Conquering Mount Kerinci:
A Guide to Climbing Indonesia's Highest Volcano"
- LocationKerinci, West Sumatra, Indonesia
- Duration4 days
- Rating★★★★
- Average CostIDR 2000000
Mount Kerinci, standing tall at 3,805 meters, is the highest volcano in Indonesia and a hidden gem for mountain climbers. Located in the province of Jambi on the island of Sumatra, it is part of the Kerinci Seblat National Park, home to the Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhinoceros.
The nearest airport to Kerinci is in the city of Padang. Unfortunately, there's no direct flight from Singapore to Padang, but don't let that deter you. In our quest to save money, we opted for an overnight bus from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The return ticket was a steal at just $60 SGD. We reached Padang Airport around 8am in the morning.
Unlike the popular Mount Rinjani on Lombok island, Mount Kerinci is not as well-known among climbers, which makes it a serene and unique climbing experience. Its untouched beauty and challenging terrain make it a must-visit for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure.
Day 1
Upon arrival, we booked a 4-day, 3-night tour, which included transportation from Padang to Kerinci, accommodation in Kerinci, camping equipment with a porter, a guide, and three meals per day. All of this cost us IDR2 million, which we found quite worth it given that it included everything we needed for the journey. We reached Kerinci around 4pm as it takes about a 7-hour drive from Padang to Kerinci Village. We spent the remaining daylight hours exploring the village, watching the sunset, and catching our first glimpse of Mount Kerinci.
Day 2
We began our day with a breakfast provided by the hostel, followed by a packed lunch handed out for our journey later. We set off around 9am and anticipated a 5-hour trek to reach the campsite. The first section of the hike involved traversing through the jungle, where we spotted monkeys and black gibbons hanging from the trees. Along the way, our guide pointed out a cave in a tree, claiming it was a nest for a tiger. We arrived at the campsite around 4pm. The day’s trek was rewarded with the sight of a magnificent sunset, which was a great end to our second day.
Day 3
Today was going to be a very tiring day. We had a 12-hour hike ahead of us, but let me tell you the story. We started our journey around 4am to catch the sunrise. The weather was pretty clear as we made our way up the mountain. The mountain path was similar to the Mount Rinjani path I climbed last time, but it was relatively easier. We were lucky enough to witness a sea of clouds. The hike was quite exciting with stunning views along the way. We reached the top around 8am and saw the huge active volcano peak. There was still smoke coming out from the volcano, a reminder of its active status. We met some local hikers along the way, took some pictures together, and they even invited us for breakfast. We reached back to the campsite around lunchtime. After lunch, we headed down back to the entrance point. The whole day was exhausting but the experience and the views were worth every step.
