Indonesia Traveling Guide

Lampung province is located at the south of Sumatra, for decades it is overlooked, over flown by most tourists. But today, it is one among many popular point of interest when tourists visiting Indonesia.

It boasts volcanoes, wildlife reserve, megalithic remain and a superb coastline of deep-cut bays and wonderful beaches. Its capital city is Bandar Lampung, is made up of twin cities that is Teluk Betung and Tanjung Karang.

Way Kambas Nature Reserve is a 130,000 ha area of swamp and lowland forest with wild elephant, tapir, tigers and hundreds of species of birds can be watched. Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world can be seen when it is blooming at Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, on the southern coastline of Sumatra.

Lampung has its own traditions, high valued handicraft and art creations such as woven cloth, interwoven by gold threads called "tapis".

Agriculture provides the main income to its population, from farming, fishery and plantations. Clove, coffee and coconut grow extensively along the southern coast. While on the eastern part and hinterland they cultivate pepper, coffee, cassava, cocoa and rice, the tobacco growing area is around Lake Ranu in the northern part.

Places of Interest to visit while staying in Lampung:

Bandar Lampung

The capital of Lampung has several interesting places such as the Museum and the Monument of the Krakatau Eruption. Worth while seeing or doing is the weaving process of Tapis textile, art and dance performances or just sunbathing on the beach.

Museum of Lampung

Located at Teuku Umar Street, it can be reached within 15 minutes from the centre of Bandar Lampung. It contains ethnographic and archaeological collections, Chinese ceramics, traditional music instruments, ancient Tapis cloth and ornaments.

Way Kambas Reserve and Way Wako River

Way Kambas is a 2-hour drive from Bandar Lampung. 130,000 hectares of area on Lampung's East coast, Way Kambas is the best place to watch wild Sumatran elephants, tigers and many species of birds. Motorboats can be hired at Way Kanan for cruising around and up the river.

Way Kanan River

Here we can sail along Way Kanan and Way Kambas by canoe or boat to watch the surrounding flora and fauna while in the mouth of Way Kambas, it's good for fishing and swimming. In the morning, we can safari for 2 hours through the prepared track and listen to wild animals roaring and birds singing.

Elephant Training Centre

Way Kambas Elephant Training is an international project which is partly funded by the World Wildlife Fund. The aim of training them is to make the captured elephant be useful to mankind.

Most visitors come to Way Kambas to see the training centre and to have an opportunity to ride on an elephant.

Simple tourist facilities are available at Way Kanan such as lodges, wooden houses on poles, river boats and an observation centre. Way Kambas is accessible by car from Bandar Lampung. The activities and special interests are bird watching, jungle tracking, elephants safari, and river cruises.

Krakatoa

An uninhabited island Krakatoa is located on the southern part of the Bay of Lampung. Krakatoa is reachable in three hours by boat from Canti, a fisherman village near Kalianda, South Lampung. This group of islands consists of four islands, one of them is called Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa) which has grown higher every year.

Anak Krakatau has emerged from the bottom of the sea between three other islands by early 1928 or 45 years after Krakatoa's 1883 formidable eruption. Please consult with local tourism before haeding this site since the volcano isn't quite stable these days.

Pugung Archaeologicai Site

Located in Pugung Raharjo village, 40 km. northeast of Bandar Lampung, is a site of megalithic and prehistoric relics as well as of the classical Hindu Buddhist period. There are primitive trenched fortresses which almost surround its site. Stone inscription, ancient Chinese porcelains, Polynesian statue and the statue of Bodhisatwa are at the museum, a house on poles located on the way to Pugung Raharjo.

Merak Belantung Beach

Located 40 km south of Bandar Lampung on the way to the seaport of Bekauheni. The beach is ideal for swimming and wind surfing. Cottages and equipment for wind surfing are available.