The hike to Lake Gunung Tujuh is the easier and prettier alternative to climbing Mount Kerinci itself. The trailhead is at Pelompek village, on the road north of Kersik Tuo, and the climb to the crater rim takes around three hours through dense rainforest. The path drops down inside the caldera to a small black-sand shore where a couple of fishermen keep dugout canoes for hire.
The lake is around 4.5 kilometres long and entirely surrounded by the forested slopes of the seven peaks that give it its name. A half-day there and back works as a day trip; bring a guide, and pay attention to the leeches in wet season. The water is too cold for comfortable swimming most of the year but the picnic on the shore is the point.