ECO ADVENTURE : GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK

Day 1 : Arrival Medan – Bukit Lawang (- / - / -)

The start of our great adventure commences today. We are met by a guide on our arrival at Kuala Namu Airport in Deli Serdang. We then take a four-hour transfer to Bukit Lawang, passing through Binjai and some other small towns. En route there will be stops at rubber and cacao plantations so we can absorb serene rural scenery. 

On arrival at Gunung Leuser National Park we prepare for our outdoors adventure and check-in to the hotel to rest up ahead of tomorrow’s trek. This is the final opportunity to check our gear for the jungle trek. It is advisable to bring a camera, long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, a sun hat with chin strap, secure head straps for glasses, comfortable walking shoes, leech socks, a rain poncho, any medication, sun block, insect repellent and a photocopy of your passport.

Lunch and dinner at own arrangement

Overnight in Bukit Lawang

Day 2 : Bukit Lawang – Trekking at Gunung Leuser National Park (B / - / -)

We will get the chance to spot species such as long-tailed macaques, white-handed gibbons and orangutans on our trek today. After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Gunung Leuser National Park. Covering 7,927 sq-km of virgin rainforest, this is a haven for flora and fauna. 

Our foot journey provides an up-close view of various tropical plants, including a tangle of enormous trees, twisting lianas, palms, ferns, and weird and wonderful flowers. Keep your eyes peeled for orangutans as they swing through the trees, or make their way down to the ground to forage for food. This is one of the few places on earth where you can still see these primates in their natural habitat and a hike enables us to head to the inner areas they inhabit. 

Afterwards, we return to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Please note: A longer trek of three hours is available at an additional cost. Camera fees for still and video devices are payable on entry to the park authorities.
            
Lunch and dinner at own arrangement

Overnight in Bukit Lawang

Day 3 :  Bohorok – Berastagi (B / - / -)

Our excursion today reveals exceptional mountain scenery and a chance to relax in a natural hot spring. Following breakfast, the morning is free at leisure. In the afternoon, we transfer to the cool, highland town of Berastagi. Our journey takes us through a rural scenery of vast rubber plantations to Binjai and onward to the forested foothills of Bukit Barisan Mountain, with a panoramic view of Sibolangit Nature Reserve. Sibolangit is the location of the aptly named Two Colours Waterfall. 

We then drive on to Berastagi where we overnight. Positioned at an altitude of 1,300 metres, Berastagi is a cool mountain retreat, originally established by colonial Dutch traders escaping the heat of Medan. On a clear day we will see volcanoes, Mount Gunung Sinabung to the west and Gunung Sibayak to the north. Upon arrival, we browse the local fruit and vegetable market.  

Lunch and dinner at own arrangement

Overnight in Berastagi

Day 4 : Berastagi – Parapat / Samosir Island (B / - / -)

Our adventure today takes us on a scenic drive to Lake Toba, the site of a volcanic eruption that changed world history. Following breakfast, we visit Dokan, a Karo village famed for its longhouses. These ornate structures can accommodate up to eight families collectively and they typically rise up in tiers. The status of the owner is usually signified by the number of water buffalo horns arranged on a pole in the living quarters. 

We continue to magnificent Sipiso Piso Waterfall and make a brief stop at the longhouse of King Simalungun. At Parapat, a little town on the edge of Lake Toba, we take a one-hour ferry ride to Samosir island, the homeland of the Batak people. The lake sits in the caldera of a super-volcano that erupted some 74,000 years ago the largest known volcanic activity in 25 million years.

The explosion was so massive, it changed the global climate and led to a volcanic winter, with worldwide temperatures decreasing three to five degrees Celsius. Lake Toba was recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark in July 2020. The rest of day is free at leisure after we absorb this amazing site.   

Lunch and dinner at own arrangement

Overnight in Samosir Island

Day 5 : Samosir Island – Boat Excursion (B / - / -)

We spend the day exploring the beauty of Samosir island and get an insight into the various tribes and learn about century old traditions. We begin with a visit to Ambarita to see a traditional Batak village that contains ancient megalith stone furniture. and observe a native folk dance. Batak dances are sometimes rituals where spirits are invoked from stone statues and made to ‘dance’ through rigid motions. Batak houses are also of interest. Typically, they consist of wood, bamboo and fibre for binding, along with a thatched roof. 

Afterwards, we proceed by boat to Tomok village to see the old tomb of King Sidabutar. An older Batak royal tomb nearby is said to have been used as a multilingual fertility shrine for childless couples. The descendants of King Sidabutar are available for a personal talk about the history of the region (surcharge applies). This is a day of great cultural exploration.
                            
Lunch and dinner at own arrangement

Overnight in Samosir

Day 6 : Samosir Island – Parapat / Medan (B / - / -)

Our road trip today reveals spectacular scenery. After breakfast at the hotel, we cross back to Parapat with a ferry trip across Lake Toba. We then set off on a pleasurable mountain drive on a course along a gentle slope around the rim of the caldera. Our journey skirts a sheer cliff at Sibaganding, one of the many highlights of our trip. En route we visit Vihara Avalokitesvara, a Buddhist temple dedicated to Guanyin the goddess of mercy. 

We enter through a scenic bridge with stone carvings spanning a green pond. On the first level are animal statues made of the Chinese zodiac ringing the outer walls. A giant sculpture then beckons us to a second level of the temple, with an amazing viewpoint of Pematang Siantar city. We then continue to the hotel in Medan for overnight, with the rest of the day free at leisure.

This drive today is definitely the highlight of our excursion.

Lunch and dinner at your arrangement

Overnight in Medan

Day 7 : Medan - Airport (B / - / -)

Following breakfast at the hotel, the morning is free at leisure. Our departure time is noon. The use of a day room until 6pm is subject to availability and a surcharge.

At the appropriate departure time, we transfer from the hotel to the airport for onward flights.

End of the Tour