Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park

Melbourne, Australia
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Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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I would like some info on how much I would expect to pay for an independent trek or guide to visit Kerinci park. I would much prefer to pay a local with real knowledge than to pre-book a trek and pay an unreasonable price (650 pounds for 5 days ??!!) for a generic walk.

I have no problem with camping in the jungle and am open to the duration of the trek, but am on a budget.

I want to do this to observe the nature and fauna - especially primates - rather than just having photo opportunities. I was hoping someone has previously done something similar or knows if these treks are easy to arrange once in Indonesia.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!

Karen

Australia
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1. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Hi Karen,

Where is Kerinci National Park were you thinking of trekking?

It is a massively huge park that spreads over about 1.4 million hectares.

I know of someone I have been helping from this forum who will be climbing Gunung Kerinci in March 2009.

I can hunt up all the info' I have given him and pass it onto you.

You can send me a private message with your email and I can send a map showing the West Sumatra area and so on.

When are you planning on going?

Pamela.

Australia
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2. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Hi Karen,

here is a blog written by a young guy who went bird watching in the area.

He has hand drawn maps etc.

Note he also writes about seeing a tiger on the Tapan Road.

Pak Subandi is probably the best person to meet in Kersik Tau who will be able to help you with a guide etc.

You can get to Kersik Tau by bus from Padang- sorry cannot help with times or prices as it is years since I went there by local bus.

The last time in Jan 2005 I hired a jeep and went with Indonesian friends- this was the trip where we went from Padang to Kersik Tau via Maura Labuh and then onto Sungai Penuh and then through the Kerinci National Park to Maura Sako and onto Tapan and finally back to Painan- our base at Edi's Homestay 2kms this side of Painan.

Photos of Maura Sako

http://travel.webshots.com/album/366186308NQxgWC

Photos of Painan http://travel.webshots.com/album/349086449oYfNie

Pamela

Australia
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3. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Hi,

Sorry, I forgot in my enthusiasm to put up the link to the blog on Kersik Tau

http://www.geocities.com/dojistar/i_keresik_tua.html

and here is the article about seeing the tiger http://www.geocities.com/dojistar/i_tapan.html

and look at this incredible scenery- makes me WANT TO BE THERE RIGHT NOW.

http://www.geocities.com/dojistar/i_intro.html

And in answer to your original question ALL treks are easy to arrange in Indonesia once you get there.

You just need a contact and my suggestion is Pak Subandi.

My photos of Kerinci Jan 2005

http://travel.webshots.com/album/544537155oamEKo

If you are not going until a month or so after March 2009 my contact I have been helping will be writing up a full report of his experience in getting to Kersik Tau ( though I think they are being picked up by Pak Subandi at the airport), his climb and some information about the area.

Blog on getting to Kersik Tau from

http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Indonesia/Sumatra/blog-273768.html

Guess what I just found all the information I posted for FootyBoy Malaysia who is climbing Gunung Kerinci in March 2009 with his friends all arranged through Pak Subandi in Kersik Tau.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294231-i9609-k2060778-Mount_Kerinchi-Sumatra.html

Padang, West...
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4. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Hi Karen,

there are some object In Kerinci you can do for trekking and climbing.

1. Gunung Kerinci (Kerinci Mountain)

9 hours to get top climbing, at least 2 days spent for go and back, starting from Kersik Tuo

2. Danau Gunung Tujuh (Seven Mountain Lake)

From Kersik Tuo is about 8 km to Pelompek village, and trekking up and down for 3,5 hours to get top and can see the Lake of Gunung Tujuh and coming down at the same way.

3. Danau Belibis ( Belibis Lake )

this lake in the area of Kerinci Mountain, there is small island in the center of the lake who can move, this area can trekking is about 3 hours from Kersik Tuo

4. Muaro Sako

in this area normally the people can see several kind of birds and some other animals, to watching birds here, you should leave at 4 am.

5. Danau Kaco (Glass Lake)

if you ever seen DIscovery chanel "Man versus Wild" one of the episode have taken in this area, and I am lucky as part of person behind the scene, this is Lempur Area, south of Sungai Penuh, 1.5 hour trekking you will find this lake, this lake very special, you can see the bottom of this lake, clear, and at the night from this lake have blue light spread to the jungle arround.

6. Rantau Panjang

Here life many kind of animal if you lucky you can see the sumateran tiger, now it is quite hard to find them, my friend told me one of local man what we call "Pawang Harimau" can ask the tiger to came out with doing some ritual.

actually many other object in Kerinci you can explores.

Elvis

Melbourne, Australia
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5. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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I'm actually not sure of where in the park I'd like to go etc as I dont know much about the area, except that this is a great place to see wildlife & do independent trekking. I was also considering Bukit Lawang in Gunung Leuser National Park - is one better than the other?? I mostly want to see primates & if possible a tiger or rhino!

I am traveling alone and should arrive either at the end of February or beginning of March as I have no set schedule.

These 2 parks would be most ideal as I plan to take a return ferry from Penang to Medan as my eventual flight will be out of Singapore.

Melbourne, Australia
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6. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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By The Way - thanks everyone for your advice, especially Elvis & Pamela as you've both got me thinking now!

Australia
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7. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Hi Karen,

You will find Rhinos in Way Kambas National Park in south Sumatra.

Sorry I do not know anything about this park like how to get to it etc.

Here is some information I found that might be useful.

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4466/kambas1.htm

http://arkitrek.com/rhino/

and a blog of a trip to Way Kambas from Jakarta via Bandar Lumpung.

Interesting up to date info' that mentions a new guest house.

http://www.barraimaging.com.au/trips-reports-os.php

Planet Mole always has some article that will wet your appetite for Indonesia.

http://www.planetmole.org/archives/sumatra/places-to-visit/

Re: Bukit Lawang -I love the place for the social aspect- is very touristy and probably NOT what you are looking for.

There is Tangkahan a couple of hours away from BL- a rough motor bike ride where they have about 7 elephants they look after down there.

Here is an April 2008 Garuda Magazine article about the area I read on the plane going over to Jakarta in April this year and was lucky enough to find it on the net.

http://garudamagazine.com/features.php?id=51

And a Tangkahan and Ketambe trip report from Nicole on Thorn Tree ( I helped her with loads of information before her big trip.)

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=13438223&

Probably a better place would be Ketambe in south Aceh see this website created by German guy for Badaruddin in Ketambe.

http://www.ketambe.com/ketambe_how-to-reach.html

and about 3 hrs north of Ketambe is a place called Blangkejeren and out from there is Kedah.

Here is a blog about an experience of trekking in Kedah in Jan 2008- a report from Lonely Planet Thorn Tree where I post frequently.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=13697813

Website link mnetioned in that post.

http://www.gunung-leuser-trek.net/

Karen,

I am also sending you a cut and paste of some comments made by another woman to me in an email whom I was helping who went to Kedaah also but with a less expensive operation.

Pamela

Australia
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8. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Hi Karen,

Did you receive my Private Messages I sent you last week?

Pamela

Melbourne, Australia
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9. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Yes Pamela! Sorry, I've been doing field work, so no access to technology!! It's very interesting to read & my plans are coming along nicely - thanks!

Australia
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10. Re: Independent trekking in Kerinci National Park
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Karen,

Thanks for replying. Let us know what you eventually plan to do.

I would be very interested to know.

Pamela

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