On our Northern Sumatra trip we spent one night in Berastagi, and there was one main reason for stopping here: to climb Mount Sibayak for sunrise.

After several days relaxing in Bukit Lawang, we travelled by taxi through the mountains to Berastagi. The drive itself was beautiful, taking us through the green landscapes of northern Sumatra before reaching the town.

The following morning, we were up long before sunrise and heading towards Mount Sibayak, an active volcano just outside Berastagi.

Most people come to Bukit Lawang for one reason: to trek into the Sumatran rainforest in search of orangutans.

That was the main reason we came too, but after spending a week here we discovered that Bukit Lawang is also a lovely place to simply stay for a while and relax in nature.

Set alongside the Bohorok River on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, the village is surrounded by dense green rainforest. Away from the orangutan trekking, there isn’t a huge list of things you need to see or do, and that’s part of the appeal. We spent our days walking along the river, exploring the village, eating at small restaurants and enjoying being surrounded by nature.

Solo, also known as Surakarta, is a city in Central Java that often gets overlooked by travellers heading to nearby Yogyakarta. We didn’t spend a huge amount of time here, but we had enough time to explore some of the city, visit one of its palaces and, of course, eat plenty of Javanese food.

Solo (or Surakarta) has a very different feel from Indonesia’s bigger tourist destinations. There are fewer international visitors, plenty of street food and a strong connection to traditional Javanese culture. If you’re travelling through Central Java, it’s an easy place to add to your route for a couple of days.