Where?
Payakumbuh is the second largest city in West Sumatra, situated in the North East of the region, east of Bukittinggi.
Why visit?
The Payakumbuh area is home to many exciting adventure tourism opportunities, as well as many areas of natural beauty, including Harau Valley and the Ngalau Indah caves. Notable opportunities include rock climbing at Harau, and bamboo rafting (with beautiful mountain views) at Taram Village.
How to get there?
From Padang there are buses available from the Tranex station in Ulak Karang. The buses go via Bukittinggi and take approximately 3 hours. If traveling straight from Bukittinggi, buses are available from Aur Kuning, and take approximately 1 hour.
Alternatively, car or motorbike rental is available throughout the region for a more comfortable trip.
Where to stay?
Why not stay in the beautiful surroundings of the Harau Valley? There are many home stay and camping options available, and waking up to see the sun rise over the village will provide a truly memorable experience.
Where next?
The hill-top town of Bukittinggi, with it’s numerous tourist activities and cool mountain breezes is only 1 hour away to the west by bus, and the ‘city of culture’ Batusangkar, is also 1 hour by bus to the south.
Where to get more information?
I hope you’ve found this article helpful. Use the search bar at the top of the page to find our articles on a specific place, or alternatively peruse the rest of the site to find out about some of the other great destinations in West Sumatra. If you have any questions, leave a comment below, or send us an e-mail at westsumatratraveler@gmail.com – we look forward to hearing from you!
Jen is an English girl who found herself in Sumatra one day and never went back. A wife, mother, traveler and book worm, she has lived in Padang long enough to speak the language and unearth plenty of useful hints and tips for the weary traveler…
