Whether you’re new to the sport or an experienced climber, we can connect you to some amazing locations. Our well-trained guides will provide all the gear and do all the work of setting up and belaying on authentic and rugged rock faces in wild Sumatra. Just check out the locations below!

If you are looking for a place to rock climb, then welcome to your new playground! Bukit Kandis is located about 1 hour from the city of Bengkulu. The majority of the journey contains paved roads, but the last 20 minutes will be bumpy as you approach the peak of Kandis jutting out above landscape.

This rock face contains routes graded from 5.3 – 5.9 (YDS) with relatively easy access to create top-rope anchors. Even if rock climbing is not your forte, Bukit Kandis also serves as a great place for camping with some spectacular panoramas. From the base of the peak you can see Bengkulu city and the Indian Ocean on a clear day. You can also distinctly see Bukit Bungkuk as you look over the vast jungles below.

Interested in a longer multi-day jungle trek, that also visits Mt. Kunyit volcano? Be sure to check out our Mt. Kunyit itinerary!

Summary

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate. The trail up the riverbed is flat, although it can be easy to fall on the rocky terrain. Visiting the second waterfall is also a steeper climb, although this waterfall is optional.

Activities: Hiking, Soaking in a Natural Hot Tub, Bird Watching, Wildlife

Elevation: 1300m-1500m

Terrain: Hot Springs, Waterfalls, Jungle, Rocky Riverbed

Nearest Village: Lempur, Gunung Raya subdistrict, Kerinci regency, Jambi province, Indonesia

  • A quality pair of hiking shoes – preferably waterproof – are essential.
  • Comfortable trekking socks are recommended.
  • Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Preferably made from quick-dry material.
  • Your own water bottle, to cut down on single-use plastics.
  • A waterproof jacket in case it rains, and to keep you warm in the chilly evenings and mornings.
  • Sunscreen! Much of the trek is in the unshaded river bed, with rainforest canopy on either side but not directly above. So you’ll be pretty exposed to direct sunlight.

The trail is rocky and it could be easy to twist an ankle. So tread carefully. There are also a few spots with steep drop offs on the sides. And of course, the waters initially coming out of the hot springs are boiling hot, with the strong smell of sulfur – so don’t touch! Enjoy a dip in a natural pool a bit downriver where a cool mountain stream mixes with the hot spring water to create the perfect temperature.

Like all of our trips, you travel at your own risk. Keep in mind that you are visiting a wild and extremely remote area of rural Sumatra, far from quality medical care. It’s your responsibility to make sure you are covered with valid travel and medical insurance.

The best place to base yourself before and after the trek is in the small village of Lempur, in the southern region of Kerinci, staying with your guide’s family. It’s also possible to stay in a small hotel in the main town of Sungai Penuh, about an hour north of Lempur.

Many travelers come overland via the city of Padang in West Sumatra to the town of Sungai Penuh. Expect the drive to Sungai Penuh to take around nine hours, although it can vary by an hour or two depending on the road conditions and the driver, and if you are taking public or private transport. Padang has direct flights to/from the hubs of Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Medan, and Batam. If you are in Bukittinggi, it’s possible to drive directly to Sungai Penuh, roughly a ten hour drive. From Sungai Penuh, you’ll be met and driven on to Lempur.

The city of Jambi is also a possible launching point, taking roughly nine hours to reach Lempur, without having to go to Sungai Penuh first. The road from Jambi is less winding than the road from Padang, so a bit more comfortable.

You can read more about transport to/from Kerinci, and what travel looks like within the valley here.

When booking with us, we’ll be happy to assist you with all accommodation and transport arrangements.

We’re proud that 100% of our proceeds goes directly to Pencagura, a local grassroots conservation and development organization that works to preserve the surrounding rainforest and improve the lives of forest-edge communities .

As always, we use only local guides and porters from nearby communities, who are paid a fair, ethical wage above the standard local price.

Come discover Bengkulu for yourself! Learn about the region, visit our itineraries page, or view additional points of interest around Bengkulu to create your own custom trip. Be sure to check out our travel tips when you’re ready to start planning.

INTERESTED? WE’D LOVE TO SET UP SOMETHING THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU.