SUMATERA OVERLAND
WEST SUMATRA-NORTH SUMATRA OVERLAND
11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS
DAY.01:
Welcome to Sumatra. On your arrival at Minang Kabau Internatioal Airport, meet your guide and be driven to Bukittinggi Highland enjoying spectaculars views on the way. The Highland is surrounded by Mt. Merapi, Mt. Singgalang and Mt. Sago. On the way you stop at Anay Vallay Nature-reserve to watch the waterfall, visit the handicraft center of traditional Weaving-songket and wood carving at Pandai Sikek village. You can explore this old town with it's markets and well known clocktower Jam Gadang. The night you will stay in Bukittinggi (B).
Day.02:
After breakfast we drive to Batusangkar. This was the centre of the 'Minang Kabau-kingdom', visit the ruin of Pagaruyung Palace that was burn down February 2007. On the way we stop to see the traditional coffee milling using the traditional waterwheel. After lunch we drive to Situjuah Village on the slope of Mt. Bungsu with altitude of 900 meter. A pleasant claimed and beautiful scenery. Today you will experience and change your life style into basic condition. You will spent your day along and with an Minang Kabau tribe. Living with your new family will bring something different. Here you can learn how to live in a village and join with local community to experience their daily activities. You can interact with the local people, making an unforgettable experience. Here you can experience to be a good cooker, enjoy the river with thousand of activities, and making a new family and friends. You will stay at Traditional Minang Kabau House together with the family (B,L,D).
Day.03:
After breakfast explore the local activities such as: planting rice, harvesting plowing, making traditional cracker, making brown sugar from sugarcane where a traditional buffalo driven treadmill is still used to press the sugarcane to take it's sap. Than drive to Taram, a short journey from the house you stay, doing traditional bamboo rafting at Mungo River. Near the river bank you have the chance to see the some family of monkeys and other animals. Hear the singing of the birds. Afternoon we go back to Situjuah village (B,L,D).
Day.04:
After breakfast we say our farewells to our hosts and the village people and drive to Harau Valley Nature Reserve. A fantastic view with rock cliffs surrounding the valley. Nice walking along some waterfalls, when we are lucky we can see the wild life such as deer, gibbon, civet and birds. After lunch we drive to Bukittinggi, in the afternoon visit Sianok Canyon well known as 'South-East Asia Grand Canyon". In the evening there are options to see the traditional performace of Minangkabau-dancers dancing on broken glass and plates. Or music performers, using the traditional musical instruments. Night in Bukittinggi.
Day.05:
After check-out a 8 hours journey to Padang. Sidempuan ,today is most experience driving for you in Sumatra,because driving along the bukit Barisan (chain Mountain) up and down along the tropical rain forest and crossing the equator line between south part and north part. Stop at Equator monument at Bonjol,Interesting to stop at Purba baru at Moslem Boarding School,They stay at Small houses with the verybasic condition, hoping to watch the trained monkey to pick up the coconut. Overnight at Hotel according to your choice(B)
Day.06:
Today you continue driving along the Chain of mountains (Bukitt Barisan). Passing through the Tropical Rain forest, enjoy the fantastic view of the hills, vallays, lake and traditional batak tribe village. Stop at Sipaholon to see the hot spring of shulphur water. It's possible to have a bath here. The local people believe, the water could cure skin disease. At Gur-Gur the highest point we stop to see the view of lake Toba. Next stop at Balige market with beautiful buildings with typical tradidional Batak houses built during the Dutch colonial periode. We proceed to Parapat, passing troughtypical Batak Toba Villages. Arriving in Parapat you take the ferry to Samosir Island. Overnight at hotel according to your choice at Tuk-tuk peninsula.
Day.07:
Today explore the villages in Samosir Island and walking to Ambarita to see the stone Chair and Table, the heritage of Sialagan King. Continue walking to Tomok to see the tomb of Sidabutar king and passing through the villages and rice fields. Afternoon free at own leisure (B).
Day.08:
Start our day by taking the boat to Parapat and drive to Berastagi. On the way stop at Simarjarujung to enjoy the fantastic panoramic view of lake Toba and Samosir Island and have a coffee break. We visit the king’s palace of Batak Simalungun and Sipiso-piso waterfall. The water falls down from Karo High Land down to Lake Toba whitch is a very wonderful view. Proceed to Berastagi to visit Paceren, a typical Batak Karo Village and a traditional vegetable market. Drive to Gundaling hill for the view of the volcano of Mt. Sibayak and Mt. Sinabung and Karo high land. Overnight stay at Berastagi cottage or Similar (B).
Day.09:
After breakfast check out drive to Bukit Lawang ,the rehabilitation centre and sanctuary of orang utan. National Park Gunung Leuser, the second largest National Park on Sumatra covers an area of 900 square km Square,. With a habitat list of:285 species of birds, 9 species of mammals, 103 species of reptiles, 35 species of amphibians, a flora of more than 3500 plants species and about 500 orang-utans. On the route passing through several small towns followed by a vast view of rubber plantation and palm-oil plantations with some panoramic landscapes. After lunch and getting our permit for visit the Orang-utans Sanctuary, we walk along the riverbank to the point we cross the river by a small canoe to the watch orang-utan at the feeding place with an ranger. Overnight stay at Bukit Lawang Cottage (B).
Day.10:
Free at own leasure in the morning or swimming in the Bahorok River. Driving to Medan and on the way stop to see taping the rubber tree and pick-up and collect palm oil. City-Tour in Medan visit the Maimun-palace, the unique the Grand-mosque and Chinese temple. After the city-tour you have the time to walk around do some shopping to buy souvenirs for presents home. Stay overnight in Medan (B).
Day.11:
Free at own leisure before transfer to airport for next destination (B).
