Kerinci is a classic conical stratovolcano covered in cloud forest, rising straight out of the tea plantations and visible from across the valley. The standard route to the summit is a two-day climb from Kersik Tuo village: a long first day through mossy primary forest to the high camp at Shelter 3, a 2am start for the summit on day two, then back down to the village by mid-afternoon.
Trips run only with registered guides through the BBTNKS park office and the village climbing association in Kersik Tuo. Conditions on the upper cone are harsh — bitterly cold at night, sulphur fumes near the crater, and frequent zero visibility. Routes have been closed several times in the past decade for elevated seismic activity; check current status before booking. The summit view, when you get it, takes in the full sweep of the Bukit Barisan range and the cloud carpet stretching to the South China Sea.