Flight: SQ5238 Singapore - Medan 19.00 - 19.20 

Private transfer: On arrival in Medan, you will be welcomed to Indonesia by your local guide and transferred to the Aryaduta Hotel in a chauffeur driven car for a one-night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aryaduta Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Private transfer: After a leisurely breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to Medan Airport in time to check in for your flight to Padang. 

Flight: JT131 Medan - Padang 13.00 - 14.10

Road journey from Padang to Bukittinggi: Upon arrival at Padang, you will be met by your guide, and then transferred to the town of Bukittinggi set in the hills around 2 hours’ drive from Padang.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Novotel Bukittinggi (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Ngarai Sianok Canyon: Located on the southwestern edge of Bukkittinggi, the spectacular Ngarai Sianok Canyon is a unique geographic wonder. For a truly haunting spectacle visit the canyon in the early morning. As dawn creeps across the peak of Mount Singgalang, blankets of mist drift around the canyon’s 100 metre cliffs. A river meanders through the rice fields below disappearing in the hazy distance beyond. This canyon is a part of a tectonic rift valley which runs the entire length of the island. The canyon has sheer walls and a flat bottom. Photographers won’t be able to put away their cameras as they try to capture the spectacular view of this majestic gorge. Another good view over the canyon is from Panorama Park which is also a popular spot with locals who come here to stroll in the afternoon air.

Guided tour of Bukittinggi: Start off with a visit to Pasar Atas, the town's large market crammed with stalls selling local goods and produce, mainly fresh fruit and vegetables cultivated in the rich volcanic soils in the countryside surrounding the town. The market is open daily, but the most colourful days are Wednesdays and Saturdays when the largest numbers of locals arrive from the surrounding villages to sell their wares and stock up on goods. Take in remnants of the town's colonial past with a walk to ruins of Fort de Kock, a Dutch fortification built in 1825. While not much of the fort remains today, there is a lookout tower which is an excellent spot to watch the sunset and take in a view of Mount Marapi (Fire Mountain) which occasionally lets out plumes of smoke. Finish the tour at the Rumah Gadang Museum, a traditional extended family house built in the 19th century.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Novotel Bukittinggi (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Cultural tour of the Minangkabau Highlands: After breakfast, set off from Bukittinggi on a short drive to Rao-Rao, a traditional Minangkabau village and stop to see locals farming on the rich fertile soil, and coffee milling. Continue to Pagaruyung, the heartland of the Minangkabau Kingdom, to visit a replica of the palace where the rulers once resided. The next stop is at Padang Panjang, 19km south of Bukittinggi, for a visit to the Conservatorium of Traditional Music where Minangkabau arts are performed and preserved. The final stop is at the village of Pandai Sikat village to see Minangkabau traditional hand weaving with silver and gold threaded cloth, and woodcarving.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Novotel Bukittinggi (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Bukittinggi to Padang: This morning, set off from Bukittinggi for the journey to Padang on Sumatra's west coast. En route there will be the opportunity to visit a waterfall in the Anay Valley.

Flight: JT130 Padang - Medan 11.10 - 12.20

Private transfer: On arrival in Medan, you will be met by your local guide and taken to the Aryaduta Medan for an overnight stay.

Afternoon city tour of Medan: Your tour of Medan starts at the Royal Palace of Sultan Deli, known as Maimoon Palace, which was built in 1888. Continue to the grand mosque "Mesjid Raya", which is the most spectacular in town. You can then browse for antiques at Kesawan Street in the Dutch colonial district where European architectural styles can be seen in buildings such as the post office and Medan City Hall.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aryaduta Medan (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Medan to Tangkahan: After breakfast this morning, set off for the village of Tangkahan on the edge of the Gunung Leuser National Park, a journey of around 5 hours. The first 3 hours of the drive will be on smooth roads, but the last 2 hours will be on bumpy plantation tracks. Upon arrival in Tangkahan you will cross the Batang River on a local raft to reach your simple lodge where you will stay for the night.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tangkahan Inn (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning elephant excursion in Tangkahan: After breakfast, visit the nearby elephant camp to watch and assist the elephants bathing. You will then start walking alongside the elephants to explore the Leuser National Park. The Leuser National Park in North Sumatra is a hidden paradise, one of the last places you can experience the rainforest at its best. Majestic trees, thick lush tropical vegetation interspersed with beautiful rivers, waterfalls, caves and hot springs combine to make this one of the most beautiful places on earth. The park is also a home for many endangered animals such as the Sumatran orangutan, the Sumatran tiger and the Sumatran elephant, to name but a few. 

Road journey from Tangkahan to Bukit Lawang: Later this afternoon, depart for Bukit Lawang by jeep, driving past the Bukit Barisan Mountain Range and two of Sumatra's highest peaks (Mount Leuser at 3,381m and Mount Kerinci at 3,800m). This is an adventurous drive on scenic back roads of mud and sand trails through spectacular countryside. Arrive in Bukit Lawang later this afternoon and check in to your lodge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bukit Lawang Eco Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day jungle trek in search of Orangutans: This morning, set off on a gentle hike to explore the Leuser National Park. The terrain is rough and steep in places, but the effort will be rewarded by great views of the rainforest canopy. It is common to see orangutans swinging through the canopy above the trail. Return to your lodge early this afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bukit Lawang Eco Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Bukit Lawang to Berastagi: After breakfast this morning, set off by road for Berastagi, a journey of around 4-5 hours with stops at the Sembahe River and Sibolangit en route.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Grand Mutiara Hotel Berastagi (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour in the Berastagi area: After breakfast this morning, set off on a tour of the farming area around Berastagi, and watch the locals going about their daily lives. Continue to Lau Debuk Debuk; a hot sulphur spring where you can enjoy a communal bath in the natural hot springs. These waters, which stay at an even temperature of 43°C, can be enjoyed by anyone, at any time, and are acclaimed for their medicinal value which is known to help smooth skin, ease stomach problems & high blood pressure. The next visit is to a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda which is officially titled Shwedagon Zedi Daw, and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda or the Golden Pagoda. The pagoda is 46.8 metres high and is constructed mostly of components that came from Myanmar. Afterwards drive to Lingga Village to get a glimpse into the way of life of the Karo Batak Tribe and their typical adat houses. These houses have an open floor plan in which eight related families, each with their own hearth, live together under a single upswept or rectangular roof of ijuk thatch. A few houses are reputed to be hundreds of years old but are becoming dilapidated as it is now more difficult to build new adat house due to the increased cost of timber and manpower. Later drive to the western edge of town to Gundaling Hill (1496 m) which rises some above the surrounding plateau and has a park at the top which provides good views of the surrouding volcanoes. The skyline is dominated immediately to the north by smoking Mount Sibayak (2094 m) and further to the west the higher Mount. Sinabung (2451 m). Finish the tour at the famous local fruit market where you can find a rich assortment of fresh fruits, flowers, vegetables & other goods.

Road journey from Berastagi to Lake Toba: This afternoon, depart on the scenic drive to Parapat, a resort town on the shores of Lake Toba. En route there will be the chance to stop at Dokan, a Batak Karo village with a number of traditional houses where eight families live together in the same house. Also along the way are the Sipiso Piso Waterfalls and the longhouse of King Simalungun.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tabo Cottages (Batak Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day exploring Lake Toba & Samosir Island: Today spend a full day exploring Lake Toba and around Samosir Island by boat. Samosir is a wedge-shaped island almost as big as Singapore that was created by a tectonic upheaval around 50,000 years ago. On the island visit Ambarita where the remnant megalithic culture of Batak Toba lies in front of the traditional wooden houses. Continue to Simanindo, to see the former Batak King Sidauruk’s longhouse and the stone Court of Justice. There will also be the chance to see a folkdance performance by the villagers as well as a visit to the local school. After lunch in a local restaurant (payable locally) visit Tomok Village to see the tombs of the Batak Kings.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tabo Cottages (Batak Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure to relax at your hotel, or explore more of the local area independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tabo Cottages (Batak Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Ferry journey from Samosir to Parapat: Board a local ferry for the short journey to Parapat.

Road journey from Parapat to Medan: Set off on the scenic drive to Medan, a journey of around 4 hours with stops en route.

Afternoon at leisure: Once checked in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax or explore the city independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aryaduta Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast