Once the marshy suburb of a small court centre, Medan developed into a commercial city after the Dutch overran the Deli sultanate in 1872, and 14 years later, became the regional capital.Īt the southern end of Medan’s longest street, Jalan Sisingamangaraja stands the magnificent Istana Maimoon, constructed by an Italian architect in rococo style in 1888. Most visitors enter North Sumatra via Medan, a sprawling and crowded city with one of the strongest economic growth rates and the highest per capita incomes in Indonesia. Sinabung mountain, North Sumatra, Indonesia © didikh017/Shutterstock 10.

For couples: Green Travelodge Bukit Lawangįind more accommodation options to stay in Bukit Lawang.

For views and river location: EcoTravel Cottages Bukit Lawang.

Giant parasitic rafflesia flowers, Thomas Leaf monkeys, macaques and gibbons are just a handful of the thousands of species found in this thriving ecosystem. You venture into the heart of the jungle where it's possible to feed the orangutans, bushwhack through the undergrowth, and, if you stay overnight, wake up to an exotic dawn chorus. Treks ranging from a couple of hours to several days are on offer.

The tropical rainforests of the Gunung Lesuer National Park surrounding Bukit Lawang (a small village two hours northwest of Sumatra's capital Medan) are one of the few places where you get to see our red-haired cousins in the wild. Spotting orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park - one of the best experiences in North Sumatra Traditional Batak houses on Samosir island, Sumatra, Indonesia © Shutterstock 2.

North sumatra