Highlights
- Explore mosques, temples, and palaces in Medan
- Keep an eye out for orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park
- Visit scenic lookout points and colorful local markets in Berastagi
- See the traditional villages and verdant landscapes of Samosir Island by motorbike
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Medan, Transfer to Tangkahan | Tangkahan |
| Day 2 | Jungle Trek & River Tubing | Tangkahan |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Bukit Lawang by Jeep | Bukit Lawang |
| Day 4 | Trek in Gunung Leuser National Park | Bukit Lawang |
| Day 5 | Jungle Trek, Transfer to Berastagi | Berastagi |
| Day 6 | Sunrise Mount Sibayak Trek, Transfer to Samosir Island | Samosir Island |
| Day 7 | Explore Samosir Island by Motorbike | Samosir Island |
| Day 8 | Depart Medan |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Medan, Transfer to Tangkahan
Day 2: Jungle Trek & River Tubing
Today you'll discover the natural wonders of Tangkahan. Start with a three-hour jungle trek, where your guide will show you native plants, trees, and fungi. As you walk, look out for colorful toucans and hornbills in the treetops, as well as primates like leaf monkeys, macaques, and even elusive orangutans.
Relax after your hike with some tubing, which offers an entirely different perspective of the jungle as you drift down the river in an inflatable tube. You'll stop to cool off in a forested waterfall and then head back to your hotel on foot, passing through vast palm oil plantations and a local village.
Day 3: Transfer to Bukit Lawang by Jeep
Board a Jeep this morning for the 2.5-hour journey to the village of Bukit Lawang, a beloved nature hub on the fringes of Gunung Leuser National Park. On the way to Bukit Lawang, you'll pass a school, plantation, and palm oil factory, taking in views of the thick jungle scenery through your window.
Bukit Lawang became a tourist destination in the 1970s when two Swiss women founded the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in the village. Although the center is now closed, the area remains a haven for primates thanks to its lush jungle, which lies on the banks of the Bohorok River. Check into your hotel and spend the afternoon resting ahead of tomorrow's hike.
Day 4: Trek in Gunung Leuser National Park
Set off for a trek in Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse conservation areas in the world. The park stretches over 3,060 square miles (7,930 sq km) and is home to 750 species of animals, including endangered tigers, elephants, and rhinos. It's also a great place to spot orangutans in their natural habitat.
As you hike, your guide will teach you about the forest's unique plant species and explain how locals use them to make traditional medicine. You'll be surrounded by wildlife, from giant ants and lizards to leaping black gibbons, long-tailed macaques, and rainbow-colored birds. En route to your hotel, stop at a limestone cave where hundreds of sleeping bats hang.
Day 5: Jungle Trek, Transfer to Berastagi
Day 6: Sunrise Mount Sibayak Trek, Transfer to Samosir Island
Wake early for your epic three-hour trek up Mount Sibayak. You'll start with a transfer to the base of this famous stratovolcano, aiming to arrive at the 6,870-foot (2,090 m) peak in time to watch the sunrise. Sibayak is one of Indonesia's most accessible volcanoes, and although it remains active, the last eruption was in 1881. The hike takes you through a lunar-like geothermal landscape of sulfur lakes and steam vents to the crater top, where you'll enjoy panoramic views over Sumatra as the sun rises.
Descend via a hot spring where you can rest your aching muscles. Return to your hotel to pack before you drive to Samosir, a large volcanic island in Lake Toba. Along the way, you'll visit the Sipiso-Piso Waterfall and a Batak Karo village called Dokan. Get your first look at sparkling Lake Toba from Rumah Bolon, a former palace for Simalungun kings. At 660 square miles (1,707 square km), Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia. When you reach Parapat, catch a public ferry directly to Samosir and check into your hotel.
Day 7: Explore Samosir Island by Motorbike
Set out this morning to explore Samosir by motorbike. Along with Lake Toba, this volcanic island was formed when a supervolcano erupted around 75,000 years ago. Samosir is sacred to the resident Toba Batak people, who you'll meet as you stop in small villages like Lumban Suhi-Suhi and Ambarita, which was once an ancient meeting place for Siallagan kings.
Learn more about the local culture at the Batak Museum in Simanindo, where villagers will perform traditional dances for you. As you drive around the island, stop to watch women weave in Batak handicraft markets and visit Tomok's eerie tombs belonging to Sidabutar kings. Don't miss Samosir's highest point, too, which offers sweeping views over Lake Toba. Return to your hotel after your motorbike adventure for a relaxing evening.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 8: Depart Medan
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