North of Sumatra, Must Have - Nomadays

Indonesia

North of Sumatra, Must Have

Sumatra is a land of untamed wilderness, home to some of the last remaining Asian elephants and orangutans.

As the world's fifth-largest island, it boasts an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, from dense rainforests to mist-shrouded volcanoes, some soaring over 3,000 meters high.

The imposing Barisan Mountain range forms the island’s rugged spine, while the legendary Lake Toba—a vast inland sea with mesmerizing blue-violet hues—stands as the world’s largest crater lake.

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Medan

Day 1Welcome to Sumatra

Day 1Welcome to Sumatra

  • Welcome at the international airport of Medan by your English speaking tour-guide. Transfers to your hotel.

Meal and accommodations

Accommodation: Aryaduta Medan

Medan

Day 2Medan and its Surroundings

Day 2Medan and its Surroundings

  • In the morning, explore the palace of the Sultan but also the Grand Mosque as well as a Chinese temple.

  • Then we head northwest, towards the Bukit Lawang village, famous for its orangutan rehabilitation center. We then cross numerous rubber tree plantations and take the opportunity to stretch our legs, while discovering the methods of exploiting this precious sap.

    Night in basic board.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included

Accommodation: Jungle Inn

5h
Mt Leuser

Day 3Encounters with Orangutans

Day 3Encounters with Orangutans

  • Early in the morning, you’ll hike following orangutans' footprints, numerous in the Gunung Leuser park. Then, you’ll continue your trek through a lush tropical forest, to further explore its many hidden secrets. With a bit of luck, you may even catch a glimpse of the elusive black gibbons.

    Night in a tent or in a refuge in the jungle.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included

Accommodation: Tent camping

Mt Leuser

Day 4National Park of Mt Leuser

Day 4National Park of Mt Leuser

  • You’ll continue your journey through the dense jungle of Mount Leuser, eventually reaching Bukit Lawang in the early afternoon—an exhilarating arrival by tubing down the Bahorok River.

    The rest of the day is yours to relax and soak in the surroundings.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Accommodation: Jungle Inn

5h
Berastagi

Day 5Mysterious Ghost Village

Day 5Mysterious Ghost Village

  • Transfers in the morning towards Berastagi, the capital city of the Batak Karo country, one of the most prosperous of the region. Visit the traditional market as well as the Lumbini Buddhist Pagoda. Weather permitting, you’ll also get closer to the slopes of Mount Sinabung to explore a ghost village buried under volcanic ash.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included

Accommodation: Sinabung Hill Hotel

Day 6Sibayak Volcano

Day 6Sibayak Volcano

  • Early in the morning, you’ll be dropped off at the foot of Mount Sibayak, towering over the Karo Highlands.

    The ascent begins along a jungle-clad trail, alive with the sounds of nature.

    At the summit, enjoy a picnic while soaking in the breathtaking panorama of the surrounding landscapes. The descent follows a different path, leading you to the Debuk-Debuk hot springs, where you can unwind in naturally heated, sulfur-rich waters.
    4 hours trekking (Optional: a pre-dawn ascent to witness the sunrise from the summit.)

  • You then continue towards Parapat, stopping along the way, at the traditional village of Doka and the spectacular Sipiso-Piso waterfall, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of Lake Toba, the world’s largest crater lake.

  • Then, on the way to Parapat, we visit an old Simalungun royal palace follows, before by a scenic walk through plantations and traditional villages.

  • Arriving in Parapat, we board a regular ferry to island of Samosir, which lies in the middle of the lake.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included

Accommodation: Tabo Cottages

Day 7Exploring Samosir

Day 7Exploring Samosir

  • The day is dedicated to exploring Samosir Island, the heart of Batak Toba culture. You'll trek through villages and rice fields, stopping in Ambarita to discover the ancient stone meeting place of the Sialagan kings.

    In Tomok, you'll visit the tombs of the Sidabutar kings before heading to the village of Simanindo, where an insightful museum showcases local traditions.

    Here, you'll also witness a performance of traditional Batak dances. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included

Accommodation: Tabo Cottages

45m
5h
Medan

Day 8The Untold Stories of Samosir

Day 8The Untold Stories of Samosir

  • Early morning transfer to the heart of Samosir Island, an off-the-beaten-path area. Nestled on a high plateau, you'll discover Lake Sidihoni—a lake on an island on a lake on an island! Spanning 1 km², its ever-changing hues have inspired many local legends.

    From here, a scenic trek leads you to Pangururan on the island’s western coast, winding through lush vegetation and breathtaking landscapes.

    Along the way, you’ll pass farmers with machetes heading to their fields, a glimpse into daily life shaped by oral traditions and folklore. In Pangururan, you’ll have the option to unwind in natural hot springs.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included

Accommodation: D’Prima Hotel

Medan

Day 9See you soon in Sumatra

Day 9See you soon in Sumatra

  • Early in the morning, you take the ferry and set sail to Parapat, then take the road towards Medan, via the bustling hubs of Pematang Siantar and Tebing Tinggi where vast rubber and palm oil plantations stretch as far as the eye can see.

    Then, transfer to Medan airport. End of services.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Included