Sumatran Highlights

Selamat datang! Welcome to Indonesia.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1.

You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

Sprawling Medan is the capital of north Sumatra, boasting a impressive graveyard of colonial buildings worth exploring.

Hotel (1 nt)

From the local bus station we journey to Parapat (approx 4.5 hrs), our jumping off point to Samosir Island in Lake Toba. The views along the way are dotted with jungle, rubber and palm oil plantations, and the occasional village.

Embark on a ferry to the relaxed small town of Tuk Tuk (approx 45 mins).

Lake Toba is the world's largest volcanic lake, formed thousands of years ago by a 'supervolcano' that according to some theories is said to have started an ice age. Fortunately for us, temperatures are a bit warmer these days and the island is now home to the warm and friendly Batak Toba people.

After settling into our guesthouse we'll have the opportunity to try some of the delicious local cuisine from one of the many small restaurants around the lake - fresh lake fish being the speciality, of course.

Discover the interesting Batak culture with a full day tour of Samosir. The Toba Bataks have a unique religion, architecture and culture, although they are predominantly Christian, with a healthy dose of animism. The island is punctuated with many ancient and modern grave sites, several of which we'll see on our tour. The most distinctive element of their culture is the traditional architecture - extraordinary boat-like houses with roofs resembling buffalo horns. Hopefully you'll also have the opportunity to view some traditional Batak dance and perhaps climb a nearby hill for some impressive views of the lake.

Return to our guesthouse with time to seek out some traditional weaving or woodcarving from the nearby souvenir shops, or maybe a dip in the refreshing cool waters of Lake Toba. Music was traditionally played as part of religious ceremonies and today still plays a very important role, most evenings you'll find groups sitting around strumming guitars and belting out the most sublime ballads, usually accompanied by a few glasses of jungle juice (tuak).

Return by ferry to Parapat.

Meet our local guide, who will accompany us by minivan to the Batak Karo village of Dokan, near the agricultural centre of Berastagi. Make several stops along the way - the first Simalungun Palace was home to the last Batak king. Then continue to the impressive Sipiso Piso waterfall, cascading 120 metres down to Lake Toba. Nearby we stop for lunch in Tongging village on the lake's edge. BBQ fish anyone?On arrival at Dokan, we'll store our small daypacks - packed with essentials for our homestay and tomorrow's trek - and our larger bags will remain in our van.

Our guide will introduce us to our village hosts and explain a little of Batak Karo culture. Here you'll have the opportunity to observe and experience the lifestyle of these friendly people who still live a very traditional life.

Expect to rough it - the accommodation is basic. We sleep traditionally on woven mats with several families inside the longhouse. Please bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag for a more comfortable night's sleep. It can be quite smoky inside, but warm and cosy in this cooler high-altitude climate. Basic outdoor washing facilities are shared with the village.

Make an early start (about 6am) and transfer by minivan to the start of our climb up Sibayak Volcano.

It's a 4 hour hike along a shady jungle path to the top of Sibayak Volcano (2094 m). It may be slippery and muddy, but it's possible to see lots of wildlife along the trek - gibbons, Thomas Leaf monkeys, birds and even, if we're lucky, a slow loris. At the top you can see the steaming vapours escaping from the fumaroles of this active volcano, and be rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding Karo Highlands.

Descend via the Curam Valley Steps, ending at Semangat Gunung hot springs, a great way to melt away the tiredness from our expedition.

Continue on to our hotel in Berastagi. An agricultural town centred around colourful produce and fruit markets, Berastagi is a charming place to explore.

Head off the beaten track to the tropical jungle of Aceh province via minivan (approx 8 hrs).

Arrive in the tiny village of Ketambe where we'll again store our large bags and head out with small overnight packs for our jungle camp in Gunung Leuser National Park, home of the Sumatran orangutan.

 Be prepared for an adventure!It's a 2 hour walk at a relaxed pace to the campsite. Along the way our guides can point out orangutan nests, edible plants for us to try, monkeys, birds, and hopefully a wild orangutan. Our campsite is in an absolutely magical location - a pristine river gently bubbles along beside us, surrounded by magnificent virgin rainforest. Upon arrival, we put up our tents, sort out our bedding for the night, then there's time for a coffee break or a reviving swim in the nearby river. Bedding is not provided, so bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Set off on a wildlife-spotting trek, in search of our red-headed cousins. The World Heritage-listed Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, home to many endangered species including tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and, of course, the orangutan. There are more than 300 species of birds here and many rare plants and flowers, including the giant, stinky Rafflesia.Return to camp for a short rest before dinner, then maybe some 'tall tales' from our guides before retiring for the evening, to the sounds of the surrounding jungle.Before breakfast the next morning, take a short guided walk around the area, a chance to see the local inhabitants of this tropical rainforest as they start their day, foraging for food in the trees above. After our meal, cross the river and arrive, after about an hour and a half, at some natural hot springs. Time for a relaxing soak, before returning to pack up camp. Walk back through the jungle and return to our guesthouse at Ketambe. There's an option for a longer walk here if desired with more chance of seeing our furry friends.

Drive through the magnificent Gayo Highlands to Takengon. Although our drive today is long (approx 10 hrs), the views are breathtaking as we wind through the cool mountainous landscape. Some of the best coffee in the world is grown in these hills - in fact, Starbucks buys coffee from here.

Takengon is the largest town in central Aceh. It sits at an elevation of 1120 m and can get decidedly cool with average temperatures of 20C. Built on the shores of picturesque Laut Tawar Lake, it's a relaxing and charming spot.Islamic sharia law is practised in the Aceh province so all women are required to cover up and Muslim women must wear a headscarf. Long baggy pants and modest loose-fitting long sleeve tops are a must for both men and women. Unmarried couples are not permitted to share a room.

 The sale of alcohol is prohibited. Despite these laws, Aceh will challenge any negative stereotypes you have about Islam, people here are friendly and easygoing. Women are well educated and have a prominent place in society.

Visit the nearby Loyang Koro Cave - 'Buffalo Cave' in the local language.

You have some free time to admire the views, sample the world famous Gayo coffee or perhaps wander the markets of this interesting little town.

Travel to the coastal capital of the region, Banda Aceh (approx 8 hrs).

Banda Aceh was completely devastated in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. 61,000 people lost their lives and the city was reduced to rubble in a matter of hours. Today it's hard to tell anything had happened, the rebuilt city has a village-like atmosphere, filled with welcoming locals.Please note that this is a very culturally sensitive area, governed by sharia law. Please take the time to read the 'Important Notes' and 'Local Dress' sections of these Trip Notes where you can find more extensive information.

We'll have the opportunity to try some delicious Acehnese cuisine and meet some Network for Tsunami Aceh volunteers who will be showing us around the area during our stay.

Begin our day with visits to some tsunami landmarks and historical and cultural sites around the city. You can begin to understand the scale of the disaster with our stop at Lampulo, where we can see a large fishing boat sitting surreally on top of a house in the middle of a suburban street, a truly shocking image. Our next stop at Punge is another boat, but this even larger 2500-tonne power-generator vessel was swept 4 km inland. At this site there's a small memorial park with a wall of shocking photographs from the time, very sobering. Then visit the Tsunami Museum and The Museum Aceh with displays of traditional Acehnese architecture.We continue to Layeun where we get to sample some tasty Acehnese food prepared for us by NTA. As is the norm in Sumatra, all the available dishes are bought to the table, and you select what you think looks the tastiest, which is better than getting food envy when you see others eating something more delicious than you. We are entertained by a traditional dance performance presented by some of the NTA kids. After lunch we may visit the NTA's learning centre (depending on the school term time). Here we have a chance to discuss the project and ask questions, or perhaps practice some English with the kids there.

Transfer to Uleh-leh port and catch a ferry to the nearby tropical island of Pulau Weh. The ferry takes about 45 mins, then it's a half hour drive to our hotel at Sumur Tiga Beach.

From our simple cliffside bamboo huts you're rewarded with amazing views of the pristine white sand beach below, palm trees swaying in the breeze, gentle waves lapping the flowery coral reefs - absolutely postcard perfect! Our hotel is entirely built from locally sourced materials, even tables built from wood salvaged after the tsunami and tissue boxes made by a women's group in Banda Aceh. Snorkelling is possible directly off the beach and there's also a shaded seating area with hammocks and deck chairs.

Indulge in a mouth-watering buffet. Our host is a passionate chef and the selection is always different. They also serve alcohol to non-Muslim guests. Once we've eaten our fill, fall asleep to the sound of the sea.

Explore Pulua Weh's dazzling snorkelling sites. The island is somewhat mountainous, covered in lush dense jungle for the most part, and essentially horseshoe-shaped with many small bays and stretches of sandy beaches surrounded by coral reef. We take a minivan and may encounter some wildlife along the route. There's also the opportunity to stop at a waterfall and some interesting bubbling springs along the way.Please note, due to local religious laws no swimming, snorkelling or diving is permitted on the island from 6pm Thursday until 2pm Friday.

From Banda Aceh board a flight back to Medan.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Hotel (1 nt)