Travel type

Expedition grade

Duration
Days
Accomodation

FROM
$ (AUD)

OVERVIEW

The Last Place on Earth Challenge has been created to help raise urgently needed funds along with worldwide awareness of this critically important habitat. This is your chance to become part of an event that truly helps to make a difference for the orangutans, rhinoceros, elephants and tigers and their rainforest home in the Leuser Ecosystem.

At around 2.63 million hectares, the Leuser Ecosystem really is a world unto itself”a rich expanse of original tropical lowland rainforests, cloud-covered mountains and swampy peatlands. It is among the most biodiverse ecosystems ever recorded by science, and it is the Last Place on Earth where Sumatran orangutans, elephants, tigers and rhinoceros still roam free side by side.

Unfortunately, the Leuser Ecosystem is now under threat. Despite being protected under Indonesian national law, massive industrial development is being planned for logging, palm oil, pulp and paper plantations and mining which threaten the entire ecosystem, as well as the continued wellbeing of the millions of Acehnese traditional landholders who depend on the ecosystem for their food, water and livelihoods.

Will you join this event as either a participant or a sponsor to help with the protection of the Leuser Ecosystem? Learn more about what's at stake in the animation video below.

Time is definitely short, especially in the lowland rainforests and the carbon-rich peatlands. We need to take urgent action to secure the permanent protection of the priceless Leuser Ecosystem. Given the scale of the climate and biodiversity crisis, we simply cannot afford to lose the critical habitat.

The funds raised from this event will go to our local partners working tirelessly on the ground to protect and restore the Leuser Ecosystem. 

VIDEO

ITINERARY

Trek - Climb - Raft - Survive.
This remarkable expedition has it all. You will be tested to your limits as well as thrilled like never before inside the amazing Leuser Ecosystem.

A truly amazing, non-stop, exciting adventure in the Last Place on Earth ...and YOU will be making a DIFFERENCE to help save the precious and endangered Leuser Ecosystem!

Itinerary:
Dates: 7th to 23rd June 2023
Duration : 17 Days / 16 Nights
Grade: Difficult / Extreme

Day 1: 7 June: Arrive Medan
Today you will fly into Medan (Sumatra) and be met at the airport by one of our event team members and transferred to your accommodation. Tonight the group, along with our local guides, will meet for dinner and a tour briefing in the hotel.(D)

Day 2: 8 June: Medan - Ketembe
This morning we will conduct a final gear check before boarding our bus for travel (approx 10 hours drive) through to our basecamp in Ketembe (Aceh). With some nice weather, we will see amazing views of the mountains, volcanoes and more across the incredible Leuser Ecosystem and the areas where will spend the next two weeks. Overnight at our jungle lodge (B,L,D)

Day 3: 9 June: Ketambe Jungle Trekking 2 days/1 night.
You will spend the next two days experiencing the wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs. After an early breakfast, we will head off into the Park. This amazing ecosystem will provide us with viewings of orangutans, Thomas Leaf monkeys, gibbons, macaques, hornbills and more. We will start the trekking adventure into the jungle viewing wildlife as we trek. We will stop at a river along the way for a swim and may even find a hot water spring. As we continue to trek will enjoy more viewings of wild orangutans; hopefully including that of a dominant male. We may also see gibbons and most certainly hear them. Tonight we will camp overnight in tents in the National Park - camping equipment including tent, mattress, pillow and blanket is supplied. (B,L,D)

Day 4: 10 June: Ketambe - Leuser Ecosystem Trek
This morning we will wake to the amazing sounds of the jungle before trekking out of the jungle looking for wildlife along the way. Afternoon we return to Ketmbe lodge for our overnight stay. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - 9: 11-15 June: Ketambe - Summit Gunung Kafi Climb

• Day 5: This morning our transportation will pick us up from the Ketemabe lodge at 6:00 am to transfer to Meluak village. We will arrive at Meluak village (our starting point) at around 7:30 am. Upon arrival, we will prepare all the equipment with our guides and porters and start trekking at around 9:00 am. We will walk for approximately 9 hours (including a 1 hour stop for lunch) to camp 1.(B,L,D)
• Day 6: After breakfast, we will start trekking at 7:00 am from camp 1 to camp Belanda for lunch. We will then continue trekking to Camp 3 (Camp Teturunan) for overnight. (Approximately 8 hours trekking today) (B,L,D)
• Day 7: After breakfast, we will start trekking at 7:00 am. We will hike to the top of Mount Kafi (approx. 2,500 ASL). We will find a nice place to stop and enjoy lunch then visit Uning, a place where the animals often go to drink. Please note: we will provide masks as it is possible that sulphur gas will be around. (Approximately 6 to 7 hours trekking today) (B,L,D)
• Day 8: After an early breakfast we will start trekking back down the mountain at 6:00 am. We will hike to Camp 1 via Camp Belanda (Camp 2), where will we stop for lunch. We will then continue walking to Camp Manuk and stop for the night. (Approximately 7 to 8 hours trekking today) (B,L,D) 
• Day 9: After breakfast will leave Camp Manuk at 6:00 am and return to Meluak village with a lunch stop along the way (approximately 7 hours trekking). We expect to arrive at Maluak village around 4:00 pm where will stop for a drink, coffee or tea with the local guide team. We will then say thank you and farewell our wonderful team. Afterwards, we will travel back to Ketembe for dinner and our overnight stay at our jungle lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - 11: 16-17 June: Ketambe - FKL research station - Reforestation and Trekking - Ketembe

• Day 10: This morning we will wake to the amazing sounds of the jungle before trekking out of the jungle looking for wildlife along the way. We will then travel to meet Rudi and hear about his program with FKL. At FKL we will be introduced to their important work and take a short jungle trek looking for wildlife. We will stay overnight at the research station jungle lodge. (B,L,D)
• Day 11: Today will spend with FKL- Programme to be finalised. We will spend our final night at Ketambe jungle lodge and prepare for rafting the next day.(B,L,D)

Day 12 - 14: 18-20 June: Ketambe - Gelombang 3 days / 2 nights rafting on the Alas River.

• Day 12: This morning we depart Ketambe after breakfast at 7:00 am and travel approximately two hours to Muaras Tulen village. We will arrive at Muaras Tulen village (our starting point) at around 9:30 am and start rafting to camp 1 (Muara Renun) at around 11:00 am. Muara Renun is our camping spot for tonight.
• Day 13: This morning we will start rafting after breakfast at approximately 7:00 am. We will arrive at Soraya Research Station and the elephant area). We stop here for our overnight camping.
• Day 14: Today we trek 5 to 6 hours, (including a one hour lunch stop) in the Soraya area and then back to the camp, stop for our night of camping.

Day 15: 21 June: Soroya - Gelombang - Lake Toba.
This morning, after breakfast we will travel down the river by motorised canoes to Gelombang village and transfer to Lake Toba for our overnight accommodation. Lake Toba is the site of the biggest eruption recorded in history and plays a significant role with the orangutans. Along the way, we will travel Subu Salam - Sidikalang “ Tele “Pangururan. We will cross Lake Toba to the island of Samosir and arrive in Parapat at around noon where we will have a two-night stay at the Tabo Cottages on Samosir Island. (B,L,D)

Day 16: 22 June: Lake Toba
Today you will tour Samosir Island to Tomok, Ambarita and Simanindo. On this magnificent island, you can visit the typical Toba Batak villages: Tomok with its kings' tombs, Ambarita with its megalith execution tables and in Simanindo you can see traditional Batak dances. There is also the option of just relaxing around the hotel and having a swim. Overnight at Lake Toba. (B,L)

Day 17: 23 June: Lake Toba - Medan Airport - Home.
An early morning departure will have us head off to Medan airport to meet with your connecting flights home or onward travel. Tour ends (B)

*Subject to changes without notice due to prevailing conditions

TRIP EXTENSIONS
Why not think about seeing more amazing locations in Indonesia after your orangutan expedition? For details about our exciting trip extensions to other parts of Indonesia contact us: hayley@orangutanodysseys.com

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

How does the LPOEC work?
The expedition consists of a group of up to 10 adventurous and passionate people from countries around the world. The team will be travelling through the critically endangered Leuser Ecosystem, from trekking in pristine jungles to rafting down rivers to climbing a 2,500m+ mountain. All to help raise awareness and urgently needed funds to help save this vital jungle habitat. To become one of the lucky LPOEC 2022 participants, simply go to the 'Bookings' tab on this page and follow the directions.

Applications are open on a first come first served basis until all 10 positions have been filled. There is no pre-registration or qualifications required, but we are asking that you declare your understanding about the type of expedition travel, the level of difficulty and the costs involved.

How much will it cost?
The expedition cost in 2023 is AUD$4,655 per person. Each participant has a mandatory fundraising component of AUD$2,000 (minimum) per person which MUST be raised two weeks prior to the departure date. This is separate from the tour cost. More details about all the costs along with inclusions and exclusions can be found on the tour page.

When is it on and how long does it go for?
The expedition begins on 7th June and finishes on the 23rd June 2023. The expedition will take 17 days/16 nights to complete, including travel and briefing days. Please see the 'Itinerary' page for details about each day, including locations, activities and travel times.

How are funds raised?
Each participant has their own minimum personal fundraising target of AUD$2,000, as part of their expedition commitment. The remainder of the targetted $50,000 is planned to be met through corporate sponsorship, general donations, and event supporters. We will also be launching the $1 donate option and hope to get up to 100,000 people across the globe to donate $1 each through the website. Links to this page will be promoted on Social Media.

People will also be able to sponsor their favourite trekker (that's you) and follow the event through Facebook and Twitter. Donations will be accepted in all currencies via credit card and Paypal, through the fundraising website. Tax receipts for all donations are automatically generated and sent via email. 

If you wish to help the challenge by hosting an LPOEC fundraiser, please contact us, using the Contact Us form provided on the website or email info@lastplaceonearthchallenge.com  

We believe we have the means to raise over $50,000 in a united effort by all countries, which will significantly help conservation efforts in this location.

Where does the money raised go?
100% of monies raised will go towards the local on-ground conservation projects via The Orangutan Project (TOP). Our local Indonesian NGO partners FKL and HAKA will be the main beneficiaries to continue their mission to save the Leuser Ecosystem.

"TOP strives to get the best conservation and welfare results for orangutans and their habitats by effectively using every dollar raised to support genuine on the ground conservation work through a wide range of partners. Working in a non-partisan way provides the orangutans with their best chance. The Last Place on Earth Challenge is a perfect display of both the challenge to save orangutans and the spirit of mutual cooperation that is needed to meet that challenge", says Leif Cocks, TOP Founder, and President.

How do I get to Medan?
Medan is in northern Sumatra, with the major airport being Medan Kualanamu International Airport (KNO). There are many daily direct flights to Medan from both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Airlines that service these routes include Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Air Asia, Malaysian Airlines and Jetstar Asia. Please contact us if you would like a quote for your flight connection to Medan from either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. 

INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

INCLUSIONS

• Accommodation at Medan hotel on Day 1 (twin-share basis)
• Accommodations in Ketambe and Lake Toba (twin-share basis)
• All meals as outlined in the itinerary (B,L,D)
• All National park fees
• All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicles to all locations
• Professional local guides through the expedition
• Donation included for one Orangutan Adoption
• Ranger and local guide fees
• Porters
• Access to the FKL restoration site and accommodation in Jungle Lodge
• Camping equipment including; tent, mattress, blanket and pillow
• Rafting safety equipment including' helmet and life jacket
• Drinking water throughout

EXCLUSIONS

• International airfares or any costs relating to delays or cancellations
• Travel Insurance (mandatory and must include cover for emergency evacuation)
• Tipping
• Personal expenses; laundry, alcohol, phone calls, etc

BOOKING INFORMATION

YOU'RE READY TO SIGN UP! - WHAT NEXT?
Thank you for deciding to join the Last Place on Earth Challenge for 2023. You will be part of a team that will experience an incredible challenge, as well as help contribute to the long term survival of the Leuser Ecosystem. This will be a life-changing expedition that will remain with you for life. The expedition cost is $4655.

We are accepting bookings strictly on a "first-come, first-served" basis. There is no pre-registration or pre-qualification necessary. Simply follow the directions below.

Please note that you will be required to confirm the following conditions as part of your entry.

• You understand this is will be a physically difficult journey, through a hot and humid environment that can be harsh at times.
• You understand the tour cost is $4655 and that your deposit is strictly non-refundable. Please note any forfeited deposits will be donated to the event.
• We recommend travel insurance be taken out immediately after your booking is made to allow you to submit a claim in the case of injury or sickness.
• You understand the dates of the event and that you are available for that period of time.
• You understand that the fundraising component of the event is required to be fully completed two weeks PRIOR to departure. You will be required to provide your credit card details so that any shortfall in the minimum fundraising amount be deducted from this credit card prior to your departure.
• You are a minimum of 18 years of age.

To book please follow these two steps.

1 - Booking and Deposit Payment
Please click 'book now' on the tour page. Complete the required information on the booking form and pay your 20% deposit via Paypal or direct deposit.  

2 - Entry Form LPOE Form 2022.pdf
Please download and complete the Entry Form. Scan or take a photo of your completed form, then send it to hayley@orangutanodysseys.com

Congratulations! You are now part of this amazing event for 2022 and can now start helping us promote the event and commence your fundraising.