Visit Tangkahan, Indonesia

Tangkahan is a small rural settlement on the edge of the Gunung Leuser National Park. It is more isolated than Bukit Lawang and has not been developed to the same extent.

If you make the adventurous journey here you will be rewarded with unspoiled nature and the friendly local Karonese people. There is certainly plenty for all nature lovers here with walks to several waterfalls and springs; rafting or tubing down the Alas, Bamboo or Buluh Rivers and plenty of fantastic treks through the wild jungle. Rangers are on hand to lead the treks and although their English can be somewhat limited their friendly persona and excellent knowledge of the area is second to none. Tiger, rhino, clouded leopard (recently discovered to be an entirely new species), gibbon, and orangutan all inhabit the Gunung Leuser Park and although hard to find, you can attempt to track them down with your guides.

Trekking through the jungles of Sumatra may well bring you into contact with leeches, especially if you are out after rainfall. Leeches are not dangerous and you do not catch disease from them but they are a nuisance and you do need to expect to come across them. Leech socks are not available in Sumatra and are very hard to obtain in the UK.