Orangutan wildlife treks in Sumatra
| country: | Indonesia |
| location: | Sumatra |
| price: | From US $1000 (approx £675) (4-6 days) ex flights. Price includes domestic flights, personal guide, accommodation, guided trekking, National Park permits camping (optional), tube & rafting transfers as per itinerary. Tailormade departures year round. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Orangutan wildlife treks in Sumatra
A unique and unforgettable experience to see this highly endangered Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) in the wild with just your individual group and your personal guides. A wonderful opportunity to learn more about the orangutan and understand why they are so close to extinction. The chance to see many other native Sumatran animals, while trekking in the beautiful World Heritage Leuser National Park.
Your tour includes Garuda international airfares Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra return, pick up & drop off in A/C private car Medan to Bukit Lawang return, personal guide, accommodation at Bukit Lawang, guided jungle trekking and return river rafting.
Recommended for those that have a medium to high degree of fitness (the terrain is steep in parts undulating through rainforest and rivers), are comfortable being in nature (including insects), are culturally and environmentally aware, like an adventure and who are concerned about the plight of the orangutan.
Minimum 2 people per trek
What you could expect to see on your trek:
Ex-captive orangutans now living in the wild, making daily nests & feeding Wild Orangutans White handed Gibbons Long & short tailed Macaques Thomas leaf monkey Hornbills Monitor lizards Green tree frogs Signs of honey bears Plus many different tropical insects & birdlife
A donation from your payment will go to the Sumatran Orangutan Society
Why not combine your trek with a stay at our mountain eco lodge in Bali, see here.
Itinerary 2 - Orangutan trek - 4 days, 3 nights
Itinerary 3 - Orangutan trek - 6 days, 5 nights
Itinerary 4 - Orangutan & elephant trek - 6 days, 5 nights
Itinerary 5 - Orangutan educational trek - 4 days, 3 nights
Your tour includes Garuda international airfares Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra return, pick up & drop off in A/C private car Medan to Bukit Lawang return, personal guide, accommodation at Bukit Lawang, guided jungle trekking and return river rafting.
Recommended for those that have a medium to high degree of fitness (the terrain is steep in parts undulating through rainforest and rivers), are comfortable being in nature (including insects), are culturally and environmentally aware, like an adventure and who are concerned about the plight of the orangutan.
Minimum 2 people per trek
What you could expect to see on your trek:
A donation from your payment will go to the Sumatran Orangutan Society
Why not combine your trek with a stay at our mountain eco lodge in Bali, see here.
itineraries
Itinerary 1 - Orangutan trek - 4 days, 3 nights | Day 1: | Fly from Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra. Arrive in Medan approx 4pm – drive to Bukit Lawang – 3 hrs. Arrive in Bukit Lawang, stay at Bukit Lawang. Discuss your trek with your trek leader. Dinner. |
| Day 2: | Start your trek into the Leuser National park with your experienced guides. 8:30am feeding platform. Walk approx 4 -5 hrs, you decide on your pace. Lunch on the trail. Sleep in tents by the river. Camp fire dinner made by your guides. |
| Day 3: | Final day Trekking. Return to Bukit Lawang by tube raft. Stay at Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 4: | Breakfast. Drive to Medan airport. Fly back to Denpasar Bali Arrive approx 6pm. |
Itinerary 2 - Orangutan trek - 4 days, 3 nights
| Day 1: | Fly from Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra. Arrive in Medan approx 4pm – drive to Bukit Lawang – 3 hrs. Arrive in Bukit Lawang, stay at Bukit Lawang.Discuss your trek with your trek leader.Dinner. |
| Day 2: | Start your trek into the Leuser National park with your experienced guides. 8.30am Feeding platform . Walk approx 4 -5 hrs, you decide on your pace. Lunch on the trail. Return to Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 3: | Final day Trekking. Return to Bukit Lawang by tube raft. Stay at Bukit lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 4: | Breakfast. Drive to Medan airport. Fly back to Denpasar Bali Arrive approx 6pm. |
Itinerary 3 - Orangutan trek - 6 days, 5 nights
| Day 1: | Fly from Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra. Arrive in Medan approx 4pm – drive to Bukit Lawang – 3 hrs. Arrive in Bukit Lawang, stay at Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 2: | An easy day to relax and visit the feeding platform (twice daily) for ex captive orangutans before you start your trek. Meet with Dharma your guide, to discuss your trek. Extra activities available. Dinner. |
| Day 3: | Start your trek into the Leuser National park with your experienced guides. Walk approx 4 -5 hrs, you decide on your pace. Lunch on the trail. Sleep in tents by the river. Camp fire dinner made by your guides. |
| Day 4: | Full day trekking 4-5 hours. Camping |
| Day 5: | Final day Trekking. Return to Bukit Lawang by tube raft. Stay at Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 6: | Breakfast. Drive to Medan airport. Fly back to Denpasar Bali Arrive approx 6pm. |
Itinerary 4 - Orangutan & elephant trek - 6 days, 5 nights
| Day 1: | Fly from Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra. Arrive in Medan approx 4pm – drive to Bukit Lawang – 3 hrs. Arrive in Bukit Lawang, stay at Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 2: | Start your trek into the Leuser National park with your experienced guides. 8:30am Orangutan feeding platform. Walk approx 4 -5 hrs, you decide on your pace. Lunch on the trail. Sleep in tents by the river. Camp fire dinner made by your guides. |
| Day 3: | Day Trekking. Return to Bukit Lawang by tube raft. Stay at Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 4: | Half day Motorbike ride to Tangkahan. Swimming in the river. Sleep Tangkahan. |
| Day 5: | 1 hour Elephant trek & rehabilitation center, elephant feeding & washing in the river, River tubing/ swimming. Dinner. Sleep Tangkahan. |
| Day 6: | Breakfast. Drive to Medan airport. Fly back to Denpasar Bali Arrive approx 8pm. |
Itinerary 5 - Orangutan educational trek - 4 days, 3 nights
| Day 1: | Fly from Denpasar Bali to Medan Sumatra. Arrive in Medan approx 4pm – drive to Bukit Lawang – 3 hrs. Arrive in Bukit Lawang, stay at Bukit Lawang. Dinner. |
| Day 2: | Start your trek into the Leuser National park with your experienced guides. 8:30am Orangutan feeding platform. Walk approx 4 -5 hrs, you decide on your pace. Follow orangutans as they find food, play with their young and make their evening nests. Lunch on the trail. Return to Bukit Lawang. |
| Day 3: | Full day trekking 4-5 hours. Early start. Return to Bukit Lawang. |
| Day 4: | Breakfast. Drive to Medan airport. Fly back to Denpasar Bali Arrive approx 6pm. |
inclusions
| Itineray 1 | Itineray 2 | Itineray 3 | Itineray 4 | Itineray 5 | |
| Personal guide | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Airfares Bali - Medan Sumatra return | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| Return Transfer Medan - B. Lawang | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Transfer Tangkahan - B Lawang | yes | ||||
| ½ day Motor bike trip to Tangkahan | yes | ||||
| National park entry permit | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Orangutan feeding platform | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| 2 days Guided trek fee | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| 3 days Guided trek fee | yes | ||||
| 1 night camping, including meals | yes | ||||
| 2 nights camping, including meals | yes | ||||
| River tube rafting | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| 2 nights accommodation Bukit lawang | yes | ||||
| 3 nights accommodation Bukit lawang | yes | yes | yes | ||
| 4 nights accommodation (2 - Bukit lawang, 2 - Tangkahan) | yes | ||||
| 1 hour elephant trek | yes | ||||
| Elephant washing & feeding | yes | ||||
| Elephant rehabilitation centre | yes |
how this holiday makes a difference
|
When you take this trek you are:
Financial support - Financially supporting local forest rangers, who are also trekking guides surviving on minimal government wages - Our guides work for minimal wages approx USD90.00 per month as forest rangers, predominantly working at the orangutan feeding platform as well as taking tourists across the river to the National park. They supplement this income by taking tourists trekking. When there are no tourists their income is sufficiently reduced. The flood - The flood is believed to be caused by illegal logging killed 200 people in the village and left around 400 families homeless. The floods washed away 402 houses and heavily damaged 400 cottages, 402 kiosks, 8 bridges, tourist bungalows and one primary health center. By staying in the tourist bungalows at Bukit Lawang and taking part in tourist activities such as tube rafting, village tours or just eating at local restaurants you are helping to generate income for local villagers. It is clear than the locals are now fully aware of the consequences of illegal logging and this activity is no longer tolerated in Bukit Lawang. Supporting Sustainable low impact eco tourism - The bungalows at Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan are 90% family run, income derived from tourism goes straight back into the local community. Most businesses have only 3- 6 bungalows. Limited power and road access has made it difficult for "big" tourism to take hold here. There are limited employment opportunities here, young local men often work in restaurants and bungalows supported by tourism. Low impact Activities - The activities at Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan are relatively low impact, trekking on defined trails only, following guidelines to ensure minimal impact to the Orangutans, tube rafting & swimming in the river. Elephants used for trekking in Tangkahan work for a maximum of 2 hours per day and are well fed and washed daily in the river. These elephants were once used for illegal logging, it is important for their survival that they have employment. The owners of the elephants are newly committed to protect the rainforest and genuinely care for the elephants. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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