After Lake Toba, the fertile valleys and scenic lakes of West Sumatran highlands are undoubtedly the most memorable and also the most often visited sights on the island. This is traditional homeland of the dynamic Minangkabau people, who have scattered and settled down throughout the archipelago and who are famous for their canny business sense, their fiery-hot dishes, their ubiquitous and their ancient matriarchal ways. Traveling is considered a mark of success for them and West Sumatrans and their Minang or Padang restaurants are easily found in all major towns across Indonesia and even around the world. The people are hospitable and eloquent, with poetic style of speech. West Sumatran days are filled with colorful ceremonies and festivals

West Sumatra is actually composed of three distinct regions: a volcanic highland, along coastal plain which is swampy and a series of jungle-covered islands lying about 100 km offshore. The province is dominated by Bukit Barisan – two parallel ranges of mountain peaks interspersed with broad valleys and several highland lakes. Much of the province is still wilderness; virgin jungle inhabited by elephants, tigers, leopard and rhinos.

One hundred kilometers off the coast of West Sumatra lie the Mentawai islands. The islands chain consists of four large inhabited islands – Siberut, Sipora, North and South Pagi, and numerous smaller islands. Most of these islands are still covered in tropical rainforest, and are fringed by unspoiled coral reefs teeming with marine life. The large island of Siberut is famous for its exceptionally archaic culture. Until recently the inhabitants practice many stone age traditions, and even today one can find traditional uma or long houses where tattooing and elaborate rituals designed to please the souls of the community are held.

West Sumatra’s other center of culture and tourism is Bukittinggi, nestled in the higlands north of the provincial capital of Padang. Surrounded by high mountains, picturesque valleys and lakes, Bukittinggi is considered by many tourists to be the most hospitable city in all of Sumatra.

Padang’s Tabing Airport is the main gateway to West Sumatra and is serviced by Merpati Nusantara Airlines. The MV. Kerinci sails every two weeks for Jakarta from Teluk Bayur harbour. Smaller vessels from Muara harbour sail to small towns along the entire west coast of Sumatra. Regular bus services run between Padang, Bukittinggi and other major cities of Sumatra, as well as via the trans-Sumatra Highway to Jakarta.