Wild Sumatra, The Orangutans

Depart from Italy for Sumatra, Kuala Namu airport. Overnight on board.

Arrive in Kuala Namu early in the morning, meet the group, and depart for Bukit Lawang, where we’ll stay for the entire tour (approximately 3 hours of travel). The village, nestled on the banks of the Bahorok River at the edge of the jungle, is known as the “gateway sanctuary” to the world of orangutans.

Upon arrival, we’ll settle into our rooms and have some time to rest before embarking on our first photo excursion to familiarize ourselves: the village of huts, life along the river, the boatmen and their ancient customs.
The day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay in Bukit Lawang, immersed in the sounds of the tropical forest.

Starting around 6:00 a.m., we’ll begin our first trek in Gunung Leuser National Park. This park is probably the last true sanctuary in the world where the orangutan still lives free in its natural habitat. During the long but easy walks, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph them going about their daily activities, observing their grace and intelligence in the silence of the jungle.

Return to Bukit Lawang in the late morning, have lunch and have some time to rest. In the afternoon, more photo opportunities await in the village, amidst daily life and authentic smiles.
Dinner and overnight stay in Bukit Lawang.

Starting around 6:00 a.m., we’ll embark on a second excursion and dedicate a full day to Gunung Leuser National Park. With time available, we’ll be able to delve deeper into the forest, reaching remote places where human presence is rare and nature reigns supreme.

Lunch included during the excursion.
Return in the afternoon, dinner, and overnight stay in Bukit Lawang.

A half-day excursion to a nearby village: arriving early, we’ll capture the “awakening village,” with its voices, slow gestures, and the first light of day. We’ll visit the Islamic school and interact with the children as their lessons begin, while the women, with natural grace, go about their daily tasks—from washing clothes to preparing lunch.

We’ll then move on to the local market, where colors and scents intertwine in a whirlwind of life, offering endless photographic opportunities.
Lunch on site, returning to Bukit Lawang in the early afternoon.
Time for rest and, at sunset, another afternoon of photography in the village.
Dinner and overnight in Bukit Lawang.

A full-day excursion to Tangkahan, a small village off the beaten tourist track, completely immersed in the jungle, at the confluence of two rivers: the Buluh River and the Batang River.
The journey from Bukit Lawang takes about three hours and is an experience in itself: villages, animals along the road, expanses of greenery, and glimpses of life flowing along the edges of the jungle, offering endless photo opportunities.

Once we arrive in Tangkahan we will visit the elephant rehabilitation centre and witness the extraordinary experience of “elephant bathing”. We’ll descend to the river, where everyone can enter the water and brush the pachyderm, experiencing a genuine and profound connection with these gentle giants.
Those who participated in this experience described it this way: “I thought it was something for low-level tourists, but I had to change my mind: the interaction with the animals is something extraordinary.“

Lunch included.
Return in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Bukit Lawang.

A morning dedicated to taking photos in the village, among familiar faces, smiles, and scenes of daily life.
After lunch, we’ll resume our journey through the jungle with another trek in Gunung Leuser National Park, in search of orangutans.
At different times of the day, these extraordinary primates engage in different activities: this will be an opportunity to observe and photograph them in different light, in ever-changing poses and moments.

Dinner and overnight in Bukit Lawang.

A full day dedicated to exploring the customs and traditions of the local people. We’ll begin with a tuk-tuk ride through the green expanses of a rice plantation, passing children on their way to school, who will spontaneously offer themselves as photo subjects.

In the rice paddies, farmers work side by side with their buffaloes, the tireless pack animals typical of the region. During these explorations, photographic opportunities abound: children on bicycles transporting chickens, farmers with buffaloes crossing sparkling rivers, scenes that tell the story of rural life in all its everyday poetry.

We’ll also visit an artisanal palm oil plantation, the blessing and curse of these lands, observing how this crop can bring well-being but also create complex challenges. We’ll continue with the sugarcane harvest, typical of this period, capturing ancient gestures and daily rituals.

After the included lunch and a short rest, we’ll return to the village to capture the afternoon routine: children returning from school, the buffalo washing in the river, and the slow pace of life among the huts.
Return in the late afternoon, dinner, and overnight stay in Bukit Lawang.

The final day is dedicated to “farewelling” to the orangutans: the fourth trek, in the morning or afternoon, in the heart of Gunung Leuser National Park.
It will be an opportunity to capture your last moments with these extraordinary primates, observing them in their natural habitat and capturing unforgettable images of their gestures, gazes, and movements.

Our last morning was dedicated to photography in the village of Bukit Lawang, capturing the last details, smiles, and scenes of daily life.
Later in the day, we departed for Kuala Namu Airport, in time for our return flights to Italy.
Our fieldwork ended, our hearts filled with unforgettable memories and images of the Sumatran jungle.