Five Day Jungle Trek.

Itinerary:

Day One:

After a freshly cooked breakfast at the hot springs we will head out on our jungle adventure, following a stream until we reach our riverside rehabilitation area where we can partake in some tree-planting as part of our conservation work. We will then continue until we reach a beautiful waterfall staircase where we can stop and refresh.

After our break we will head deeper into the jungle where we will trek through areas known for wildlife activity. We will be looking for Sumatran Orangutans, Gibbons, Silver Monkeys and Thomas Leaf Monkeys. This is also a great area for spotting swallows, reptiles, insects and other bird and mammal life. If we are lucky we may also see evidence of Sun Bears, or one of the few Sumatran Tigers left in the wild. We will stop in this area of the jungle to have lunch.

We will continue on our jungle adventure until we reach Goa Terang (‘Bright Cave’) where we will spend the night. This is a great spot to do shorter treks through the jungle, with bat caves and secluded swimming spots not far from our campsite. We can spend the afternoon exploring or learning about traditional Indonesian jungle cooking.

Fall asleep enjoying the incredible experience of camping in a candle-lit cave looking out over the jungle.

Day Two:

Wake up to the sounds of the jungle, and enjoy a freshly cooked breakfast and a warm cup of tea or coffee. Today we will continue our jungle trek, heading to another incredible cave formation called Goa Gelap '(‘Dark Cave’) and Elephant Rock. These caves and rock formations are tucked amongst the trees and seldom visited by tourists.

Today we will also visit a place where we can see some larger jungle rock formations, which provide the perfect habitat for various reptiles and other wildlife. Trekking deeper into the jungle today is a great opportunity to increase your chances of seeing some of the wild animals in Gunung Leuser National Park that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Here we will look for and learn about medicinal plants and their properties that can be used for lots of different things. We will also enjoy a lunch together here where we can sit and watch the trees for activity.

We will continue our trek through the jungle until we reach our restoration area, a lookout spot with incredible panoramic views of the Gunung Leuser National Park canopy. This is a great place for spotting Gibbons and Hornbills who love to fly overhead if we are lucky.

Enjoy a campfire overlooking the jungle as we watch the sun set over the trees. There is also the opportunity to learn about traditional Indonesian cooking. Then, we can fall asleep looking up at the stars and listening to the sounds of the jungle.

Day Three:

Wake up to the sun peering over the hills of Gunung Leuser National Park, listening for the sounds of Gibbons and watching for the magnificent Hornbills to fly overhead as they often do. Today we will be heading back down into the jungle until we reach Teba River, a beautiful spot to camp. Tonight we will camp on the riverbank at a place where there are two rivers that meet. It offers great views of the dense jungle that grows along the edge of the river and a chance to see wildlife such as River Otters and other animals that come to the water to drink.

Once we arrive we will spend the afternoon swimming in the beautiful river, trying our hand at fishing, and looking out over the jungle for signs of wildlife. There is also a bat cave not far from camp we can explore.

Tonight we will set up a BBQ on the riverbank and enjoy a homemade dinner under the stars while we cook together. After dinner, local fisherman may come down to go spear fishing in the river. If they’re lucky you can watch them as they catch big catfish to enjoy.

Day Four:

This area is known to be frequented by Hornbills who like to fly through in the early mornings. If we are lucky we can begin our day watching these magnificent birds while we have breakfast.

Today we will embark on a Teba river adventure. We will head upstream along the rivers edge until we reach a beautiful spot called ‘Green Canyon’. This is an incredible spot that is largely untouched. We will stop to have lunch here and spend some time swimming up, and floating down, the beautiful canyon lined by jungle. Today will involve many river crossings and opportunities to enjoy the river, the lifeblood of the jungle.

We will head back to camp in time to start a campfire on the riverbank and have another BBQ while we watch for wildlife and gaze up at the stars.

Day Five:

Todays trek can be tiring so we will be sure to start early and stop for lots of breaks along the way (this is also a great excuse to stop for photos or some fresh fruit). We will trek up to our jungle lookout and restoration area where we will enjoy lunch looking over the jungle canopy before descending into the jungle.

We will pass through a beautiful area of the jungle that is known for its stunning wild orchids. We will finish off our adventures at Teroh-Teroh waterfall where we can cool off in the clear water. We will stop here for some food and hot tea before heading back to the hot springs.

We will aim to return by late afternoon so we can share stories of our adventure, and soak our muscles in the hot springs while we watch the sun set over the jungle.