GUNUNG · Indonesia

Gunung Kerinci

Gunung Kerinci (Puncak Indrapura)

Information

Elevation: 3.805 m
Country: Indonesia (ID)
Location / Range: Kerinci Seblat National Park, Jambi/West Sumatra
Mountain type: Active stratovolcano
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: -1.6969, 101.2644
Difficulty: Hard (steep sandy summit, crater gas)
Best Season: April–October (dry season)
Permits & Rules: Mandatory SIMAKSI from Kerinci Seblat National Park via Kersik Tuo; check in at the ranger post
Hazards: Toxic gas at the summit crater, steep sand/gravel, extreme weather, Sumatran-tiger habitat

Description

Mount Kerinci (3,805 m) on the Jambi–West Sumatra border, within Kerinci Seblat National Park, is the highest mountain in Sumatra and the highest active volcano in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Its summit, Indrapura, has an active gas-emitting crater. The main route is via Kersik Tuo, Kayu Aro. Main hazards include toxic crater gases, very steep sand-and-scree, severe weather, and the area being Sumatran tiger habitat. A permit (SIMAKSI) is required.

Entry Fees & Tickets

🕒 Riset terakhir: 23 Juni 2026 pukul 09.00 WIB

Entry/SIMAKSI via Post R10 Kersik Tuo: Indonesians Rp20,000 (weekday) and Rp25,000 (weekend/holiday), students Rp11,000–Rp14,000, foreigners Rp310,000 (weekday) and Rp460,000 (holiday), including a 2-day-1-night trek & camp. Since 2025 climbers MUST use a BBTNKS-registered local guide/porter (guide about Rp350,000/day, porter Rp300,000–Rp450,000/day). You must present an original medical certificate & ID at registration (07:30–15:00 WIB). Note: as of 12 February 2026 the trail reopened after being closed since 6 January 2026; Kerinci remains at Level II (Waspada/Alert) and climbers are barred from within 3 km of the summit crater.

SIMAKSI Indonesian — weekday (Post R10 Kersik Tuo) Rp20,000 per person (2-day-1-night package, includes trek & camp). Students Rp11,000.
SIMAKSI Indonesian — weekend/holiday Rp25,000 per person. Students Rp14,000.
SIMAKSI Foreigner — weekday Rp310,000 per person via Post R10 Kersik Tuo.
SIMAKSI Foreigner — weekend/holiday Rp460,000 per person.
Local guide service (MANDATORY) About Rp350,000 per day. Since 2025 climbers must use a BBTNKS-appointed guide/porter; violators can be blacklisted.
Porter service Rp300,000–Rp450,000 per day, depending on route & load weight.
Estimated logistics 2-day-1-night About Rp200,000–Rp300,000 per person (excluding tickets and guide/porter fees).
Administrative requirements Must present an original doctor's medical certificate and ID card; check in/out at Post R10 Kersik Tuo, entry hours 07:30–15:00 WIB.

Source

Planning & Access

How to reach the trailhead, with transport alternatives.

Padang (Minangkabau International Airport) Kersik Tuo Village, Kayu Aro (basecamp/Post R10)

Flight (optional) Jakarta-Padang to Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) as the starting point. · Varies by airline/season.
Shared travel/road car From Padang/BIM continue overland (shared travel or car/L300 hire) about 7 hours to Kersik Tuo. · Direct BIM-Kersik Tuo travel about Rp170,000 per person.

A long, tiring trip. Cheap homestays are available in Kersik Tuo (from ~Rp60,000/night). Arriving a day before the climb is recommended for rest & registration.

Jakarta Kerinci region (Kayu Aro/Kersik Tuo)

Flight Jakarta-Jambi, then a long overland trip to Kerinci. · Jakarta-Jambi about Rp450,000; pioneer flight Padang-Kerinci Rp490,000–Rp770,000.
Bus Jakarta-Bangko bus, then shared travel to Kayu Aro/Kersik Tuo. · Jakarta-Bangko bus about Rp250,000–Rp350,000.

Kerinci is far from any major city; prepare stamina for the long overland trip (up to ~24 hours fully by road from Jakarta).

Stay Alert & Safety Tips

Be careful to avoid scammers. Information compiled from climber experiences & trusted sources.

thunderstormWeather Kerinci is Indonesia's highest active volcano, at Level II (Waspada/Alert) per the 2026 PVMBG/Geological Agency evaluation. Climbers are FORBIDDEN within 3 km of the summit crater due to volcanic-gas and rock-ejection hazards if a sudden eruption occurs.
thunderstormWeather The trail was fully closed 6 January–12 February 2026 due to increased volcanic activity. Status & policy can change at any time; check the latest BBTNKS info and magma.esdm.go.id before departing, and monitor the weather/storm forecast.
warningRoads The Kersik Tuo trail is steep, muddy, and full of slippery roots especially after rain; a normal trip to Indrapura summit is about 12 hours. The alternative Bukit Bontak trail is far harder & not recommended for beginners.
reportScams Since 2025 climbers MUST use a BBTNKS-registered local guide/porter; use only official/registered services to avoid unofficial touts. SOP violators may face a blacklist sanction.
infoInfo You must bring an original medical certificate & ID card, standard gear, first-aid & survival kit, and trash bags (carry out all your trash). Check in when ascending and descending at Post R10 Kersik Tuo. Follow only the official marked trail.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Via Kersik Tuo

Berat

2–3 hari

Jalur utama dari Kayu Aro; pasir curam menuju Puncak Indrapura dan kawah aktif.

Safety Statistics

Aggregated for prevention and awareness — not a casualty list. Read alongside the safety tips below.

Causes of death

Exposure / hypothermia

💡 Hypothermia is the most frequent incident among Kerinci hikers — temperatures near the 3,805 m summit can approach freezing with strong wind, while the upper trail is open and exposed. Dress in layers, carry dry insulation, don't push for the summit when wet and exhausted, and descend immediately at severe shivering.
Source
Lost / disoriented

💡 Kerinci has recorded several cases of missing climbers, some never found despite weeks of searching. Solo trekking is highly risky — Kerinci Seblat National Park mandates a guide. Don't split up, stay on the official trail, register at the post, and carry navigation and emergency communication.
Source
Other

💡 Kerinci is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, with near-annual phreatic eruptions and sulphurous gas emissions. Check PVMBG/Magma Indonesia status before you go, respect the crater danger radius, and avoid the summit when activity rises or wind carries gas across the trail.
Source

Notable incidents

2014 December 2014 — missing climber, three-week search yields nothing

A climber was reported missing on Kerinci in late December 2014. SAR teams with the military and volunteers searched for over three weeks from base to summit, including deep ravines, but found no trace. The case underscores the danger of getting lost in dense forest terrain and the importance of a guide, trail registration, and not hiking alone.
Source
2024 September 2024 — hypothermia at Shelter 2 (3,072 m), successfully evacuated

On 7 September 2024 a young hiker suffered exhaustion and hypothermia at Shelter 2 (3,072 m). His group reported it to rangers, and a Basarnas Jambi team together with the Kerinci Seblat National Park office, the local disaster agency, and community volunteers located and evacuated him the next day in improving condition. An example of how prompt reporting and coordinated rescue save lives.
Source

Climbing Experiences

Climbing Mount Kerinci—Indonesia's highest active volcano—usually goes via Kersik Tuo, Kayu Aro. Hikers describe the steep sandy push to the Indrapura summit, crater gases, biting cold, and the tea plantations at the foot. The links below are real vlogs and trip reports, each verified reachable.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.