Upon arriving at the Airport, we drive to Bukit Lawang and pass through vast rubber and oil palm plantations. Bukit Lawang is one of the main access points to the incredible rainforest of Gunung Leuser; one of Indonesia’s oldest national parks established in 1980 (covering an area of some 7,927 km² in northern Sumatra, straddling the border of North Sumatra & Aceh provinces) and which encompasses some of the most spectacular Montana and equatorial forest in Asia and well known as Orangutan Station or Orangutan Care Center.

It is one of Sumatera’s last rainforest wildernesses and its wildlife includes most of Sumatera’s extensive range of mammals and hundreds of bird species. The area is wild and enchanting with raging rivers and stunning jungle scenery. Popular activities here include trekking, rafting and of course visiting the Orang-utans at the feeding station, which was established in 1973 to assist captive Orang-utan readjust to life in the wild and to preserve the decreasing number of orangutan population.

Upon arrival in Bukit Lawang, we cross the river on a hanging cable plank bridge to the hotel.

Over night in Bukit Lawang.

After breakfast at the lodge, we have a trek. (6 – 7 hours). We head to the surrounding rainforest that is located at the Eastern edge of Gunung Leuser National Park and we have the amazing opportunity to observe various tropical plants including a tangle of enormous trees, twisting lianas, palms, ferns, and weird & wonderful flowers and hopefully to see wild animals. A simple traditional picnic lunch will be provided.

We head back to the lodge in the afternoon.

Note: Feeding twice a daily : 09.00 and 15.00 pm

After breakfast at the lodge, by 4×4, we head to Tangkahan Rainforest (another entrance to Gunung Leuser National Park) crisscrossing the main road passing several small villages with some countryside, as well as rubber and oil palm plantations which line either side of the highway interrupted by low roofed local houses.

Upon arrival in Tangkahan, we will head out on a 1 hour Elephant Trek. It takes roughly 20 minutes to reach a small elephant sanctuary just outside the national park and here we will meet the elephants and their mahouts that live there. The elephants come mainly from the Aceh province in the far north of Sumatra and have been rescued from illegal loggers or people who kept them as pets. As well as this eco-tourism venture that keeps local people employed and the elephant less worked, they are also used for patrols of the rainforest to help prevent illegal poaching and deforestation.

Afterwards we head back to the lodge.

Overnight at Tangkahan.

After breakfast at the lodge, we head into the jungle (on foot) for about 3 hours. If we are lucky we can see Gibbons, Macaques, Orang Utans, Bears, etc. . Afterwards we have a river cruise and ‘tubing’ before heading back to the lodge. The Afternoon is to be spent at leisure.

Overnight in Tangkahan.

After breakfast at the lodge we head to Parapat via Berastagi and pass through Medan, driving on the forested foothills of the Bukit Barisan where s-turns provide panoramic views to the delightfully cool and picturesque town of Berastagi through the Nature Reserve of Sibolangit (which lies on an escarpment overlooking the lowlands).

On arrival in Berastagi, proceed for accommodation.

Overnight in Berastagi

After breakfast at the hotel, we will tour Berastagi which offers magnificent views. We will travel back via a scenic back road across the Karo Plateau that skirts the northeastern edge of the Toba caldera to Berastagi.

Stops en-route include the Dokan village where we will see a glimpse of the way of life of the karo Batak tribe and their typical open plan housing in which eight related families live together .

We will continue, stopping at Tongging Hill located at the Northern rim of Toba basin with a nearby vantage point and enjoy spending time in a gazebo, which offers great vistas over the village at the Lake’s edge & the fall known as Sipiso piso, which shoots out a cave at the edge of the plateau & plunges 120 m straight down to a small gushing stream below.

Afterwards drive up back to Berastagi, where, on arrival we visit the Fruit Market which sells a variety of fresh local fruits, flowers, vegetables & other goodies.

Then proceed to the hotel.Free for leisure after this.

Overnight Hotel