THE SECRET OF SUMATRA ISLAND (OVERLAND)

Firstly we bring you to the of orangutans, you will follow a forest trail for 2-3 hours to explore more tropical flora and fauna. This is not a flat road but involves some ups and downs. It's a bit difficult, but in return you will get a very pleasant experience and you have a great opportunity to see gibbons, leaf monkeys, longtail and pigtail macagues, flying squirrels, Sumatra peacocks and hornbills. Wild orangutans may cross your path. But we cannot garantie to see all of them. Just looking for your lucky. The Jungle walk ends at the riverside from where you start your tubing experience. You will float on the river with a car tire float about 20 minutes to the hotel. It is a fun rafting and a relaxing way to enjoy the scenery. Free time remaining.

<i>*Those who want to experience more of the forest in Gunung Leuser National Park can extend the duration of the walk from 2-3 hours to a full day or even a few days by sleeping in the forest.</i>
* Those who bring camera/video camera into Leuser park will be charged Rp 50,000/Rp 150,000
* WHAT TO BRING! Shoes with a good profile, raincoats & dry bags for wallets, cell phones etc to protect against water, insect repellent & drinking water

Continue the journey to Tangkahan by using a local Off road Jeep. To travel from Lawang hill to Tangkahan, it takes us about 3 hours through oil palm plantations and rural areas. The drive is a little bumpy but a lot of fun! Tangkahan is a beautiful secluded forest settlement located on the other side of Gunung Leuser National Park. It was established as an ecotourism place in 2000. Previously the area was a logging area (illegal) and a place where people hunted animals illegally (illegally). The local people have turned the area into a tourist spot and stopped the illegal exploitation of the forest. The community also agreed to form a forest ranger group and patrol to guard against illegal activities. Seven elephants were brought to the area to be used for smooth patrolling of the forest to detect illegal loggers and poachers. You also have the opportunity to join the elephant and bathe the elephant. Arriving at Tangkahan, transfer to the jungle hut and free program and sleep at the inn in Tangkahan.

It's time for you to be with the world's largest mammal. you can watching them in the Jungle for feeding time from the nature (elephant grassing). Then, join in and help the handlers bathe the elephants in the river. It's a very nice experience and you get to get up close to the elephants. You are allowed to scrub and wash it. Once they are done, then it's your turn. The elephant will spray you water with its nice trunk, and also the opportunity for you to manually feed the elephants. After the elephants, relax before boarding the car for the onward journey to Berastagi at an altitude of 1200m. Berastagi is a cool and beautiful hill town flanked by two active volcanoes, such as Mount Sinabung with a height of 2417m and Mount Sibayak with a height of 2172m. Berastagi is also known as the land of the Karo Batak, one of the six Batak tribes who inhabit the province of North Sumatra. The first two hours of the trip involve driving over bumpy plantation tracks. Then the asphalt road will take you the rest of the way to Berastagi. Stop and stroll around Berastagi fruit market before arriving at the hotel.

Note: Elephants are not available on Fridays. Itineraries may need to change to address this if today is Friday.

Continue the journey to Lake Toba, Lake Toba is one of the deepest and largest lakes and craters in the world. then stop at Dokan traditional village., a small Karo Batak village with a number of traditional houses still inhabited by eight families each. visit the beautiful Sipiso-piso waterfall with a height above 120 meters. Stop at Pematang Purba to see the wooden palace (Rumah Bolon) of the former Batak king Simalungun. Stop at Simarjarunjung to see the beautiful view of Lake Toba. In the afternoon you will arrive at Parapat city, the main tourist resort located on the shores of Lake Toba. From here, cross the lake by motor boat (fery) for about 45 minutes to Samosir Island, a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Toba. You will stay at the village of Tuk-tuk, a peninsular on the east coast of the island of Samosir.

Explore the natural beauty and cultural aspects of the Toba Batak by car. Visiting Ambarita village, the most interesting Toba Batak village on the island of Samosir. Ambarita is known for its unique ancient courtyard, consisting of stone chairs and tables. This page serves as a court for the Toba Batak. Visit the house of king Sidauruk in Simanindo village and watch a traditional Batak Toba dance called the Tor-tor dance performed by the villagers. Here you can also visit a museum built in the typical Toba Batak style. On the way back to the hotel, you will also visit Tomok village to see a very old and beautifully decorated sarcophagus, the 600 year old stone tomb of king Sidabutar.

Back across the lake by morning ferry to Parapat and continue the journey to Sipirok. You will pass a beautiful route through the Bukit Barisan mountains. The scenery is decorated with terraced rice terraces, deep ravines, forests, villages and local markets located close to the main road. The first part of the trip follows the other side of Lake Toba so you can make another picture of the stunning scenery across the lake. On the way you will also visit the small pineapple (🍍) fields and colorful local market in Balige town and also visit the sulfur hot springs in Sipaholon (Tarutung town).

The day trip is a bit long but worthwhile to show off the inside of Sumatra. Views of mountains, rivers, valleys and traditional villages will relieve you from fatigue. Stop at Sihepeng's mini botanical garden to learn about spices from the tropics. Here you can witness the use of trained pig-tailed macaques to harvest coconuts. The next stop was at the large Purbabaru Islamic Islamic Boarding School with hundreds of small huts. Finally the afternoon, celebrating crossing the equator in the village of Bonjol. From here it takes another 1.5 hours to reach the highland town of Bukittinggi, the cultural capital of the Minang region and home to the Minangkabau people. The specialty of this area is its unique material traditions, spicy-spicy cuisine (Gulai Asam Pade), distinctive architecture and polite and friendly people.

First you will get a Bukittinggi city tour. You will visit the colorful market, Pasar Atas which is located right in front of the Clock Tower, a clock tower that serves as the main landmark of the city of Bukittinggi. Visit the remains of a Dutch fort called De Kock. Visit the beautiful Sianok valley, It is part of the tectonic rift valley which has thin walls and flat bottom, and walks through the World War II era Japanese-made tunnels located in the Sianok complex. After the city tour, depart for Pandai Sikek, a small village famous for its wood carvings, traditional gold and silk songket weaving and embroidery, and continue the journey to Batusangkar. A lively and beautiful city surrounded by magnificent rice fields where the countryside is dotted with Rumah Gadang. Visit Pagaruyung palace, an ancient Minangkabau royal site where women ruled in a matrilineal society. Stop at home coffee making industry in Tabek Patah. Visit Singkarak lake and Balimbing village with century old traditional houses that are more than 350 years old and Back to Bukittinggi.
Bike trip: those who prefer cycling can turn this Bukittinggi tour into a bicycle trip done on the outskirts of Bukittinggi with the following views: seeing terraced rice fields with people working on them, mountains, villages and local gatherings. Sometimes you can see people making crackers and also hand weaving. Note: there is an additional fee for this activity.

Your next destination is the Harau Valley, a nature and wildlife reserve surrounded by rock cliffs that rise 100-200 meters high like a giant wall and shrouded in green forest. At the base of the cliff lies vast rice fields and green forests. Very beautiful scenery! On the way stop and stroll around the local market to find and buy ingredients for your cooking course. After the market, drive further and a short rickshaw ride takes you to a cooking place. This is a local family home located in the valley. Learn how to cook and taste authentic and spicy food called Padang food! Next, explore the real life of the Minangkabau people with their hospitality during cooking. After cooking, take a light walk around the valley. You will walk past the village rice fields and several paved roads between the giant cliffs as a backdrop. The atmosphere is serene, unpolluted, and beautiful as far as the eye can see. You will occasionally hear the call of the Siamang and the Black Gibbon. The journey ends at a waterfall with a swimming pool below. You may shower before you are taken to the hotel.

Transfer to airport via Anai park and green waterfall.