Are you looking for the experience of a lifetime? At Trek Indonesia, we want to share with you the raw beauty of Sumatra, an area marvelously full of life, with each turn of the street taking you to the next fantastic experience. If you’re looking for an add adventure filled with wild exploration of nature and deep connections with nature, you found the wildest destination for your travel dreams in Sumatra – Gunung Leuser National Park.
Gunung Leuser National Park: A Biological Goldmine
Gunung Leuser National Park is located in North Sumatra, not just a destination but an ecosystem with its own much life, and, a UNESCO World Heritage Site referred to as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS). The area is an important habitat for endangered species, notably the Sumatran orangutan, of which you will see often in the wild. But the park is also a genuine homeland for elephants and a home for many other residents of the jungle: gibbons, Thomas leaf monkeys, pigtail macaques, flying squirrels, Sumatran peacocks and hornbills. From the vast array of species of flora and fauna that populate this relatively small protected area, it has real adventure for anyone with an interest in nature – and sensible travel in Sumatra.
Hiking the Wild Side: Adventures in Gunung Leuser National Park
The greatest adventure is checking out all the amazing sights in Gunung Leuser National Park while hiking through it. It doesn’t matter if hiking for a short day tour or an overnight experience deeper into the jungle, you share experience of the awe of seeing the park first-hand.
- Bukit Lawang: Bukit Lawang is the main thoroughfare into the park and gains a lot of attention based on the semi-wild orangutan rehabilitation because you get a close chance to see these awesome animals. Strong tourists can tube down the Bohorok River in addition to seeing orangutans.
- Tangkahan: Tangkahan is another very popular area in the park. Also popular for Sumatran elephants, visitors can even be able to wash the elephants as part of the experience.
Going on an overnight trip into a National park, such as the famous 2 day Orangutan Trek, to literally elevate your experience. Trekking with a guide takes you through some of the most amazing sights to truly immerse yourself into the unique flora and fauna. You will have a chance to swim in a small waterfall filled with crystal clear waters, have lunch from locally produced items along the way, and camp on a beautiful river bank. The best part is, the jungle at night is alive with so many unique night-time sounds – it is totally refreshing and different, but just as stunning. When you lay back and watch shooting stars while the natural sounds of the jungle fill the space, your imagination is elevated by each sound – it’s just incredible. Or after you’ve had the thrill of seeing Sumatran monitor lizards and tortoises and river-butterflies fluttering above and around your tent in the morning, you will walk back the same way onto the park entrance or get a fantastic “jungle taxi” return to your wherever it is you started on your adventure – in a traditional tube-rafting style down the Bohorok River.
Best Timing Your Sumatra Travel
If you want to maximize your chances of seeing wildlife – and also have the best trekking conditions in Gunung Leuser National Park – you should consider visiting during the dry season.
- It’s best if you can visit from March to August during the dry season when trekking the jungle in Semeru and looking for orangutan in Bukit Lawang will be best.
- If you want to get closer views of orangutan at the feeding platforms, then you will want to visit before the fruit season (April to November). Keep in mind that orangutan will tend to stay deeper in the forest where there will be food to be found when there is fruit.
Bukit Lawang has a tropical climate, and averages 26-27 degrees Celsius in per year. July and August could be more crowded as this is peak season for travelers.
Safety First: Top Trekking Tips for a Great Trip
A safe trekking trip is a great trekking trip; Trek Indonesia values your safety and comfort and we want to share our top tips for adventure in Gunung Leuser National Park:
- Fitness: Make sure you are physically ready to trek and exercise regularly to develop your stamina.
- Choose wisely: Be sure to select a trekking area suitable for your level of experience and skill. Always know what distance you will be travelling, how much elevation gain and what kind of terrain you will be experiencing.
- Pack smart: Pack all that you need, for example supplies such as water and food, and any medication that you may need. You should also have a map and compass. For a 2-day trekking trip, pack a 25-30 litre pack, bright colored long trousers and t-shirt, long socks, change of clothes, long sleeved sweater, rain coat, sandals or flip flops, flashlight, mosquito repellant, sun sccreen, swimming wear and toilet paper.
- Weather: Ensure you do not go during inclement weather conditions, for example heavy rain or storms. Make sure you know the weather signs.
- Keep connected: Ensure that you always leave details of your trek to someone telling them your route and estimated time of return.
- Follow Your Guide: your certified English speaking guide will know the area and its wildlife much better than you and don’t separate from your guide or colleagues most importantly if you are a beginner at jungle trekking. guides will help to navigate the many pathless “walks” through the jungle – It really is a complicated environment for new trekkers to navigate and your safety is paramount.
- Declare Illness: Let your guide know right away if you are sick or have any ill feelings. If you attempt to conceal asthmatic conditions for example things can become dangerous rather very quickly and there is always a risk of injury on any trek. If you are sick and feeling unwell, it is dramatically better to cancel, or reschedule today for thia very reason.
- Watch your grip: sometimes involving very difficult, slippery or uneven terrain, do not grip and hold on to tree trunks and roots indiscriminately as they can split, break or rip and you are at a high risk of falling.
- Use a trusted operator: we encourage you to think about using an open trip operator that is structured in an ethical way. Please use respected and experienced agencies where possible that have good and transparent reputations, accreditation and licenses for their mountain guides; for example APGI (Asosiasi Pemandu Gunung Indonesia). More than just reputations, you can cross check their legal entity, website, social media presence or activity as well as their bank accounts. Make sure to fully understand your costing structure and anything else which is associated with cost will be clarified to you.
- Safe payment: Please use safe payment options such as bank transfers or trusted online platforms to make payments. If you are asked for payment in cash or asked to transfer to a personal account do not trust their implications.
Are you ready to turn those dreams into a reality? Trek Indonesia will provide you with unplanned, ethical and safe tours including full packages to Gunung Leuser National Park so that your adventure will be complete.
Beyond the Jungle: Visiting More of Sumatra’s Treasures
Gunung Leuser National Park has some of the best jungle experiences to be found, but Sumatra has countless other exciting sites to visit if you’d like to add on to your travel itinerary in Sumatra.
- Lake Toba: The largest volcanic lake in the world is a natural wonder – known for its views, striking Batak culture, and things to do (exploring Samosir Island, hiking hills, hot springs, etc.).
- Sipiso-piso Waterfall: Located in the Lake Toba vicinity, Sipiso-piso is an amazing 120 meter high waterfall with fantastic views that you can trek to (and closer to the base). For your information, you will take about 1000 steps to the bottom.
- Mount Kerinci: For the more serious climbers, Gunung Kerinci in West Sumatra is the tallest mountain on Sumatra Island. You’ll have to pick up your direct tickets at specified locations (there are no online tickets yet).
- Sabang (Pulau Weh): Located at the north tip of Sumatra, Sabang is something else for divers and beach lovers searching for stunning marine life during their stay and neighboring untouched islands.
- Medan: Medan is the capital of North Sumatra that acts as a culinary and architectural expedition and is an important city, but also an essential stopover before exploring other parts of the North Sumatra.
- Padang & Mentawai: Padang is also the gateway to the Mentawai Islands located on the west coast and the areas offer world-class surfing.
The travel journey in Sumatra provides an excellent blend of wild nature with rich cultural experiences. The Gunung Leuser National Park is an incredible example of adventure and conservation, as well as a experience like no other. If the thought of being called into the wild by orangutans – and the views of Lake Toba, or hiking in the jungle interests you, Sumatra will certainly call to your spirit.
