Overview

Experience the ultimate Sumatra jungle adventure, a rainforest village in Gunung Leuser National Park, where you’ll trek deep into pristine jungle in search of wild orangutans, gibbons, tropical birds, and rare wildlife. Begin in Medan, explore Tangkahan’s elephants and river tubing, then journey through scenic highlands to Berastagi, before arriving in Ketambe for immersive multi-day jungle treks guided by local experts. End your adventure at Lake Toba and Samosir Island, discovering Batak villages and tranquil lakeside views. Perfect for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and adventure seekers wanting an authentic Sumatra rainforest experience.

Tour Highlight

• Multicultural Medan: Explore the city’s palace, historic mosque, and colonial heritage.

• Tangkahan, the hidden paradise: Elephant bathing, river safari, waterfalls, and pristine nature.

• 4×4 adventure to Bukit Lawang: Travel through villages, plantations, and wild landscapes.

• Jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser: Observe orangutans, gibbons, hornbills, and tropical flora.

• Berastagi, the mountain town: Golden pagoda, colorful market, and volcanic viewpoints.

• Ketambe (Aceh): Deep rainforest trekking with possible wildlife encounters.

• Scenic route to Lake Toba: Bukit Barisan mountains, stops at Tele and Sidikalang viewpoints.

• Stay on Samosir Island: Traditional Batak villages, royal tombs, and ancestral culture.

• Relax at the world’s largest volcanic lake: Enjoy grand landscapes and a serene atmosphere.

11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS MEDAN – TANGKAHAN – BUKIT LAWANG –BERASTAGI – KETAMBE & LAKE TOBA TOUR
TOUR CODE – RVL-11D MTBKLT

Tour Itinerary :

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN MEDAN

Welcome to Sumatra! Upon arrival at Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, you will be warmly greeted by your personal tour guide. A comfortable private transfer will take you to your hotel in the city. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to relax at the hotel, enjoy the facilities, or take a leisurely stroll to get your first impression of Medan, one of Indonesia’s most vibrant and diverse cities. The afternoon and evening are free for your own activities.
Accommodation: Emerald Garden Hotel / Le Polonia Hotel or similar hotel
Meals: None

DAY 02: MEDAN CITY TOUR – JOURNEY TO TANGKAHAN

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a guided city tour of Medan, a bustling metropolis where colonial, Malay, Chinese, and modern influences blend. Highlights include:

• A Chinese temple, reflecting the strong cultural presence of the Chinese community.
• The magnificent Great Mosque (Masjid Raya), one of Medan’s most important religious landmarks.
• The Sultan’s Palace of Deli (Maimun Palace), with its grand architecture blending Malay, Moghul, and Italian styles.

Afterwards, leave the city behind and begin the scenic drive to Tangkahan, often referred to as the “hidden paradise” of Sumatra. The route passes through Stabat and Batang Serangan, offering picturesque landscapes of countryside, rubber plantations, and small villages.
Arrive in Tangkahan in the afternoon and check into a simple but welcoming jungle lodge surrounded by pristine rainforest. The evening is at leisure to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this remote eco-destination.
Accommodation: Mega Inn or similar accommodation
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 03: ELEPHANT WASHING & RIVER SAFARI IN TANGKAHAN

Wake up to the sounds of the jungle before heading out on today’s extraordinary adventure. A short walk takes you to the Tangkahan Elephant Camp, where you will meet the mahouts (elephant keepers). Here, you can:

• Participate in the morning bathing ritual, joining the mahouts in washing the elephants in the river.
• Help with feeding the elephants, learning more about their daily care and habits.
• After this heartwarming experience, continue with a river tubing safari. Float gently downstream on inner tubes, surrounded by dense jungle and serenaded by the calls of tropical birds. Midway, stop at a waterfall to swim, take a refreshing “jungle shower,” sunbathe on the rocks, or simply relax. A Picnic lunch will be served on the riverbank. You may also choose to visit nearby natural hot springs for a rejuvenating dip.

In the afternoon, return by foot through a local village, where you will have the chance to interact with villagers and observe their daily routines, before heading back to your lodge.
*Optional: Instead of the elephant program, enjoy a 3-hour guided trek through Tangkahan’s lush rainforest. Spot fascinating flora and fauna, including Thomas leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, gibbons, and a variety of tropical plants.
(Note: Elephant activities are not available on Fridays or during Idul Fitri holidays)
Accommodation: Mega Inn Lodge or similar lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic lunch

DAY 04: TANGKAHAN – BUKIT LAWANG BY JEEP ADVENTURE

This morning, bid farewell to Tangkahan and embark on an adventurous overland journey to Bukit Lawang, traveling by rugged 4×4 jeep. The ride takes you through plantations, dense jungle trails, and remote villages, offering a glimpse of everyday rural life in Sumatra. Stops will be made along the way at:

• A local plantation, to see the crops that sustain the region.
• A village school, where you can observe the lives of local children.
• The exterior of a palm-oil factory, a major industry in Sumatra. (it’s outside only)
• Scenic viewpoints to admire the natural landscape and capture photographs.

By late afternoon, arrive in Bukit Lawang, the gateway to Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the last strongholds of the endangered orangutan. Check into your riverside accommodation, where the rushing sound of the Bahorok River and the jungle atmosphere create a magical backdrop for your stay.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Bukit Lawang Cottage / Rindu Alam Hotel / Wisma Sibayak or similar accommodation
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 05: FULLDAY TREKKING IN GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast at your lodge, set out on a full-day jungle trek in Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the richestrainforests in Southeast Asia. Accompanied by an experienced local guide, you will walk along forest trails in search of semi wild Orangutans in their natural habitat. The park is also home to Thomas leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, gibbons, black gibbons, hornbills, and many other exotic species of wildlife and tropical plants.
A Picnic lunch will be served in the jungle, giving you time to rest and absorb the incredible rainforest atmosphere. Afterward, continue trekking deeper into the forest to discover more flora and fauna before returning to Bukit Lawang in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Bukit Lawang Cottage / Rindu Alam Hotel / Wisma Sibayak or similar accommodation
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic lunch

DAY 06: BUKIT LAWANG – BERASTAGI

This morning, travel from Bukit Lawang to the highland town of Berastagi, famous for its cool climate, fruit plantations, and views of surrounding volcanoes. The scenic route passes through villages such as Namu Ukur, Rumah Galuh, and Simpang Kuta Buluh, and offers dramatic views of Mount Sinabung, an active volcano.
Upon arrival in Berastagi, visit the following highlights:

• Lhumbini Park, featuring a golden replica of Myanmar’s famous Shwedagon Pagoda.
• The lively fruit and flower market, bursting with colorful produce and tropical flowers.
• Gundaling Hill, a viewpoint offering spectacular panoramas of Mt. Sibayak and Mt. Sinabung.

Later, check into your highland hotel and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
Accommodation: Mikie Holiday Resort / Sibayak International Hotel or similar hotel
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 07: BERASTAGI – KETAMBE (GATEWAY TO THE JUNGLE OF GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK)

After breakfast, the journey continues towards Ketambe (Gurah), a quiet and remote jungle village located in the Aceh region of the vast Gunung Leuser National Park. Along the way, you will stop at Lingga Village, a traditional Batak Karo settlement where visitors can admire the unique architecture and learn about the heritage of the Karo people. The scenic drive takes you across the dramatic Bukit Barisan Mountain range, with stops at several picturesque points for short breaks and photography.
Upon arrival in Ketambe, check in to a simple local guesthouse surrounded by rainforest. Ketambe has long been known as a basecamp for jungle trekking, attracting researchers, wildlife photographers, and adventurers seeking encounters with Sumatran wildlife in its natural habitat. The afternoon is free to relax, chat with fellow trekkers, or simply enjoy the unique atmosphere of this jungle outpost. There is an undeniable sense of adventure in the air, as tomorrow
your journey into the rainforest begins.
Accommodation: Thousand Hill Guesthouse / Pondok Wisata or similar accommodation
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 08: KETAMBE – FULL DAY JUNGLE TREKKING ADVENTURE (WILD ORANGUTANS, GIBBONS, TROPICAL BIRDS & RAINFOREST EXPERIENCE)

After breakfast at your guesthouse, set out for an unforgettable full-day trekking adventure in the Gunung Leuser National Park rainforest. The trek begins with a short walk along the village road before entering narrow jungle trails, sometimes muddy and challenging, that lead you deep into the wilderness. This area is renowned for its abundant wildlife, and with some luck you may encounter  wild orangutans swinging high in the canopy, playful gibbons, siamangs with their distinctive calls, Thomas leaf monkeys, and groups of macaques. The rainforest is also home to fascinating reptiles, small mammals, and a dazzling variety of tropical birds such as hornbills, eagles, and kingfishers. As you move through the towering rainforest, your guide will share insights about the ecosystem, pointing out unique plants, medicinal herbs, giant trees, and colorful jungle flowers.
Around midday, enjoy a Picnic lunch in the forest, prepared by your local guide, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. In the afternoon, continue exploring deeper into the rainforest, searching for wildlife and soaking in the pristine atmosphere of one of the last great rainforests in Sumatra. Slowly trek back to Ketambe in the late afternoon, where the rest of the day is free to relax at your lodge or reflect on your jungle experience.
Accommodation: Thousand Hill Guesthouse / Pondok Wisata or similar accommodation
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic lunch

DAY 09: KETAMBE – SAMOSIR ISLAND / LAKE TOBA

Early in the morning (around 07:00), depart from Ketambe and travel overland towards Samosir Island, passing through Sidikalang and Tele Viewpoint, where you will stop at a scenic viewpoint to enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Toba from its western highlands. You will enter Samosir directly by land via the Aek Tano Ponggol Bridge at Pangururan, the only bridge connecting the island to the mainland. This route allows you to enjoy even more of the lake’s dramatic landscapes.
In the afternoon, continue to your hotel on Samosir Island and check in.
Accommodation: Tabo Cottages / Toledo Inn / Samosir Villa Resort
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10: FULL-DAY EXCURSION ON SAMOSIR ISLAND

Spend a full day exploring the cultural treasures and natural beauty of Samosir Island by car:

• Ambarita Village, where ancient stone chairs and execution tables of the Batak tribal chieftains can still be seen.
• Tomok Village, where you can view the centuries-old stone sarcophagi of the Sidabutar kings and learn about Batak burial traditions.

In the afternoon, return to your hotel and enjoy the tranquil lakeside atmosphere. You may take a stroll along the shore, interact with locals, or relax by the water.
Accommodation: Tabo Cottages / Toledo Inn / Samosir Villa Resort
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 11: SAMOSIR ISLAND – MEDAN / AIRPORT

After breakfast drive, crossing back by public ferry boat to Parapat then continue transfer to Kualanamu International Airport via Pematang Siantar, on the way stop at several plantations. It will take about 4,5 hours driving to airport to catch the flight to next destination.
Meals: Breakfast

Inclusion:

• Tours and transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle
• Local jeep for transfer from Tangkahan to Bukit Lawang
• Ferry crossing from Samosir Island to Parapat
• Accommodation based on twin / triple sharing room
• Daily breakfast
• English speaking tour guide
• Elephant washing + elephant feeding at Tangkahan
• Tubing at Tangkahan + Picnic lunch
• Fullday jungle trekking at Bukit Lawang included: local guide, permit and Picnic lunch
• Fullday jungle trekking at Ketambe included: local guide, permit and Picnic lunch.
• Entrance fee as per itinerary

Exclusion:

• Airfares
• Airport taxes
• Insurance
• Donations
  Tips
• Porter service
• Lunch / dinner (which is not indicated on itinerary)
• Elephant walking at Tangkahan
• Camera permit at Leuser national park
• personal expenses
• gratuities