Ujung Kulon National Park

In the remote south west of Java, the national park of Ujung Kulon is the site of one of Indonesia’s most pristine and untouched natural attractions. It is no coincidence that Ujung Kulon is classified as one of Indonesia’s World Heritage Sites and has been a natural reserve since 1937. Most well known for being the home of the last one horned white Javan rhinoceros of which a population of about 60 remains, Ujung Kulon receives about 6,500 visitors a year from all over the world.

With over 120,000 hectares, Ujung Kulon comprises the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Java, Indonesia, the two islands of Pulau Handeuleum and Pulau Peucang just offshore, and the island of Pulau Panaitan separated from the mainland by the Panaitan Straits.

The Ujung Kulon area offers various different landscapes, from the Gunung Payung massif in the southwest and the low rolling hills of the Telanca Plateau in the northeast, to the swamp area characteristic for the lower lying isthmus. Inventories of the Ujung Kulon wild life are the subject of numerous books. The fauna on the peninsula and the islands is almost too extensive to describe in short.

The Javan rhino, a highly endangered species, together with leopards, Javan gibbons, banteng, eagles, pythons, crocodiles and turtles represents just afraction of the wide range of carnivores, deer, primates, birds, reptiles and amphibians present

The terrestrial scenery proofs to be an ideal attraction to hikers, eco-tourists and researchers, and is well matched in popularity by the Ujung Kulon coast and its water sport possibilities. Scuba diving and game fishing enthusiasts rate the marine location among the richest in the archipelago with an abundance and variety of fish and superb coral reefs.

Numerous reef species, such as butterfly fish, batfish, triggerfish and moorish idol, dominate the shallower waters, while deep water species include sharks, tuna, barracuda and marlin. It is because of this last species, the black marlin, that the Sunda Strait has the reputation of being an excellent and challenging game fishing ground.

Apart from the outstanding natural beauty of Ujung Kulon, the cultural heritage is another inspiration for many researchers and historians. The Tanjung Layar lighthouse on the extreme western point of the peninsula guided Dutch, English and Portuguese sailing ships safely through the Panaitan straits during colonial times. The eruption of the nearby Krakatau Volcano in 1883 required the lighthouse to be rebuilt after being leveled by the 40-meter tsunami.

Panaitan Island is believed to have been an important staging post for sailing ships. Captain James Cook is known to have anchored his HMS Endeavour there in the 18th century. The island bears a Ganesha statue on the top of Mt. Raksa, a Hindu archaeological relic from the first century AD.

Visitors are advised to access the park by boat, as overland accessibility is poor. Boat excursions with professional guides are organized from the nearby peninsula of Tanjung Lesung.

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Thousand Islands

White sand, coconut palms fringing the shore, multicoloured coral reefs, abundant shoals of unique, colourful fish, a golden sun setting in clear blue skies….does that fit your image of Jakarta? Unlikely, but then you’re probably forgetting that the beautiful Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands) are also part of what is known as the city of Jakarta.

Located on a gulf facing the Java Sea, Jakarta has four main ports from which to access the Thousand Islands: Ancol Marina, Sunda Kelapa, Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Kait. Ancol Marina is the most usual departure point, speed boats leaving regularly to whisk you away from the city heat to the cool, palm fringed beaches of paradise. However chartering a boat is also possible for anyone with a more adventurous spirit. The Marina Jaya Ancol itself is buzzing with yachts, motor and sail boats, and is the place to go for marine recreation. Jet skies canoes, sail boats wind surfering and waterskiing are all to be found, along with all kinds of fishing gear you may need for hire. Numerous stalls along the beach serve drinks and snacks while tents are available for sunbathers and sea-lovers.

But it is the Tousand Islands which are the real jewels. The Kepulauan Seribu, as they are known locally, are a group of islands sprinkled across the Java Sea to the north of Jakarta. As the name suggests, the way the islands lie seemingly scattered closely to each other offers you a thousand of beaches, a thousand pleasures and a thousand golden sunsets. The surrounding waters in particular are a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers, Kotok being the most famous.

Despite the romantic name, there are in fact about 340 islets in Kepulauan Seribu. Islets that have been developed for tourism include Bidadari, Ayer, Laki, Puteri and Tanjung, and bungalows, restaurants, diving and sailing facilities are available on all these islets and others. For anyone with dreams of Robinson Crusoe style seclusion, delightful beaches can also be found in Matahari, Kulkul Kotok, Pelangi, Sepa, Onrust, Edam, Bokor, Kelor, Rambut, Ubi Kecil, Untungjawa, Pari, Perak, Melinjo, Pancalirang, Gosong, Ringgit, Sebaru, Hantu, Antuk, Bira, Panjang, Kelapa, Panggang, Lang, Tidung Besar, Payung, Kongsi, Pari, Damar Besar, Kelor, Kapal, Cipir and Nyamuk.

So if you are in Jakarta and become weary of the frenetic turbulence of the modern metropolis, hop on an early morning boat and escape across the Java Sea to a paradise island in the sun…. you can be there in time for breakfast on Saturday morning, and back in town by sunset Sunday evening without even leaving Jakarta!

Thousand Islands (Pulau Seribu) scaterred in the Bay of Jakarta, accessible ranging from 20 minutes to 2 hours by speedboat off Marina Jaya Ancol or Tanjung Kait. The Thousand Islands or Kepulauan Seribu consist of around 340 isles, including sand bars.

Set in a clean blue sea filled with myriad of tropical fish living among muticolored corals, the Thousand Islands are tremendously tempting places to spenc your vacation. Some of them have been developed into holiday resorts for real lovers of sea, sand and sun.

Furnished with ample, holiday comforts such as accommodation, restaurants, pools and other sport facilities it is an ideal place for a change from the routinism of your life. For water sports and underwater world lovers, it’s a paradise.

Pulau Ayer Island Resort & Cottages

Located about 14 kilometers north of Jakarta, or 30 minutes boat trip from Marina Ancol, Jakarta, part of the Thousand Island’s covering a total area of 60 hectares, a beautiful spot to witness the famed sunset of the Jakarta bay.

Bidadari Island Resort

Being the nearest Island Resort, Pulau Bidadari is reachable in 20 minutes ride on speedboat, about 15 kms, from the Ancol’s Marina. The cottages are built among trees which provide shady and comfortable envronment giving you the

feeling of being integrated with the nature. And those floating over the sea give you the touch of fishermen’s home atmosphere.

Pelangi Island Resort
Pelangi Island is 70 kms from Marina Ancol, Jakarta and can be reached by speedboat around one and a half hour trip.Densely covered by lush palm and pine trees which is surrounded by watch sandy beach in the middle of silver clean blue waters will make this green tropical Pelangi Island on ideal gateway to enjoy the sea, sand and sun.

Putri Resort Hotel

Located just a few breast-stroke away from Jakarta, Putri Island offers paradisian beauty on its soft and white sandy beach and crystal clear water all around. A holiday resort of which you will dream to return over and over again.

Alam Kotok Island Resorts
Alam Kotok offers a chance to holiday in the untouched island habitat of the exotic “ Thousand Island” just 90 minutes from Jakarta. This peaceful tropical atoll has been kept in its original pristine state, the flora and the fauna undisturbed by cozy cottages tucked amongst the foliage, looking out to sea. Here the only sounds are the wind in the trees, birdsong, and the gentle waves lapping the shore. Discover the gentle rhytm of island life, diving the colorful coral reefs, swimming and wandering at leisure.

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Berastagi

Berastagi, a tourist town, is another lovely town located in Karo highlands. The town is known for its plantations and various kinds of flowers, vegetables and fruit, most famous which is Marquisa passion fruit. It's 66 km southwest of Medan and is 4.594 feet above sea level. There is a pleasant colonial-style hotel with a golf course. Other new hotels can also be found. From Gundaling Hill a clear view of Mt. Sibayak and Mt. Sinabung volcanoes can be seen.

From this city, the visitors will enjoy charming scenery to the active mountainside, which are Sibayak Mountain and Sinabung Mountain. To climb Sibayak Mountain require at least 3 hours trip and we could enjoy pretty scenery in these mountains or 3 to 4 hours trip in the forest to see the nature wealth inside, for both the flora and the fauna around this forest.

The atmosphere of green nature from the reflection of the trees from the slope of Rangkap Sibayak Mountain (well known as Sibayak mountain) made the Berastagi city had flooded by tourists. The hill line along with the agricultural field, are always

ready to refresh its visitor's eyes. Berastagi which rich with agro-industries became the appropriate choice for recreation spot other than Toba Lake and Samosir Island, which has become a trademark of North Sumatra.

Berastagi has the strategic location to become the stopping place, not just because several tourist attractions are easy to be accessed from here, but also the hotels are well provided. Hotels can be easily found with varying price, by offering the design typical to the locals. However the visitor still have the choice to choose the hotels and villas that historically were the legacy of colonial period

Sibayak and Sinabung Mountain.
Berastagi to Sibayak Mountain distance are only 7 Km, this is why the hikers choose this City, as the closest alternative to reach the mountain peak (2.094 meters from sea level). With the currently available infrastructure, the vehicles could reach close to the mountain peak that was known with its beauty nature. On the Peak of Sibayak Mountain, we could see a sulfuric crater lake with wide around 200 x 200 meters, with temperature 119.6 Celsius and the temperature of surrounding air is 21 Celsius. The other scenery of Sibayak mountain peak is Sinabung mountain peak (2.451 meters from sea level), located in the west.

Lau Debuk-Debuk
Not just that, near Berastagi, on the side of Sibayak mountain peak we could find Lau Debuk-Debuk Hot Water Springs. Located in Daulu and Semangat Gunung village, this hot water springs flowed with the temperature of 35 Celsius emerged through the lava cracks in the volcano slope that afterwards was accommodated in the bathing place ponds. The climbers usually use this hot water reservoir to release their fatigue from the trip. Now, there are also an electrical generator (power plant) on the hot spring upstream that had the temperature above 150 ° Celsius. The visitors could see a power plant, which produces electricity from geothermal vapors

Gundaling Hill
Berastagi also had Gundaling Hill which located only 3 Km from Berastagi. This hill offered a beautiful garden that was suitable as a spot to relax or to do some sports. From the hill peak, we could enjoy Mount Sibayak and Mount Sinabung panorama.


Tongging
Tongging was located 112 km from Medan City. This area is located near to Sipiso-piso Waterfall with 360-foot height. From this place, we could enjoy picturesque scenery of Toba Lake. In the intersection of Merek we could turn to Sipiso-piso in Mount Tandukbenua slope (1.947 m. from sea level). The surrounding panorama indeed is very much enchanting. From the balcony of the two leveled guesthouse that was located in the south of this plateau, the visitor could see the calm and beautiful nature of Toba Lake.

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NIAS Island

With it's famous megalithic stone altars and furniture, spectacular traditional architecture, and complex religious rites, this fasctinating island offers a journey in to the past. Nias island lies approximately 125 km south west of Sibolga city. The land has rolling mountainous terrain, gorges, ravines, and rivers ans is subject to earth quakes. The northern half of the island is sparsely populated and featured large swampy areas.The local people of Nias called the island as Tano Niha, or land of the people. Ethnically the Niah who called them selves as Ono Niha are mixed of proto-Malay who have had contacts with the Asian Mongolid world. Their exact origin is misty. Many features, practises and cultures are of their own. Untill now those practises and cultures still well maintained. This is the place that you may discover the live of the stone age era. Stone jumping is one of the popular activities which still well

preserved. During the past, this activity is showing the maturity of a man, and used to be meaning to win a war. The stone jumper used to jumped over the enemies trench to get in to the trench and opened the enemies gate for his companion. However now it used to attract visitors.

For the nature sport lover, Nias provides very very excellent spot for surfing. This is one of the world class surf site in our country. We highly recommend you to the the activity during the dry season (April to October) when the waves and the weather still freindly.

Nias is one of the major tourist destinations in North Sumatera, especially famous for its surfing and unique culture. Nias is definitely different than most other places and has very much to offer, not only for surfers. Nias was 'discovered' late and is in some aspects not yet discovered. Forget all strange reports based on travelers' myth and other inflated stories. Nias is definitely one of the more interesting destinations in Indonesia

Surfing and BeachesA deep trench in the ocean along the coast of Sumatera, Jawa, Bali and onwards is the secret behind all the excellent surfing locations in Indonesia. The pressures of the whole Indian Ocean force the sea up out of the trench and to create huge waves along the coast. Many of those waves are now famous, especially the one in Lagundi. Many other places have very good surfing, but are rather unknown due to its isolation and the secrecy of most surfers. Surfing is so much better if one doesn't have to share the waves with the big crowd. Nias has been specially endowed with good surfing. Besides Lagundi there is nice surfing in Afulu, Pulau Asu and Pulau Bawa. In the archipelago Pulau-pulau Batu there are yet more excellent surfing spots.Nias also offers a big variety of beaches for the beach lover. Anything from quiet coral island beaches to huge wide beaches open to the sea. the beaches of Lahewa and Tanah Bala in PP Batu are definitely unique.

Teluk Lagundi is the bay in the Southwest corner of Nias, famous amongs surfers for its excellent surfing. Some years ago it was the main attraction in North Sumatera and in high season all the bungalows along the shores were full.Tourism in Nias started because of surfing. Australian surfers discovered the famous Lagundi/Sorake wave in 1960s. Lagundi became World famous for its long and perfect wave. International competition have been held regulerly since 1993. For those who never have tried surfing there are surf instructors available.

How to get there

To reach this place, there is weekly ship from Jakarta (the capital city of Indonesia) to Gunung Sitoli; There are Ferries from Sibolga to Gunung Sitoli, Teluk Dalam, or Lahewa every day; Before the crisis hit Indonesia, there is daily flight from Medan to Gunung Sitoli, however it is less frequent nowadays. Gunung Sitoli is the capital city of Nias and it is the center of administration and business affairs of regency. There are several travel agencies hotels, public busses and rental cars to support tourism here. There are also some government and private banks available.

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