North Sumatra Wildlife Tour: 8-Day Jungle, Volcano & Lake Toba Adventure

One trip, four landscapes

North Sumatra packs an extraordinary range of experiences into a single overland route. Our eight-day wildlife tour links the rainforest of Gunung Leuser, the elephant village of Tangkahan, the volcanic highlands around Berastagi and the immense caldera of Lake Toba.

It's designed for travellers who want to see the wild side of Sumatra without piecing the logistics together themselves — private transport, local guides and accommodation are all arranged for you.

Days 1–3 · Bukit Lawang & the orangutans

The journey opens in Bukit Lawang, on the eastern edge of Gunung Leuser National Park. Here you'll trek into one of the last places on Earth where wild Sumatran orangutans still roam, alongside gibbons, macaques and Thomas leaf monkeys.

An overnight jungle trek with a riverside camp gives you the time to slow down, and a river-tubing float carries you back to the village.

Days 4–5 · Tangkahan elephants

Next you cross to Tangkahan, a remote community known for its conservation work. Meet the Sumatran elephants, bathe in the clear river and soak in a natural jungle hot spring — a gentler counterpoint to the trekking.

Days 6–8 · Volcano & Lake Toba

The route then climbs into the cool Karo highlands near Berastagi, with volcano views and a stop at the dramatic Sipiso-piso waterfall, before descending to Lake Toba — the largest crater lake in the world. On Samosir Island you'll discover Batak culture, highland scenery and a very different rhythm before the return to Medan.

Plan your route

Every itinerary is flexible: tell us your dates and interests and we'll shape the eight days around them. As always, you can book now and pay later.