Mount Dempo is the 3rd highest mountain on Sumatra at around 10,400 feet. It’s surrounded by vast coffee and tea plantations at the base of the mountain and immense jungle and wildlife as you hike the steep path to the summit. Not to mention there are 7 craters on this active volcano.
Day 1:
Begin your adventure early in the morning, making your way past the starting post and out of the tea and coffee plantations. Venture into the jungle with small shelters every 2-3 hours for a break and a snack. On average it takes 8-10 hours to reach the summit, so prepare yourself for a grueling day of hiking. But it’s all worth it when you look behind you near the summit and see some extraordinary views!
Day 2:
After a warm breakfast, hike the 30-45 minutes to the highest peak and explore a little, taking in the beauty of the crater. Take time to explore around the camp area and bring a good book to read or a frisbee to throw with a friend. It’s a great place to spend a few hours and unplug from regular life.
Day 3:
Enjoy a nice breakfast and coffee before making your way back down the mountain. It takes approximately 6 hours to the base of Dempo, where you will once again be immersed in tea and coffee plants and enter the village where this journey began.
Trail Conditions: Most of the trail generally follows well-defined paths made by local farmers and is usually pretty dry. However, be prepared for land leeches, which can be abundant here in wetter months. Leech socks can help, but you might still be tagged a few times. You can buy a pair of leech socks from us for pretty cheap, and it’s worth the cost! In between the two mountains is more remote and a less-trodden path with a lot of brush, so long pants and shirt are recommended.
Price includes a local guide (limited English skills), permits, lunch, and transport from Bengkulu to and from the trail head. Price per person reduced with more than two travelers, but usually limited to a max of ten people to lessen the impact on the environment.
Summary
Difficulty: Extreme for 2 day; Challenging for 3 day
Activities: Hiking
Terrain: Plantations, Jungles, Volcano
Duration: 2-3 Days (not including travel to area)
Months of Operation: Year Round Travel
Location: Mt Dempo
Nearest Town: Pagar Alam, South Sumatra
Closest Airport: Pagar Alam (PXA) with limited options; Bengkulu (BKS) more options
Total Cost: starting at Rp. 5,300,000 for 2D/1N — Rp. 6,400,000 USD for 3D/2N for 1-2 people
Payment Conditions: 25% non-refundable deposit to guarantee booking; balance paid upon arrival in Bengkulu/Pagar Alam; payment can be made via TransferWise or via Bank Transfer or Cash in Rupiah