Berastagi

Understand

A small town in the main road connecting Medan with Karo highland and Lake Toba, it's a popular weekend getaway town for locals from Medan. The town is located in the Barisan mountains (Bukit Barisan), the longest mountain range in Indonesia extending from Aceh to Lampung. With a height of about 1300 meters above sea level, the annual mean level temperature is about 23° C. In the rainy season, fog may occur frequently and wind may get chilly. A light jacket or windbreaker may help. You might check the market for second hand jackets.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Medan's Kuala Namu International Airport. A taxi direct from the airport takes around 3 hours. Buses also go right from the airport to Kabanjahe via Berastagi (Rp 40,000). Berastagi is only 67 km from Medan, but the road is often jammed, particularly on weekends, so travel time is often north of two hours. Bus Rp20,000 (Mar 2024), duration 1½-2 hr, with Pt. Almasar Indonesia shop (loket), near Citra Garden 2, south of Medan. No bus from Amplas terminal. Renting a car is expensive, but if you are short of time and plan to continue your journey beyond Berastagi, it's a viable option. Motorbikes are also available to rent in Berastagi. While bus can stop in Berastagi mostly on-demand, the nearest bus terminal seems to be Kabanjahe. It can be reached via local yellow minibus written Karya from Berastagi main road, south direction. From there, you can take bus to Medan, Lake Toba, and elsewhere.

Getting around

By public transport Buses service many of the surrounding villages as is the case in the rest of Indonesia. Prices are similar to those elsewhere in Indonesia. You may get to ride on the roof of local minibuses. Many run along the main road all the time. Central market is main stop.

By foot Berastagi is a small city and walking around is possible if you stay at the city. You can cover the whole city in less than an hour. Walking to surrounding villages, though, is not recommended.

See

The tourist info is very helpful. However, booking trips is cheaper with local agencies, for example Losmen Sibayak Guesthouse (in the center, next to BRI bank).

1 Bukit Barisan National Forest (Taman Hutan Raya Bukit Barisan), Jl. Letdjen Jamin Ginting. Popular among locals for picnicking and camping, especially on weekends. The forest is poorly managed and in poor condition, though. (updated Apr 2018) 2 Gundaling hill (Bukit Gundaling), Jl. Gundaling, Berastagi. A small hill that give panorama view of nearby Sibayak and Sinabung. Sadly, it's packed with many small stalls around. You can take a picture with Sinabung with its volcanic plume as your background on a very clear day. Or you can ride a horse or horse carriage around Gundaling. Skyview at "Jembatan kaca puncak gundaling berastagi" for Rp20,000. (updated Mar 2024) 3 Taman Alam Lumbini, Barus Jahe, Brastagi (If own vehicle, Turn left on oranges monument after National Forest. After a gas station, enter an unmarked gate with unpaved road to the right. 6 km from berastagi monument/pasar buah, local bus yellow with 'sigantang sira' in red ~15 min and 10 min walk dirt/rock road, avoid walking main road.). 09:00-17:00. A large Buddhist temple complex and park. The main temple is a replica from Shewadgon Pagoda in Yangon. Dress code is applied; alcohol and cigarettes are forbidden to bring inside, a security checkpoint will ensure visitors comply before entering. Food stalls sell only vegan foods. temple has a park up/down hill next to it, has a bridge (closed at Mar 2024). Free. Donations welcomed.. (updated Mar 2024)

Do

1 Lau Debuk Debuk hot springs (Pemandian air panas Lau Debuk Debuk) (From Berastagi, catch a yellow KT minibus on the main drag, but ask to make sure it's going all the way there. Rp 6k. It's also possible to walk to Lau Debuk Debuk in about two hours, but it's a jungle path that is frequently unmaintained and overgrown. Only go with someone who's been over it recently.). At least some of the pools are open all hours, though minibuses back to Berastagi stop around 19:00. Take a dip in the hot springs on the foot of Gunung Sibayak while enjoying the view of the mountain. Feels so good, especially after having just climbed the volcano. There are so many hot springs around that it may confuse you, but just pick one which is clean. You can purchase a small pack of sulfur powder and rub it in your skin before dip inside. The powder is supposedly very good for skin. In late afternoon the springs become crowded with local families. There are also several hotels in the hot springs town with prices from around Rp 150,000. Entry price varies, around Rp 5,000 - 10,000, and you can stay as long as you like.. (updated May 2018) 2 Mount Sibayak (Gunung Sibayak). A climb of Gunung Sibayak is a must. A guide is definitely required unless you are an experienced trekker as the path is very slippery, steep and confusing in some areas. The guides will also probably know many alternative paths to the top depending on the weather and your fitness level or time. There are two common starting points - Pertamina power plant at Lau Debuk Debuk (Semangat Gunung village) from the south east or pos Lestari from the west. Rp10,000 (local tourist); Rp25,000 (foreign tourist). (updated May 2018) 3 Mount Sinabung (Gunung Sinabung). You can also climb Gunung Sinabung. The easiest way is to take a minibus to Danau Kawar (a lake at the foot of the volcano) and then hike up (you should ask for directions as the beginning is not obvious). After the initial pass through the farms the path is impossible t

Buy

If you want to experience a local narcotic, try betelnuts from the market. You buy the leaves, a paste, tobacco and a red nut. All are mixed on the leaf, rolled and chewed. The paste is lime so it has a kick to it. Karoland coffee is very nice, and may be purchased in shops all over town.

1 Fruit market (Pasar buah) (from Medan after reaching small roundabout of Heroic monument, turn to right, across gas station). 8AM - 6PM daily. The Berastagi area supplies Medan and in part also Singapore with local fruits and vegetable. The wet market is famous for selling fresh fruits, vegetables, potted flowers and decorative shrubs. Prices are generally acceptable but possibly higher than the more local Pusat Pasar market. Haggle is recommended. (updated May 2018) 2 PIMS (Putra Indo Mandiri Sejahtera) (Gundaling Farm) (There are 2 way to go here - enter the road beside Hotel Sibayak until a Y junction with sign mention to left is to Sibayak volcanoes, turn right and follow the road about 500 meters. The farm is to the right side after a small chapel and may be hard to see the entrance. The other way is from main road Medan - Berastagi, after National Forest and Y junction, continue the road about 200 meters until you see a road to the right. Enter the road and continue about 15 minutes until you see the entrance to the farm to your left.). A dairy farm that sell fresh pasteurized-milk and yogurts. Come early as it sold out very f