Rapidly developing a reputation as a pleasant and hassle-free area for rest and relaxation on the way to or from Danau Toba, Danau Maninjau is situated 15km due west of Bukittinggi, although public transport on the road takes a long-winded 37km (90min) to get there. At an altitude of 500m, the lake is 17km long and 8km wide and set 600m below the rim of an ancient volcanic crater, with jungle-covered walls, almost sheer in places, providing a picturesque backdrop. The area of interest for tourists, and all the facilities, centres on the village of MANINJAU , just where the road from Bukittinggi reaches the lakeside road, and, to a lesser extent, the village of Bayur 4km to the north.

The tourist office is located at Jl Rasuna Said 15 (daily 8am-5pm; tel 0752/61056), just north of the main junction, and the post office isn't far from the main junction on Jalan Telaga Biru Tanjung Raya; the 24hr Telkom office is on the main street, as is the bank. There are a couple of secondhand bookshops. Moving on, there are regular buses back to Bukittinggi and two direct buses daily to Padang; book ahead at your guesthouse or the tourist office. Otherwise, the lakeside bemos go to Lubukbasung, where you can pick up Padang buses during the day. Daily direct buses run to Pekanbaru (8hr) and you can also book through to Batam with a few hours halt in Pekanbaru - allow two days and a night.