Welcome to responsible travel in North Sumatra
Forests at Landak River
Located just 4km from Bukit Lawang, but unknown to many foreign tourists. The fragmented karst forests are less explored but wild orangutans inhabit and other interesting wildlife. Join us to explore this amazing place
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Landak River
Hidden Forests at Landak River
Landak River is located just 4km South from the main touristic area of Bukit Lawang. There are just a couple of guesthouses nestled along the river, it is scarce of tourists and still tranquil.
The hidden forest at Batu Kelinici and Batu Kapal sit close to the clean and slow flowing Landak River and overlook the beautiful mountains of the Leuser National Park. The area was once covered in virgin forest, but some areas were cleared of large canopy trees and other areas completely cleared for monoculture rubber and oil palm plantations, thus leaving fragmented areas of forests.
However, this does not mean that there is no wildlife. These secondary forests are hidden on and within huge rock formations. This area is a unique environment rich in biodiversity where wild Orangutans live along with many bird species, butterflies, insects, small mammals and other monkeys, such as the Silver leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus). The land here is geologically interesting with towering limestone cliffs, rock formations, cave networks with dangling lianas and straggling fig roots. What a great place to explore!
Our Responsibility
It is peaceful, tranquil and allows for a real wild experience without any established trails. Because these forests are fragmented they are a delicately balanced ecosystem which we want to preserve. Treks here are eco-friendly and sustainable, using local people as guides. This gives them an income and an incentive to protect the area.
We also only take between 2-3 people maximum on these eco-treks as we do not want to destroy the environment.
We offer a few trekking options to see this beautiful place including an over night stay in a local guesthouse or camping in the forest under the rocks. Want to combine natural beauty, nature with adventure.... then join our adventure trek. These treks are suitable for individuals and couples, and would suit anyone with reasonable fitness.
If your looking for something a little different from the classic treks in Bukit Lawang and want to contribute to conservation: then this is your place!
Our Eco - Treks
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Batu Katak 2 Day Eco-trek
Before Your Trip
Nature Eco Trek
Join this 1/2 day tour or full day with lunch to discover all the different habitats and wildlife along Landak River. Walk through monoculture rubber and oil plantations and learn about the local agriculture and spot birds.
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First stop, to see the Tualang tree, known locally as the 'King Tree', as its one of the tallest tropical trees species, towering about 50m.
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Walk up river to spot butterflies, birds, dragonflies and other insects
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Meet your local guide who will then take you into the hidden forest at Batu Kelinci to see the incredible rock formations and the wildlife that lives amongst it. Hopefully here you will spot a wild orangutan.
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See different animal footprints in the mud under the rocks
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Sit under the huge over-hanging rocks to listen nature sounds and spot birds
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Visit a large straggling fig tree
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Full Day tour includes:
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You will eat lunch either under the over-hanging rock or by the river.
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Walk along the river to look at butterflies and other nature, like bee-eater birds
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Learn about the tree and medicinal plants
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Walk up to Batu Kapal to search for wild orangutans
This trek is slow paced so wildlife can be spotted and pictures can be taken.
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Inclusions
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Certified Guides & Local Guide
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Locally made lunch
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Seasonal Fruits and snacks
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Possible Wildlife Sightings
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Thomas-leaf monkey, long-tailed macaque, wild orangutan, silver-leaf monkey, wild orchid, squirrel, birds, butterflies, monitor lizard, spiders, snakes, scorpion
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One of the lagoons for swimming at Landak River
Towering limestone Rocks
Frog Mating in the hole for rubber
Wild male Orangutan
Silver leaf monkey (Presbytis cristata) eating small orange seeds at Batu Kelinci
Over-hanging rocks, good place to sit and relax
malay lacewing (Cethosia hypsea)
Blue Throated Bee-eater at Landak River
1 Day Bat Cave & Hidden Forest Tour
Looking for natural beauty, wildlife and the thrill of an adventure? ..... then this Adventure trek is for you!
The tour will begin at the Bat Cave
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Enter the picturesque cave with dangling lianas which opens into the first cavern. Admire the stalactites and stalagmites, whilst walking into the complete darkness.
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Climb through small crevices and over limestone rocks to the other 2 caverns where many bats hang from the ceilings. There are 2 species of bats that live in this cave.
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Your guide will guide you through the cave to the last cavern, taking about 1 hour to return to the entrace.
After exiting the cave you will walk (or motorbike ride) through rubber and oil plantations before arriving at Landak River.
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Hike through a rubber plantation to the hidden rocks and forests at Batu Kelinci, where you may get to see a wild orangutan. Rest under Umbrella cave before clambering through cave systems and over the rocks. Clamber up the side of one of the huge rock cliffs to sit on the top!
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​Eat lunch by the river. Swim, relax and cool off.
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​Continue onto the famous Batu Kapal where the local guide will take you through this amazing cave system, scrambling up over rocks, squeezing and sliding down huge rocks formations.
Inclusions
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Certified Guide & local guide
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Entrance fee
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Lunch & Seasonal Fruits
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What to Bring
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Rucksack with large water bottle, comfortable trainers/walking boots, torch, camera, suncream, insect repellent, bincolours, clothes for swimming
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Our friend at the entrance of the bat cave with liana's and the roots of staggling figs hanging down
An opening in the bat cave with light shining through
Guests clambering over rocks at the bat cave
A guest exploring the rocks at batu kapal
guest taking a hike up one of the towering rock formations at batu kelinci
Guest pretending to hold up one of the large rocks at batu kapal
Why are these forest patches important?
These extraordinary forest patches are hidden and have unique features which create an environment for diversity. The steep, often inaccessible limestone rocks have retained much of their tree cover, even though the surrounding areas have lost the large tree canopy.
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A small population of wild sumatran orangutans live amongst these forest patches, along with several other animals: Thomas-leaf monkey (Presbytis thomasi), Long and Short-tailed Macaques, which can often be seen. The less seen, but often heard, Silver leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus). There is evidence of porcupine, civet cats, wild pig, deer, leopard cat, and even slow loris.
There are many species of birds, insects and butterflies. Inside the cave systems bats fly about.
All the animals here are wild and behave naturally, so eco-treks here are about sitting quietly, observing at a distance and enjoying the environment.
Why Travel with Us?
