NORTH SUMATRA COMPLETE, 9 DAYS 4404 Reviews

NORTH SUMATRA COMPLETE, 9 DAYS

Route : Bukit Lawang - Tangkahan - Berastagi - Lake Toba - Medan

Day 1 : To Bukit Lawang   
Today you arrive in Kualanamu airport Medan. 
Then you drive about one hour to the centre for a city tour (the city tour depends on your arrival time). 
You will visit the Maimun palace built in 1888 in Malayan and Middle-East style and belonging the sultan of Deli. 
Visit the grand mosque Almashum built in the same period of the Maimun palace. 
And visit the colorful Chinese temple, vihara Gunung Timur. 
From the centre, drive about 3 hours to Bukit Lawang, a small tourist village situated on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park. 
Bukit Lawang is the most accessible place to spot the Orangutans in the park. 
And the park is one of the largest national park in the world containing over 800,000 ha of virgin rainforest and home to an impressive number of mammal species like tigers, Orangutans, gibbons, elephants and rhino’s. 
Enroute stop at oilpalm plantation and local market. 
Arrival in Bukit Lawang, free to relax. 
Enjoy the scenery from the veranda of your hotel room.

Day 2 : Bukit Lawang
First we bring you to the feeding platform of orangutans. 
The platform was built to help the orangutans that have been released to the wild after their rehabilitation. 
As they are semi-wild, they are sometimes having trouble finding food on their own in the wild. 
Then they can come to the feeding platform for some milk and bananas. 
Wild orangutan occasionally come to the platform too. 
So the feeding platform is meant as the first place for the orangutans come to for help rather than plantations or village where conflicts can occur. 
When the orangutans are getting enough food on their own, they will not come to the platform because the food they find in the wild is more exciting than just milk and bananas! 
So although it is a marvelous sight to see the orangutans at the platform, it is also good news when they do not show up, as this means they are surviving well in the wild without help. 
From the platform you will follow a 2-3 hours jungle walk searching for more tropical flora and fauna. 
It is not a flat walk but involves some ups and downs. 
A bit hard but in return you get a very nice experience. 
You have a big chance to see gibbons, thomas leaf monkeys, longtail and pigtail macagues, flying squirrels, Sumatra peacocks and hornbills. 
A wild Orangutans might cross your way. 
Your guide will explain you many things about the rainforest. 
And he will show you many different kind of plants and flowers. 
Jungle walk ends by the river side from where you start your tubing experience. 
You will float down the river on car tubes about 20 minutes till your hotel. 
It is a fun rafting and a relaxing way to enjoy the scenery. 
The rest of day is free at leisure. 

Day 3 : Tangkahan 
Off road with local jeep to Tangkahan. 
It takes about 3 hours passing by oilpalm plantation track and rural areas. 
A bit bumpy drive but great fun! 
Tangkahan is a beautifully remote jungle settlement situated on the other side of Gunung Leuser National Park. 
It was established as an ecotourism spot in 2001. 
Previously the area was logged and poachers hunted the animals. 
The local people have transformed the region, stopping illegal exploitation of the forest and forming forest ranger groups to patrol for illegal activities. 
Seven elephants were brought to the area to support this initiative. 
The elephants are used to patrol the forest to keep illegal loggers and poachers out. 
Joining the elephants for their daily bathing or taking a ride on elephant back will help to support this initiative too. 
Arrive in Tangkahan, transfer to your rainforest lodge and free at leisure. Overnight at basic lodge.

Day 4 : Berastagi 
It’s your time with the biggest mammal in the world. 
You will follow one hour elephant riding through the forest path. 
Then, join and help mahouts bathe the elephants in the river. 
It is a very nice experience and you can get up close and personal with the elephants. 
You are allowed to scrub and wash them. 
Once they are finished, then your turn. 
The elephant will spray you water with its trunk. Nice shower! 
Also chance for you to hand feed the elephants. 
After elephants, relax before boarding the car for a next journey to Berastagi (1300m), a cool and picturesque hill town flanked by two active volcanoes Sinabung (2417m) and Sibayak (2172m). 
It is the homeland of the Batak Karo, one of the six Batak tribes that inhabit the province of North Sumatra. 
The first two hours of travel involves driving over bumpy plantation tracks. 
Then an asphalt road will take you the rest of the way to Berastagi. 
Stop and wander around local fruit market before arrival at your hotel.

Day 5 : Climb mount Sibayak
This 2172 meter tall volcano is close to the highland town of Berastagi. 
It is one of easily accessible top volcanoes in Indonesia, can be explored by anyone in reasonably good shape. 
First part will be done by car, then an hour walk to the top  where you can see a crater with yellow fumarols. 
On a clear day you have a fantastic view of the surroundings and the Sinabung volcano. 
After the climb you can relax and soak your sore muscles in the hotsprings at the other side of the volcano.

Day 6 : Lake Toba      
Scenic drive to lake Toba, one of the deepest and largest crater lake in the world with stop at Dokan, a small Batak Karo village with a number of traditional houses still inhabited by eight families each. 
Visit Sipiso piso waterfalls. 
Stop at Pematang Purba to see wooden palace (Rumah Bolon) of the former king Batak Simalungun. 
Somewhere afternoon arriving in Parapat, the main tourist resort which lies on the very shore of lake Toba. 
From here you cross the lake by boat on about 45 minutes to Samosir, a volcanic island in the middle of lake Toba. 
You will stay in Tuktuk, a peninsula on the eastern coast of Samosir island. 
Your accommodation is simple but nicely located by the lake side.

Day 7 : Lake Toba
Explore the natural beauty and cultural aspects of Batak Toba by car. 
Visit Ambarita, Samosir’s most interesting Batak Toba village. 
Ambarita is known for its unique ancient courtyard, made up of stone chairs and tables. 
This courtyard served as a court of justice. 
Visit the home of king Sidauruk in Simanindo village and witness Batak Toba folkdance called Tor tor performed by the villagers. 
Here you can also visit a museum built in typical Batak style. 
On the way back to your hotel, visit Tomok to see a very old but nicely decorated sarchopagus, the old tomb of king Sidabutar.

Day 8 : Medan
Across back the lake by boat on about 45 minutes to Parapat where your car awaits. 
Then, drive about 5 hours to Medan passing by town of Pematang Siantar and Tebingtinggi. 
Most of the views en-route are plantation of oilpalm, rubber and cocoa. Transfer to your hotel and relax. 

Day 9 : Departure
Back to Kualanamu airport for your onward flight.