Discover Indonesia

Medan

Day 1: Welcome to Medan, selamat datang!

Touch the ground in bustling Medan, one of Indonesia's largest cities and jump right into your Indonesian adventure tour through Sumatra. Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by our friendly guide, who then leads you through a best-of-the-best short city tour of Medan. Be amazed as you are guided though Medan's notoriously chaotic traffic, but be assured, you will reach the Maimoon Palace, a royal palace for the former Sultanate of Deli. It is especially known for its unique interior designs that mixes traditional Malay influences with Islam, Indian and European ones. Next on the menu is the colonial post for a taste of Indonesia's colonial past and as the grand finale you will visit the impressive black domed Mesjid Raya, Medan's Grand Mosque. Only if you arrive in the afternoon, your guide will lead you directly to your hotel for you to rest for the upcoming adventures. 

Medan - Parapat - Samosir

Day 2: Lake Toba, a real game changer

Leave Medan behind today and head out into Sumatra's nature when your tour takes you to Lake Toba, following the plantation route where palm trees and cocoa or rubber plants line the roads. Your destination of the day is Samosir Island in the middle of Lake Toba. Here at this majestic deep lake, one of Southeast Asia's largest, you are at the center of one of humankind's pivotal moments. Lake Toba is the result of one of the largest supervolcanic eruptions that changed the entire globe's climate and respectively the development of the human race due to the major impact. As a result today though, you will be met by a truly serene highland scenery. This will be the perfect welcoming after the approximately 6-hour long trip to unwind. The rustic charm and truly peaceful atmosphere of the lake will captivate you right away and define Toba's attraction.

Samosir

Day 3: Into the heart of Batak culture

On your third day of this exciting tour of Sumatra you get to know about the culture of the local Batak people. Batak is a collective term for ethnic groups native to northern Sumatra, which are related, yet still distinctive from each other. After breakfast you depart onto today's full-day tour by boat to Simanindo, where you can see traditional Batak Dance and the traditional houses. Distinct for the local Batak Toba architectural style is for example the boat-shaped style. From here, you saddle up onto a bicycle for a memorable bike ride through rice fields and small villages for a taste of truly traditional Batak lifestyle. In Ambarita you travel even further back in time when visiting King Siallagan's ancient stone chair and stone table. Switching back to the boat, today's tour leads you next to to Tomok, a sleepy village that houses the tomb of King Sidabutar, legendary hero of Samosir Island. From here it is up to you if you want to cycle back to the hotel or rather take the boat. 

Samosir - Parapat - Berastagi

Day 4: Sumatra's fantastic nature

Be amazed further today by Sumatra's exotic nature, when heading out to Berastagi. En route you stop at a traditional Karo Batak village. Visit the home of another of the region's ancient leaders at Simalungun King's Palace and Indonesia's highest waterfall, the Si Piso Piso waterfall with a whopping free fall of 120 meters. You can take in this impressive natural landmark from a nearby vantage point that provides you with fantastic views you'll surely remember. Berastagi, today's destination, lies between the two Gunungs (mountains) Sinabung and Sibayak, both active volcanoes.

Berastagi - Tangkahan

Day 5: Buckle up

In order to get deep into the heart of Sumatra's jungle, you'll have to buckle up for today's approximately 8-hour long trip. Today's tour from Berastagi to Tangkahan nearby Bukit Lawang leads you to the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park. This truly and really is following the roads less traveled. It is a bumpy road for that matter, so today's tour is carried out by jeep because of its higher wheel base. If this isn't an Indonesian jungle adventure, we don't know what is. Tonight's accommodation is a simple one due to the remote location but the incredible scenery surely makes up for this. 

Leuser National Park - Bukit Lawang

Day 6: Splashing around with elephants

More adventure awaits you today when exploring the nearby Gunung Leuser National Park. Tangkahan is located on the edge of this nearly 8000 square kilometer big park. The park is an important sanctuary for much of Sumatra's flora and fauna. You can explore this giant gem on foot and under the guidance of an experienced guide. Let the Indonesian jungle swallow you and try and spot some of the forest's inhabitants. These include of course many different kind of monkeys such as orang utans, gibbons and leaf monkeys. If you are extremely lucky (though some might probably argue this) you might even come face to face with a tiger. If you are still exhausted from yesterday's long trip, you can alternatively and comfortably discover the park from the back of an elephant. But prepare to clean up after yourself, because afterwards you will help wash your mode of transportation in the river. Lucky for you, the elephants tend to get a kick out of it and really enjoy their baths. Only after this you hop onto a jeep for your next destination. Bohorok is most famous for its orang utan rehabilitation center. Upon arrival you can go for a relaxing stroll or simply unwind on the porch of your hotel, overlooking the river in front of you.

Bukit Lawang

Day 7: Furry orang utans

Time to get to know one of humankind's closest relatives, the orang utan. In Indonesian and Malay, their name literally translates to person of the forest, with orang meaning person and hutan meaning forest. At the orang utan rehabilitation center formerly captive apes are re-introduced into the wild. Here, you have a chance to watch their feeding in their natural environment, when going on a 2-hour walking tour into the tropical rainforest. Alternatively, if you haven't yet had enough of the majestic Gunung Leuser National Park in general, you can partake in a 3-4 hour walking tour through this vast park to experience more of Indonesia's rainforest and its flora and fauna. 

In the afternoon, it's time for something fun! Go tubing on the Bohorok river (optionally and if the weather allows it). Grab a car tire tube, take a seat and simply have a blast making your way downstream floating like this, taking in the amazing scenery along the way. Another possibility to fill your afternoon is a visit to a nearby bat cave.

Bukit Lawang - Kualanamu Airport

Day 8: So long Sumatra, selamat tinggal!

How quickly can eight days fly by, when they are so chock-full of fantastic moments. You've gotten to know the rich Batak culture and dipped your toe into the majestic Lake Toba. You've seen the incredible nature of northern Sumatra with rainforests, orang utans and elephants. Your heart is filled with new impressions to tell those unfortunate loved ones who weren't with you. Today it is time to go home. After breakfast, you will be transported back to the airport from where you'll lift off and leave beautiful and exotic Sumatra behind you.