Halaban Ecotourism Nature Escape

€100.00

Established in mid-2023, Halaban Ecotourism was created by local villagers to protect the rainforest and provide alternative livelihoods through responsible tourism. Located 105 km from Bukit Lawang (about 4 hours by car), Halaban lies on the border between North Sumatra and Aceh. The area is surrounded by palm oil plantations but remains a vital buffer zone for Gunung Leuser National Park — home to roughly 20 wild elephants that roam freely through the forest.

Established in mid-2023, Halaban Ecotourism was created by local villagers to protect the rainforest and provide alternative livelihoods through responsible tourism. Located 105 km from Bukit Lawang (about 4 hours by car), Halaban lies on the border between North Sumatra and Aceh. The area is surrounded by palm oil plantations but remains a vital buffer zone for Gunung Leuser National Park — home to roughly 20 wild elephants that roam freely through the forest.

Your visit helps:

  • Protect the rainforest from encroachment and illegal logging

  • Provide income for the Halaban community through ecotourism

  • Support conservation of wild Sumatran elephants

Why Visit Halaban

  • Witness wild Sumatran elephants roaming freely — sometimes as close as 50 meters

  • Observe their natural behavior: how herds protect their young, feed, and move through the forest

  • Learn from local guides about the challenges of human-elephant coexistence and conservation efforts

  • Experience real wilderness — no fences, no riding, no captivity

  • Support eco-conscious tourism that benefits both people and wildlife

About the Sumatran Elephant

  • The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is a subspecies of the Asian elephant found only on Sumatra.

  • Height: up to 3.5 meters

  • Weight: up to 6 tons

  • Lifespan: up to 70 years

  • Status: Critically Endangered, with fewer than 1,400 remaining in the wild

  • These gentle giants face serious threats from deforestation, palm oil expansion, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Visiting Halaban helps raise awareness and funds for their protection.

Tour Overview

  • Duration: Full-Day Trip (Approx. 12 hours total)

  • Location: Halaban Village, North Sumatra (border of Gunung Leuser National Park)

  • Travel Time: 4 hours each way by car

  • Trekking Duration: 2–3 hours (moderate level)

  • Group Size: 2–6 participants

Tour Price

  • IDR 1,900,000 / €100 / $115 per person

  • (Minimum 2 – Maximum 6 participants)

  • Advance booking required (at least 3 days before departure)

    • Private transportation (Bukit Lawang ⇄ Halaban)

    • Meals: local lunch and dinner

    • Drinking water throughout the day

    • Certified English-speaking guide

    • Local Halaban community guide

    • Entrance permits & documentation support

    • Conservation contribution fee

    • Breakfast

    • Personal expenses

    • Travel insurance

    • Tips for guides and drivers

    • Comfortable hiking shoes with good grip

    • Lightweight, breathable clothing

    • Long trousers & sleeves for insect protection

    • Hat & sunscreen

    • Insect repellent

    • Refillable water bottle

    • Camera & binoculars

    • Small backpack & waterproof bag

Responsible Tourism Promise

  • At Sumatra Orangutan Treks, we are deeply committed to ethical travel and wildlife conservation.

  • Every Halaban tour supports:

  • Protection of wild elephant habitats

  • Sustainable income for local villagers

  • Reforestation and anti-logging patrols

  • Zero-waste policy (no plastic bottles or litter)

  • No animal riding, feeding, or captivity

See the elephants free, not chained.
Travel consciously — protect what makes Sumatra wild.
— SUMATRA ORANGUTAN TREKS