'''Kerinci National Park ''' [http://www.kerinci.org/] is in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Understand

One of the largest National Parks in Indonesia, the park protects a large area of forest ranging from mountains to lower elevation forests. However as throughout the archipelago much illegal logging and hunting continues within the park's borders.

History

Landscape

The park is dominated by the Barisan mountains, including '''Mount Kerinci''', at 3805m the highest mountain in Sumatra. The mountain is volcanic with a jungle terrain.

As of 2007, visitors are allowed to climb Mount Kerinci from the village of Kersik Tuo, but are not allowed to go further than 1km from the crater due to black smog seen.

Flora and fauna

Kerinici is most famous amongst bird-watchers as the best place to see most of Sumatran endemic bird species including the Schneiders Pitta and Sumatran Cochoa, both considered extinct for much of the 20th century.

Climate

The climate follows the normal climate in Indonesia, although there may be slight occasional drizzles during the dry season.

Get in

Most visitors arrive from Padang's Minangkabau International Airport. You may want to call your hotel or homestay in advance to arrange for personal transport (you can hire a car, van, or bus) for your trip, as it is a 6 hour drive away from the town.

It is also possible to take public transport, although the ride may be uncomfortable as public buses may not have space if you are carrying a bulky backpack or luggage.

Fees/Permits

You should prepare or bring a photocopy of your passport, which is to be given to the authorities. It is also possible to get a photocopy made at the village of Kersik Tuo. The price for entry as of May, 2008 is 10 to 20,000 Rupiah per person, or about USD 1 or 2.

Get around

A climb to the top of Mount Kerinci or one of many other volcanoes shows an important and remarkable change in vegetation; lower trees, which are covered in mush and sub-alpine meadows and swamps at the top, gradually replace high trees. A remarkable flower on higher altitudes is the Javanese edelweiss Anaphalis javanica, which only grows on volcanoes. This flower usually reaches four meters in height and is colored white-green because of its small hairs; the flowers are yellow with white. The peak of the volcano itself is bald, because of the last eruption in 1934. The park also houses the biggest flowers in the world, the monstrous, flesh red flower of the parasite Rafflesia arnoldi and the two-meters-high flower-flames of Amorphophallus titanum. Find it more on '''VAI''', [http://www.volcanoadventureindonesia.com/] to explore the exotic mount Rinjani trekking and adventures, there is no other tour operator you can rely on. Volcano adventure indonesia guarantee you will get what a volcanic adventure should give. Be ready to have extra pleasures and surprising unforgatable experiences that you may not imagine before.

See

There are tea plantations, which you may tour after getting permission from the locals. You can go sightseeing around the town, but mainly most people prefer to go trekking to see more of the nature reserve.

Do

The park is also popular for trekkers with a number of routes available. Some highly recommended treks include Lake Gunung Tujuh- a crater lake in Mount Tujuh; and the popular trek up to either Camp 2 or 3 of Mount Kerinci. It is also possible to trek to the summit. A trek to the summit usually takes 2 days and 1 night, including the descent, although the more adventurous claim it can be made in a single day, beginning around 5am.[http://www.volcanoadventureindonesia.com/]

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

The best places to stay are the village of Kersik Tuo or the town of Sungai Penuh, both reached by public transport from Padang.

  • '''Homestay Pak Subandi''' - Tel: (0748)357009. Pak Subandi can arrange for a guide to bring you up the volcano, or for normal trekking. The address is Jalan Raya Muara Labuh, Sungai Penuh, Desa Kersik Tua.
  • Camping

    It is more advisable to camp with a guide, as there have been rare cases of people who disappeared while attempting to climb Kerinci alone. You can ask your local accommodation to arrange for a guide for you. A highly recommended guide is Pak Ahmad, with around 30 years of experience bringing people up the volcano. He can be contacted through Homestay Pak Subandi.

    The homestays also provide equipment rental, and your guide, or porters if you choose to hire any, will bring his own (basic) equipment and tent.

    The basic fee for a guide is about 100,000 Rupiah / day.

    Backcountry

    It is also possible to explore the surrounding area in motorcycles, including the tea plantations.

    Get out

    ENJOY IT ! it's gonna be fun !