Hike through the tropical jungle of Indonesia
Hike through the tropical jungle of Indonesia
A week through the geology, history and culture of the tropical region of Northern Sumatra
Why this experience is unique?
Gunung Leuser National Park covers around 7,927 square kilometers (3,061 sq mi) and is located in northern Sumatra. The park is named after 3,381 meters (11,090 ft) high Mount Leuser. The region is famous for its diverse flora and fauna and has been declared as a World Heritage site and a protected forest area by UNESCO.
The park also is home to several tribes and includes the largest known supervolcano (Now Dormant). Take this tour to know more about how a volcanic eruption changed the landscape of Asia. The Gunung Leuser National Park is a land of geological and cultural history as well as a paradise for all environment lovers.
Pickup and transfer from Medan airport. Drive four hours to Bukit Lawang by a comfortable vehicle. Once at the homestay, the rest of the day is free for leisure and village walks. Take a swim in the nearby lake or visit the beautiful local village. Your host, Erna provides really amazing cooking lessons if interested in one.
Visit the Gunung Leuser National Park on the first day. The world heritage site is home to several rare plants and animal species. You may get a chance to see orangutans, gibbons, peacocks, squirrels, a variety of monkeys, birds, insects, and plants. Do ask your guides for a detailed explanation of the behavior of orangutan – an endangered species found in this forest. Return back to your homestay in the evening for a delicious organic meal.
The day involves a trip to Tangkahan- The Sumatran Jungle Paradise. Relax in the crystal clear waters of the river nearby. Do look out for wild fish found in abundance in the region. Hike to a nearby waterfall and wash an elephant in the Sumatran jungle. We recommend not to ride an elephant in the region to protect the local wildlife and prevent animal abuse. Return back to your homestay in Bohorock for a relaxed evening.
The day involves travel to the city of Berastagi, the city of a couple of volcanoes, Sibayak and Sinabung. The city is famous for its fruits. En route to the city stop by at the Lumbini Natural Park established in the year 2010 and know more about the local Buddhist traditions and history. Stay at a comfortable homestay in Berastagi.
The day involves climbing on the summit of Mount Sibayak (A dormant volcano) to see the morning sunrise. After the morning hike head towards Lake Toba. You will be stopping at the Sipiso-Piso waterfall on your way to Lake Toba. The waterbody is recognized to be a UNESCO Geopark and is one the largest volcano water lake in the world. The lake covers the caldera of a supervolcano in the region. Post spending your day in the area head towards your homestay in Samosir.
Samosir Island is situated on the huge crater lake of Toba. The supervolcano of this region has known to cause a history-defining eruption approximately 77,000 years ago. This eruption is known to be the largest known eruption in the past 25 million years. You will be spending the day visiting the Ambarita village of the Batak ethnic group. Visit Simanido to see the Batak museum and the Batak traditional dance performance. Head back to your accommodation post the museum.
We can drop you at the Medan airport or if interested explore more around the Sumatran landscape.
Guests like to eat our Ladakhi food. They say it is delicious, even when it is prepared by an elderly ama (mother) like me. I always make sure I serve them the cleanest and healthiest food. My husband is a copper artist. When guests leave us, they say ‘Julley’, and hug us. It makes us feel happy.
I became a Mountain Homestay Host in 2018, and I have hosted many travellers since then. Running a homestay has helped me and my family a lot. Not only is the solar set up in our house useful for us, but even travellers prefer to stay in our homestay because of it.
The training we got in astronomy turned out to be a life-changing experience for our village. I felt happy and proud while mapping the position of the planets and sharing the secrets of the universe with the tourists. Tourists told me that even they didn’t know so much about the dark skies!
