9 + 10 + 10

Program Aceh, North, West and South Sumatra in 29 days

tour code SUMTJ 29

Day 1

Arrival in Medan. Overnight stay in Hotel Deli River situated just outside Medan in the middle of a tropical garden. Here you can rest after the long journey or make a walk in the neighbourhood.

Day 2

Medan - Bohorok, the orang utan rehabilitation center. In the morning there is city tour of Medan taking in the remaining original Dutch, English, Chinese and Malay architecture. Around twelve o'clock we depart for Bohorok (Bukit Lawang) via many rubber and palmoil plantations. Overnight stay in the jungle on the banks of the beautiful Bohorok rivier.

Day 3

Bukit Lawang - own program. In this impressive nature reserve you can see the orang utans feeding in their natural environment. This involves a 45 minutes walk through the jungle to reach the feeding grounds of the orang utan. The sportive hiker can take exciting jungle trips here. However walkers must be fit and have suitable, large profile shoes. Overnight stay in Bukit Lawang.

Day 4

Bohorok - Lhokseumawe. From the orang utan reserve in Bohorok you leave for the elephant reserve near Lhokseumawe. In the afternoon we arrive at the elephant training center. Here you can ride the Sumatran elephant. Overnight stay in Lhokseumawe.

Day 5

Lhokseumawe - Takengon. The route to central Aceh via Bireuen is an impressive trip through vast rainforests. Overnight stay on the shores of the beautiful Laut Tawar lake.

Day 6

Takengon - tour of the surroundings around the lake. Later you can visit the coffee factory where the famous Arabica coffee is processed. Overnight stay in Takengon at lake Tawar.

Day 7

Takengon - Banda Aceh. From Takengon you drive back to the coast, to Banda Aceh, the capital of the province. In Banda Aceh there are still many remnants of the turbulent history of Aceh. Overnight stay near Banda Aceh.

Day 8

Banda Aceh. City tour to the big Baturahman mosque and the Dutch Kerckhoff, where two thousand soldiers are buried. You can also visit the Aceh museum and the beautiful Ujung Batee beach.

Day 9

Banda Aceh - airport for the flight to Medan. From here you leave directly for Brastagi, a popular mountain resort since the '20s. In Brastagi you can visit the fruit market to buy mangistan, rambutan, marquisa and other delicious tropical fruits. You can also visit the Karo Batak village of Peceren, where the people still live in traditional houses. Overnight stay in Brastagi.

Day 10

Brastagi - Prapat - Samosir. Lovely route through the Karo highlands via pineapple, clove and ginger plantations. Stops en route at the tribal kings' house of the Simalungun Batak in Pematang Purba and the Sipiso Piso falls. In the afternoon we arrive in Prapat at Lake Toba from where we cross over to the island of Samosir. The car goes with us. Overnight stay on Samosir island right on the lakeside.

Day 11

Samosir - tour. During the tour of this picturesque island you visit typical Toba Batak villages: Tomok with its kings' tombs, Ambarita with its execution tables and in Simanindo you can see traditional Batak dances. Overnight stay on Samosir.

Day 12

Samosir - own program. Today you can take nice walks or have a swim in the lake. Overnight stay on Samosir.

Day 13

Samosir - Padang Sidempuan or Sipirok. In the morning you cross the lake back to Prapat. From here you travel along the south side of lake Toba, with beautiful ricefields and the huge Batak kings' graves, to Padang Sidempuan or Sipirok in South Tapanuli. En route you pass the hot sulphur springs at Sipoholon. Overnight stay in Padang Sidempuan or Sipirok.

Day 14

Padang Sidempuan/Sipirok - Bukittinggi. At Bonjol you cross the equator. The route to Bukittingi in the Minangkabau highlands goes straight through the Bukit Barisan mountain ridge of Sumatra. It is an impressive tour during which you drive through a wall of tropical rain forest. In the afternoon we arrive at the cool and pleasant town of Bukittingi. Overnight stay in Bukittingi.

Day 15

Bukittinggi - city tour and excursions. In the morning there is a tour to the former Fort De Kock, situated on a strategic point on a high mountain. You then visit the market and the famous 'Karbouwengat' (Ngarai Sianok), the impressive canyon beside the city. Around noon we depart for the Minangkabau Palace in Pagaruyung where you will see various aspects of the matriarchal society of the Minangkabau. Our next destination is the Harau nature reserve, famous for its huge rock formations and delightful butterflies. En route you pass Batusangkar where you will see historic rock inscriptions in Hindu-Indian Sanscrit language. In the evening we return to Bukittinggi via lake Singkarak.

Day 16

Bukittinggi - Maninjau. Today you proceed to Maninjau via the silver town of Kota Gadang on the other side of the Karbouwengat. For the sportive hiker the one hour walk through the deep Karbouwengat to Kota Gadang is a must! From Kota Gadang you will be picked up by the car for departure to the mysterious lake Maninjau, descending to the lake via the road with 44 curves. The lake is clean and still and excellent for swimming. Overnight stay right on lake Maninjau.

Day 17

Maninjau - Padang. Today you go to Padang via the beautiful Anai valley with the Anai waterfall. The harbour city of Padang on the Indian ocean is the economic center of West Sumatra. On arrival there is a city tour of Padang. Overnight stay in Padang.

Day 18

Padang - Sungai Penuh (Kersik Tuo). Impressive route along the western coastal route. Overnight stay (simple accomodation), near Sungai Penuh in the famous Kerinci nature reserve.

Day 19

Kersik Tuo - excursion in the Kerinci Seblat national park. For the seasoned hiker magnificent hikes with a local guide can be arranged. Of special interest are Lake Kerinci and the volcano Kerinci. Overnight stay in Kersik Tuo.

Day 20

Kersik Tuo - Bengkulu along the coast road. Bengkulu was subject to much British influence in the eighteenth century. Especially during the Governorship of Raffles during the Napoleontic period. Overnight stay in a nice hotel with a view of the seashore.

Day 21

Bengkulu - own program. You can make a tour in the surroundings along the beautiful coast or discover the old city of Bengkulu. Well worth a visit is the fort of Malioboro (Marlborough). Overnight stay in Bengkulu.

Day 22

Bengkulu - Palembang. From the province of Bengkulu we drive east to the city of Palembang in South Sumatra. The important historic harbour city of Palembang on the shores of the Musi river is the second town of Sumatra. Overnight stay in Palembang.

Day 23

Palembang - city tour and boat excursion on the Musi river. Eight hundred years ago Palembang was the center of the Sriwijaya empire of which there are still remnants. In the eighteenth century the city was an important trade center for the Dutch. We can see the old Dutch fort and the former Governor house. A boat trip on the wide Musi river is highly recommended. Overnight stay in Palembang.

Day 24

Palembang - Bandar Lampung. Long journey through the province of South Sumatra to Bandar Lampung. Overnight stay in a hotel with a beautiful view over the Sunda straights, between Java and Sumatra.

Day 25

Bandar Lampung - Way Kanan. At the end of your Sumatra tour we go to one of the wildlife highlights of Sumatra, the Way Kanan nature reserve. In this undiscovered area you will overnight on an open spot on the Way Kanan riverside in the simple lodges of the forest rangers.

Day 26

Way Kanan - excursion. A boat trip on the silent Way Kanan jungle river will enable you to see many animals from nearby. You sail under trees with screaming apes and you experience the fascinating tropical rainforest for yourself. Way Kanan is an adventure you won't forget. Overnight stay in Way Kanan.

Day 27

Way Kanan - excursion to the elephant training center in Way Kambas. Based on the same principle as in Lhokseumawe, there is a second elephant training center in South Sumatra. In the past the elephants were a threat to the local farmers as they destroyed the crops. Nowadays elephants are trained to work in the woods and as a tourist attraction. In Waykambas we can see elephants playing football. Overnight stay in Way Kanan.

Day 28

Way Kanan - Bandar Lampung. Early in the afternoon we arrive in Bandar Lampung where you will overnight in a nice hotel with view over the Sunda straights between Java and Sumatra.

Day 29

Bandar Lampung - transfer to the airport for your next destination. End of tour.

Price

The price of this 29 day tour through Aceh, North, West and South Sumatra (tour code SUMTJ 29)
is, per person, for a group of :

Number of persons	Prices
2 to 3 persons	$ 1750,- p.p.
4 to 6 persons	$ 1400,- p.p.
7 to 10 persons	$ 1200,- p.p.
Single room supplement	$ 550,-

The price is inclusive of:

• overnight accommodation in good medium class hotels in 2 pers. rooms
  
• breakfast daily
  
• transport in air-conditioned minibus or bus
  
• fuel
  
• the driver, his meals and overnight accommodation costs
  
• cost of the ferry Prapat - Samosir and vice versa
  

booking / information

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