Palak Siring Kemumu - Wisata Alam Yang Scenic

Wisata alam Palak Siring Kemumu, tempat yang sejuk dan bagus untuk bersantai

Click here for the English version of this post

Mengemudi menuju pedalaman dari humiditas Bengkulu utara, Anda secara bertahap akan melewati area persawahan dan mulai menanjak melewati desa-desa pegunungan yang sejuk dan lembab di sekitar Kemumu, Arma Jaya, kabupaten Bengkulu Utara. Kemumu terkenal dengan daya tarik alamnya yang indah yaitu Palak Siring, sebuah kawasan yang indah, sejuk, dan cocok untuk bersantai dan juga bisa digunakan sebagai base untuk hiking di sekitar sungai kecil yang bersih dan perbukitan hijau di sekitarnya. Jika Anda tidak ingin melakukan hiking, Anda bisa berjalan kaki singkat untuk melihat pemandangan alam yang keren atau berenang (dekat lokasi air terjun Palak Siring) dan menikmati makan siang Anda. Anda dapat bermalam di Palak Siring, atau melakukan perjalanan pulang-pergi dengan mudah dari kota Bengkulu. Sehari di Palak Siring bisa menjadi pengalaman yang menyenangkan. 

Hiking di sepanjang tepi sungai dan melintasi hutan berbukit

Palak Siring Kemumu jarang dikunjungi oleh turis, namun di hari Minggu dan hari libur kawasan ini akan dipadati oleh pengunjung lokal. Sayangnya tempat yang indah ini tidak memiliki fasilitas yang memadai dan mengalami masalah dengan sampah. Tiket masuk per orang hanya Rp. 2.500 (sekitar US $ 0,15), gratis parkir kecuali akhir pekan.

Lokasi: Palak Siring terletak di Kemumu, Arma Jaya, kabupaten Bengkulu Utara, sekitar 62 km (38,5 mil) / 1,5 jam dari kota Bengkulu, atau sekitar 15 menit berkendara dari Arga Makmur. Temukan lokasi wisata Palak Siring di Google Maps.

Note: Selalu berhati-hati saat berjalan di dekat lokasi air terjun. Beberapa jalan setapak dan bebatuan bisa basah dan licin.

Foto-foto dari wisata alam Palak Siring 

Nafas segar dari alam Palak Siring

Pemandangan dari puncak air terjun Palak Siring

Kolam alami yang sejuk dekat air terjun Palak Siring

Anak sungai Palak Siring

Aliran air yang sejuk dan bersih di dekat air terjun

Photos by Adriansyah Putera and Peter Kimball

Pemandian Air Panas Suban

Kolam pemandian Suban air panas

For English version click here

Terakhir di-update 21 April 2021

Kawasan obyek wisata Suban memiliki udara sejuk yang dikelilingi oleh pemandangan lembah dan hutan tropis. Suban merupakan lokasi yang baik untuk pemandian air panas alami. Air panas alami (thermal spring) sangat baik untuk mengurangi nyeri dan pegal otot setelah hiking. Air panas alami memancar di beberapa kolam pemandian umum dan juga mata air panas dapat ditemukan di banyak titik yang bercampur dengan aliran air sungai yang sejuk. Di lokasi obyek wisata Suban juga terdapat air terjun 2 tingkat yang para pengunjung bisa nikmati dari jarak dekat. Mata air panas dan air terjun Suban terkenal dengan weekend picnicker.

Wisatawan asing, khususnya white people atau sering juga disebut bule kemungkinan besar akan menjadi pusat perhatian bagi pengunjung/warga lokal di tempat pemandian yang terbuka. Mengapa??? Karena hanya sedikit wisatawan asing yang berkunjung ke Suban dan area sekitarnya, masih banyak warga di sini yang belum pernah melihat orang asing dengan penampilan fisik dan gaya hidup yang berbeda. Bagi Anda yang merasa tidak nyaman dengan tatapan warga setempat saat berada di tempat pemandian terbuka, Anda bisa menggunakan ruang mandi privat yang juga dilengkapi dengan air hangat yang mengalir dari mata air panas dengan hanya membayar  Rp.3.000.

Di lokasi obyek wisata Suban ada beberapa warung yang menyediakan beberapa pilihan makanan dan minuman. Sayangnya Suban masih kekurangan fasilitas-fasilitas penunjang dan belum terbebas dari masalah sampah. Berdasarkan pengalaman saya, waktu yang ideal untuk berkunjung ke Suban pada waktu musim kemarau antara bulan Maret hingga September.

For English version click here

Populer dengan pangunjung akhir pekan

Tiket masuk Rp. 10.000 (US$ 0,69) untuk dewasa dan Rp. 5.000 (US$ 0,34) untuk anak-anak. Biaya parkir kendaraan roda 4 Rp. 5.000 (US$ 0,34). 

Lokasi: Suban terletak di kabupaten Rejang Lebong sekitar 90 km (56 mil) dari ibu kota provinsi Bengkulu, dapat ditempuh sekitar dua setengah jam dengan sepeda motor atau mobil, atau 6 km (3,8 mil) dari Curup. 

  Foto-foto dari Suban 

Salah satu kolam pemandian air panas Suban

Air terjun Suban

Air terjun Suban

Photos by Peter Kimball, Adriansyah Putera & Sirly Utama Adriansyah

Gunung Kaba, Suaka Bagi Hiker Di Provinsi Bengkulu

Pemandangan kawah belerang gunung Kaba

Artikel ini terakhir di-update 26 Juni 2021
For the English version click here!

Gunung Kaba atau yang juga biasa disebut bukit Kaba oleh penduduk setempat, memiliki panorama yang indah dan alami dengan temperatur udara yang moderat, gunung ini menawarkan pengalaman inspiratif bagi mereka yang memiliki hobby trekking atau mendaki gunung untuk menikmati pemandangan hutan tropis plus kawah belerang yang spektakuler dan unik. Gunung Kaba merupakan gunung berapi aktif yang berada di dalam kawasan Konservasi Wisata Alam Bukit Kaba yang memiliki luas area13.490 hektar dan diusulkan untuk pengembangan pariwisata di provinsi Bengkulu. 

Pendakian ke gunung Kaba menawarkan petualangan, semangat hiking, dan tantangan fisik melewati pemandangan hijau yang mempesona. Di bagian puncak gunung, terdapat tiga kawah – bukit Kaba (1.952 m / 6.404 kaki), bukit Itam (1.893 m / 6.211 kaki) and bukit Malintang (1.713 m / 5.620 kaki), dua dari tiga kawah tersebut masih aktif. Saat Anda mendaki punggung gunung Kaba Anda dapat mencium bau belerang, ini bukti bahwa kawah-kawah tersebut masih aktif. Nikmati pemandangan spektakuler di sekeliling Anda. Uap tidak henti-hentinya keluar dari 12 retakan tanah, dan sejumlah mata air panas (tidak layak untuk diminum) dapat ditemukan di sekitar kawasan bukit Kaba. 

Pendakian menuju puncak gunung Kaba

PENJELASAN TRACK 

Pendakian ke bukit Kaba dapat ditempuh dari berbagai arah, tapi dua rute yang paling populer yaitu jalur reguler/jalur jalan aspal yang dimulai dari depan pos POKDARWIS dengan menelusuri jalan aspal hingga ke puncak, dan kemudian jalur hutan yang dimulai dari belakang pos POKDARWIS. Para pengunjung diwajibkan untuk melapor dan mengisi buku tamu di pos POKDARWIS sebelum pendakian dimulai. Biaya masuk Rp. 100.000 (sekitar US$ 6,92) untuk wisatawan asing dan Rp. 11.500 (sekitar US$ 0,80) untuk wisatawan domestik, plus asuransi jiwa Amanah Githa untuk satu kali kunjungan sebesar Rp. 1000 (US$ 0.069). Bagi para pengunjung yang ingin berkemah beberapa hari di sekitar puncak gunung, mereka akan dikenakan biaya tambahan. Ada beberapa tempat parkir sederhana di dan di sekitar pintu masuk pos POKDARWIS untuk akses dan kemudahan bagi pengunjung yang ingin menitipkan sepeda motor atau mobil mereka untuk hanya beberapa jam atau bahkan berhari-hari. Biaya parkir Rp. 5.000 (sekitar US$ 0,35) untuk sepeda motor, dan Rp. 20.000 (sekitar US$ 1,38) untuk mobil. Waktu yang baik untuk mendaki Gunung Kaba yaitu di musim kemarau antara bulan Juni – September.

  

For the English version click here!

Opsi Jalur Reguler

Durasi pendakian: 1 jam 45 menit hingga 3 jam pendakian

Jika pendakian dimulai di pintu masuk pos POKDARWIS, biasanya memerlukan waktu sekitar 2 jam untuk sampai ke puncak melalui jalur reguler jika Anda merasa energik. Ikuti saja jalur jalan aspal, jalur tersebut akan menuntun Anda hingga ke puncak. Durasi hiking tergantung pada kecepatan langkah kaki Anda, kondisi cuaca, dan seberapa sering Anda berhenti untuk beristirahat dan melihat-lihat pemandangan. Durasi yang kami berikan untuk opsi jalur regular adalah perkiraan, karena semua orang berjalan pada kecepatan yang berbeda-beda. Anda sangat disarankan untuk mengambil jalur reguler jika Anda melakukan pendakian di saat/setelah hujan. Saat musim hujan durasi pendakian bisa menjadi lebih lama.

Opsi Jalur Hutan

Anda dapat menempuh rute jalan setapak melalui hutan untuk melihat pemandangan yang lebih indah dan merasakan sensasi trip petualangan. Hiking melalui jalur hutan juga dapat lebih menghemat waktu tempuh dan tenaga Anda dibandikan hiking melalui jalur reguler, tapi jalur hutan ini sangat beresiko jika Anda tidak familiar dengan tracknya dan mencoba melakukan pendakian seorang diri, Anda bisa tersesat di hutan. Para pengunjung yang belum pernah melewati jalur hutan disarankan untuk menyewa pemandu atau ikut mendaki bersama kelompok pendaki lain yang berpengalaman. Anda dapat menyewa seorang pemandu di Pos POKDARWIS dengan tarif Rp. 75.000 (sekitar US$ 5,19). Hati-hati dengan kondisi jalan setapak dan tebing yang licin dan mudah longsor. Jangan ambil jalur hutan di saat/setelah hujan, lebih baik menghindari resiko dari pada Anda menyesal kemudian. 

Butuh tumpangan sepeda motor ke puncak?

Anda harus dalam kondisi bugar untuk mendaki gunung Kaba. Jika Anda tidak yakin bahwa Anda cukup kuat untuk mendaki, Anda bisa naik ojek dari pos POKDARWIS dengan tarif Rp. 60.000 (sekitar US$ 4,15). Untuk menghindari penipuan tarif jasa ojek dari orang-orang yang menawarkan jasa ojek, sebaiknya Anda membuat dan memastikan kesepakatan tarif jasa dengan tukang ojek terlebih dahulu sebelum Anda menaiki sepeda motornya dan bayar hanya jika Anda telah sampai di puncak gunung.

Kawah belerang gunung Kaba

Info Tambahan Gunung Kaba:
Elevasi puncak: 1.952 m (6.404 kaki)
Koordinat: 3.52 S, 102,62 E
Tipe gunung: stratovolcano (gunung berapi kerucut/komposit)
Erupsi terakhir: 26 -27 Agustus 2007

Lokasi: Dusun Sumber Urip, kabupaten Rejang Lebong, provinsi Bengkulu. Untuk menemukan lokasi gunung Kaba di Google Maps klik di sini!

Petunjuk lokasi secara umum: Gunung Kaba berada sekitar 19 km (11,8 mil) dari Curup ibukota kabupaten Rejang Lebong atau sekitar 104 km (64,7 mil) dari kota Bengkulu. Dibutuhkan waktu sekitar satu jam berkendara dari Curup, 20 menit berkendara dari Simpang Pasar / Simpang Bukit Kaba, atau sekitar 3,5 jam perjalanan dari Bengkulu untuk sampai ke pintu masuk pos POKDARWIS.

Wisatawan asing sedang menikmati pemandangan kawah

Ayo Dukung Responsible Tourism!!

Jika Anda akan bermalam di puncak gunung Kaba (secara lokal dikenal juga dengan nama bukit Kaba) jangan lupa membawa kompor sehingga Anda tidak perlu menguras pasokan kayu bakar yang terbatas. Ketergantungan pada kayu bakar untuk keperluan memasak dapat menyebabkan terjadinya deforestasi/penggundulan hutan yang cepat. Jika Anda terpaksa menyalakan api, gunakanlah perapian yang sudah ada. Gunakan hanya cabang atau ranting pohon yang sudah mati. Pastikan bahwa Anda benar-benar memadamkan api setelah digunakan. Jangan meninggalkan sampah-sampah Anda dan pastikan orang lain di kelompok Anda melakukan hal yang sama. Mari kita dukung "Resposible Tourism" (Pariwisata yang Bertanggung Jawab)!!!!

For the English version click here!

Jangan gunakan foto-foto dari blog ini untuk tujuan apapun tanpa izin dari saya. Jika Anda ingin menggunakan foto-foto di blog ini silahkan email ke kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com 

Ekstra foto dari gunung Kaba

Gunung Kaba menawarkan jalur trekking yang menakjubkan 

"Gunung-gunung sedang memanggil, dan saya harus pergi." - John Muir

Gunung Kaba dikelilingi oleh lautan topografi hijau 

Menikmati pesona pemandangan gunung Kaba

Puncak gunung Kaba yang berkabut

Hiking bersama keluarga

Puncak gunung Kaba mengepulkan uap panas

Perhatikan dan puaskan sisi petualangan mu di gunung Kaba!

Pendakian Gunung Kaba - bersama kita bisa

Kontak: kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com

Foto: Adriansyah Putera, Peter Kimball, Jeff Clairmont 

Referensi tambahan: John Seach. “Kaba Volcano”. http://www.volcanolive.com/kaba.html

Tips for Traveling on Rainy Sumatra Days

Mount Kaba hike

You will encounter iffy weather if you visit Bengkulu province or other provinces of Sumatra during the rainy season. In Bengkulu province and its neighboring provinces including South Sumatra & Lampung province, the rains normally start from October to March (peaking in December - February) slightly later than the north parts of Sumatra. The weather is still hot and more humid in the coastal areas, but at higher elevations tend to be cooler.

Traveling in Bengkulu province during the rainy season especially within the wettest months December – February can be very challenging and inconvenient for most travelers. The December to February rains can come in sudden tropical downpours, and or it can also rain nonstop for a whole day. If you want to go backpacking to try a rainy season escape or a very adventurous trip that many travelers miss out on, perhaps in the rural or mountainous areas, it will require not only willpower but also preparation and a lot of patience. Make sure you carefully plan what to wear on a rainy day and bring the right gears. Here are some important tips from real travelers and my own experiences for traveling on rainy Sumatra days:

General rules: planning and preparation are half the battle. 

First identifying which regions you want to visit & stay, what you want to do and how long you want to travel before packing for your trip to Bengkulu province to get a greater understanding of what will be needed.

Suggested items to bring

Going rural

• A light waterproof rain jacket (heavy plastic raincoat might be too warm to wear in the coastal areas).
• Four of five t-shirts should be enough. The weather at higher elevations tend to be cooler, you can layer t-shirts for warmth instead of strictly winter clothes. You can buy extra t-shirts at low prices in many places in Sumatra if you need more, but if you are a big and tall person it will be very difficult to find plus size t-shirts. 
• Two or three pairs of convertible long pants for backpacking, hiking or for any outdoor activity you may partake in. They can keep you warm when the temperature drops and can be turned into a stylish pair of shorts when the temperature bubbles up. 
• An emergency kit. It can help with some unpleasant situations that arise while on the travel trail, especially if you plan on hiking or going rural. It can be adapted to your needs, type and length of travel, and destinations. The basic emergency kit should include at least the following items:

1. First aid kit & enough medication for your entire stay. It is best to keep your medications in their original containers with clear labels, officials at ports of entry may require proper identification of medications.
2. Ready-to-eat canned food and drinking water.
3. Cellular phone.  We suggest you to bring a cellphone or buy a cheap cellphone and a local SIM card in Indonesia for your communication needs.
4. Multipurpose utility tool like a Swiss army knife.
5. A flashlight, the waterproof one is recommended. Power outages are frequent in Sumatra during thunder storms. 

➤ Don’t bury your emergency kit at the bottom of your travel bag. Keep it handy in case of an emergency.

• Sturdy hiking boots for going rural or hiking.
• Waterproof bags and zip lock bags (for use in protecting your camera equipment, electronic devices, travel documents, emergency kit, etc).
• A folding umbrella.
• Extra socks to wear while wearing shoes/hiking boots.
• Sandals/flip flops.
• An extra towel. It almost always comes in useful! 
• Rainy season is also mosquito season, so don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent and anti malaria tablets especially if going rural.  Recommendations for suitable drugs to prevent malaria can be found at www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html
• Locks for your luggage, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

We greatly recommend that you go through a final checklist once you think you have got all items with you.

Packing

Don’t bury things you needs such as emergency kit, extra clothes, or drinking water at the bottom of your backpack or travel bag. If you are going to go backpacking, your backpack has to be balanced or you could fall over. Don’t make your pack too heavy at the top or bottom, it’s best to keep the heaviest items close to your back. Access and balance are the keys to packing well. 

That is all that we can write. Remember that a Sumatra escape or adventurous trip during the rainy season is only suitable for those who enjoy slow travel and don’t mind stopping for one or more days due to weather disruptions.

Tips for driving safely on rainy Sumatra days, click here!

Lake Suro Offers Scenic Places to Paddle and Explore

Lake Suro in the late afternoon

This post has been updated on July 14th 2018

     As Kepahiang district is still struggling to warm up, it looks more and more inviting as one of road trip gateways in Bengkulu province which is filled with beautiful and fascinating natural features. When visiting Kepahiang district for one day or more, you must include at least a visit to the lake Suro. The lake Suro (locally known as danau Suro) is truly one of the hidden gems in Kepahiang district. There is so much natural beauty around the lake Suro has to offer, whether you want to just wind down and soak up the views or enjoy some of the outdoor activities on and off the water. 

Fun Things to Do

     For an interesting and fun experience of the lake Suro life and its surrounding rainforests, try to visit here either early or late in the day. If you just want to enjoy the attractive natural surroundings from water, take a refreshing river raft tour for Rp. 10,000 per person (about US$ 0.70 - July 2018) from the dock near the entrance. If you love kayaking, bring your kayak along, the lake Suro which also known as “Wisata Musi Indah” offers scenic places to paddle and explore. Don’t forget to take your camera to capture your personal experience, the lake and river activity. 

A hanging bridge to the off the beaten path hikes

     Tired of visiting water-based attractions? Try some of the off the beaten path hikes! For those who love hiking and nature walk, the villages and the surrounding forests near the lake Suro offer fun nature walks which will allow you to touch and look at the beauty of nature, and develop a strong connection with the local natural environment as you walk along the trails. Keep in mind that many of trails are rather challenging and it is recommended to take a guide or a GPS for hikers who want to venture into the forest interior. Ask the guards or the small restaurant owner near the main entrance if you need a guide.

Entrance & Parking Fee

     There is a per vehicle entrance and parking fee, Rp. 5,000 (about US$ 0.35) for a motorcycle and Rp. 10,000 (about US$ 0.75) to Rp 20,000 (about US$ 1.39) for a four- (or more) wheeled vehicle depending on the number of passengers. Legal permits are not required for regular noncommercial day hikes.

Warning: visitors need to be careful when trying to cross the hanging bridge near the entrance as the walkway is poorly maintained, there are too many broken planks. Take a guide for hikers who want to venture into the forest interior! 

Location: the lake Suro is near the Musi Ujan Mas hydroelectricity plant about 16 km (10 mi) from the city of Kepahiang or about 70 km (43 mi) from Bengkulu city. Find the Danau Suro location on Google Maps.

The lake Suro and its surrounding rainforests

     Hope this post can help you plan your trip and get an idea about one of the places you should think about exploring in Kepahiang district. Happy travels!!!!!

Let’s help each other!
     Let’s make this post available in various languages! Translating this post can help more readers in your language to understand this post. If you would like to translate this post into your language or if you need help to translate some of your posts into Indonesian, please send me an email to kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com

Text and photos by: Adriansyah Putera

Lake Mas Bestari - Fun Nature Walks

It offers fun hikes with gorgeous mountain views

This article has been updated on June 29th, 2021

Lake Mas Bestari which has complete name lake Mas Harun Bestari is a small lake located in a nice location where visitors can easily get there from Curup and Lubuk Linggau or to some of the nearby sites they want to visit. The lake is surrounded by gorgeous views of Bukit Barisan Mountains. There are simple -mid range hotels near the lakeside for those who want to escape the city for a night or two. 

Mas Bestari lakeside has some good places to relax for visitors. For those who love hiking, the surrounding area of the lake offers a scenic hike (around 3 km/1.8 miles, easy hike) along the lakeside and the rows of hilly vegetable gardens. Early morning or late afternoon when the air is pleasantly cool is the best time for lakeside walks or hikes. It usually takes around an hour or so to hike around the lake. It is possible for visitors to rent a boat for boating the surroundings of the lake. Also, don’t miss another pleasure, capture beautiful sunrise/sunset images from the lakeside or from one of the surrounding hills! You have to go home with nice images and a smile spreads across your face, post-process your images to produce really sweet images, and then upload them. 

Mas Bestari lakeside at sunrise

Location: It is located at the village of Karang Jaya, Kecamatan Selupu Rejang, Rejang Lebong district. Just go through Jalan Raya Curup – Lubuk Linggau around 18 km (11 miles) from the hill town of Curup, or around 2.5 hours drive from Bengkulu. To show the lake location on Google Maps click here!

Parking fee is Rp. 5,000 (US$ 0.34) for car.

More photos from my trip

Fun early morning hike at Mas Bestari lakeside area

Lake Mas Bestari at sunset

Photos by Adriansyah Putera and Sirly Utama

Curup - A Town With a Feast of Flora

This post has been updated on October 10th, 2018   

Foggy Peak of Mount Kaba

Curup is a small cool hill town in Bengkulu province famous for its beautiful mountain scenery and coffee growing areas. Coffees from Curup are famous for their rich, full bodied coffees with "earthy flavors". It is located in Rejang Lebong district, in the foothills of Bukit Barisan, 80 km (49.7 miles) from the city of Bengkulu  or halfway between the city of Bengkulu and Lubuk Linggau. It has a population of 28,173 inhabitants (97% are Moslems) with a population density of 7,132 inhabitants per square kilometer (census population 2010). In many areas both Curup and Rejang Lebong district, broad green valleys separate the mountains. Thick forests cover much of the Curup's land. Curup can be reached by numerous connections to/from Bengkulu and Lubuk Linggau.

Curup is a cool base for visits to the attractions of the surrounding mountains, including volcanic Gunung Kaba, 19km (11.8 miles) east of town, which has two large smoldering craters surrounded by thick rainforest. It has also many fine traditional stilted wooden houses of the Rejang people. The hot springs and waterfalls can be found in the villages around Curup.

It’s difficult to change money in Curup, so bring enough rupiah to see you through. But it is possible to get a cash advance on Visa or MasterCard from the BCA bank (Jl. Merdeka 151). In most parts of Bengkulu province, the rainy season falls between October and April. Rain tends to come in sudden tropical downpours, but it can also rain nonstop for a whole day (peaking from December to January), so come prepared.

Local Transport

The common Indonesian means of transport such as angkot (public city transport), ojek  (motorcycle riders who take passengers), and becak (pedicab) are available in many places in Curup. Most angkots serve a standard route, picking up and dropping off people anywhere along the route, angkot fare is Rp. 4,000 (about US$ 0.26) per person. You can find Ojeks at Curup bus station, traditional markets, and around crossroads. An ojek can take you around the town, or can take you where no other public transport exists. The base rate for an ojek is Rp. 5,000 (about US$ 0.33) per person for a short distance. Becaks (pedicab) serve a short distance only and they can be found at around the back streets, becak fare is Rp. 5,000 – Rp.7,000 (about US$ 0.33 - 0.46). It is wise to ask someone, such as your hotel employee or the locals, about the normal fare before you get on any local transport, otherwise see how much the other passengers pay and offer the exact fare.

Packing Tips For Your Hiking Trip (Oct & Apr) 

Mt. Kaba Trekking 

• Luggage and bags: Locks for your luggage to protect your important item & travel documents from theft. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 
• Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: In most part of Sumatra, the wet season falls from October to April, the wettest months are January and February that can make travel more difficult. The weather is still hot and more humid in the coastal areas, but at higher elevations tend to be cooler. On January to February rains can come in sudden tropical downpours, and or it can also rain nonstop for a whole day. Bring plenty of socks to wear while wearing shoes, folding umbrella, a light waterproof rain jacket (heavy plastic raincoat might be too warm for the humid tropics), long pants and/or jeans, shorts, T-shirts, flip flops. 
• Toiletries and Medical Supplies: First Aid Kit, anti Malarial tablets, analgesic pills, Antihistamine pills for any allergic reactions, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper for the eventual emergency, and anti-bacterial gel for use afterwards.
• Photo Equipment: Bring extra batteries and SD cards, in case you go someplace where you can’t buy replacement stocks. Zip locks bags for use in protecting your camera equipment, travel documents, etc. It’s good to bring a transformer or adapter if your devices don’t play nice with the local electricity.
• Camping/Outdoor Gear: Flashlight, mosquito repellent, pack at least two bottles of water per day.

Curup is also famous for its coffee growing area

 Photos by: Adriansyah Putera, Jeff Clairmont and Peter Kimball

Kabawetan Tea Plantation and Hill Resort

Cool and quiet lush hillsides of Kabawetan

Last updated April 28th, 2018

    Getting off the beaten path and exploring Kepahiang’s green resorts. Feeling the cool air off green topography at the quiet lush hillsides of Kabawetan region. Kabawetan occupies green ridges on the slopes of Bukit Barisan mountain range, offers panoramic views and scenic walks. The walk through Kabawetan tea plantation is pleasant and safe, but conditions on the trail are basic – there are simple shelters, but some are almost abandoned. It is located 6 km (3.7 miles) from the city of Kepahiang. 

    Kabawetan can be visited as a day trip from Bengkulu city since the provincial capital is only two hours away. Hiring a car and driver (the average rates start from Rp. 350,000 or about US$ 25.29 per day, which exclude fuel) is an easy way to explore Kabawetan and its remote sights.  Allow yourself at least half a day to enjoy Kabawetan tea plantation and hill resort. This is one of the most fertile regions in Sumatra and also well worth a visit. Admission free; open from 7 am to 5 pm. 

    There aren't any real restaurants around Kabawetan hill resort and most visitors end up having meals and drinks in warung (simple food stall), so come prepared!

More Photos

Green hillsides of Kabawetan

Kabawetan scenic walk

Rice paddies near Kabawetan

Photos by Adriansyah Putera and Loparedo

Kepahiang, an Ocean of Green Topography

Lapangan Santoso - Kepahiang

Last updated: February 2nd 2017

Kepahiang, a cool relaxed district, with its capital of the same name under Hidayattullah Sjahid administration. It covers an area of 665 sq km (257 sq mi) and has a population of 125,011 people, about 183 people per sq km, and 97% of Kepahiang people are Moslems (population census 2010). Time zone: Western Indonesia Time (UTC+7). Bukit Barisan mountain range is Kepahiang’s backbone which runs most of the length of Kepahiang territory. Most people of Kepahiang who live in the shadow of Bukit Barisan mountain range are farmers and traders. There are some fine examples of traditional Rejang Kepahiang architecture in the villages around Kepahiang. Most of the houses are more than 50 years old, most are in good condition.

Kepahiang has an ocean of green topography that dominates every extensive view, and fills the land of Rejang Kepahiang with marvelous flora and fauna. Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest flower on the planet, and Amorphophallus titanium (locally known as Kibut) the tallest flower on the planet, can be found in some parts of nature conservation in Kepahiang district. Thick rain forests host many kinds of birds and monkeys that swing in the tree tops. It is great to walk around the fertile rice paddies in the green countryside around Kepahiang. Don’t miss lake Suro, Kabawetan tea plantation and hill resort which offer panoramic views and scenic walks. Many of tourist attractions in Kepahiang are off the beaten track, but while they will take some extra time to get to, they are well worth searching out.

Kepahiang also offers awesome jungle treks

Please come prepared! In Kepahiang, the rainy season usually falls between October and April. Rain tends to come in sudden tropical downpours, but it can also rain nonstop for a whole day (peaking from January to February).

Kepahiang can be reached by numerous connections to/from Bengkulu (Rp. 25,000), Curup, Lubuk Linggau and Palembang.

LOCAL TRANSPORT

Becak

The common Indonesian means of transport such as angkot (public city transport), ojek (motorcycle riders who take passengers), and becak (pedicab) are available in many places in Kepahiang. Most angkots serve a standard route, picking up and dropping off people anywhere along the route, angkot fare starts from Rp. 4,000 per person (applied April 2016). You can find ojeks at the Kepahiang market or around the crossroads. An ojek can take you around the town, or can take you where no other public transport exists. The base rate for an ojek is Rp. 4,000 per person for a short distance. Becaks (pedicab) serve a short distance only and they can be found at around the back streets, becak fare is Rp. 3,000 – Rp.6,000.

Beware local transport rip off. One of the most common ways of getting ripped off involves taking local transportation. To avoid getting ripped off by angkot drivers or ojek guys, it is wise to ask someone such as your hotel employee or the locals, about the normal fare before you get on any local transport, otherwise see how much the other passengers pay and offer the exact fare.

Packing Tips For Your Kepahiang Hiking Trip (Rainy season Oct - Apr) 

• Luggage and bags: Locks for your luggage to protect your important item & travel documents from theft. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 
• Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: In most part of Sumatra, the wet season falls from October to April, the wettest months are January and February that can make travel more difficult. The weather is still hot and more humid in the coastal areas, but at higher elevations tend to be cooler. On January to February rains can come in sudden tropical downpours, and or it can also rain nonstop for a whole day. Bring plenty of socks to wear while wearing shoes, folding umbrella, a light waterproof rain jacket (heavy plastic raincoat might be too warm for the humid tropics), long pants and/or jeans, shorts, T-shirts, flip flops.
• Toiletries and Medical Supplies: First Aid Kit, anti Malarial tablets, analgesic pills, Antihistamine pills for any allergic reactions, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper for the eventual emergency, and anti-bacterial gel for use afterwards.
• Photo Equipment: Bring extra batteries and SD cards, in case you go someplace where you can’t buy replacement stocks. Zip locks bags for use in protecting your camera equipment, travel documents, etc. It’s good to bring a transformer or adapter if your devices don’t play nice with the local electricity.
• Camping/Outdoor Gear: Flashlight, mosquito repellent, pack at least two bottles of water per day.

Related posts:

Kabawetan Tea Plantation and Hill Resort

Lake Suro Offers Scenic Places to Paddle and Explore

Tips for Traveling on Rainy Sumatra Days

Driving Safely on Rainy Sumatra Days

More photos from Kepahiang: 

Lake Suro at sunset

Seeing Rafflesia arnoldii

Fresh fruit stalls in Tebat Monok - Kepahiang

Amorphophallus titanium (locally known as Kibut) the tallest flower on the planet

Photos by: Adriansyah Putera, Shirley Adriansyah