6D North Sumatra Soft Adventure,
Medan, Brastagi & Lake Toba, Indonesia

Itinerary

Day 01 / Arrive Medan – Tangkahan (156km) (/L/-)
Early arrival at Medan Airport.

Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and will take you for a short city tour visiting the Sultan’s Deli Palace built in 1888. In former times the Palace was considered as the centre of the town administrative before the city of Medan developed. The sultan himself at this present time bears merely the symbol featuring community of the Malay tribe.
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).

The drive then heads for Tangkahan, known as part of Gunung Leuser National Park, it will take approx. 4 hours driving from Medan pass via Binjai and Batang Serangan villages.
Lunch will be served at local restaurant en-route.

Mid – afternoon arrive in Tangkahan where you will stay a simple and basic lodge which will is surrounded by nature.

Overnight in Tangkahan.

Day 02 / Tangkahan – Bukit Lawang (60km) (B/L/-)
Your day starts around 08.00am after breakfast, with a walk to the starting point for a memorable activity, elephant riding. The native elephants to this island, Sumatra elephants, will take you on a gentle one hour ride through the river and into the jungle.

After lunch, transfer by 4×4 Jeep to Bukit Lawang passing through plantations and dense jungle. On the way, stop at oil-palm, rubber and cacao plantations, as well as schools! The drive takes around 3 hours passing, partially off-road and passes several interesting places where stunning panoramas can be witnessed.

Upon arrival at Bukit Lawang (around 17.00pm) check-in to hotel.

Tangkahan is one of the most prominent centers for elephant’s rehabilitation in the region and also a base for control of illegal logging, whilst Bukit Lawang, established in 1973, is a primary orantg-utan rehabilitation center.

Overnight in Bukit Lawang.

Optional Additional Day ~ Full day White Water Rafting
A rafting day at Wampu River around Bukit Lawang departs at 09:00am and ending by 03:00pm.
The trip starts from Bukit Lawang, after breakfast. Drive by mini bus to the Wampu river and be dropped off at the starting point of your white water rafting adventure. After a briefing from the highly qualified and experienced staff, take to the water! The route takes you downstream over two sets of rapids. Whilst pausing between rapids you will have the opportunity to observe the abundant bird and wild life of the area.

A highlight of this course is rafting under a magnificent waterfall, and enjoying a natural shower!

Lunch will be provided and in the afternoon, enjoy a coffee break before driving back to your hotel in Bukit Lawang (included in cost).

Overnight in Bukit Lawang.

Day 03 / Bukit Lawang – Brastagi (157km) (B/L/-)
Bukit Lawang is located 86km from Medan, the largest city in Indonesia’s Northern island of Sumatra, at the entrance to Gunung Leuser National Park and is the last sanctuary of the Sumatran orangutan. An early start today in order to be on-time and ready for the first feeding of the orangutans at 08.00am.

The excursion starts with a short walk along the river bank and then crossing the river in a traditional canoe, continuing the hike amidst the thick and hilly bushes until you reach at the plat-forms where regularly, twice a day at 08:00am and 03:00pm , the red apes “orang-utans’ are fed.

From here we continue climbing up further into the jungle to see the orangutans enjoying their breakfast. Take some time to savour this special moment, before walking deeper into the jungle. Here, you have the opportunity to see several species of indigenous flora and fauna. The total trekking time is approximately 3 hours before returning to the hotel.
Lunch at a local restaurant before driving to Brastagi (5 hours by car) in the Karo highlands.
On the way stop at Sembahe river, passing the town of Sibolangit, and arrival at Brastagi visiting Batak Karo traditional village at Peceren.

Reach Brastagi this afternoon. The area is known for its cool climate, orchids, flowers, vegetables and fruits and the most famous of which is the “Marquisa” or known as passion fruit which is commonly made into a refreshing fruit-drink. It is also 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.

Take a short tour of the town to visit a traditional village at Peceren and see the fruit market which is swarming with activity and scenes from traditional Karo life.
At early evening you will arrive at Brastagi, a climate station located at some 1400 meters above sea-level. check in to your hotel (around 17.30pm).

Dinner is at your leisure this evening.

Overnight in Brastagi.

Day 04 / Brastagi – Lake Toba / Samosir Island (173km) (B/L/-)
After breakfast leave for Lake Toba and Samosir, an island within a volcanic lake.
Along the way you will stop at to see the 120 meter Sipiso-piso waterfall which is located in the Batak highlands. The beautiful fall is formed by a underground river that then plunges from a cave into Lake Toba caldera.

One more stop will be made at the village of Pematang Purba. Here you still be able to observe the long house constructed on pile works about two centuries ago and was known as the dwelling of the ancient Batak Simalungun Kings.

You’ll also visit Rumah Bolon, the former royal palace, which commands great views over the lake. Stop at Simarjarunjung to enjoy the fantastic view of Lake Toba.

After lunch you will reach Parapat, a small town on the eastern shore of Lake Toba, where you will cross to Samosir Island by local ferry boat (45 minutes). This small island is located in the middle of Lake Toba, the caldera lake of the Toba Volcano, which was formed over 75,000 years ago.

Check in to your hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.
Overnight on Samosir Island.

Day 05 / Samosir Island Excursion (60km) (B/L/-)
Visit Ambarita whose villagers are known for making chairs and tables out of stone and which was the infamous execution place of the Siallang Kings.

Stop at Simanindo where you’ll be treated to a performance of Batak Toba traditional dance called Tor-Tor and visit the fascinating museum.

Continue to Pangururan to see the view of Lake Toba and the hot-springs, and Tomok, where you will see the tombs of former Sidabutar Kings.

Along on this trip you may have the time to stop at a local school to see the activities of young children and visit the village where the people make traditional hand weaving.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant en route and you’ll return to your hotel mid-afternoon. The remainder of today is at your leisure.

Overnight on Samosir Island.

Day 06 / Samosir – Medan (190km) (B/-/-)
After breakfast cross back by ferry to Parapat (45 minutes) and then drive back to Medan via Pematang Siantar and Tebing Tinggi (176 kilometers). The journey takes approximately 4 hours but is very scenic with views over estate plantations of rubber and oil-palm.

Arrive in Medan and directly transfer to airport for your homebound flight, or to a hotel for overnight stay (not included).

Land Cost
Prices per person in USD Dollars

• USD $949 Twin
• USD $156 Single Supplement

Land Cost for Optional White Water Rafting
Minimum 02 persons to go

• USD $168 per person

Hotels

• Tangkahan ~ Mega Inn Lodge or similar in Standard room
• Bukit Lawang ~ Bukit lawang Cottage or similar in Orang Utan room
• Brastagi ~ Grand Mutiara or similar in Superior room
• Samosir ~ Tabo Cottages or similar in Deluxe room

Validity

• Oct 01, 2011 – Sep 30, 2012

Inclusions

• Hotel accommodation in half-twin/double room with daily breakfast.
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
• Tours and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicles.
• English-speaking local guide (French, German, Dutch or Spanish-speaking guides are available at a surcharge but the booking must be made at least one month prior to departure)
• All entrance fees and tours as indicated in itinerary.

Exclusions

• Indonesian Visa, where applicable
• All international airfare and airport
• Pre and post-tour accommodation in Medan
• Meals other than mentioned above.
• Camera/video entrance fees.
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips etc.,)
• Travel insurance
• Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above

Validity

• Oct 01, 2011 – Sep 30, 2012