Exploring Sumatra, Java, Lombok

Upon arrival at Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) in North Sumatra, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrival area for a private one-hour transfer to your hotel. You will be welcomed at the Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel & Convention, a stylish and centrally located 4-star property equipped with modern amenities and Medan's largest convention center. While meals are not included on this first day, you can enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner at the hotel as you settle into the city.

After breakfast, embark on a morning tour of Medan’s cultural highlights, visiting the historic Maimun Palace—built in 1888 for the Sultan of Deli—the expansive Mesjid Raya Grand Mosque, and the significant Vihara Gunung Timur Chinese temple. Following the city sightseeing, begin an approximately four-hour scenic drive through the lush natural landscapes of North Sumatra toward Bukit Lawang. Upon arrival at the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gunung Leuser National Park, you will transfer to your jungle lodge to check in and prepare for your immersion into the rainforest.

After breakfast, your adventure in the primeval forest begins with a three-to-four-hour hike through Gunung Leuser National Park, specifically focusing on observing orangutans and other wild animals within their natural habitat. This trek provides a unique opportunity to discover the park's immense biodiversity, with frequent sightings of gibbon monkeys, Thomas leaf monkeys, longtail and pigtail macaques, as well as flying squirrels, Sumatran peacocks, and hornbills; for those seeking a more extensive experience, a six-hour trekking option is also available upon request.

After breakfast, embark on another exciting three-hour guided jungle trek in Bukit Lawang, navigating deeper into the lush rainforest for additional opportunities to spot orangutans and other local wildlife, including Thomas leaf monkeys, gibbons, and hornbills. As you traverse the jungle trails, your guide will share fascinating insights about the region's unique ecosystem, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the tropical wilderness before concluding the trek and returning to the lodge.

Following breakfast, the driver transfers you to the hill town of Berastagi, the homeland of the Batak Karo tribe, via an approximately three-hour-and-forty-five-minute drive. Upon arrival, visit the vibrant local fruit market to discover and sample regional produce like passion fruit, snake fruit, and avocado before heading to Lumbini Park to see the Buddhist temple, which is a detailed replica of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar. After concluding your sightseeing, check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure for relaxation and rest in preparation for the continuing tour.

After breakfast, join your guide for a relatively easy ascent of the Sibayak Volcano (2,172m), a trek that takes approximately one hour from the parking area to reach the summit. Following the climb, continue your journey toward Samosir with a stop at Dokan, a traditional Batak Karo village known for its unique, nail-less, and earthquake-resistant heritage houses. You will also visit the stunning 120-meter Sipiso Piso Waterfall, where you can catch your first panoramic views of Lake Toba, before arriving in Parapat to board a 45-minute public boat to Tuktuk village on Samosir Island. Once you check in to your hotel near the jetty, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to relax by the lakeside.

Enjoy a full-day private cruise on a traditional wooden boat across Lake Toba, featuring two memorable stops starting at Sigapiton, a beautiful valley on the eastern shore where you can take a gentle countryside walk through scenic landscapes and visit a local village to connect with the Batak people and learn about their daily life and traditions. The journey then continues to the Binangalom (Situmurun) Waterfall, where cascading water flows directly into the lake, offering an adventurous option to swim off the boat for a refreshing dip or shower under the waterfall's spray before you relax and enjoy the tranquil return boat ride back to your hotel.

Begin your departure from the scenic shores of Lake Toba by commencing a multi-stage journey to the airport, starting with an approximately 45-minute public boat ride from Samosir Island to Parapat. This is followed by a four-hour land journey to Kualanamu International Airport, where you will board a Garuda Indonesia flight—included in your tour price—for the final leg of the trip from Medan to Jakarta.

Dive into Indonesia’s storytelling heritage as you learn about shadow puppetry and watch a 15-minute Wayang performance at Makutharama Puppet Studio, then walk through Jakarta’s Old Town, where grand colonial facades set the scene and street life spills into the open plaza. Continue to Sunda Kelapa Harbor to watch traditional phinisi boats loading cargo just as they have for centuries, before heading to Glodok Chinatown to discover its bustling traditional market and the historic Dharma Bakti Temple, a cultural landmark that reflects the city’s rich Chinese heritage.

Depart Jakarta in the morning on an executive-class train for a scenic six-hour journey to Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Java. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure to unwind, refresh, or explore the local neighborhood at your own pace. For those wishing to start their sightseeing immediately, an optional afternoon excursion to the magnificent Prambanan Temple is available for USD 35 per person, which includes both the entrance fee and a professional guide.

Start your morning at the vibrant Ngasem Traditional Market, where you can mingle with residents, browse stalls of produce and homewares, and enjoy a traditional morning coffee with local snacks with residents. Afterward, you will transfered to village of Sentolo in Kulon Progo for an approximately 1–1.5 hour drive for a traditional Indonesian lunch. Following your meal, hop on a traditional bike and cycle through surrounding villages and scenic rice fields to learn about local life—including the production of tempeh and traditional weaving techniques—before heading to the iconic Borobudur. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this afternoon visit allows you to walk through the temple terraces and intricate relief panels with a local guide, learning about its ancient history and meaning while enjoying sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

Following check-out, meet your driver for a transfer to Yogyakarta Airport (YIA) to catch an afternoon flight to Lombok to the famous island of Lombok, a stunning destination separated from Bali and Sumbawa by the Lombok and Alas Straits. Upon arrival at Lombok International Airport (LOP), you will be met by a driver for a transfer to your hotel in Selong Belanak, where you can check in and spend the remainder of the day relaxing and soaking in the island atmosphere.

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Lombok or relax. Spend time on the beautiful beach; relax in a hammock or enjoy the sun and sea. Choose to indulge in water sports, treat yourself to a relaxing massage, or sample tasty local cuisine with fresh coconut water.

Depart in the morning to the Sekotong region in Southwest Lombok, enjoying a scenic 1,5 to 2-hour drive to Tawun Harbor that offers beautiful views of the island's landscape along the way. Upon arrival at the harbor, board a traditional wooden outrigger boat to cross to Gili Nanggu, passing picturesque coastlines and local bagan fishing platforms before stepping onto the island's soft white sands. Spend your time experiencing paradise as you swim and snorkel in the pristine waters alongside colorful fish, then continue your island-hopping journey to the neighboring Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis to enjoy further snorkeling, swimming, or simply relaxing on the beach while embracing the refreshing ocean breeze.

Enjoy another full day at leisure to explore Lombok or relax. Spend time on the beautiful beach; relax in a hammock or enjoy the sun and sea.

Last day in Lombok. Private transfer to the international airport in Lombok (approximately 1 hour) for your flight to Singapore, where you will head to your next destination, whether it be at home or another part of your trip. While the tour may be over you will never forget your magical experience of Sumatra, Java, and Lombok, Indonesia!