestay and recommend it to everyone. The sunrise tour organized by the lovely owner is fantastic, the guide is so enthusiastic and everything is well organized. In addition, the owner is very helpful in booking tickets for the bus for further travel and makes the most delicious pizzas in the evening.
Mount Sinabung
Mount Sinabung is an active volcano (until 2021) that you cannot and should not go near. From 2013 to 2021 there were daily lava eruptions at Mount Sinabung and still the volcano is restless. From many places in Berastagi you do have a very nice view of Mount Sinabung.
What should you bring?
- Put on long or short pants. This depends on the time of year, whether or not it is cold at night. You can always check this with your homestay
- A sweater for at night and when you are waiting on Sibayak volcano
- 1 liter of water per person
- Breakfast for during sunrise
- Possibly sunscreen and sunglasses
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Flip-flops/sandals for the hot springs
- Camera
Other things to do in Berastagi
So we recommend booking only 1 night in Berastagi and traveling immediately after the sunrise hike. If you do prefer to take it a little easier and stay 2 nights there are still a few things to do in Berastagi.
- Gundaling Hill Top. This is an easy 40-minute hike, where you will have a beautiful view of Sinabung and Sibayak volcano.
- There are also a few churches and markets you can visit in Berastagi. The owner of Nachelle Homestay draws everything out for you on a map and has some good recommendations.
- In Berastagi, you can easily catch the local buses to travel to and from the “center. You wave at a passing bus, get on and then say stop when you are near your destination. You always pay 3,000 Rupiah (€0.18) per person, regardless of where you get on and off.
