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Danau Kaco Hiking & Swimming

Enjoy a day trip through the rainforest that will take you to a pristine lake teeming with fish. Fed by underground springs, the water in Danau Kaco is crystal clear, and incredibly blue. The lake is a place of mystery, shrouded in local legend and myth. Rumor has it that no one has yet been able to discover its true depth, despite numerous attempts. After a swim, you can choose to camp for the night or head back to Lempur.

Danau Kaco Lempur


To the Lake
Drive from Sungaipenuh to Lempur, about an hour and 15 minutes. Walk through the rainforest for about 3-4 hours, crossing a creek along the way. Once you reach the lake, enjoy a swim in the cool, perfectly clear waters. When you’re satisfied, return to Lempur for a ride home.


Optional Day 2
Spend the night at the lake, which can cast an eerily blue glow if the conditions are right. Make sure to take a night walk to try and spot eye shine in the surrounding forests. In the morning, return to Lempur and see the Waterfall.




Summary
Difficulty: Moderate
Activities: Hiking, Swimming
Terrain: Forest Trails, Hutan Adat (customary production forests)
Duration: 1 Day (Optional overnight)
Months of Operation: Year Round, but usually somewhat drier from May - September

Travel
Location: Danau Kaco
Nearest Town: Lempur

Conditions: The trail to the lake is pretty flat, but especially muddy in wetter seasons. Also be prepared for land leeches, which can be abundant here. Leech socks (gators) can help, but you will still be tagged a few times. The ick-factor is high at first, but you get used to them pretty quickly.

Price includes a local guide, permits, lunch, and transport within Kerinci to and from the trail head. Price per person reduced with more than two travelers, but usually limited to a max of four people to lessen the impact on the environment.

BOOK HERE
explorekerinci@gmail.com
Watsapp : +6281366319255

SEVEN MOUNTAIN LAKE ADVENTURE


Danau Gunung Tujuh At about 2000 meters (6,400 ft.) Danau Gunung Tujuh is the highest lake in Southeast Asia. Being part of the Kerinci-Seblat National Park, untouched virgin rainforest covers its shores and is home to tapir, sun bear, tigers, deer, gibbons, and countless birds.
Gunung Tujuh is a massive, extinct volcano whose eruption in ancient times blew apart the top of the mountain, eventually forming a large, 4.5 km long lake in the crater left behind. Being completely within the Kerinci Seblat National Park, the surrounding peaks (of which there are 7 – hence the name “Tujuh” in Indonesian), are covered in primary rainforest, and home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife. Supposedly, the lake, at around 2000 meters, is the highest in Southeast Asia. Being up there, with the clouds clinging to the primeval forests all around, it truly feels like you’ve stepped into a prehistoric lost world.

Day 1 - Up The Mountain And Across The Lake
The trek up to the lake takes approximately three hours, plus or minus an hour depending on your level of fitness, and how much time you take to slow down and notice the environment around you. It’s a fairly strenuous hike (no switchbacks in Indonesia), with the tree roots forming a type of staircase in places. Once at the lake, its possible to take a 1.5-2 hour canoe ride to the other side (Pasir Putih), to camp(based on canoe availability). Or you can walk a short distance around the left side of the lake to camp at a closer spot. Other options if arranged ahead of time could be to take our trail camera to set up along a trail, and after dark, take a night walk or canoe ride out on the lake using flashlights to try to spot wildlife.

Day 2 - Exploring around the Lake
Wake up in the morning to the beautiful song of the Siamang gibbons as they echo throughout the caldera. There are a number of options for exploring from your camp at Pasir Putih. If arranged ahead of time, you could choose to follow the shore line with the canoe, looking for birds and wildlife. You could cross to the south side of the volcano and find game trails to follow. You could head into the forests and swampy areas around Pasir Putih. Or you could choose to climb up some of the surrounding mountains, particularly the nearby Gunung Kecil. Keep an eye out for Nepenthes pitcher plants – there are a number of endemic species only found on Mt. Tujuh. Don’t forget to take a night walk or canoe ride in the evening to try and spot nocturnal creatures.

Day 3 - Return Home
After enjoying the sunrise and a little morning exploration along the trails or out on the canoe if available, head back across the lake and down the mountain.

Summary
Difficulty: Challenging
Activities: Hiking, Camping, Swimming, Canoeing, Bird Watching, Wildlife

Terrain: Rainforest, Mountains, Lake

Duration: 3 days/ 2 nights

Months of Operation: Year Round, but usually somewhat drier from May - September


Nearest Town: Pelompek
Conditions: The trek up can be a bit challenging if you’re carrying too much or trying to go too quickly. At the top the temperature can be a bit chilly, especially during the night, so bring a jacket or enough clothing to layer. Best to avoid times of extended rain, but, as it sits within a tropical rainforest, be prepared for it. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen when you’re on the lake – being so close to the equator it’s easy to burn quickly, especially when the air is deceptively cool.

Price includes a local guide and porter, transport within Kerinci to and from the trail head, permits, all food and equipment. Price per person reduced with more than two travelers, but usually limited to a max of four people to lessen the impact on the environment.

BOOK HERE
explorekerinci@gmail.com
Watsapp : +6281366319255

NATIONAL PARK JUNGLE TREKKING / 5 UNIQUE LAKES




Spend four or more days exploring five unique lakes in the southern reaches of Kerinci, closest to the village of Lempur, along with the surrounding diverse landscape. You’ll experience Sumatran wildlife and culture up close as you pass through ricefields and traditionally managed customary forests (hutan adat) of cinnamon, bamboo, and other forest crops, walk along (and through) small rivers and wetlands, swim in and paddle bamboo rafts on remote highland lakes, and explore pristine primary rainforest. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot (or hear) Siamang gibbons, leaf monkeys, hornbills, and a variety of bird and other animal life. A few of our guests have even been lucky enough to see Malayan Sun Bears and Sumatran Tigers!

Note: While this itinerary is for four days, it can easily be extended another day, which would add significantly more time within primary rainforest habitat, and a visit to a really remote waterfall. Alternatively, you could trim it down by a day to make it a three day/two night affair, still hitting all of the lakes, but slightly less time within primary forest. Let us know what best fits for you and we’ll make it happen!


SCHEDULE OF JOURNEY

Day 1 - Lake Nyalo and Lake Duo


From Sungaipenuh, get up early and travel one hour south to Lempur where your guide will be waiting for you. Take a motorcycle taxi (ojek) ride to the trailhead, about a further 10 minutes. The first lake you visit is Lake Nyalo, in the middle of a small wetlands area. Keep an eye out for pitcher plants, one variety of which is used by locals to prepare a traditional dish of steamed coconut rice. A few species of wild ducks and other aquatic birds call lake Nyalo home, and you can often hear a family of Siamang gibbons calling from the trees along the bank.
From Lake Nyalo, continue uphill about two hours until you reach the second lake: Lake Duo. Set up camp here, and enjoy the afternoon swimming or rafting on the lake and exploring the area.



Day 2 - Lake Kecik to  Manjuto River





The next day, spend some more time around Lake Duo in the cool of the morning before breaking camp. Head into the beautiful cinnamon forests on your way to the third lake: Lake Kecik, where you’ll take a short rest. Eventually you’ll come to a small coffee farm and wooden hut, after which you head into primary forest. As you keep an eye out for wildlife and their tracks, the guides will point out edible forest fruits and greens, and offer a few survival skill tips. Make camp near a cool mountain river, Sungai Manjuto, in the middle of the rainforest as the evening begins to creep in.



Day 3 - Through the Forests to Lake Kaco


From the Sungai Manjuto river, continue hiking through lush, untouched forests to Lake Kaco, the brilliantly blue swimming hole and natural aquarium deep in the forest, arriving in the afternoon. Jump off the tree hanging over the crystal clear waters, and swim around with the abundant fish. The refreshingly cool, underground spring-fed natural pool makes for a rejuvenating break after so many days of trekking. Set up camp in the forest surrounding the lake.




Day 4 - Waterfalls, Rice Paddies, and Lake Lingkat.


Wake up next to Lake Kaco and enjoy a leisurely morning swimming and relaxing in the lake. Eventually, pull yourself away and continue roughly three hours along forest trails looking for birds, wildlife and signs of other animals as you make your way out of the forest. Take a break at the Siluang Bersisik Emas waterfall before you exit the forest and continue your walk through idyllic rice paddies on your way to the final lake, Lake Lingkat. You’ll arrive back in Lempur generally by late afternoon or early evening. Stay in a homestay in Lempur, or continue an hour’s drive back to Sungai Penuh to a hotel.



SUMMARY: DIFFICULTY: Challenges ACTIVITIES: Walking, Camping, Bird
Watching, Photography, Wildlife, Jungle, and Swimming.

JOURNEY: Explore 5 Lakes, Adat Forest (Costum Forest), National Park (TNKS) and
Waterfall. Nearest Town: Lempur Village.



CONTACT US
E-mail : explorekerinci@gmail.com 
Watsapp : +6281366319255
explorekerinci.com