Sumatra overland tour

Sumatra overland tour Overview

The best of Sumatra, visiting unspoiled Gunung Leuser National Park, a paradise of meandering rivers, dense forest and virgin trekking trails inhabited by tigers, elephants and, most famously, orang-utans. Explore Lake Toba by local boat, visit colourful Toba Batak villages and learn about Minangkabau culture.

Sumatra overland tour: Orang-utans and Tribes

The best of Sumatra, visiting unspoiled Gunung Leuser National Park, a paradise of meandering rivers, dense forest and virgin trekking trails inhabited by tigers, elephants and, most famously, orang-utans. Explore Lake Toba by local boat, visit colourful Toba Batak villages and learn about Minangkabau culture.

Best time to visit: The driest months of March, April, June, July, August.

Day 1: Arrival into Medan and city tour

Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon, proceed for a city tour, beginning with Merdeka Square, Medan City Hall, and Kesawan Street. Visit Masjid Raya or the Great Mosque, Maimoon Sultan Palace and an impressive Chinese temple, the Vihara Gunung Timur.

Overnight in Medan.

Distance and journey time:

Kuala Namu Airport – Medan city centre (30 km): 1 hour 15 minutes.

Day 2: Medan to Tangkahan

Depart for Tangkahan via Binjai and Stabat. Upon arrival in Tangkahan, complete registration formalities at the “Gunung Leuser National Park” visitor centre and check into your lodge. This afternoon, you may choose to relax in the National Park, walk or take an elephant ride from the lodge through the Jungle to the Rehabilitation Centre. Time to watch the elephants and help bathe them.

Overnight in Tangkahan.

Distance and journey time:

Medan to Tangkahan: approx 5 hours

Day 3: Tangkahan to Bukit Lawang by jeep

Take a local jeep to Bukit Lawang passing through rubber plantations and beautiful jungle and mountain scenery. Upon arrival at Bukit Lawang, walk across the wooden suspension bridge over the Bohorok River to your Eco Lodge.

Overnight in Bukit Lawang.

Distance and journey time:

Tangkahan - Jeep to Bukit Lawang: 2 and a half hours

Day 4: Bukit Lawang orangutan trekking – Berastagi

Orang-utans can possibly be seen at the station’s feeding platform and the trek involves traversing from one ridge to another and often involves steep descents/ascents.

After an early breakfast, take an easy walk for 35 - 45 minutes from the hotel on a rocky path passing stalls & lodges leading to a bend in the river. Cross by a cable and pulley driven dugout canoe to reach the station of Orang-utan Care Centre. A steep trail through the forest leads to a feeding platform where the orang-utans are fed their twice daily ration of bananas and milk. It generally takes ± 20 – 30 minutes to reach the feeding platform through the thick jungle with well-trodden paths to follow.

Proceed for a short trek into the woods, which affords rewarding views back across the National Park against a backdrop of a primary forest with possible sightings of the Park’s primates; Long-tailed Macaque, Thomas’s Leaf Monkey, White-handed Gibbon & semi-wild Orang-utan.

In the afternoon, leave Bukit Lawang to the cool mountain resort of Berastagi in the Karo Highlands. Drive along a scenic route to visit Sibolangit Botanical Nature Reserve and the traditional Batak Karo village of Peceren.

Overnight in Berastagi

Distance and journey time:

Bukit Lawang - Berastagi: 4 and a half hours

Day 5: Berastagi - Pematang Purba - Parapat - Samosir Island

Take a short walk to the local fruit market and visit St. Franciscus Catholic Church, with its unique Batak architecture framed against a perfect view of Mount Sibayak before setting off for Lake Toba. On the way, stop at Tongging Hill to view the Northern part of Lake Toba, Sipisopiso Waterfall, and Lingga Village to see a glimpse of the way of life of the Karo Batak Tribe and their typical houses. Drive to Pematang Purba to see Ruma Bolon (The Long House) a 200-year-old wooden house which used to be the home of the royal families of the Simalungun Batak Tribe.

On arrival at Parapat on the eastern shore of Lake Toba, board a local ferry with your private car, driver, and guide for a one-hour boat trip between Parapat and Tomok on Samosir Island. Samosir is located in the middle of Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world.

Overnight in Samosir.

Distance and journey time:

Berastagi – Parapat – (130 km): 4 hours 30 minutes

Parapat –Samosir Island by local Ferry: 1 hour

Day 6: Lake Toba cruising and Samosir Island touring

A full day exploring Lake Toba and Samosir Island. Depart by car to visit Ambarita Village, famed for its stone chairs and execution stones, remnants of the megalithic culture of the cannibalistic Toba Batak Tribe.

Next, visit Simanindo Village to see the longhouses of the Toba Batak King that is now a museum and watch a traditional folk dance performed by the villagers. Take a short rest at Tao Island before proceeding by boat to Tomok Village where carved statues stand in an ancient graveyard as a memorial to the old kings.

Overnight in Samosir.

Day 7: Parapat – Jangga Dolok – Lintong –Padang Sidempuan

Transfer to Tomok to board the local ferry to Parapat. Continue your overland journey to Sipirok.

En route, stop at Jangga Dolok a typical Toba Batak village surrounded by rice fields to see the traditional houses of the local people. Visit a coffee plantation at Lintong before arriving at Padang Sidempuan, the capital of the Batak Mandheling Regency.

Overnight in Padang Sidempuan.

Distance and journey time:

Parapat – Jangga Dolok – Lintong –Padang Sidempuan (6 hours)

Day 8: Padang Sidempuan - Bonjol - Palupuh Rafflesia Sanctuary – Bukittinggi

Leave on a scenic journey through winding roads and traditional villages for Bukittinggi, the cultural capital and centre of the extraordinary Minangkabau tribe. Stops will be made at Sihepeng, a small spice botanical garden, and the Rimba Panti Nature Reserve.

Cross the Equator line at Bonjol where legend says that crossing the line backwards will bring good luck, so give it a try. Continue through dense jungles and deep valleys to the Palupuh Rafflesia sanctuary for a trek into the rainforest.

The blooming of a Rafflesia is a rare and unpredicted event and depends on many specific factors. The flower usually blossoms during the wet season from mid to end of the year (July and December).There is no guarantee that you will see the Rafflesia but if you do, it is a once in a lifetime experience.

Continue on your journey to Bukittinggi.

Overnight at the hotel in Bukittinggi.

Distance and journey time:

Padang Sidempuan to Bukittinggi approximately 8 hours

Day 9: Bukittinggi - Harau Valley - Traditional Minang villages - Pagaruyung – Bukittinggi

A full day touring the Minangkabau Highlands. Depart for the beautiful Harau Valley where green rice fields nestled between granite cliffs. Take a walk through the rice fields to visit a local family, and observe the daily life and activities of the villagers. From Harau Valley drive to Tabek Patah for lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to the nearby local village of Rao Rao known for its beautiful traditional Minangkabau houses, locally known as Rumah Gadang. The Rumah Gadang are large elegant houses built with solid wood and beautifully carved.

Continue to Tanjung Emas village to see the Pagaruyung Palace, once the seat of an ancient Minangkabau kingdom. The palace is a replica of the original Pagaruyung royal palace which was set on fire by the Dutch colonists in 1804 and is the best example of Traditional Minangkabau Architecture.

Return to Bukittinggi along the northern shores of the picturesque Lake Singkarak.

Overnight at the hotel in Bukittinggi.

Distance and journey time:

Bukittinggi to Harau Valley: 45km, 1 hour 30 minutes

Harau Valley to Tabek Patah : 40 km, 1 hour 20 minutes

Tabek Patah to Rao Rao – Batusangkar – Pagaryung Palace: 5 km, 1 hour 15 minutes

Pagaruyung Palace – Bukittinggi: 65 km, 2 hours

Day 10: Bukittinggi tour

Full day exploring Bukittinggi and its surroundings. Visit the spectacular Ngarai Sianok Canyon with its network of underground bunkers and tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II. Climb the two-story observation tower (Panorama Park) that overlooks the Sianok Canyon, for the best views.

Take a walk to the ruins of Fort de Kock, built by the Dutch in 1825. Little of the original fortifications remain today but you can take in the views of the town from a lookout tower.

The town’s landmark is the large clock tower ‘Jam Gadang’ which overlooks the market square which is the best place to do some souvenir shopping.

This evening, enjoy a traditional Minangkabau dance performance.

Overnight in Bukittinggi.

Day 11 - Bukittinggi - Anai Valley – Padang

Depart to Padang via the Anai Valley with its dense and tropical rainforest and the picturesque 30m high Anai Valley Waterfall.

Arrive in Padang for a short sightseeing around the city. Walk along the banks of the Muaro River with its row of Old Dutch colonial buildings to the historical harbour of Padang.

From here, either a departure transfer to the airport or extend your Sumatra adventure with a beach stay at the Cubadak Paradiso Village Resort off the coast south of Padang.

Distance and journey time:

Bukittinggi – Padang: 3 hours