Schedule as follows:

•  Day One

Arrive in Medan.

You will visit the Sumatran Orangutan Society's project headquarters to hear a presentation about the organisation's work to save the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan and its habitat. You will then travel to Bukit Lawang where there will be time to check into your accommodation and soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the awe-inspiring surroundings of the Bohorok River . You can enjoy the rest of the day acclimatising and relaxing after your journey , or if there is time you may like to visit the forest to see the Orangutan feeding in the afternoon.

•  Day Two - Trek day one

Before setting off on the first day of the trek, you will visit the orangutan feeding in the morning – a fantastic opportunity to see ex-captive orangutans living wild in the forest. The next four days will be spent trekking to Tangkahan through the jungle, a unique way to experience life in the rainforest. The terrain will be steep, but the views will be spectacular, and there will be plenty of stops to allow you to acclimatise to the landscape.

On the trek you will be taught jungle survival skills: setting up camps, making fires, fishing, finding jungle food and medicine and cooking jungle food so that you can be totally independent from the creature comforts you may be used to!

•  Day Three - Trek day two

As you roam deeper into the rainforest, your chances of encountering wildlife increase. You may hear gibbons singing in the morning, and see magnificent hornbills swooping overhead. Keep your eyes peeled for orangutans – they are surprisingly tricky to spot! Your guides will point out a variety of wildlife and plant species. You will spend your second night camping in the forest.

•  Day Four – Trek day three

Your third day of trekking will see you walking through an oil palm plantation – these plantations are now the greatest threat to orangutan habitat, as forest is cleared to produce palm oil. You will notice the endless rows of palm trees reaching right to the border of the national park, and the complete lack of wildlife; it is rare to even hear birdsong in the plantations. You will camp in the plantation this evening.

•  Day Five – Trek day four

Pack up camp and leave the area just as you found it. Time to get those sore muscles stretched and any blisters covered so that you are prepared for your last day of trekking. Today you will spend around 4 hours navigating your way through the jungle.

You will arrive in the beautiful village of Tangkahan in the afternoon and spend the night at Mega Inn, where some good food, cold drinks and a real bed await you!

• Day Six

This morning you can take the weight off your feet and climb astride an elephant. This one hour trek will show you the jungle from a loftier viewpoint, and with elephants able to get closer to the wild animals of the jungle than we are, it may be a good time to get your camera out.

You will cross the Tangkahan river before dismounting and helping the mahouts wash the elephants in the river. The elephants are part of a Conservation Response Unit, conducting illegal logging patrols in the National Park. You will then tube down the river back to Mega Inn.

You will visit a local village school to meet some of the children and community members who will benefit from eco-tourism in the area. The rest of the afternoon can be spent swimming in the river, visiting a nearby jungle waterfall and hot springs , or relaxing on the pebble beach, watching for macaques in the trees around you.

Your last night will be spent staying at Mega Inn.

•  Day Seven

Return by private transportation back to Medan, then on to your international flight.