Orangutan Trekking & Lake Toba

6 Days / 5 Nights

North Sumatra (Medan, Bukit Lawang, Berastagi, Samosir)

Private & Customisable

Experience Highlights

Get the blood pumping with an active adventure around North Sumatra. Venture into the wilds to meet elephants, monkeys and orangutans and take a spectacular drive through highland landscapes. Continue to Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic lake, to explore ethnic villages with distinctive cultures.

Itinerary

Medan

Arrival at Kuala Namu International Airport, meet with the local guide outside the main building for the start of the program.

Leave Kuala Namu Airport and proceed to the city center of Medan the capital of North Sumatra and an interesting melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Batak people living together in harmony.

Visit to Maimoon Sultan’s Deli Palace, built in1888 by the Sultan of Deli (the former name of Medan). This beautiful palace combines traditional elements of Malay, Islamic as well as Spanish and Indian architectural elements. Even up to present times, the palace is inhabited by the Sultan, who remains a symbolic figure of importance to Indonesian community.

The tour continues to the Great Mosque (built in 1906 by the first sultan and still considered as one the most beautiful mosques in the country). Continue to the beautifully decorated mansion of Hakka Chinese businessperson, banker and Kapitan Tjong A Fie.

Lunch will be served at Tip Top Restaurant which history dates back to the time of Dutch colonisation and enjoy lunch here before heading to the hotel (check-in time is 14:00). After checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax in the room.

In the mid-afternoon, meet with the guide again and continue the city tour of Medan. This afternoon visit the city’s oldest Hindu temple Sri Mariamman, located in Medan’s Little India, locally referred to as Kampung Madras. It is devoted to the goddess Mariamman and other Hindu gods. The temple is a meeting point for worshippers during Thaipusam and Deevapali festivals. Next will be a stop at the impressive Vihara Gunung Timur, Southeast Asia’s biggest Buddhist temple.

Do a little detour to the outskirts of Medan in order to visit Graha Anay Velangkani, a catholic church in Indo-Mogul style, which has opened only in 2005. The church is probably one of the most unusual churches established through the Tamil Catholic community.

Afterwards, return to the hotel and spend the rest of the evening either relaxing or heading out for some independent exploration.

Overnight in Medan.

Meals: lunch

Medan - Bukit Lawang - Visit Eco Farm by Becak

After breakfast at the Hotel leave Medan for Bukit Lawang (2h 30m drive by local jeep).

Upon arrival at Bukit Lawang cross on foot the impressive wooden suspension bridge over the Bohorok River for getting to the reception of the Eco Lodge. Check-in at the lodge in Bukit Lawang and, after settling in, enjoy lunch.

After lunch, cross the bridge and be picked by a becak for a visit to the Timbang Lawang eco farm. This motorized sidecar will lead from the local village to the eco farm. afterwards hop back on the becak and explore a few other surrounding areas to see how brown sugar is made and rubber trees are tapped.

Afterwards, return to the hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure while enjoying the tropical surroundings.

Overnight in Bukit Lawang.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Bukit Lawang - Orangutan Trekking - Berastagi

Breakfast at the lodge.

Bukit Lawang is at the entrance to Gunung Leuser National Park and is one of the last sanctuaries of the Sumatran orangutan.

Start an unforgettable trek early in the morning at 08.00 Head out behind Eco Lodge (with an additional local English speaking Jungle guide). The first part is an easy climb to the forest for about 30 to 45 minutes – the local Guide always sends a tracker ahead to check where the Orangutans are. If some are seen in 1st part of the trek Guide will suggest people who have difficulty to walk to return to the Lodge with the tracker while accompanying other participants all the way (total trekking time is two and a half to three hours up and down in the jungle - it’s a bit more challenging and can be slippery, so good shoes are required).

After returning back at the lodge, take some time to shower and change before checking out. Lunch is served at the lodge restaurant.

In the afternoon, leave Bukit Lawang to Berastagi (approx 4h 30m drives) in the Karo highlands along a scenic route driving southwards via Sembahe and Sibolangit. In the late afternoon you will arrive at Berastagi, a climate station located at some 1,400 meters above sea-level.

Check in at the hotel late afternoon/early evening. Overnight in Berastagi

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Berastagi - Dokan - Pematang Purba - Parapat - Ferry to Samosir Island on Lake Toba

After breakfast and check out from the hotel, and depart around 08:00 for a short city tour of Berastagi: the tour includes an outside visit of the St. Fransiscus Catholic Church, with its unique Batak architecture and in the background a perfect view over Mount Sibayak. Continue with a walk in the local fruit market which is swarming with activity and scenes from traditional Karo life.

Leave Brastagi around 09:30 and proceed to Lake Toba (approx. 4h30m journey). Along the way stop for taking pictures of Mount Sinabung (2460m).

Stop for a visit of Dokan, a village home to the Batak Karo people who have unusual wedding and funeral ceremonies which can last for days and dozens of other unique traditions and rituals which they still practice. Then meet with a family in one of the longhouses where up to 6 families live together.

Continue to the South towards Lake Toba and make a stop to see the 120 meter Sipiso-piso waterfall in the Batak highlands. The beautiful fall is formed by an underground river that then plunges from a cave into Lake Toba caldera. Here you will also be an impressive first-view of Toba lake. Continue the journey to Pematang Purba for a visit Rumah Bolon, a 200 year old wooden house, that used to be the dwelling of the ancient Batak Simalungun Kings.

A late lunch will be served en route to Parapat at a local restaurant near Simar Jarunjung.

In the afternoon, drive along the eastern shore of Lake Toba to Parapat.

Board a 1h local ferry with your private vehicle, driver and guide for a one hour boat trip between Parapat and Tomok on Samosir Island.

The island of Samosir, which is roughly the size of Singapore, is located in the middle of Lake Toba. The caldera lake of Toba Volcano was formed over 75,000 years ago and is the largest volcanic lake in the world.

Take a direct transfer to the hotel on the Tuk Tuk Peninsula in Samosir Island (15-minute drive from Tomok) for check in. Take some time to freshen up, then spend the rest of the evening enjoying the unique atmosphere of the hotel. Overnight in Samosir.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Samosir Island

After breakfast in the morning, spend a full day exploring Samosir Island and Lake Toba.

Visit Ambarita, Samosir’s most interesting Batak Toba village which is well-known for its unique stone chairs, tribunals and execution stones where enemies and criminals were slaughtered and eaten by this once-cannibalistic tribe.

Drive to Simanindo and be treated to a performance of a traditional Batak Toba dance called Tor-Tor. Then explore the traditional village and its small Batak museum.

From here we continue along the eastern shore of Samosir Island to Pangururan, the small capital of Samosir. A picnic lunch has been prepared by the hotel and will be served onboard the ship while cruising towards Pangururan. For those who would like to enjoy a relaxing bath, there is a possibility to visit the hot springs after the visit to Tele.

The driver and guide will be waiting when the boat arrives. Continue by car to Tele, a rarely visited area located on the mainland in the southern shore of Lake Toba, accessible after crossing a small bridge followed by a 30 minutes drive up the mountain: The view over Samosir Island and Lake Toba from the observatory tower in Tele is simply breathtaking and easily one of the best overlooking the whole of Lake Toba.

On the way back to TukTuk via Pangururan stop alongside the road for observing the traditional weaving that villagers do here.

Return to your hotel in TukTuk late in the-afternoon (approx 2 hours). Overnight in Samosir.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Samosir Island - Parapat - Pematang Siantar - Medan

After an early wakeup call and check out from the hotel after breakfast and transfer from TukTuk to Parapat with the regular ferry (1 hour) with the private vehicle, driver and guide joining on board (Departure time subject to change is at 07:00 from Tomok arriving at 08:00 in Parapat).

Drive back to Medan Kuala Namu Airport via Pematang Siantar and Tebing Tinggi with scenic views over estate plantations of rubber and palm oil.

Transfer to Medan Kuala Namu Airport for a mid or late afternoon departure flight to the next destination.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

This is a private itinerary and can be tailored to your needs.

Accommodations

Aryaduta Hotel Medan

In the heart of Indonesia’s third largest city at Grand Palladium Mall, Aryaduta Medan offers exceptional comfort in its 195 guest rooms and suites that meet the needs of discerning regional and international business and leisure travelers. The hotel is equipped with event facilities and a 35-meter courtyard pool and offers stirring views of a city inspired by European architectural styles.

Room type: Deluxe (upgrade options available)

What's Included?

Hotel accommodation in half-twin/double room with daily breakfast.
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
Tours and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicles.
Service of one English speaking local guide
Local ferry between Parapat and Samosir and return
Boat trip in Samosir with private chartered boat
Orang Utan Trekking in Bukit Lawang
All entrance fees and tours as indicated in itinerary.

*Start from £749 per person based on 2 adults. Subject to availability upon booking. This itinerary is private & customisable. Enquire here.

Orangutan Trekking & Lake Toba

Experience Highlights

Itinerary

Medan

Medan - Bukit Lawang - Visit Eco Farm by Becak

Bukit Lawang - Orangutan Trekking - Berastagi

Berastagi - Dokan - Pematang Purba - Parapat - Ferry to Samosir Island on Lake Toba

Samosir Island

Samosir Island - Parapat - Pematang Siantar - Medan

This is a private itinerary and can be tailored to your needs.

Accommodations

What's Included?

Plesir

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