North Sumatera Overland Tour 7 Days/6 Nights
Day 1: ARRIVAL MEDAN
Arrive in Medan, the main city in northern Sumatra, and start the tour with a visit to Maimun Palace built in 1888 in Malayan and Middle-East style and belonging to the sultan of Deli. Opposite is Mesjid Raya (Grand Mosque) built in the same period as the Maimun Palace. Also visit the heritage mansion house of the legendary businessman Tjong A Fie; Tip Top restaurant which was formerly the Dutch Club; the town hall that dates back to 1908 and has a clock tower donated by Tjong A Fie; and Bank Indonesia built by architectural firm Hulswit, Fermont & Cuypers. After that, visits will be made to Dharma Deli Hotel which used to be known as De Boer Hotel and was built in 1898; the colonial post office of Medan (built in 1911); and the colourful Chinese temple, Vihara Gunung Timur. After the tour, transfer to your hotel and free at leisure. Overnight at hotel located on the outskirts of Medan.
Day 2: MEDAN – BUKIT LAWANG
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Bukit Lawang, a small tourist village on the other side of Gunung Leuser National Park that is known for its orangutan rehabilitation centre. Enjoy the scenery from the veranda of your hotel room. A local dinner is served at the hotel.
Day 3: ORANGUTAN TOUR – BERASTAGI
Breakfast at the hotel. Start the morning with a walk along the riverside to a crossing point where a small canoe will take you to the other side of the river. Hike until you reach the feeding platform where the orangutans are fed and trained to live in the wild. It is a marvelous sight to see the orangutans swinging from the branches of the trees.
Day 4: BERASTAGI – LAKE TOBA – BOAT TO SAMOSIR ISLAND
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a scenic drive to Lake Toba, one of the deepest and largest crater lakes in the world. En route stop at Dokan, a small Batak Karo village, to see traditional houses in which up to eight families can live. Each house has 4 hearths shared by two families. The interiors are kept dark and smoky to keep away insects as well as to ward off evil spirits. Carry on to Sipiso Piso Waterfall (literally means ‘as sharp as knife’ waterfall) and Rumah Bolon, the long house of King Batak Simalungun, another Batak tribe. The buildings are very impressive but are no longer inhabited. Enter into the palace to see how the many wifes of the king spent their days. After lunch carry on to Parapat on the shore of the lake from where you will take a public boat over to Samosir Island. You will be dropped right in front of your accommodation on the peninsula of Tuktuk – a relaxing area overlooking the lake.
Day 5: SAMOSIR TOUR
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive around the island to explore the natural beauty and cultural aspects of Batak Toba by visiting Ambarita Village where the remnant megalithic culture of Batak Toba lies in front of traditional houses. Continue to Simanindo to see folk dances performed by the villagers. Here you also can visit a museum built in typical Batak style. On the way back to your hotel, stop at Tomok Village to see a very old but nicely decorated sarcophagus, the old tomb of the Batak King, Batak Toba Sidabutar.
Day 6: SAMOSIR ISLAND – MEDAN (Breakfast/Lunch/-)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, take the ferry back to Parapat (approx 45 minutes) and return to Medan via the 5 hour drive. Along the way you will pass the cities of Pematang Siantar and Tebingtinggi and the endless plantations of oil palm, cacao and rubber. Stop for lunch and on arrival in Medan, transfer to your hotel.
Day 7: MEDAN- AIRPORT
After breakfast in your hotel, transfer to the airport for the flight to your next destination. End of tour
For more info: northsumatera@indonesia-tourism.com
