8D7N SUMATRA OVERLAND
Day 1 : Arrival in Medan – Bukit Lawang
Today you arrive in Medan, the main city in
northern Sumatra. Then you drive about 1,5 to the centre of Medan. Depending on
your arrival time you will get a city tour here. 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. Last visit is the colorful Chinese temple, vihara Gunung Timur. After
city tour, drive about 3 hours to Bukit Lawang, a small tourist village
situated on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park. It 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. Most of the view en-route to Bukit Lawang are
oilpalm plantation, rubber and also occasional market set near the road. The
rest of the afternoon is free. Enjoy the scenery from the veranda of your hotel
room.
Accommodation at ECO LODGE / RINDU ALAM, simple
accommodation but nicely located by the river side on the outskirts of the
park. The rooms comes up with traditional Indonesia shower with only cold
water.
Day 2 : Orangutan & Jungle trek – Berastagi (B)
First you will visit 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 to
experience the rainforest. 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. Return to Bukit Lawang and short rest. Then departure about 5 hours
to Berastagi (1300m), a 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.
Accomodation at GRAND MUTIARA / SIBAYAK HOTEL
Note
• The program in Bukit Lawang may be reversed,
jungle trek first then visit the feedings.
• Those bringing camera/video camera into the park
will be charged Rp 50,000/150,000
• WHAT TO BRING! Shoes with good profile, rain coat
& dry bag for wallet, mobile etc to protect from waters, insects repellant
& drinking water.
• A nice option you can do after trekking is
tubing, floating down the river on car tubes (cost at personal account)
Day 3 : Berastagi – Samosir Island (B)
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.
Proceed to Sipiso piso waterfall and Rumah Bolon, the long house of king Batak
Simalungun. From this site you will continue following the lake and arrive in
Parapat somewhere afternoon. Parapat is a small town on shore of lake Toba.
From here you will cross the lake ± 45 minutes to Samosir island using public
boat. It is enjoyable trip. Upon arrival direct transfer to your hotel and
relax.
Accomodation at TOLEDO INN / TABO COTTAGE, simple
accomodation but clean and nicely located by the lake side
Day 4 : Samosir Tour (B)
Explore the natural beauty and cultural aspects of
Batak Toba by visiting Ambarita village where the remnant megalithic culture of
Batak Toba lies in front of traditional houses. Continue to Simanindo to see
folkdance performed by the villagers. Here you also can visit a museum built in
typical Batak style. On returning to your hotel, stop at Tomok village to see a
very old but nicely decorated sarchopagus.
Notice: Samosir tour made by car for max 5 paxs
while 6 up by boat
Day 5 : Samosir Island – Sipirok (B)
Across back to Parapat by public boat and drive up
to Sipirok with view of marching mountains Bukit Barisan, a long but beautiful
trip. First stop will be at a typical Batak village Jangga Dolok/Lumban
Binanga. Next stop at colourful market place in Balige and sulphur hotspring in
Sipoholon.
Accomodation at TORSIBOHI HOTEL, nicely located on
top of a hill. The cottages are spacious and offer enough comfort but still are
SIMPLE accommodation.
Day 6 : Sipirok – Bukittinggi (B)
The journey today is rather long but worthwhile to
exhibits the inner part of Sumatra. The scenery of mountains, rivers, valleys
and traditional villages will relieve you from weariness. Enroute stop at
Sijornih waterfall and Sihepeng to see a small herb garden where several kinds
of herbs are grown (kardemon, ginger, vanille etc). Here, often there is also a
short tailed monkey present who are specially trained to collect coconuts. Next
stop at moslem school. See how moslem children go to school and live nearby in
very small wooden houses and finally in the late afternoon across the equator.
From the equator it takes another 1,5 hours to reach the higland town of
Bukittinggi (literally “a high hill). It is the heart of the Minangkabau tribe
that inhabits the province of West Sumatra. The specialty of the Minangkabau is
their matriarchal and matrilineal society. Accomodation at THE HILLS / GRAND ROCKY HOTEL
Day 7 : Harau valley tour (B)
Drive about 1,5 hours to Harau, a nature and
wildlife reserve surrounded by 100-200 meters high cliffs that like a giant
wall. In the bottom of cliffs stretches vast paddy fields and green forests.
Very scenic landscape! Here the atmosphere is quiet, unpolluted, and beauty as
far as eyes could see. Besides cliffs, forest and paddy field, Harau also has several
waterfalls with swimming pool beneath. Visit one of them before returning to
Bukittinggi. Before/after Harau, we bring you for Bukittinggi citytour visiting
the clock tower Jam Gadang which overlooks the colourful market Pasar Atas, the
remains of Dutch fort called De Kock & Ngarai Sianok valley.
Optional tour
To those who like walking, Harau has a wonderful
walk. It is a light walk that takes about 3 hours. The walk is around the
valley through rice field paths, village and some paved roads between giant
cliffs as background. During the walk you could see people working on rice
fields, rainforest and would sometimes hear the calling of the black Siamang
and gibbon. The walk ends at waterfall with swimming pool beneath. Take a swim
before returning to Bukittinggi. The cost at personal account
Day 8 : Bukittinggi – Padang Airport
Free to relax until time to leave for airport. The
trip takes about 2 hours passing by the greenery of Anai park. If time permits
you may get a chance to stop at Anai waterfall. End of tours
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