Sheer walls
Coloured rock up to 500 m high.
patargogo — CC BY 3.0 · patargogo — CC BY 3.0 · Kars Alfrink — CC BY 2.0 · Dina Mawaddiati — CC BY-SA 4.0
A narrow green valley near the town of Payakumbuh, hemmed in by sheer walls of coloured sandstone rising between one hundred and five hundred metres, with green rice fields and traditional houses on its floor, a scene visitors compare to Yosemite. It has been a nature reserve since the Dutch era. Several waterfalls pour down the walls, the best known the Sarasah falls, whose pools visitors swim in on calm days. You can explore the valley by bicycle or car, or walk between the fields, and there is rock climbing for the adventurous; echoes are said to ring remarkably clearly between the walls. Entry is a token fee of roughly five to ten thousand rupiah, with small charges for some waterfalls and parking. The valley has simple rural lodges for those who want to stay and wake up to the view. It is about an hour and a half from Bukittinggi, so make it a day trip, and come in the morning in the rainy season to see the waterfalls at their strongest. Try Payakumbuh's well-known dishes on the way.
Coloured rock up to 500 m high.
Pools for swimming on calm days.
Traditional houses on the valley floor.
Near Payakumbuh, about 50 km north-east of Bukittinggi
Mornings in any season for clear air, and the rainy season for the strongest waterfalls. In the dry season some falls weaken, but the valley stays beautiful.