OVERVIEW

Mount Leuser is located in Aceh province. It is part of a national park which is named from the mountain itself. Mount Leuser National Park stretches from North Sumatera to Aceh province. A habitat for many endangered species such as Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhinos, Orang Utan, Sumatran Elephant, Sun Bear, and also many more unique species.

Approaching the top of Mount Leuser will not be easy. Eight days trekking through dense jungle and mountainous area. Everyday can be a long, 8-10 hours trek with tough terrain. Besides that, the precipitation is high and very humid that will be another challenge on the trek. Though the highlight is not about challenging trek, but a full package of wildlife experience, unique flora, and cultural.

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Medan-Blangkejeren
We start from Medan city to Kualanamu airport, then flight 40 minutes to Blangkejeren by Cessna Grand Caravan. Stay overnight with basic accommodation in Blangkejeren.

DAY 2

Kedah
We will move to Kedah village for preparation and packing for hiking. We can have some tour around Kedah in the spare time, a famous of Arabica Gayo Coffee. Stay overnight in Kedah at lodge.

DAY 3

Kedah-Simpang Angkasan-Puncak Angkasan
The trek will start from the jungle gate called Green Sinabuk at 1,555m. We will go through dense jungle from the start and today will be a long 8-10 hours trek. The trek will be quite tough because of dense vegetation and mostly of thorny rattan trees. Puncak Angkasan is located at 2,891m. Stay overnight.

DAY 4

Puncak Angkasan-Simpang 21-Lintasan Badak
Another 7 hours trek to a place called Lintasan Badak. We will walk along a ridge until Simpang 21 and then entering an area dominated by cinnamon trees. Stay overnight at Lintasan Badak.

DAY 5

Lintasan Badak-Blangbeke
Not far from Lintasan Badak, there’s a place called Bukit Perpanji. We will stash some of our logistics here for the journey back. Then there’s a long climb until Blangbeke. Today will take around 8-10 hours.

DAY 6

Blangbeke-Kolam Badak-Bivak 3
After Blangbeke, we will enter the moss forest and crossing three streams and a river 10m wide called Alas River. Three hours walk and we will arrive at a place called Kolam Badak, which is the area where the Rhino wallow. It’s an open space so we can see the vicinity of Mount Leuser area. After that, going uphill again for 6 hours until Bivak Camp. Stay overnight.

DAY 7

Bivak 3-Bivak Kaleng-Bivak Batu
From here, we go up and down the hills and valleys towards a place called Bivak Kaleng, which can be done in 6 hours walk. Bivak Kaleng is an area on the top of small hill. Continue walk for an hour to Bivak Batu where we will make camp tonight.

DAY 8

Bivak Batu-Football field
The slope is not too steep after Bivak Batu. 5 hours to Padang Savana. This is the last camp before the summit.

DAY 9

Football field-Puncak Loser-Puncak Leuser-Football field
The highest point of Mount Leuser is called Puncak Tanpa Nama, second is Puncak Loser, and last one is Puncak Leuser. Today we will trek to Puncak Leuser. It will take 1,5 hours from Football field. Then, continue to Puncak Loser that will take 2 hours from Puncak Leuser. 4-5 hours trek back to football field camp. Stay overnight.

DAY 10

Football field-Puncak Tanpa Nama-Football field
Today we will trek to the highest one, Puncak Tanpa Nama or Unnamed peak. It will be 5-6 hours roundtrip from football field. As an alternative, we can go directly to Krueng kluet Camp or back to Football field camp.

DAY 11

Football field camp-Bivak
Descend to Bivak camp or Alas River camp.

DAY 12

Bivak-Lintasan Badak
Descend to Lintasan Badak

DAY 13

Lintasan Badak-Simpang Angkasan
Descend to Simpang Angkasan

DAY 14

Simpang Angkasan-Kedah
Descend to Kedah Village. Arrive in the afternoon. Stay overnight.

DAY 15

Kedah-Medan
From Kedah, we go to Blangkejeren and catch our flight back to Medan. Transfer to hotel. End of expedition.

PREPARATION

Because it’s a long trek on Mount Leuser, you need to improve your endurance by focusing the training on cardiovascular capability and carrying pack. You need to be able to walk for a long time with at least 10kg of pack. Go weekend hiking regularly will be the best training. It can be started with 8 km round trip hike with roughly 6kg pack, ascending and descending 600m, in less than 2.5 hours. The aim is to ascend 900m carrying an average pack of 10 kg in 3 hours. To reach it, try to increase the difficulty of your training in some way, either by adding weight to your pack (no more than 10 percent per week) or by completing the hike in a shorter amount of time.

In addition, you can do running two to three times a week for 45 minutes to an hour per session. Running on a route that have elevation gain will be a lot better, or use treadmill if there’s no such terrain in your hometown. You can change one of your running sessions in a week with cycling or swimming and especially you need to do also stair climbing with at least 10kg pack. It will be a good cross training. Besides that, muscle training is advisable. Strengthen your upper and lower body muscle, as well core muscle. You can do it at the gym or do your own set of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, plank, etc. You need to train 3 months prior to the expedition. It will increase the rate of success.

GEAR LIST