Orangutan Paradise

Orangutan Paradise

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Tangkahan Sanctuary: Meet The Elephants And Help Bathe Them

Join us at the elephant sanctuary in Tangkahan, home to elephants rescued from forests affected by illegal logging. In addition to visiting the sanctuary, you’ll take a dip in the hot springs, swim in the river, enjoy stunning views of the Sumatra countryside, and savor a delicious local lunch.

The hidden paradise of Tangkahan

A few basic facts about Tangkahan:

  • Tangkahan is a small village on the border of Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra, about a 1,5-hour drive from Bukit Lawang. Here, you can meet rescued elephants and enjoy views of rubber and palm plantations.
  • As an ecotourism destination combating illegal logging, Tangkahan’s lush green surroundings invite exploration.
  • The LPT (Lembaga Pariwisata Tangkahan) and CRU (Conservation Response Unit) operate in the area, rescuing Sumatran elephants from illegally logged forests, protecting the national park, and providing livelihoods for local people as a preventive measure against illegal jungle logging.

 

And what awaits you on a trip to Tangkahan?

Tangkahan Elephant Sanctuary: Itinerary

What you will experience on a trip to Tangkahan Sanctuary:

  • Departure at 10:00 AM from your accommodation in Bukit Lawang.
  • Approximately 1,5 hours drive through local traditional villages past rubber and palm plantations with lots of beautiful views.
  • Local lunch in Tangkahan.
  • Walk through the village, swim at the river and hot springs, relax.
  • Around 3 PM transfer to the elephant sanctuary, where you can wash the elephants.
  • Around 5 PM return to Bukit Lawang.

Please note that those who visit Bukit Lawang after you also want to enjoy our beautiful nature. Therefore, we kindly ask you to familiarize yourself with and observe the rules of sustainable tourism, which you can find here.

From our treks and tours

More information about the trip

Below, you’ll find basic additional information about the trip. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me using the form at the bottom of the page.

WHO IS A TRIP TO THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY FOR?

  • For every animal lover who wants to meet elephants in their natural habitat without causing them any harm.

 

MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER TRIP

  • Minimum: 2 person
  • Maximum: 8 person

 

Note: If you are single traveler and do not want to pay for the other person, we can assign you to another group at your request.

 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR THE TRIP

  • Camera/mobile phone
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Flip flops or sandals
  • Swimsuit
  • Towel
  • Good bag (waterproof)
  • Mosquito repellent 
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses

 

RULES FOR VISITORS ENTERING ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

  • Please keep in mind that you are entering an area where animals live. Always behave calmly and considerately, follow the instructions of the guide and sanctuary staff, and do not feed the animals any food that you have brought yourself or that has not been approved for feeding by the staff.

Tangkahan Elephant Sanctuary: Price

What is the price of a trip to Tangkahan, what is included and what are the payment terms?

PRICE

  • 90 EUR/person

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • Transport from Bukit Lawang to Tangkahan and back.
  • Certified English speaking guide.
  • National park permit.
  • Elephant sanctuary entrance ticket.
  • Cross-bridge fees.
  • Fresh fruit.
  • Big bottle of water .
  • Local lunch.

 

PAYMENT TERMS

  • Deposit: 30% of the total price by one of the payment methods listed below.
  • Balance: Before the start of the trek in cash or one of the payment methods listed below.

 

POSSIBLE PAYMENT METHODS

  • Transfer to Indonesian bank account: We only use SWIFT, not IBAN, but if you have Revolut, the transfer is possible.
  • Card: We use Stripe to enable secure payment via link. Neither we nor anyone else can see your payment card details. A regular card, Apple Pay or Google Pay can be used for payment.
  • Revolut: Payment between Revolut accounts or from Revolut to our Indonesian bank account.
  • PayPal: A 3% transaction fee will be added to PayPal payments. The other payment methods mentioned above are free.

 

CANCELLATION CONDITIONS

  • Cancellation 10 days or more before the trip: full refund of the deposit.
  • Cancellation 3 – 10 days before the trip: half of the deposit refunded.
  • Cancellation 2 – 0 days before the trip: deposit forfeited.
  • Cancellation by trip operator: full refund of the deposit.

 

Note: If there are serious reasons for cancellation, such as an accident, you will receive a full refund upon presentation of the relevant receipts, regardless of when you cancel.

How to book a trip to Tangkahan Elephant Sanctuary

Other activities you might be interested in

Have more time in Bukit Lawang? Great! Enjoy swimming in the river, explore a cave, and discover local products, traditions, crafts, and plants while gaining interesting information, experiences, and skills.

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