Mount Sibayak Trail Closed 15 October – 15 November 2026: What Trekkers Need to Know

Mount Sibayak is closed to all hikers from 15 October to 15 November 2026. The closure comes from UPTD Taman Hutan Raya Bukit Barisan through circular No. 100.3.4/1/UPTD TAHURA BB/X/2026, dated 13 October 2026, and it applies to hikers, the general public, visitors and all related parties.

If you had a trek planned in that window, here is what is confirmed and what it means for you.

What the circular says

The closure covers the hiking routes of Mount Sibayak inside the Tahura (Taman Hutan Raya) Bukit Barisan conservation area. The stated reasons are ecosystem restoration plus reorganisation and improvement of the trails — better accessibility and better trail quality before hiking activity resumes.

Two things worth knowing:

• The closure is total. It is not a partial restriction or a single route. All hiking activity on Sibayak is closed to the public for the full period.
• Reopening is not automatic on 16 November. The circular says the trail reopens through a later official notice, issued after the restoration results and trail readiness are assessed. Treat 15 November as the end of the closure period, not a guaranteed reopening date.

What this means for your trek

Our sunrise treks cannot operate while the trail is closed — no guide can legally take hikers up during this period, and we will not run treks against an official closure.

• Trek dates 15 Oct – 15 Nov 2026: cannot run. We will move your booking to any date after the reopening at the same price, or refund you in full. Message us on WhatsApp and we will sort it the same day.
• Trek dates after 15 November 2026: bookings stay open as normal. If the authorities extend the closure, we will contact you ahead of your date to rearrange — you will not be left guessing.
• Walk-up attempts: do not try the trail anyway. It is a conservation-area closure, and the entry posts will be enforcing it.

Why the closure is happening

Sibayak sits inside a conservation forest, and heavy foot traffic wears the trail down — eroded sections, widened paths, damaged vegetation at the crater rim. A full month without hikers gives the restoration work a clear window and lets the trail crew rebuild sections properly instead of patching around daily traffic. The official notice does not specify the exact restoration sites or methods, so we will not speculate beyond what is published.

Closures like this are how the mountain stays climbable long term. A month of restoration now is better than a degraded trail later.

What to do in Berastagi instead

If you are already in the Karo Highlands during the closure, Berastagi is still worth the trip:

• Gundaling Hill — the classic sunrise viewpoint over Sinabung and the highlands, no hiking permit needed.
• Sikulikap Waterfall — an easy half-day trip from town.
• Semangat Gunung hot springs — natural volcanic hot pools, good for a rest morning.
• Lumbini Natural Park — the tall golden pagoda and gardens.
• Berastagi fruit market — passion fruit, oranges and avocados straight from the highlands.

Our full things to do in Berastagi guide covers all of these in detail.

How you will know when it reopens

We will update this page and post on our channels as soon as the official reopening notice is published. If you have a booking after 15 November, you do not need to do anything — we will confirm your trek once the reopening is official. For anything time-sensitive, WhatsApp is the fastest way to reach us.