Harau Valley
The Harau Valley (or Arau Valley) is in West Sumatra in Indonesia. It is an area of natural beauty located halfway between Pekanbaru and Bukittinggi. Rice fields are dwarfed by cliffs.
Understand
Get in
Minibus from Bukittingi Aur Kuning Bus Terminal (grey, written 'Padang Bukittingi P.kumbuh', possibly others) to Simpang Empat Gerbang Harau (North of Sarilamak), Rp20,000 (to bus driver. Bus terminal staff may attempt to ask more), ~ 60-90 min via Payakumbuh. After opelet (moto taxi) to harau village or homestay directly, Rp20,000 (negotiate, may be more if deeper in valley), ~15 min. Usually many are available where the minibus drops you off. Eventually Call a homestay for a pickup and/or a tour around the valley. Larger bus available only between Bukittingi and Payakumbuh.
Harau Valley is located in Desa Lubuk Limpato, Nagari Tarantang - Kecamatan Harau, Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota. West Sumatera Province. It is about 7 km from Sarilamak City the new capital city of Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota (the previous one is Payakumbuh). If you drive a car from Bukittinggi it will take around one hour.
Get around
It is small enough to walk around. Echo Homestay rents out bikes.
See
Local people hold a cultural and art festival, namely Pasa Harau. This festival is usually held in July or August for three consecutive days.
- Rice fields
- Panorama Aka Barayun
- Sarasah Bunta Waterfall
- Taman Wisata Lembah Harau, a Japanese-Korean Village, a Secret Garden and a European Village
Do
Go for a trek in the mountains and enjoy the view and bathe in hidden waterfalls.
Buy
If you want to buy small souvenirs there are few item you can find at Echo Homestay, which is key holder and t-Shirt with special design. The price is OK.
Eat
There are some smaller shops and restaurants at the entrance to the valley, but as you get deeper on the country roads there is nothing. Try to stock up on food before arriving. The selection is quite limited at the small shops. There is a nice restaurant by a pond about 1 km outside the park entrance.
Sleep
- Abdi Homestay, Kab. 50 Kota, 26271 Harau Valley , West Sumatra (Look for sign "Abdi Homestay" near village entrance; turn left at sign), ☏ +62 852 6378 1842, ikbalharau@yahoo.com. A former employee of Echo Homestay (see below), Ikbal has started his own place but is keeping it small. He has three newly built bungalows (basic but clean and with bathroom/toilet) with a rice paddy on one side and a 50-meter waterfall from the mountain on the other. His wife Noni and he will cook great local food for you and bring it by the cabin 3 times a day. He is also on Facebook under Ikbal Harau Valley where one can see some great photos. He can also arrange treks around the valley and up the mountains (Rp 250,000 per person). Great value, and the friendly Ikbal will do everything he can to make your stay as good as it can possibly get. The place is named after Ikbal's and Noni's small son, and started in the hope of generating enough money to send him to university when time comes. wifi (eating area and nearby only), cold shower, no soap/shampoo, western toilet with bucket flush and toilet paper. mosquito net, fan, power plug (only one). From Rp 200,000.
- Echo Homestay, ☏ +6281266191501, finaldo_moechtar@yahoo.com. Has a bunch of mid-range alternatives, and also conference arrangements. Echo Homestay has 9 cottages with total 21 rooms you can choose to stay. You are suggested to make reservation one or two month before visiting day because of room availability. Echo Homestay always fully booked in peak season. Room prices range from Rp 150,000 to 540,000 per-night.
Besides the two places mentioned above there are plenty of other local homestays in the area, quite a few in well kept traditional houses. Consider spreading the money around and giving one of these a try.