Encounter remarkable wildlife, smouldering volcanoes & traditional cultures on this trip across Sumatra. Travel from the capital of North Sumatra to the old Dutch colonial town of Padang on the western coast, stopping to spot Sumatra Elephant, orangutans, explore Lake Toba the biggest lake in South East Asia, experience the island’s diverse heritage and more.
Sumatra is a beautiful island blessed with fascinating natural spectacle, exotic wildlife, as well as divergent ethnicities that live alongside each other. More than just a home to the legendary Lake Toba, endangered Orang Utans, and the delightful Batak culture, Sumatra has plenty of unexplored wonders waiting to be discovered. It is our great pleasure to unlock these hidden havens and continually bring you the exclusive vacation in Sumatra.
Highlights
- Sumatra Elephant
- Sumatra Orang Utan
- Lake Toba
- Sianok Canyon
- Minangkabau Culture
- Harau Valley
- Wildlife
- Adventure
- Leisure
Upon arrival at Kualanamu International Airport, picked up by our tour guide and then transfer to hotel; afternoon free at own leisure.
After breakfast, city tour visiting Sultan Deli Palace, Great Mosque, Chinese Temple and then drive to Tangkahan via Stabat and Batang Serangan. Afternoon arriving at Tangkahan check-in to simple lodge.
After breakfast walking to the elephant camp and then join with the mahout during washing the elephant, help feeding the elephant. After feeding the elephant, enjoying tubing through the river and stop will be made at waterfall where you may enjoy the waterfall, take your natural shower, enjoy sun bathing or swimming in the river while enjoying picnic lunch served by the bank of the river or visit hot-springs near the waterfall.
In afternoon arriving at the village, you can get in touch with local people, where you can see the daily activities and then return to the lodge by walking.
*Option: elephant washing program could be switched with 03 hours trekking at Tangkahan forest -a walk through the jungle of Tangkahan to discover its beautiful flora and fauna, there will be chance to see several kinds of monkeys such as Thomas-leaf, long tail and short tail macaque, birds, and several kinds of tropical plant. (this trekking will take about 03 hours)
*No elephant activities on Friday / Idul Fitri
After breakfast leave Tangkahan for Bukit Lawang by jeep 4x4 passing plantation and jungle road, on the way stop at plantation and several interesting places such as school, palm-oil factory (from its outside only) and for enjoying the panorama and witness the activities of the local people. Upon arrival at Bukit Lawang check-in to hotel.
After breakfast walking to the jungle to start a jungle trekking to explore the nature of Leuser National Park with its flora and fauna, there will be chances to see Orang Utan living in their own natural habitat and other kinds of animal such as Thomas-leaf, long tail macaque, gibbon, black gibbon and other kind of flora and fauna of tropical rain-forest. This trekking will take about 03 hours, after trekking return back to hotel.
Afternoon free at own leisure to enjoy the nature of Bukit Lawang where you can also walk to the villages around the hotel.
After breakfast drive to Berastagi via new route passing several villages such as Namu Ukur, Rumah Galuh and Simpang Kuta Buluh, on the way you can enjoying the panorama of active Sinabung Volcano. At mid noon arriving in Berastagi visiting Lhumbini Park with its duplicate of Shwedagon pagoda, Fruit Market, and Gundaling Hill, afterwards check-in to hotel.
After breakfast drive head for Samosir Island in Lake Toba via Tele, en-route stops at:
- Dokan (to see the traditional village of the Batak Karo tribe)
- Sipisopiso Waterfall (from here you can admire the scenic view of the Lake Toba from its northern tip combined with the slender 90 meters high waterfall)
- Tele (a nice place for over-viewing the lake from its western part)
- Efrata (another beautiful waterfall found on the way to Samosir Island)
- Lumban Suhi-suhi (to see the Tobanase traditional houses where we could observe also the women doing the weaving)
In mid noon arriving at Tuktuk area on Samosir Island and check-in to hotel.
After breakfast we start for our fullday excursion by car in the interior of Samosir Island and en-route visiting:
- Ambarita (to see the stone chairs and tables where once used as the execution site by the ancient tribal chieftains)
- Aek Natonang (here we can see the small lake found of the top of Samosir Island and its panorama view)
- Tomok (to see the old sarcophages belonged to former Sidabutar kings and his descendants)
In afternoon return back to hotel and free at leisure.
After breakfast crossing by ferry boat to Parapat and arrival at Parapat drive to Padang Sidempuan, on the way stop at pineapple, clove, and coffee garden and visiting traditional market at Balige and Sipoholon Hot Springs. Before arrival at Padang Sidempuan, enjoy the nature by walking at the bank of Sarulla river, the ricefield terraces and arrival at Padang Sidempuan check-in to hotel.
Leave Padang Sidempuan for Bukittinggi by passing rain tropical forest of Rimba Panti and visit pepper, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon garden, and crossing the equatorial line at Bonjol village. At late noon arrival at Bukittinggi -the charming town of Minangkabau people-, directly check-in to hotel.
After breakfast drive to Batusangkar via Tabek Patah, on the way stop at Rao-Rao to visit Minangkabau traditional village and stop to see traditional coffee milling, arrival at Batusangkar proceed to Pagaruyung to visit the duplicate of the Palace of Minangkabau Kingdom, afternoon return to Bukittinggi via Padang Panjang and visit Pandai Sikat village to see Minangkabau traditional hand weaving and wood carving, arrival at Bukittinggi city tour visiting Sianok Canyon (from the panorama point), Fort-De-Kock, Museum and local market. Afternoon returns to hotel.
After breakfast drive to Panampuang village, it will take about 30 minutes driving from your hotel in Bukittinggi, arrival at Panampuang village visiting traditional embroidery and then start the excursion by bicycle to explore the villages where you will stop at rice field to see the farmer working on rice-field traditionally, during planting the rice or harvest time, you may also try and join with the farmer during working at rice field, then continue by bicycle to visit school in the village and keep in touch with local people in the village during their daily activities such as making traditional handy craft or snacks, you can also stop at coffee shop in the village to try traditional coffee and get in touch with the villagers at coffee shop, since coffee shop is used by the villagers for social contact. Afternoon return to hotel in Bukittinggi.
After breakfast drive to Padang via Anai Valley, on the way stop at Anai Waterfall, arrival at Padang directly transferred to Airport.
Package Included
- Accommodation based on twin sharing room at above mentioned hotels
- Private air condition car / tourist coach
- Daily breakfast
- Tours
- Transfers
- Entrance fee
- Elephant washing at Tangkahan + elephant feeding, tubing at Tangkahan+picnic lunch, Jeep (Tangkahan – Bukit Lawang)
- Trekking at Bukit Lawang (03 hours) included local guide and permit
- Return ferry boat for crossing from Samosir Island to Parapat
- Bicycle trip at Bukittinggi
- English speaking tour guide.
Package Excluded
- Airfares and airport taxes
- Insurance
- Donation
- Tips
- Porter
- Lunch / dinner (which is not indicated on itinerary)
- Elephant walking at Tangkahan, camera permit at Bukit Lawang
- All personal gratuities.
- Emerald Garden Hotel / Le Polonia Hotel or similar hotel Medan
- Mega Inn Lodge Tangkahan
- Ecolodge Bukit Lawang / RIndu Alam Hotel similar hotel Bukit Lawang