IMPRESSIVE 15 DAYS OVERLAND NORTH TO WEST SUMATRA TOUR

Description

Impressive 15 Days Overland North to West Sumatra Tour: Adventures, jungles, cultures, fauna

Itinerary:

Day 01: ARRIVAL KUALA NAMU AIRPORT – MEDAN SIGHTSEEING TOUR 

Arrive at Kuala Namu International Airport with flight….

You will be warmly welcomed by our friendly driver. Stop at a licensed money changer (optional as per your request). Sightseeing in Medan by checking out Maimun Palace – designed by a Dutch Architect and built in the 19th century, it combines architecture from Malay, Indian and Islamic cultures and is now a museum. Then to the museum at Tjong A Fie Mansion – known as ‘the historical jewel in Medan’, the Tjong A Fie was built in 1895 by a hakka merchant and is modelled on the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion in Penang. Check in hotel for 1 night stay in Medan.

DAY 02: MEDAN – TANGKAHAN / 4-5 hours’ drive

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards we drive to Tangkahan. Tangkahan is often described as “The Hidden Paradise of Sumatra” for its unspoiled beauty, dense rainforest, and strong commitment to community-based ecotourism. It’s not as commercial as nearby Bukit Lawang, making it ideal for travelers seeking peaceful immersion in nature and for observing the Sumatran elephant. Famous for its Sumatran elephants, it also offers a natural, unspoilt countryside environment. This is where you will experience a unique jungle adventure. Arrive in Tangkahan you cross the Batang River by local raft or by suspension bridge to your lodge inn. All accommodations in Tangkahan are guesthouses at the best breathtaking with the surrounding jungle, simple, good clean with own bathroom. No warm water is available. 2 overnight stays in Tangkahan.

DAY 03: TANGKAHAN – JUNGLE TOUR + WATCHING THE ELEPHANTS (B,L)

Breakfast at the lodge. Set off on your jungle tour with an experienced local guide. You will have a 5–10-minute walk to reach the border of the Gunung Leuser National Park; you will have an uphill trek up Mount Leuser for around 15 minutes – the slope is moderate, and we will take it slow. After the climb, it’s time for a flatter route as we continue hiking in search of wild animals such as orangutans, gibbons, long-tailed monkeys, hornbills and other animals. Trek through the rainforest for about 1 hour before taking a break to enjoy delicious fresh tropical fruit prepared by our team. After a decent break, we’ll continue trekking to meet up with the elephants of the Sumatran Rescue center with Mahout (Elephant officer). Witness the elephants as they wander through their natural habitat. You will spend about 1 hour with the elephants. After you are ready with elephants, you will continue trekking towards the Ficus tree for about 30 minutes. After finishing at the Vicus tree, you will exit the forest and stop at the Bulu River for lunch which is ready to be served to you. After lunch and exploring Buluh river (optional), you will walk home across the bridge or local raft. Back to the lodge.

DAY 04: TANGKAHAN – BUKIT LAWANG (B) / 2-3 hours by car

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards we drive to Bukit Lawang, other conservation of the Orangutans located in Gunung Leuser National Park by landscape with vast view of palm oil and rubber plantation. En-route it’s possible to stop at rubber, oil palm and cacao plantations with some countryside landscape (optional). Arrive in Bukit Lawang, check-in hotel. All accommodations in Bukit Lawang are guesthouses at the best breathtaking location on the bank of Bohorok River with the surrounding jungle, simple, good clean with own bathroom. No warm water is available.  2 overnight stay in Bukit Lawang.

DAY 05: JUNGLE TREKKING IN THE NATIONAL PARK OF GUNUNG LEUSER FOR 6 HOURS (B,L) 

After breakfast, start for a 6–7-hour jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser National Park to see the wildlife.  This involves a walk through the jungle to explore the park. Steep, slopes, and dense vegetation will bring you the excitement of the rainforest. During the trekking, you’ll come across a wide variety of plants, towering trees, spot the orangutan and other wildlife. Our professional local guide will be with you during the trekking, offering insights and highlighting the jungle’s hidden paradise. Halfway through your adventure, you’ll take a break for a delicious jungle lunch, surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature. After recharging, you’ll continue your journey, uncovering more of the jungle park. Then followed by traditional fun-tube rafting down the Bohorok River. Heading back to the hotel.

DAY 06: BUKIT LAWANG – BRASTAGI HIGHLAND / 5 HOURS DRIVE (B)

Breakfast in hotel and head out for Brastagi via Medan and Sembahe village. Enroute you will stop at Shwedagon pagoda Replica at Taman Alam Lumbini in Berastagi it’s a Buddhist temple with serene, harmonious place with beautiful nature surrounding it. Visitors recommend the temple for its peaceful atmosphere, cleanliness, and intricate designs. The park features a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda from Myanmar. Then continue to Brastagi town the mountain resort, if you arrive early in Brastagi you can visit Gundaling hill where you can view the two active volcanoes in Brastagi: Sibayak (2.172 m) and Sinabung (2.417 m), Then visit the fruit market which has many fruits, vegetables, and flowers also savour one of its most famous produces – Markisa (passion fruits).  Check-in hotel. Overnight stay in Brastagi.

Day 07: BRASTAGI – LAKE TOBA – SAMOSIR ISLAND / 4 HOURS DRIVE + AN HOUR BY FERRY (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, heading to Lake Toba – surrounded by mountains, this spot is a peaceful place to relax. Formed by a huge volcanic eruption 70,000 years ago, a second eruption 50,000 years later created an island the size of Singapore in the middle of the lake as known as Samosir Island. Enroute we stop at Sipiso-Piso waterfall to see the magnificent 110 meters and an extraordinary view of Lake Toba from the north side, for the more adventurous travelers, you can trek down (~1 hr return hike) to the bottom of the waterfall to take a peek at its whirling plunge pool (optional). Next stop is the ancient King’s Palace of Batak Simalungun as known as Rumah Bolon. Arrive in Parapat, a town on the shore of Serene Lake Toba from where you cross over the lake to the island of Samosir for an hour by ferry. Overnight stay on Samosir island for 2 nights, room at lake side.

Day 08:  SAMOSIR ISLAND DAY TOURS (B)

Breakfast in hotel. Today you start the tour by exploring this island. Samosir Island is a volcanic island located in the middle of Lake Toba and is considered the cultural center of the Toba Batak people. You’ll visit Tomok Village to see the tomb of King Sidabutar. You can explore other cultural sites on the island, such as the stone chairs in Ambarita, which may have once served as a tribal court. You may also see a traditional Batak dance at the cultural center in Simanindo. Then back to hotel.

DAY 09: SAMOSIR ISLAND – LAKE TOBA – SIPIROK (B) / 7-8 hours’ drive

Breakfast in hotel. Say goodbye to Lake Toba, then drive to Lake Port. Then you depart for Padang Sidempuan. You will drive along the southern shores of Lake Toba with its rice fields and Batak kings’ graves through the Toba highlands. Stop at coffee, Clove, pineapple plantation and Sipoholon Hot springs and you can see the view of the Bukit Barisan mountains. You may also stop at the bank of Sarulla river near the nice view of the rice terrace where you can take a short walk. Early in the evening arrives in Sipirok. Check-in hotel. Overnight stay in Sipirok.

Day 10: SIPIROK – BUKITTINGGI MINANGKABAU HIGH LAND (B) / 8-9 hours drive

Breakfast at hotel leave Sipirok for Bukittinggi the Minangkabau highlands brings you again right through the Bukit Barisan mountain ridge of Sumatra. It is an impressive tour in which you drive through a wall of tropical rain forests. On the way you will stop at Sihepeng to see the attraction of monkey picking up the coconut, observe pepper, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon garden. Then passing rain tropical forest of Rimba Panti and crossing the equator line at Bonjol. In the evening arrive at Bukittinggi the charming town of Minangkabau tribe. Check-in to hotel. 2 overnight stays in Bukittinggi.

Day 11: BUKITTINGGI & LAKE MANINJAU DAY TOUR (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit Koto Gadang to see traditional silver work, afterwards we will go to Ngarai Sianok, also known as the Sianok Canyon or Sianok Gorge or Karbouwengat, is a breathtaking natural wonder located in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. This deep and lush canyon stretches for approximately 15 kilometers, reaching a depth of about 100 meters and a width of around 200 meters. The gorge lies at the foot of Mount Singgalang and Mount Marapi and offers visitors a magnificent view of steep cliffs, tropical vegetation, and a gently flowing river at its base. It is one of the most popular attractions in Bukittinggi, drawing nature lovers, photographers, and hikers from around the world. Then Koto Gadang village it’s best known for its traditional silversmiths, who produce intricate silver Minangkabau models and some of the finest jewelry in Indonesia. From there we drive to the mysterious lake Maninjau, descending to the lake via the road with 44 curves. It is an impressive volcanic lake at the bottom of an immense caldera measuring 20 kilometres by 8 kilometers and created about 50,000 years when a massive volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself. It is surrounded by several villages bordering it. The lake also supports swimming, canning, and fishing. The villages themselves are small and great for escaping the hectic pace of the city. After enjoying the panorama, we are heading back to Bukittinggi and dropping you off at the hotel.

Day 12: BUKITTINGGI – MINANGKABAU CITY TOURS – HARAU (B) / 5 hours drive

After breakfast at the hotel, Bukittinggi City Tour visiting remnants of Fort De Kock fortress, is a 19th-century Dutch sconce fortification established over a hill in Bukittinggi. Then the Museum and Pasar Atas (Upper Market) for shopping. Then leave for cover visits to the ancient Minangkabau Royal Palace in Pagaruyung, then go to the beautiful handwoven cloth and exquisite woodcarving at Pandai Sikek Village, famous for its weaving & woodcarving crafts. Late afternoon drive to Payakumbuh and our next destination is the Harau nature reserve, famous for its huge rock formations, delightful butterflies, rice field terrace, traditional village. Check in to the homestay. 2 overnight stays in Harau.

DAY 13: HARAU TREKKING TO WATERFALL (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will make some walks in Haray valley by seeing the dramatic landscape with towering cliffs rising above picturesque rice paddies dotted with slender coconut trees. You will take a walk through the valley by visiting the waterfalls. There are quite a few cascades concentrated in a single area which is very convenient since they are all within a 5-minute walk of one another. Sarasah Bunta Waterfall is the most popular. It’s an impressive cascade spilling over a huge cliff into a pool beneath, and the whole area is drenched in water and rocks covered in moss. This cascade is popular. From here, follow the trail to the second waterfall. It’s smaller, but there is a nice shallow pool with inflatables and deck chairs to rent. And following the trail even further is another part where there is a zipline crossing over a pool. It’s short, not even 100 meters, but fun, nonetheless. Back to the lodge.

Day 14: HARAU – PADANG (B) / 4 hrs drive

Breakfast in the hotel. Free program in Harau. You can do jungle trekking in Harau surroundings. Here, gibbons and macaques and a variety of wildlife still roam freely in this area (optional at your personal account). Hereafters continue to drive to Padang via the beautiful Anai valley with the Anai waterfall. Arrive in Padang, check in hotel. Overnight stay in Padang.

Day 15: PADANG – TRANSFER TO AIRPORT (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning there is a free program until we transfer you to the airport of Padang for your onward flight. End of our services.

Price: by Request

What’s Included

• Transportation in comfortable air-conditioned private car incl. fuel as per itinerary
• 14 nights’ accommodation in good medium class hotels based on TWN/DBL rooms
• Daily breakfast
• Private tour
• Driver, his meals and accommodation costs
• Entrance and parking fees as per program above
• Permit to enter the National Park of Gunung Leuser
• Jungle trekking in Tangkahan incl. Lunch
• 6 hours jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang with professional local guide incl. Lunch + tube rafting down the river
• Ferry cost Parapat – Samosir island and return
• Trekking in Hara with experienced local guide
• Daily mineral water

What’s Not Included

• Personal expenses such as: Lunch & Dinner (except 1x Lunch on jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan), soft drinks, snacks, souvenirs, laundry, minibar, telephone, etc.
• Air tickets & Visa On Arrival
• Donations
• Tipping driver/tour guide (recommended)
• Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
• Tour Guide / Local Guide
• Hotel surcharge on public holiday (if applied)
• Any optional program which are not included on tour program