Itineraries

Day 1: Fly to Medan with Air Asia from major hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta or Singapore. If your flight arrives before mid day you will have time to go straight to the jungle at Bukit Lawang for the evening. Most flights arrive in the afternoon so you will need to stay in Medan for the night.

Day 2: Transfer from Medan to Bukit Lawang can take 3-5 hours depending on the traffic. You can travel by private car, share car (up to 6) or public bus. Book a share car through your accommodation rather than at the airport to avoid waiting for more travellers for extended periods or being asked to pay more. Cost for a share car or “tourist bus” is around 200,000 IDR per person. A private car will cost around 700,000 IDR and most have air-con. The local bus will take around 5 hours, cost around 100,000 IDR and may not have air-con, smoking i allowed, and likely will be crowded. There is a direct bus operated by PT. Almasar Indonesia that runs during peak season.

Upon arrival, most accommodations in Bukit Lawang are not accessible by car. If travelling by car ask to be dropped at the entrance of the riverside walk and arrange for your accommodation to pick you up and help with luggage. If you travelled by bus you will likely be dropped at Gotong Goyong bus station.

After checking into your accommodation, go for a dip in the river to cool off. You will likely have a briefing with your trekking guide this afternoon to prepare you for the next days adventure.

Day 3: Enjoy a full day trekking adventure into Gunung Leuser National Park. No guarantees, but you might encounter wild orangutans, Thomas Leaf monkeys, gibbons, toucans, turtles, peacocks or monitor lizards.

Hike 6-7 hours before stopping for lunch and the return you will have the option to raft back to town on innertubes!

Day 4: Head back to Medan, allowing 5 hours travel time just in case. You should be able to catch an afternoon flight with Air Asia to most hubs in the afternoon without needing another night in Medan.

Day 1: Fly to Medan with Air Asia from major hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta or Singapore. If your flight arrives before mid day you will have time to go straight to the jungle at Bukit Lawang for the evening. Most flights arrive in the afternoon so you will need to stay in Medan for the night.

Day 2: Transfer from Medan to Bukit Lawang can take 3-5 hours depending on the traffic. You can travel by private car, share car (up to 6) or public bus. Book a share car through your accommodation rather than at the airport to avoid waiting for more travellers for extended periods or being asked to pay more. Cost for a share car or “tourist bus” is around 200,000 IDR per person. A private car will cost around 700,000 IDR and most have air-con. The local bus will take around 5 hours, cost around 100,000 IDR and may not have air-con, smoking i allowed, and likely will be crowded. There is a direct bus operated by PT. Almasar Indonesia that runs during peak season.

Upon arrival, most accommodations in Bukit Lawang are not accessible by car. If travelling by car ask to be dropped at the entrance of the riverside walk and arrange for your accommodation to pick you up and help with luggage. If you travelled by bus you will likely be dropped at Gotong Goyong bus station.

After checking into your accommodation, go for a dip in the river to cool off. You will likely have a briefing with your trekking guide this afternoon to prepare you for the next days adventure.

Day 3: Enjoy a full day trekking adventure into Gunung Leuser National Park. No guarantees, but you might encounter wild orangutans, Thomas Leaf monkeys, gibbons, toucans, turtles, peacocks or monitor lizards.

Hike 6-7 hours before stopping for lunch and the return you will have the option to raft back to town on innertubes!

Day 4: Take a trip to Tangkaha elephant sanctuary, around 2.5 hours on unsurfaced roads. After orientation and lunch you will get a chance to help bathe the elephants in the river before heading back to Bukit Lawang around dinner time.

Day 5: Travel to Lake Toba the largest crater like in the world, up to 450 meters in depth. Fore approximately 75,000 years ago due to the eruption of the Toba supervolcano, known as the Toba Catastrophe. Travel with a guide and stop in Berastagi for lunch and a walk through the town’s vibrant markets. If you have time we recommend staying a night here to break the journey, or continue on to Lake Tobah and stay on Samosir Island.

Day 6: Visit Sipiso Piso Waterfall, sumatra’s highest, visit local Batak people, see their thatched houses, the ancient ‘Stone Chairs’ of Ambarita, Simanindo Museum and community weaving centre.

Day 7: further explore the scenic island by bicycle or foot before returning by ferry across the lake and return drive to Medan. Stay one more night in Medan.

Day 8: Transfer to Medan Airport for your onward flight with Air Asia.

Day 1: Fly to Medan with Air Asia from major hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta or Singapore. If your flight arrives before mid day you will have time to go straight to the jungle at Bukit Lawang for the evening. Most flights arrive in the afternoon so you will need to stay in Medan for the night.

Day 2: Transfer from Medan to Bukit Lawang can take 3-5 hours depending on the traffic. You can travel by private car, share car (up to 6) or public bus. Book a share car through your accommodation rather than at the airport to avoid waiting for more travellers for extended periods or being asked to pay more. Cost for a share car or “tourist bus” is around 200,000 IDR per person. A private car will cost around 700,000 IDR and most have air-con. The local bus will take around 5 hours, cost around 100,000 IDR and may not have air-con, smoking i allowed, and likely will be crowded. There is a direct bus operated by PT. Almasar Indonesia that runs during peak season.

Upon arrival, most accommodations in Bukit Lawang are not accessible by car. If travelling by car ask to be dropped at the entrance of the riverside walk and arrange for your accommodation to pick you up and help with luggage. If you travelled by bus you will likely be dropped at Gotong Goyong bus station.

After checking into your accommodation, go for a dip in the river to cool off. You will likely have a briefing with your trekking guide this afternoon to prepare you for the next days adventure.

Day 3: Enjoy a full day trekking adventure into Gunung Leuser National Park. No guarantees, but you might encounter wild orangutans, Thomas Leaf monkeys, gibbons, toucans, turtles, peacocks or monitor lizards.

Hike 6-7 hours before stopping for lunch and the return you will have the option to raft back to town on innertubes!

Day 4: Take a trip to Tangkaha elephant sanctuary, around 2.5 hours on unsurfaced roads. After orientation and lunch you will get a chance to help bathe the elephants in the river before heading back to Bukit Lawang around dinner time.

Day 5: Travel to Lake Toba the largest crater like in the world, up to 450 meters in depth. Fore approximately 75,000 years ago due to the eruption of the Toba supervolcano, known as the Toba Catastrophe. Travel with a guide and stop in Berastagi for lunch and a walk through the town’s vibrant markets. If you have time we recommend staying a night here to break the journey, or continue on to Lake Tobah and stay on Samosir Island.

Day 6: Visit Sipiso Piso Waterfall, sumatra’s highest, visit local Batak people, see their thatched houses, the ancient ‘Stone Chairs’ of Ambarita, Simanindo Museum and community weaving centre. Further explore the scenic island by bicycle or foot before returning by ferry across the lake and return drive to Medan. Stay one more night in Medan.

Day 7: Travel to Weh Island. There are several options, there is a direct flight from Medan to Weh Island with Wings or Garuda. Alternatively you you can take a night bus from Binjai, or you can take a 2 hour flight from Medan to Banda Aceh. From Banda Aceh airport to the ferry its about 30 minutes and around 100,000 RP by taxi. The fast ferry from Ulee Lheue port about 45 minutes and slow ferry takes about 90 minutes.

Day 8: Relax and unwind in tropical paradise. Weh Island was deeply impacted by the 2004 tsunami, today there are hardly any signs that this terrible tragedy ever happened and the island boasts incredible scenic beauty.

Day 9: Dive, snorkel, explore the island by motorbike.

Day 10: Return to Medan for your flight onwards. There are some international flights from Banda Aceh to KL with Air Asia or Jakarta with Garuda or Batik Air.