Kerinci At a Glance…

Where?

Kerinci is in the neighboring province of Jambi, and is a full day’s drive from Padang.

Why Visit?

Kerinci is the home of the Seblat National Park – the largest in Sumatra. The national park houses five active volcanoes, including Mount Kerinci, the highest peak in West Indonesia. It is home to the largest population of Sumatran tigers on the island (more tigers, in fact, than China, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam combined), as well as a number of other large mammals, including the Sumatran Elephant and Sun Bear. A bird-watchers paradise, the national park is home to more than 300 bird species, including 17 of Sumatra’s 20 endemic birds.

Did you know? Kerinci produces over 80% of the cinnamon consumed worldwide.

How to get there?

There are buses running from Indah Rung in Padang to Sungai Penuh, Kerinci, taking between 6 and 8 hours. The road to Kerinci covers some beautiful parts of West Sumatra, why not take a couple of days and do the trip in sections, staying in Solok Seletan on the way?

Where to stay?

Sungai Penuh is a city in reach of all of the highlights of a trip to Kerinci, it is a short drive to the lakes and at the foot of Mount Kerinci. If you’d rather be out of the city there are a number of home stay options available in the neighboring villages.

Where next?

Return to West Sumatra, or explore Jambi…

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

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…