Above the Clouds

Five hours of sleep had to suffice today to embark on the Sibayak volcano at 4 a.m. We were accompanied on the tour by Windy, one of the very few female guides in Sumatra. Our goal today was to reach the summit before sunrise to see it from above. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy for that. However, visibility was very clear, and we had a fantastic view.

The Sibayak has not erupted in over a century, but it is still geothermally active. Its neighbor, Sinabung, has erupted more frequently since 2010, costing some lives and destroying livelihoods in the area.

We learned all this and much more from Windy, who was incredibly friendly and warm in showing us everything.

After the descent, we were able to relax in the hot springs nearby before continuing on to Lake Toba.