Sumatra Uncovered

Bags packed, the wait is over. Arrive in Medan and meet your Local Legend and the group, your future best travel pals, to talk through the nine days ahead: rainforest, wildlife and the communities who call Sumatra home. Spend the rest of the evening exploring Medan before we set off around Indonesia's largest island.

Up bright and early for breakfast, then we head into the jungle wilderness of Bukit Lawang. Once we arrive, there's time to drop our things and grab a bite before trekking to the Bat Cave, squeezing through dark passages as bats flutter overhead. Afterwards, we head back to our accommodation, then out for dinner on our first local night out.

Fuel up at breakfast; you'll need it. Boots on, we trek into the rainforest looking for orangutans, monkeys and tropical birds. Your local guide serves lunch in the heart of the jungle. After a short walk, we swap boots for tubes and ride the river all the way from the jungle to our hotel doorstep.

A travel day, taken slowly. After breakfast we transfer to the airport for an afternoon flight to Padang, West Sumatra's largest city and capital, set between green hills and the Indian Ocean. Once we land, the free time is yours to explore the city or nearby beaches. This evening we take it easy and soak up the sunset.

An early start for an exclusive experience. After breakfast, we take a fast boat to Siberut and head into the jungle to a Mentawai village, our homestay. Lunch with the locals, then we explore the family farm and walk to the beach for sunset. After dinner, a traditional healing ceremony and a games night with beers, before sleeping in huts to birdsong.

Up at 6.30am after a night in the jungle. After breakfast we spend the day in a traditional uma house, getting to know the village shaman and learning foraging and hunting skills, including the hunt for worms. We craft traditional threads, try our luck at a traditional fishing lesson and share lunch and dinner with our hosts.

After breakfast and a slow morning, we say goodbye to our Mentawai hosts. Lunch, then the fast ferry carries us back to Padang and a private transfer takes us to Sungai Pinang, a traditional fishing village on the coast. We arrive in the late evening to beachfront huts, dinner, a drink and a bonfire on the sand.

After breakfast, we jump on boats to snorkel Turtle Point, Nemo Point and Snake Island, swimming over colourful coral. After lunch and a chilled beach afternoon, we visit a turtle centre to learn about conservation and help bathe turtles, sometimes even releasing them, depending on the season. Tonight it's dinner, cocktails and live music on the beach, our last night together.

*Please note that the opportunity for releasing the turtles is extremely dependent on seasons, tides and the number of turtles ready for release*

One last breakfast by the sea, then it's time for a chilled checkout. Jungle treks, village life, island hopping and a lot of laughter. Once you've travelled with us, you're part of the family for life, so this isn't goodbye; it's see you later. Want to keep going? Our Bali and Sumatra Adventure is waiting.