6-day Minangkabau Culture at Lake Maninjau - Sumatra

Today, you’ll travel by private car to Padang Sidempuan, so you can stop off along the way if something interesting catches your eye. In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive at your hotel. There aren’t too many accommodation options here, so we’ve picked a modern hotel for the night. Although it’s rather large, and perhaps a little impersonal, there are plenty of facilities and the restaurant serves tasty Indonesian cuisine.

You’ll leave early this morning for the drive to Bukittinggi. It’s another long journey across hills and valleys, through plantations and small villages. In the late afternoon you’ll arrive in Bukittinggi, surrounded by volcanoes, lakes, canyons and traditional villages. The town sits on the Agam plateau above a deep river valley. You’ll stay in a quiet, simple hotel with a pool.

Today, you’ll have a private car and driver at your disposal, so you can explore the area at your own pace. You can start the day with a walk into town and a trip to the colourful market. Bukittinggi is the home of the Minangkabau culture in which the women play the dominant role. Their wealth is expressed in beautifully woven traditional dress and the adat houses with their distinctive roofs.

Today you’ll walk with a local guide down a steep path into the canyon. You’ll find yourself surrounded by steep cliffs covered in tropical vines. Follow the river running through the canyon, wade through the water and make the steep climb to the top. The trip ends in a small silversmith village with several colonial Dutch houses. You can walk back to Bukittinggi through the canyon or take an ankot.

This morning, you’ll continue your trip through the countryside to Lake Maninjau. The last stretch follows 44 nerve-wrecking hairpin bends, each offering an amazing view across the crystal blue lake and forests. When you arrive at your hotel, you can go for a swim in the clear waters of the lake. The simple rooms have a balcony with views across the lake. You can rent a bike, explore the area on foot or hire a canoe.

The next day you’ll leave Lake Maninjau for Padang airport, ready for your next adventure.