3D2N Ethical Wild Elephant Trekking & Orangutan Encounter
( Must Do )
Unleash your inner adventurer with an immersive 3-day, 2-night trekking expedition deep into the Gunung Leuser National Park. By spending three days in the forest, we move far beyond the village trails of Tangkahan, significantly increasing your chances of tracking wild elephants and spotting orangutans in their natural habitat.
You will sleep beneath the living canopy of the Sumatran jungle for two glorious nights at our campsites. This is a rare opportunity to explore the raw, less-visited sectors of the jungle with our expert local team. If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime wild animal encounter that is 100% ethical and no-riding, this is the ultimate adventure.
Itinerary
Welcome to Tangkahan
- Arrive in Tangkahan and settle in at our Eco Glamping Retreat
- Welcome drink
- Swimming in the Bulu River Waterfall (Optional)
- Dinner at the open-air Glamping restaurant
Into the Jungle
- 8:30 Home-cooked breakfast at Tangkahan Eco Glamping
- 10 am Depart our place and start to enter the National park
- Hike through the jungle for 2-3 hours before stopping for a jungle picnic lunch
- If you’re lucky, you can see wild animals such as orangutans, gibbons, long-tailed monkeys, hornbills and other animals.
- Learn about the many tree and plant species you pass in the rainforest
- Trek for a further 2 hours to reach the “cave ” (the bat cave). Here, you’ll enter inside the cave to view the large colony of bats that call it home (and maybe discover a few other creatures living in the dark)!
- After the bat cave, it’s just a 30 minute walk to reach our first camping spot, called “Sekucip.” This is where you’ll find one of the true Tangkahan icons – a natural hot spring tucked into the side of the river.
- Soak your tired feet in the hot spring, swim and relax while our team prepare a fantastic meal for you – you will be served a variety of local dishes and fresh fruit
- After dinner, feel free to hang out with the team, playing cards and chatting, go for a short night trek, or head off to sleep in your comfortable little tent setup.
Adventures to the Goat Cave
- 8-9am Fuel up with a delicious jungle breakfast of pancakes, omelettes, fried noodles or rice (and of course, the freshest, yummiest fruit)!
- Once you’re ready, we’ll cross the river and head back into the jungle for 2 hours of discovery and adventure.
- We’ll pass ancient buffalo routes, were loggers dragged enormous felled trees out of the rainforest. You can still see these old pathways and view some of the large pieces of wood left behind.
- We’ll pause for a typically delicious jungle lunch amid the forest, before continuing our rainforest expedition in search of orangutans, gibbons, hornbills and more.
- In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Goa Kambing – the “Goat Cave” (don’t worry, there are no actual goats here these days!)
- Here, you can rest and relax while our amazing team sets up your tents and cooks you a fantastic meal.
- After dinner you have the option to do a short night trek, or relax and enjoy the vibes with our team.
- Spend the night tucked up in your tent inside the Goat Cave.
In Search of Wild Elephants
- 8-9am Fuel up with a delicious breakfast of pancakes, omelettes, fried noodles or rice (and of course, the freshest, yummiest fruit)!
- After breakfast, we’ll trek for 3-4 hours to the territory where wild elephants are usually found
- Pause for a break while our experienced team assess the location and mood of the wild herd and plan the best place to see them from a safe and respectful distance
- After observing the elephants, it’s time for lunch, and a short trek back to our jeep pickup area for the 1-hour journey home.
- dinner at Tangkahan Eco Glamping with a chicken BBQ menu, + traditional local vegetable foods, and various other delicious menus
- After dinner you can do a mini trek at night to see active animals around Tangkahan Eco Glamping.
See You Next Time
- Enjoy a lazy breakfast at Tangkahan Eco Glamping
- Check out at 12-1
♦︎ Top Highlights
- 3 Days in the jungle increases your chances of seeing wild orangutans and other, shyer species (but of course, they are wild animals, so there are no guarantees).
- Visit the bat cave and see the bat colony
- Relax in a natural hot spring and camp next to the river
- Sleep in the old “Goat Cave” in the middle of the jungle – during rainy season, there is even a small waterfall next to the cave
- Hopefully, observe wild elephants in their natural habitat in an ethical way
- Learn about the history of illegal logging in the area as we pass enormous old fallen trees during the trek
- The adventure of night trekking to see nocturnal animals like fireflies, civets, glowing fungus and other reptiles and insects.
☞ What to Bring
- Water bottle and water (guides will provide extra water for the entire journey
- Hat
- A change of clothes for the next day (we recommend packing at least two extra tshirts/shirts to feel comfy – clothes take forever to dry in the rainforest!
- Toilet paper
- Sunblock
- Insect repellent
- Head lamp or flashlight
- Towel
- Cameras or phones to capture photos or video
- Comfortable, light, non-slip shoes for trekking
- Rainforest friendly soap or shampoo if needed
✍︎ Need to Know
- Please understand that while we will do our best to locate the wild elephant herd, there is a chance that we won’t find them or that it’s not safe or appropriate to view them – no guarantees!
- Wearing long pants and long sleeves are a good idea to protect against insects and plants
- The full-day treks take around 5-6 hours, including rest stops
- The animals are wild, so we never guarantee that you’ll spot any particular, but we’ll do our best to show you the amazing flora and fauna living in the rainforest.
- You will sleep in small tents with blow up mattresses
- 1 tent sleeps 2 adults maximum
- Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary preferences when booking this tour.
✓ What's Included
- 2 nights stay at Tangkahan Eco Glamping
- 1 night stay at the Goat Cave Camp
- 2 Breakfasts and 2 Dinners at Tangkahan Eco Glamping
- 2 Breakfast, 3 Lunches and 2 Dinners in the Jungle (plus snacks)
- Professional and ethical English-speaking guides to accompany you
- Entrance ticket to the National Park
- Porters
- Jeep ride back to accommodation
