An Epic 10-Day North Sumatra Itinerary for First-Timers
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Before I came to Sumatra, Indonesia, I had no idea what to expect. Usually, I do heaps of planning in advance for my own travels, but this was a 10-day itinerary designed and hosted for my blogging community.
Up until then, I had only been to Bali for a few months. But now that I have that experience under my belt, I wanted to outline our epic Sumatra itinerary here for those interested—plus some extra thoughts on what I’d do differently and what I felt was truly worth it!
If it’s your first time in Sumatra, then you will have the easiest time touring around North Sumatra. West Sumatra and other parts of this enormous island are accessible, but are far more remote.
As such, for a relatively short 10-day itinerary, including arrival and departure days, you’ll want to pick just 2–3 core experiences or destinations and plan at least two nights in each (considering distances and downtime).
This itinerary below details our own through North Sumatra regency, starting and ending in the capital of Medan, with two nights in each location:
- Bukit Lawang (for orangutan jungle trekking),
- Beresetagi (for volcano hikes and hot springs),
- and Lake Toba (for Batak villages and waterfalls).
Perhaps you can organize your own trip in a different order, but there’s a reason most first-timers to Sumatra follow a similar rough itinerary. These places all take you to the heart of what Sumatra is known for: wildlife, nature, and traditional culture!
Simply put, if I had to redo this trip, I’d follow our itinerary again, adding an activity or a day here and there. Please feel free to drop your questions in the comments below!
Our Adventurous 10-Day Sumatra, Indonesia Itinerary
Things to Know Before You Go:
🇮🇩 Take out cash at the ATM at Medan airport (~2 mil IDR was plenty for meals).
👚 Dress modestly; a shawl to cover your shoulders and knee-length trousers or shorts.
🚐 Sumatran roads and driving are precarious; be cautious and plan a private transfer or tour.
📱 Purchase an Indonesian eSIM to stay connected with 4G data. I got a 15-day eSIM for $13.50 (5GB).
💬 Sumatra speaks Bahasa Indonesia, with 52 distinct languages in total! Terima kasih means thank you.
Day 1: Arrival in Medan
Medan is a sprawling metropolitan, surrounded by plots of farmland and snaking rivers. But the city is just that—a city.
Aside from malls and colonial mansions, spend your spare time checking out either Medan’s grand Maimun Palace or the majestic mosque of Masjid Raya Al-Mashun. For getting around, download Grab or, better yet, hire a private Medan driver/tour.
Our group stayed at the Swiss-Belinn Medan, a well-rated, centrally located, comfortable hotel in the heart of the capital.
Days 2–4: Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang
The first stop on this itinerary is Bukit Lawang.
This unassuming small village on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra is one of the main gateways for jungle trekking to see wild Sumatran orangutans, as well as Thomas’s leaf monkeys, macaques, and gibbons.
We spent a total of three nights here, with one overnight camping in the jungle, and I couldn’t recommend it more.
If I had to stay again in Bukit, I’d go back to the Bukit Lawang Ecolodge. It’s such a beautiful, nature-integrated hotel by the Bohorok River.
It was well worth having the extra time in Bukit Lawang to enjoy a slower pace with river dips and relaxing evenings. Plus, there is more to explore after your jungle trek—cafes, guesthouses, river tubing excursions, and guided tours around the village and to nearby bat caves.
Days 5–7: Volcano Hiking & Hot Springs in Berastagi
After the humid, wet rainforest and jungle, how does a bit of cool mountain air sound? That’s why next on this North Sumatra itinerary is the town of Berastagi.
This village, nestled in a mountain valley surrounded by stratovolcanoes, lies between Medan and Lake Toba.
The reason to stay two nights in Berastagi (other than the long drive to get there) is so you can enjoy a full day of hiking to the summit of Mount Sibayak volcano, followed by a knee-soothing hot spring soak at XXX.
There aren‘t many places to stay in Berastagi. While it wasn’t my personal favorite out of our trip, I would stay again at the Sinabung Hills hotel or opt for a more local homestay experience.
While you can take a Mount Sibayak sunrise/day tour, this hike is definitely doable without a guide.
The town of Berastagi itself is busy—I much preferred Bukit in this sense. But the contrast between the volcano hike, the cooler mountain air, and the hot springs made it a worthwhile pit stop in the middle of our 10-day trip.
Days 8–9: Batak Villages & Culture on Samosir Island, Lake Toba
The last major destination on this itinerary is Lake Toba! This massive crater lake, formed by multiple supervolcano eruptions, is a must-visit on ANY Sumatra itinerary.
In its center lies an island nearly the size of Singapore — Samosir Island. On your way there from Berastagi, make sure to stop by Sipiso Piso Waterfall.
Once you reach Samosir, a stay on the Tuktuk Siadong Peninsula is a must, as it’s conveniently located near several traditional and long-standing Batak settlements. Some Batak Toba families still live as their ancestors once did, hundreds of years ago, in communal boat-shaped homes (which you can see inside). While the sacrificial and criminal justice rituals of beheading and heart-eating are no more, the Huta Siallagan village preserves the stone chairs where these ancient Batak justice ceremonies took place.
It was really fascinating to learn about the Batak Toba culture and how it still permeates everyday life on Samosir, and to witness and appreciate it through several tourism villages, crafts, dances, and galleries. Not to mention, Samosir has great coffee like the rest of Sumatra!
Plus, our lakeside hotel for our stay on Samosir, the Toledo Inn, was a perfect choice for our group. It had a beautiful, landscaped property with Batak-style architecture for the suites and rooms, a manicured lakeside pool, and great lake views.
Our only regret was not being able to stay longer, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. You can read more about things to do in Samosir Island in my guide.
Day 10: Departure From Medan
We spent one final night in Medan, but were too beat to go out and explore. I’d wager it’ll be the same for you if you follow this itinerary to the T.
For a final hoorah, I recommend eating at Tip Top Restaurant — Medan’s oldest, established in 1929. One last mie goreng for the journey home! 😉
In the morning, time to head onward! The best international flights out of Medan connect through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. I had an onward ticket back to Denpasar (Bali) and left feeling so grateful to have explored a lesser-known side of Indonesia.
I hope this outline of our epic Sumatra itinerary helps you plan your own! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below.