Sumatra offers magnificent hiking and nature experiences and in Bali and Java surfing courses await in beautiful surroundings and beautiful waves.
History, waterfalls, rainforest and exciting wildlife – Sumatra has so much to offer! Experience the wild orangutans in Sumatra’s lush jungle during a fantastic hike. In the jungle, you spend the night primitively – but that’s how you experience the jungle at its best! Check findjobdescriptions for more information about Indonesia.
Then you climb the magnificent volcano Sibayak, and on Somosir in Lake Toba you get to meet the Batak people and hear their fascinating history.
After Sumatra, the journey continues to Bali and surf school in Bali and Red Island in Java. The surfing school combines two of the absolute best surfing destinations in all of Asia. The areas also make it possible to combine world-class surfing with magnificent nature experiences. It is possible to extend the trip on your own after the program is over.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
Departure from Scandinavia for the adventure in Indonesia
Day 2: Arrival Medan – Sumatra
On arrival in Medan you will be welcomed by your driver who will take you to your hotel where you can relax after the flight for the rest of the day.
Day 3: City tour of Medan – Bukit Lawang
The day begins with a small city tour where you visit the Maimun Palace which was built in 1888 in Middle Eastern style and belongs to the Sultan of Deli. In addition, a visit to the large Almashum Mosque, which was built during the same period, awaits. Then continue past the colorful Chinese temple of Vihara Gunung Timor, followed by an approximately 3-hour drive to Bukit Lawang, a small tourist resort on the outskirts of Gunung Leuser National Park. It is the best starting point to see the great orangutans. In addition, the park is one of the largest national parks in the world with over 800,000 hectares of pure rainforest and home to a large number of mammals, tigers, orangutans, gibbons, elephants and rhinos. On the way, a stop is made at one of the many oil palm plantations and local markets.
Day 4-5: Orangutans and hiking in the jungle
After breakfast, the hike into Gunung Leuser National Park begins. Approximately six hours of hiking await you this day and the following day. The terrain is hilly so the heart rate will rise. During the hike there are good opportunities to see monkeys in the open and if you are really lucky maybe a wild orangutan will cross your path. Along the way, the guide tells about the flora and fauna of the rainforest. You sleep in two different places and both places have simple sleeping places consisting of beehives of bamboo poles and branches. Both of these jungle camps are very simply equipped with only the essentials. The guides will prepare local food and in the evening you can play cards or sit around the campfire and talk to the other participants.
Day 6: Jungle hike – Tubing to Bukit Lawang
In the morning you will be awakened by the magical sound of the animals in the jungle. After breakfast, a walk of about 3-4 hours awaits in the park, where you can experience more of the jungle’s exciting wildlife. The hike ends at the river and there the tubing takes over. You will float along the river down towards Bukit Lawang in a large car tire for about 20 minutes. It is a fun and relaxed way to experience nature. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. ( F )
Day 7: Bukit Lawang – Berastagi
Today, a longer drive on a gravel road to Berastagi awaits. There you visit the local market before you drive to your hotel. The city offers beautiful views of the mountain landscape. Berastagi is a beautiful mountain town located between two active volcanoes Sinabung (2,414 masl) and Sibayak (2,172 masl). The largest local tribe is Batak Karo. ( F )
Day 8: Hiking on the Sibayak volcano – Sipiso piso waterfall – Lake Toba – Samosir
This 2,172 meter high volcano is located near Berastagi. It is one of the easier volcanoes to climb in Indonesia and it can be climbed by anyone in normal physical shape. We start from Jaranguda which is only 3 km from the city. It is good to start early, as the best view is immediately after sunrise. You will be picked up early and driven to the starting point. The hike to the top takes about 1 hour. The first part goes through a lush forest area and you can often hear the monkeys’ roar during this part of the tour. Then the route goes through a mountain landscape. When you reach the top, you can glimpse sulfur and bubbles coming up from the volcano. At the top a fantastic view awaits and there will be time to enjoy the surroundings. On the way back you walk towards Raja Berneh, where there is time to swim in the hot pools. Then the trip goes back to your hotel and breakfast before the round trip continues towards Tobasjön. This crater is among the deepest and largest in the world. On the way you make a stop in Dokan, one of the small Batak Karo villages where you can see their traditional longhouses up close. You also make a stop at the Sipiso piso waterfall, which with a height of 120 meters rushes down into the northern part of Lake Toba. You visit the beautiful wooden palace (Rumah Boloen) built by the former king Batak Simalungun in Pematang Purba. There are fantastic viewpoints and especially in Simarjarunjung you can see a large part of the magnificent Toba Lake. In the afternoon you will reach Parapat, which is located right down by the lake. From here, a boat trip (in about 45 minutes) awaits to the island of Samosir, which is a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Toba. (This island is about the size of Singapore). You spend the night in the small town of Tuktuk, on the east side of the island of Samosir. Your driver will stay in Parapat and will not accompany you to Samosir. (F )
Day 9-10: Experiences on your own on the island of Samosir
It is a great experience to explore the island on your own. There are many good hiking trails and it is wonderful to swim in the clear waters of Toba Lake. You can also see several traditional Batak villages on the island. In one of these villages, Tomok, you can see some old, but still very beautifully decorated sarcophagi. In the village of Ambarita there are old buildings and the city’s very special court where all furnishings are made of stone from the local quarry. In Simanindo you can still experience the Batak Toba folk dance performed by locals. The whole island is characterized by the welcoming and hospitable locals who contribute to an unforgettable experience in Sumatra. ( F ))
Day 11: Samosir Island – Medan – Bali – Canggu
Early in the morning you cross Lake Toba by boat to return to Parapat. From here, the transfer departs for the airport in Medan, a journey of about 4-5 hours. On the way you pass Pematang Siantar and Tebingtinggi as well as many local plantations that grow mainly oil palms, rubber trees and cocoa trees. You fly from Kualanamus Airport (Medan) to Denpasar Airport in Bali with a short stop in Jakarta along the way. From here you drive to your surf school in Canggu where the rest of the day is spent on your own. (Surf school always starts on Saturdays) ( F )
Day 12: Canggu – Red Island (Java)
The day begins with a surfing lesson on the south coast of Bali. Then you will be picked up from the surf school in Canggu for further travel to northwest Bali. From here you go by boat to Java and on to Red Island where the surf school is surrounded by pristine beaches and rainforest. You arrive late in the afternoon. ( F , L , M )
Day 13 – 15: Surf school on Red Island and beach hangout
The next day is dedicated to surfing and with the help of the local surf instructors you have a good chance to learn it from scratch. The camp on Red Island is located in a secluded cove surrounded by mountains. The beach at the surf camp is incredibly beautiful and an ideal place to relax between surf lessons. You also have the opportunity to make an excursion to Alas Purwo National Park which is known for its varied wildlife and large populations of deer. You also have good opportunities to go on boat trips on your own and make a great hike to the Kawah Ijen volcano. Together with Bali, Red Island forms a perfect environment for surfing in fantastic and exotic surroundings. ( F , L , M )
Day 16: Red Island (Java) – Canggu
There will be time for surfing in the morning before leaving for Bali. You arrive just before noon at Canggu’s surf school. ( F , L , M )
Day 17: Canggu – Denpasar Airport
After breakfast there is some free time before you have to check out. The surf school can help with transportation to the airport or to any other Indonesian destination. The journey home is flexible, which means that you can extend your trip to experience more of Bali and Indonesia on your own after the end of the program. ( F )
Day 18: Arrival in Scandinavia
Overnight stays
One night at a budget hotel in Medan
Two nights at a budget hotel in Bukit Lawang
Two nights in a simple tent / bivouac in the jungle at Bukit Lawang
One night at a budget hotel in Berastagi
Three nights at a local guest house on the island of Samosir
Two nights in a shared dormitory at a surf camp in Canggu
Four nights in shared dormitory at surf camp on Red Island
