Sumatra
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Day 1 Medan
Arrival at Medan, followed by the city tour of Medan. The old buildings witness the glory time of the economy of North Sumatra, especially the development of agriculture. This day you will admire the Sultan Palace, the Great Mosque, the Chinese temple, Kesawan area (The old centre of Medan town) and the day will be closed with a spa treatment at the hotel.
Day 2 Medan - Tangkahan
After breakfast there will be a long journey ahead to Tangkahan. On the way there is a lot to enjoy, like the great plantations of Palm oil and rubber. Once you are in Tangkahan there is time to explore the beauty of Gunung Leuser National Park. Over the canopy bridge this trekking leads to the hidden waterfall, passing the secret tree and bathing with the elephants in the wild river of Tangkahan. This journey will show your unique position in the universe. Enjoy the night by listening to the sound of the nature.
Gunung Leuser National Park |
Lake Toba
Day 3 Tangkahan - Bukit Lawang
Early in the morning the journey continues by motorbike to Bukit Lawang. In Bukit Lawang the jungle will be explored and your heart will melt after facing the Orang-utan whom lives here in the wild. Bring some fruits, they will enjoy to share the lunch with you.
Day 4 Bukit Lawang - Brastagi
Leaving for Brastagi, with a short stop at Sembahe River and Sikulikap waterfall. At Brastagi the amazing Gundaling Hill, the fruit market, the Lau Debuk- Debuk hot springs and Batak Karo traditional village at Peceren are all on the schedule. In the evening a special dinner with Sumatran traditional cuisine will be provided at a traditional house. A full day journey to experience.
Day 5 Brastagi - Samosir
Time to visit the amazing lake of Toba. From Brastagi the day continues to Parapat via the Japanese road which stops at the Sipiso-piso waterfall and the Rumah Bolon, the old palace of Batak Simalungun Kings. Then the trip will continue via nostalgic roads to Pematang Siantar passing several tea plantations. At Parapat the ferry boat will cross the big lake to reach Samosir Island; enjoy the magnificent view of the breath-taking Toba Lake.
Danau Toba is a lake and super volcano, 100 kilometres long, 30 kilometres wide, and up to 505 meters (1,666 ft.) deep. It is the site of a massive super volcanic eruption estimated at VEI 8 that occurred 69,000 to 77,000 years ago, representing a climate-changing event. It is the largest known explosive eruption on Earth in the last 25 million years. According to the Toba catastrophe theory, it had global consequences for human populations: it killed most humans living at that time and is believed to have created a population bottleneck in central east Africa and India, which affects the genetic makeup of the human world-wide population of the present. This hypothesis is not widely accepted.
Minangkabau
Day 6 Samosir
The morning is spend at the island of Samosir. Imagine that you are on the top of the crater
with a lake as big as a sea. Don’t miss this day and open your heart by discovering the unique
Toba Lake surrounded by lovely traditional villages. By motorbike the following highlights will be
discovered:
- Ambarita, where the stone chair and the table stone of the execution and meeting place of
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Sialagan Kings can be found.
- Simanindo, admire the Batak Toba traditional dance (Sigale-gale dance) and the Batak
Museum.
- Pangururan, bathing in hot water springs
- Sidohani Lake, walking around a small Lake on the top of Samosir Island
- Tomok, the old graves of Sidabutar Kings
The great culture of Batak is rich of gratitude to their Ancestors and Mother Earth. This is the place to feel and experience.
Day 7 Samosir - Sipirok
After breakfast the lake is crossed again to Parapat and further to Sipirok with stops at Pineapple clove, a coffee plantation and the traditional market at Balige. At Sigur-gur there is a chance to see the last view of Lake Toba. Before arrival at Sipirok, you will enjoy the nature by walking at the banks of the Sarulla River and passing fantastic views with rice terrace and the jungle.
Day 8 Sipirok - Bukittinggi
Leaving Sipirok for Bukittinggi passing the tropical forest of Rimba Panti. Here one can see the monkeys picking coconuts. Visit the pepper, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon gardens and cross the equator line at Bonjol. In the afternoon arrival at Bukittinggi, the charming town of Minangkabau, the highland of Sumatra.
The Minangkabau Highlands is a mountainous area in West Sumatra, west of Mount Talang, in central Sumatra, Indonesia. It is home to the Minangkabau people who refer it as Alam Minangkabau, or "the world of Minangkabau". This area formed a kingdom known from at least the 7th century as Malayu. It is probable that wet rice cultivation evolved in the highlands long before it appeared in other parts of Sumatra, and predates significant foreign contact. Inscriptions in the area have been found from the rule of Adityavarman (1347–1375). The Dutch began exploiting the gold reserves in the highlands in the 1680s. They dominated the trade in the area, severely restricting the trade outlets between the highlands and the ports on the coast between 1820 and 1899, bringing about a marked decrease in rice production. The highlands consist of three major valleys: Agam Valley, Limapuluh Valley, and Tanah Datar Valley
Day 9 Bukittinggi, Minangkabau
Today it is time to learn about the culture and the nature of the highland Bukittinggi with a visit to:
- Sianok Canyon with its Japanese tunnel
- Pandai Sikat to see the traditional hand weaving and wood carving
- Koto Baru with a nice view over the rice field and Singkarak Lake
- Pagaruyung to see the old palace
- Rao Rao traditional village and traditional coffee milling with traditional weal’s water power
At the end of the day there is a lovely walk through the night market towards the Jam Gadang or the Big Ben Tower, the heart of Bukittinggi.
Day 10 Bukittinggi - Bangko
After breakfast the journey heads for Bangko; on the way passing Lake Singkarak, Sungai Dareh River, the rain forest and the town of Muara Bungo. Enjoy the serenity and the beautiful panoramas on the way.
Day 11 Bangko, Kubu Tribe
Discover the Bukit Dua Belas national park, followed by a trekking to the jungle to get in touch with the primitive Kubu Tribe. Experience how these primitive Kubu people are living like nomads in the jungle. Their gratefulness to the nature is seen in their daily life. The Kubu tribe know how to take care of Mother Nature; from generation to generation they pass on this way of living. Hopefully you will feel how simple life can be.
Day 12 Bangko - Lubuk Linggau
From Bangko the journey continues to Lubuk Linggau via Surolangun with a stop on the way at Surolangun River. Witness the daily life of the local people in their village. Become one with them by visiting their traditional market.
Day 13 Lubuk Linggau - Bengkulu
Today, with some luck, you may see the Raflesia Flower at Curup village. Maybe there is a possibility to see this flower blooming with a disgusting smell. Then the long journey continues to Bengkulu.
Day 14 Bengkulu
The morning will start with a visit to the old historical city of Bengkulu. Feel the heroic spirit of the first president of Indonesia, Soekarno, in his old house. Then to the Marlborough Fort and at the end of the trip relaxing at the beach of Panjang or Nala Beach.
Day 15 Bengkulu - Lahat
Further to Lahat and on the way a visit is paid to the Pagar Alam area, famous for their traditional markets, villages and tea plantations. Also megalith stones can be seen and there is a nice view of the Dempo Mountain. Overnight at Lahat
Day 16 Lahat - Palembang
The day starts early with a visit to Muara Enim and Prabumulih, this is the area of the oil mining in South Sumatra. The exploration of the oil already started during the Dutch time and this can still be seen. Then heading for Palembang the floating houses and the Kemaro Island can be seen when exploring the Musi River by a traditional boat. In the evening one can make a walk along the bridge or relax.
Day 17 Palembang
Time to say goodbye to Palembang, the final destination. With this journey the highlights of Sumatra have been discovered. The island offers so much energy that it will stay in your heart forever.
Price starting from € 1.895,- p.p.
* The arrangement as described can be booked as a private or as a group journey.
* Due to weather conditions the program can be changed
* The journey includes hotel or cottage accommodation with breakfast
* Transfer by private car
* Additional options can be arranged, such as:
| - International or Domestic flights - Lunches and/or dinner - Daily guide, speaking the language of your choice - Insurances - Entrance fees at the sites - Any other wish to complete your journey |