Bali & Sumatra Adventure - 18 Day Trip
Discover the best of Indonesias's islands
The ultimate blend of adventure and island bliss...
Are you ready to uncover the best of Indonesia? If you're looking for a tru-ly unforgettable, mind-blowing, epic 18 day adventure then look no further… Our Bali & Sumatra adventure is finally here! Picture this: untouched beaches, pristine waters and thriving, lush wildlife. Uncover Sumatra with us as we go off grid in untamed jungles with the local tribe of the Mentawai village, have spiritual experiences with a local Shaman and scuba dive with an abundance of marine life. Trek through jungles, slip and slide through water rapids and fall asleep deep in nature surrounded by the sounds of birds and the ocean before hopping on a plane and heading to Bali. Spend your days exploring temples, learning how to cook some incredible dishes, island hopping across the Gili islands and lounging on pristine, white, sandy beaches? It's giving ' The Best Of Both Worlds.' With hidden gems in Sumatra, Bali backpacking staples and adventure-packed days alongside chilled beach afternoons, this trip has it all!
What's Included
Your Trip Planner
Bali & Sumatra Adventure
18 Days
medan - gili trawangan
Map
Bucket List
Itinerary
welcome to sumatra
Say ‘Halo’ because it’s time for your Sumatra tour to begin! There’s no more waiting around, you and your new TruFam are officially on the way! Once you’ve arrived, we’ll pick you up from the airport and be on your way to meet the rest of your group and your Travel Ninja. We’ll run you through the next jampacked, exciting 18 days, where we’ll explore dense rainforests, encounter majestic wildlife, soak in scenic routes, and connect with local communities. Spend the rest of your evening exploring all the wonders Sumatra has to offer before you begin your journey around Indonesia’s largest island.
exploring bukit lawang and bat caves!
We hope you’re bright eyed and bushy tailed because we’re up early for our first full day! We’re off to the vibrant wilderness of Bukit Lawang, a beautiful spot nestled in the heart of Sumatra. Prepare to be captivated by the untamed beauty of nature as you set foot in this breath-taking paradise. Once we’re there, we’ll chill and grab a bite to eat before we head into the infamous Bat Caves (and we’re not talking the Christian Bale kind of bat either). You can watch in awe as the bats flutter and dance above your head and reveal their night-time rituals, it’s tru-ly an incredible experience. Get ready to start your own night-time ritual because after a full day, we’re going back to the accommodation for dinner and starting our first local night out!
orangutan trekking & river tubing
Hopefully you’re not feeling too rough this morning because it’s an early start! Once we’ve had breakfast and fuelled up for the day, we’re going out to spot the local wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for orangutans, monkeys, tropical birds and more as we venture deep into the rainforest. You’ll work up an appetite from all this walking, as your local guide has prepared a delicious lunch for you to chow down on. We’re then switching up walking for boats! We’re then rubber tubing down the river straight to the hotel doorstep - try and tell us that that isn’t cool?!
fly to padang!
After eating breakfast we’re catching an afternoon flight to Padang City. It’s a coastal location facing the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by lush green hills -it’s simply stunning. There’s beautiful beaches and incredible views to soak in, so take advantage of some free time in the afternoon once we’ve arrived. This evening is a slightly slower pace as we appreciate the most beautiful sunset and get plenty of rest before a busy day tomorrow!
mentawai village experience
Rise and shine! We’re making our way to our very own TruExclusive today! Deep in the jungle lies the Mentawai village to spend time with the local people of Sumatra, whose warm hospitality and traditions are tru-ly incredible. This is one of those moments that you’ll cherish forever. We take a fast boat to Siberut and the heart of the village for an authentic rural experience. You’ll have a lunch prepared for the locals before exploring the surrounding farm, where our host family will welcome us with open arms and stay in huts. You can’t do this anywhere else, but you know by now that here at Tru, we don’t do things by halves. We’ll then take a trip to the market, a hub for local handicrafts, textile, and souvenirs. We end the night with a wholesome night of playing games, chatting to the host family, and hearing their stories, sipping ice cold beers, and falling asleep to the mesmerising sounds of the birds around us.
vist village shaman & skill learning
It’s a very early start so make the most of the rest of your morning here before jumping into a crazy jungle adventure! It promises to awaken your senses and ignite your sense of adventure. When the clock hits 06:30 AM, get ready to dive deep into Mentawai culture as you spend your day in a traditional house called a “Uma”. This isn’t your typical visit, you’ll make genuine connections, learn foraging and hunting skills, and get to know the village’s Shaman. In the heart of nature, we’ll get to learn the wisdom of the indigenous tribe, from crafting their traditional threads, to mastering survival skills, your time in the jungle will be educational and life changing.
let's go to the beach!
Play Starships by Nicki Minaj because ‘let’s go the beach-beach, let’s go get a wave!’ Get packed up because it’s time to swap trees for sand. In the afternoon, we mosey down to Padang Harbour, and check out Nagari Sungai Pinang, the traditional fishing village that hugs the southern coast of Padang. We’ll spend our last few days in beach huts that are only a stone's throw away from crystal clear waters surrounded by nature -did someone say paradise?! Spend the morning however you want before we travel to our end destination. We arrive late evening, grab some dinner and listen to some live music. Sit back, sip a cocktail and soak up the magic of our last few days in Sumatra.
island hopping & turtle centre visit
It’s time to island-hop, we’ll jump into boats and head to surrounding marine hotspots to jump in! Grab your mask and snorkel and dive down as we swim along the vibrant corals, colourful fish and even maybe a turtle or 2! Our day will have us visiting Turtle Point, Nemo Point and Snake island to witness the natural beauty of Indonesia’s quieter island. Head to the beach and feel the sand between your toes, the breeze in your hair and the sun on your face as we have a chilled afternoon before heading to a turtle volunteer project. We’ll learn the importance of conservation, how Sumatra supports turtles within the ocean’s ecosystem and we’ll also help bathe turtles and get them ready for their release into the ocean! An incredible day and a s’hell of a good time! In the evening it’s back to our beach huts and dinner and drinks as the sun goes down. We’ll dance on the beach, sip cocktails and sing along to the live music. It’s our last night together as TruFam, it’s only right.. Right?
*Please note that the opportunity for releasing the turtles is extremley dependent on seasons, tides and the number of turtles ready for releasing*
travel day
It’s time to say goodbye to the stunning island of Sumatra. We’ve had some amazing experiences so far and we can’t wait to continue our journey. Have a chilled check out and make the most of your final moments on this beautiful island before we head to the airport and make our way to Bali! The past 9 days were Suma'thing special but the next part of the trip will be even more epic - you better Bali-eve it!
temples temples temples!
What’s a better introduction to Bali’s culture and history than visiting two of its most famous temples? (Make sure you pack something to cover your shoulders) We’ll make our way to the Royal Temple of Taman Ayun! It translates as ‘beautiful garden’ and it’s easy to see why. It's filled with gorgeous architecture, ponds full of exotic fish and lush greenery. Then we’ll head over to Tanah Lot, which is set on a rock formation and is so fun to explore. After a day of culture, get your dancing shoes on because we’re going OUT OUT. We’ll watch the sunset on one of the most picturesque beaches, before a big night out in Canggu. You may thank us, but your liver definitely won’t (Pretty Poison is also a cool club to check out, it’s essentially a giant skatepark indoors with bars and a dancefloor.)
surfs up!
We hope you’ve recovered from last night's boozing because we’re gonna go catch some bitchin’ waves. Get your board and your swimsuits because it’s time for your very own surf lesson on Kuta Beach, one of the best places to surf in Asia. Here, one of the best local Kuta instructors will teach you the basics of surfing, starting with how to stand up because trust us, it’s bloody hard. After a day on the crystal-clear waters, we’re going to head back and chill. Relax at the rooftop pool, or the beach, or the bar -we know we’ll definitely be at the bar.
ubud waterfalls
Make sure you’re up and packed because today we’re going to Ubud. Ubud is famous for its terraced rice paddies, temples, shrines, and yes, monkeys. We’ll stop off on the way to cool off in the most famous waterfall, Tegenungan waterfall, so make sure your cameras are charged and ready to snap some pics. If you can get a good picture of you emerging from the water flicking your hair, we’ll be impressed because we tried it and it’s not giving Little Mermaid at all. Once we’ve checked into the hotel, you’ll have time to do whatever you want whether you want to explore, chat to local people, or eat delicious food, before we go to one of Bali’s coolest live music destinations -it’s going to be a fun evening!
cooking class & monkey forest
Time for a Tru-ly unforgettable day (see what we did there?) with a Tru Exclusive. Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver haven’t got sh*t on you after you’ve taken part in a traditional Indonesian cooking class! We’ll start by having breakfast, before having a sneak peek at the freshest ingredients at the local markets. Then we’ll join the amazing Wayan and learn how to cook some of Bali’s famous dishes, as well as Canang Sari, the flower offerings made for the God. Obviously you’ll then get to eat all of the delicious food you’ve made today. Once our bellies are literally at capacity of how much Balinese food we can stuff ourselves with, we’re going to walk it off at the famous, sacred Monkey Forest. Make sure you don’t have sunglasses on your head, headphones in, designer bags, or dangling necklaces because these literal cheeky monkeys will nick whatever you have to hand. That Louis Vuitton cross body bag you have? Yeah, don’t bring that. But it’s a bucket list moment, it’s believed the hundreds of monkeys protect the temples inside, they mean a lot to the Balinese people. Then in classic Tru style, we’ll head back, and you’ll eat and drink with your TruFam and catch up and talk about the memories you’ve made so far.
rice terraces & volcano viewpoint
Fun fact: Half of the world’s population's daily diet is 20% rice! Get ready for one of the most famous and exciting things to do in Bali -wander through the stunning rice terraces of Tegalalang. Trek through the Ubud valleys, drink from a fresh coconut, and get the Insta worthy pic of you on a swing flying over the terraces that everyone recognises and will be jealous over! Whilst taking in the sites, you’ll also learn the importance of the grains of rice in the Balinese, and world, economy. After all of this, we’ll take you to Kintamani for some lunch overlooking the active volcano Mount Batur. The evening is all yours, spend it topping up your tan, picking up souvenirs at the vibrant, thriving markets, or drinking even more beer!
head to the gili islands
After a week of exploring and culture, we think it’s time we hit the beaches b*tchessss! We’re jumping on a bus before boarding on a ferry to the stunning Gili Trawangan (locally known as Gili T). We’ll check into our tropical accommodation in the heart of the island, where we’ll spend our final free days. Kick your feet back, paddle in the sparkling waters or sunbathe on the pristine, sandy beaches. There’s an incredible night life on this island, so get that bucket in hand and get ready to live it up!
island hopping adventure
It’s called ‘island hopping’, we call it sitting on a boat, feeling the sea breeze in your hair, and laying in the sun, aka bliss! We’ll hop around three islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, home to some of the most incredible snorkel spots. Get those snorkels on because you’ll see turtles (did someone saw aw?), stunning coral, and diverse marine life.
bike ride around gili t
Today we’re exploring the whole island on Gili T’s only mode of transport, pushbike! Think Ariana Grande Side to Side because we’re going to cycle around this beautiful island and explore all of the nooks and crannies, before taking a small trek uphill to the best viewpoint Gili T has to offer. You’ll then get the chance to enjoy one final sunset with your TruFam and reminisce about your epic time in Bali. You’ll have a farewell dinner (no tears allowed!) before finishing off with a small party to celebrate the best 18 days of your life.
chilled check out
Well, the final day has arrived. We know, it’s sad, but on the bright side you’ve had a memorable experience and met some friends for life! You’ll have a chilled check out, but if you’ve caught the travel bug and don’t want this to be the end, your Travel Ninja is on hand to help you on to your next adventure. Guys, it’s been a wild one. Whatever you do next, go home, and tell all your friends what you did on tour, or jet set elsewhere, keep in touch!
Where you'll be staying
Reviews
FAQs
Where does the trip start & Finish?
The trip begins in Medan and ends in Gili Trawangan.
Which airport do I need to fly into?
You will need to fly into Kualanamu International Airport (KNO.)
What is the closest airport to the end destination?
You will need to travel back to Denpasar International Airport (DPS). Please note that if you are booking a return flight on Day 18, we recommend that the earliest you can fly is around 7pm from Denpasar to allow for your journey back from Gili Trawangan. change to this: You will need to travel back to Denpasar International Airport (DPS).
The Ferry from Gili Trawangan starts at 9am and takes around 3 hours depending on conditions to Padang Bai, where you can then grab a taxi from the port to the airport.
What kind of accommodation is included on this trip?
The accommodation for this trip is all twin share private rooms.
What is the currency?
The currency in Indonesia is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Is my money protected?
Yep! You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe. We also offer 1 free date change before 60 days of your departure date.
Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We have no strict upper age limit on our tours but all of our tours are specifically designed for those of this age group which is worth noting when browsing through our website.
Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!
Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.