7-day North Sumatra tour: Jungle trek, volcano hike, Lake Toba

Seven days of rainforest, volcanic peaks and cultural sites across North Sumatra

A 7-day guided tour of North Sumatra starting from Medan, visiting Bukit Lawang for jungle trekking and an overnight in the rainforest, Berastagi for Mount Sibayak and Sipiso-piso Waterfall, and Lake Toba for cultural heritage sites and sightseeing. An English-speaking guide leads the route. Hotel stays, daily water, permits and airport pickup are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Bukit Lawang

• Pick-up from airport or hotel
• Lunch in the city
• Drive 4 hours to Bukit Lawang
• Check-in at Ecolodge Hotel
• Relax and explore village
• Overnight in Bukit Lawang

Day 2: Jungle Trekking & overnight in jungle

• Breakfast at hotel
• Full-day jungle trek in Gunung Leuser
• Spot wildlife in jungle
• Enjoy packed lunch in jungle
• Set up camp in jungle
• Dinner and overnight camping

Day 3: Return from Jungle

• Wake up and breakfast in jungle
• Short trek out of jungle
• Freshen up and lunch
• River tubing activity
• Return to hotel
• Overnight in Bukit Lawang

Day 4: Transfer to Berastagi

• Breakfast at hotel
• Check-out from hotel
• Drive 4 hours to Berastagi
• Lunch during transfer
• Stop at abandoned village
• Check-in hotel in Berastagi
• Enjoy cool mountain air
• Overnight in Berastagi

Day 5: Hiking Sibayak & transfer to Samosir

• Early morning hike Mount Sibayak
• Watch sunrise over volcano
• Descend and relax in hot springs
• Visit Traditional Karo Houses
• See Sipiso-piso Waterfall
• Ferry crossing to Samosir Island
• Check-in hotel at Tabo cottages

Day 6: Sightseeing tour around Lake Toba

• Visit King Siallagan historical site
• Explore Kampung Ulos weaving village
• Lunch at hotel or local spot
• Walk to Bukit Holbung viewpoint
• Visit Bukit Sibea-Bea and Jesus statue
• Return to hotel

Day 7: Transfer to Medan hotel or Airport

• Breakfast at hotel
• Check-out and ferry crossing Lake Toba
• Drive to Medan
• Lunch in Medan city
• Drop-off at Medan hotel or airport

The experience

The itinerary moves through three distinct regions, each with its own rhythm. You start with a 4-hour drive from Medan through rubber and palm plantations to Bukit Lawang, where you'll stay at an ecolodge by the river. The next day is a full jungle trek in Gunung Leuser National Park: a packed day spotting orangutans, black gibbons, Sumatran peacocks, Thomas leaf monkeys, hornbills and long-tailed macaques, with lunch deep in the forest and an overnight camp in shelters. The following morning you trek back out, freshen up, and do river tubing before returning to the ecolodge for your third night in Bukit Lawang.

From there, another 4-hour drive takes you to Berastagi in the mountains. An early morning hike up Mount Sibayak (roughly 1.5 hours) rewards you with a sunrise view over the volcanic landscape. Afterward you soak in the hot springs to recover. The same day includes a visit to a traditional Karo Batak house and the Sipiso-piso Waterfall, then a ferry crossing of Lake Toba to Samosir Island, where you stay for two nights. Your sightseeing day on Samosir covers the stone throne and burial complex of King Siallagan, Kampung Ulos village where you watch traditional Batak cloth weaving, Bukit Holbung for lake views, and Bukit Sibea-Bea with its 61-meter Jesus statue. On the final day, you ferry back across Lake Toba, drive to Medan with a lunch stop, and transfer to your hotel or Kualanamu International Airport.

The guide speaks English throughout and handles logistics: permits, park tickets and daily water are included. Hotel accommodation is arranged each night, and dinner is provided. Note that the ferry crossing takes roughly 3.5 hours, so if you're flying out, book an evening departure to allow time for the journey from the harbor to the airport.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for all seven days.
• hotel accommodation in Bukit Lawang, Berastagi and Samosir Island.
• park permits and entrance tickets to Gunung Leuser National Park and Lake Toba sites.
• daily mineral water.
• dinner each evening.
• airport pickup from Kualanamu International Airport or Medan hotel on day one.
• return transfer to your hotel or airport on day seven.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (5 to 75 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Soul of North Sumatera

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide leading you through three regions over seven days with set stops and pace, rather than building your own route.

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Top questions

What wildlife will I see on the jungle trek at Bukit Lawang?

Gunung Leuser National Park is home to orangutans, black gibbons, Sumatran peacocks, hornbills, Thomas leaf monkeys and long-tailed macaques. The full-day trek includes a packed lunch in the forest and an overnight camp in shelters so you experience the rainforest at different times of day.

Do I need to be fit for the Mount Sibayak hike?

Mount Sibayak is an early morning trek lasting approximately 1.5 hours to the summit, where you watch the sunrise over the volcanic landscape. After descending, you soak in hot springs to relax. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

How much time do I spend on Lake Toba?

You cross Lake Toba by ferry on day five and stay on Samosir Island for two nights. Day six is a full sightseeing tour visiting King Siallagan's stone throne and burial site, Kampung Ulos weaving village, Bukit Holbung for panoramic views, and Bukit Sibea-Bea with its 61-meter Jesus statue. On day seven you ferry back across the lake before driving to Medan or the airport.

What is included in the tour price?

The package includes an English-speaking guide for all seven days; hotel accommodation each night; all park permits and entrance tickets; daily mineral water (600ml per person); dinner; and airport pickup from Kualanamu International Airport or your Medan hotel on day one. Breakfast is provided at each hotel.

How do I get to Medan at the start, and how does the tour end?

The guide picks you up from Kualanamu International Airport or your hotel in Medan on day one and drives you to Bukit Lawang. On the final day, after crossing Lake Toba and driving back to Medan with a lunch stop, you are dropped at either your Medan hotel or Kualanamu International Airport for departure.