When you think of Indonesia, what comes to mind? Bali? Ijen? Bromo? Lombok? Or other famous places on your wishlist that haven't been mentioned yet? Have you heard of Sibayak? Have you ever heard of this volcano? It is a volcano located in the city of Berasategi on the island of Sumatra. Come on, let's get to know this place that was once a point of eruption in the Ring of Fire.

Traveling to Berastagi: A Scenic Adventure

Traveling to Berastagi is a breeze. Direct flights from Thailand to Medan are readily available, with round-trip fares ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 baht (approximately $90-$150 USD). Whether you catch a promo or not, expect prices to hover around 4,000 baht.

Once in Medan, the journey to Berastagi, roughly 60 kilometers away, offers breathtaking scenery. The winding road climbs steadily along the mountain ridge, with numerous sharp turns that will have you saying "left, right, left, right" with a chuckle.

Whether you choose to rent a car or take public transportation, the choice is yours. We opted for a rental car due to our multi-destination itinerary.

Trekking to Sibayak is free of charge. You can set your GPS and hike up on your own, or hire a guide for convenience and assistance, which is very affordable at around 300 baht per person. This includes everything from transportation to and from the starting point and guiding services. You can choose a one-day trip or an overnight stay. Let's go trekking at Sibayak! It's an easy trail suitable even for beginners.

The ascent to Sibayak is relatively quick, taking less than an hour, making it an easily accessible volcano. Moreover, it is accessible 24 hours a day, allowing for flexible scheduling. The trail features a variety of rocks and stones, which may be slippery or cause tripping.

The volcanoes here have erupted sporadically and are now extinct, making them safe for exploration. The hiking trail consists of rocky ridges with some elevation changes. Sulfur fumes are present in some areas, but the odor is not overpowering unless you approach them closely.

Campers who wish to avoid the early morning climb to the volcano's crater can pitch their tents along the rim.

Sibayak is a volcano paired with Sinabung, a sibling pair. However, Sinabung continues to erupt sporadically, remaining restless.

The hike up the volcano for our trip was a night trail, haha. Since we had been on other trips, we figured we were ready to hike whenever. Okay, okay, since it's always open, right? Haha.

We hiked for almost an hour to reach the campsite, which was located near the summit with breathtaking views. The climb was quite challenging, leaving us slightly out of breath. We plan to spend the night here and wake up to watch the sunrise.

6 am, the faint light of dawn has arrived. The fog is very thick, and the sun is only shining intermittently.

Let the Thai flag fly high to Indonesia. Wake up, Thai people, don't fall asleep in delusion.

The sky is clearing and the fog is rolling in.

Morning view, seeing Sinabung in the distance as if it were close by. Huh? 55

The mist is magnificent, flowing like silk threads against the mountains below. It's so amazing!

Sibayak is a stratovolcano with a complex morphology. Its summit is characterized by a series of jagged ridges that encircle a central crater.

It was a pleasant surprise for View to wake up to this sight in front of the tent. It wasn't a man, though. Not the actual View in front. Haha.

If you're feeling weak, just go to sleep. 55 Anyone who likes to sleep in the open air is welcome to try it. It's bone-chillingly cold.

For breakfast, we have rather unappetizing-looking sausages, but they are surprisingly delicious.

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

This scenic spot boasts three vantage points: the leftmost being the first, the rightmost the second, and the central one the third. The recommended viewing order follows this numerical sequence, as the sunrise illuminates the second point first. Therefore, we should ascend the first point first, as it offers the best panoramic view. Next, we should climb the second point to capture the highlight of the sunlight. Finally, the third point, the most challenging to reach, provides a breathtaking vista of the entire landscape below. Many visitors are discouraged by the climb, opting to simply admire the view from afar.

Let's start at the first viewpoint. We need to walk along the volcanic ridge like this.

A distant view of Mount Sinabung

Just keep walking, you'll get there eventually (maybe). 55

Be careful not to slip and fall while walking. Even though the path may be wide or narrow, if you fall, it's goodbye.

Watch out for the rocks.

Let's move on to the second viewpoint, with our tent blocking the way right here. 55 Just walk past it.

Looking back, the sea of fog was vast.

This view is approximately as follows:

From the second viewpoint, you can see the ridge of the volcano that we walked on at the first viewpoint. (How did we manage to walk there?) 55

And finally, the third viewpoint

Just walking down here is tiring. The crater rim is right next to this viewpoint. It smells strongly of sulfur. Cough cough.

It must climb up like this, damn it.

You'll feel better once you get there (really?)

This panoramic view encompasses the surrounding area.

The painted volcanic crater below is unstable. Avoid stepping on the yellow areas, as they are crumbling and could collapse.

Couple's tent for cuddling

Tent group is flourishing

And the crazy person here 55

And Arif, who has given her everything, 55. If anyone is interested in hiring a guide, please ask.

Goodbye to the path we once walked

And the towering mountain range over there.

From the sky to the ground, taking a picture with the sign is a custom. We arrived at the starting point at noon. We spent a long time talking and taking pictures. The view was worth it, even though it was hot. We came all this way, so let's walk. Let's go in.

This is the parking lot where people park before hiking up Sibayak. However, there is actually a parking lot at the top, but due to the muddy and landslide-prone road, large vehicles cannot go up. Only small vehicles can go up, so you have to walk another 3 kilometers to reach the sign that marks the start of the climb up the volcano.

See you again, Sibayak. Sinabung is over there. Goodbye.

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