Nepenthes OF SUMATRA EXPEDITION
Sumatra is home to arguably the greatest diversity of carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes) of the world, along with tigers, rhinoceros, elephants, countless orchids, and several of the biggest flowers on Earth: Rafflesia and Amorphophallus.
This expedition takes you on a 15 day itinerary to see many of the most spectacular Sumatran Nepenthes in the wild, along with a diverse range of other wildlife highlights. We will trek through pristine rainforest, mossy cloud forest, and up to the summits of dormant volcanoes to observe Nepenthes in their natural habitats. Along the way, we will have the chance to encounter orangutans, macaques, a vast diversity of birdlife, Paphiopedilum and countless orchids, and (with luck) open blooms of Rafflesia arnoldii and Amorphophallus titanum.
During the itinerary, we can visit fascinating Minangkabau villages to witness their unique culture, sample their exquisite food, and observe their impressive “bull-horn” houses and rice barns – some of which are more than 300 years old! As we travel south during the trip, we have the opportunity to visit the impressive Minangkabau Royal Palace!
Key Facts
COST: £3,250 (British Pounds). Personal porters can be hired at extra costs (contact us for details).
START POINT: Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
END POINT: Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia.
DATES: Saturday, January 4th to Saturday, January 18th 2027. Add on trip: January 19th to 21st, 2027.
GROUP SIZE: 6–10 (on double/twin room basis – single room supplement upgrade available).
BESPOKE TOUR: If you do not wish to join a group tour, we can customise a private trip to suit your dates and interests. Please email us for details.
Email sales@redfernadventures.com for more information and to make bookings.
Optional pre- or post-expedition extensions: We really recommend an add on trip (3 days / 2 nights) at the end of the trip to visit Mount Talang to see Nepenthes talangensis, N. bongso, N. gymnamphora and N. inermis (add on dates: January 19th to 21st, 2027). Alternatively, we can organise visits to Bukit Lawang in search of the Sumatran orangutan, as well as Thomas’s leaf monkeys, two species of gibbon and macaques.
GETTING THERE: Medan and Padang are served by various airlines including Silk Air (Singapore), Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang) and Garuda Indonesia (Jakarta, Singapore). Many find it most economical to fly to Singapore and catch low-fare flights to/from Medan (e.g. AirAsia, Silk Air or Lion Air).
Itinerary
Note:
Precise location details in this itinerary are masked due to the sensitive nature of the sites visited.
Day 1:
We meet in Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia. Pick up from hotels at 9 am and we drive to Lake Toba to visit sites to see Nepenthes rigidifolia, N. spectabilis and the rare hybrid N. rigidifolia x spectabilis. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 2:
We visit an amazing site to see a great diversity of colour forms of N. tobaica, including plants with almost black pitchers. We have the option to visit a site for several Utricularia species and another site for N. rafflesiana “giant form”. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 3:
We visit “Nepenthes Heaven”, an exceptional lowland site where we can see N. sumatrana, N. beccariana, N. rafflesiana, N. ampullaria, N. mirabilis, N. gracilis, N. eustachya “red form” and N. eustachya “white form”, along with their hybrids. We have lunch in a lovely restaurant that specialises in barbecued fish, then we can visit another site to see further N. sumatrana plants. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 4:
A well-earned rest day during which we travel to a town located near to the base of our next mountain. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 5:
Following an early breakfast, we ascend a peak to see N. jamban, N. lingulata, N. gymnamphora and N. taminii, along with few plants of N. dubia. At 2 pm, we start to descend the mountain, arriving by sundown. We dine and overnight in a nearby town.
Day 6:
Today is a rest and travel day to get into position for our near peak. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 7:
Following an early breakfast, we make a one day ascent of today’s mountain; this is a long but non-technical trek of 5 hours to the summit. We encounter N. gymnamphora, and thereafter N. izumiae and N. jacquelineae and (usually) their hybrid. We start our descent at 2 pm, arriving in the lowlands around 6 pm. After dinner, we check in at our lodge. A long but hopefully rewarding day!
Day 8:
Today we drive south to visit an excellent nature reserve for a chance to encounter blooms of Rafflesia arnoldii and Amorphophallus titanum (two of the world’s largest flowers). At this reserve there are also A. gigas and Rhizanthes. It is impossible to guarantee flowers of these plants in advance, but (in particular) Rafflesia blooms are frequently open. We can also visit a wonderful community-led project to savour special, local “coffee luwak” (wild and ethically collected civet coffee)! Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 9:
Today, we travel south towards the Kerinci National Park to arrive at the base of our next mountain by evening. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Days 10, 11, 12:
We ascend a spectacular volcano and cross a crater lake in traditional wooden canoes (powered by oarsmen) to reach a lakeside camp. On day 11, we hike to a ridge overlooking our camp in search of the Nepenthes aristolochioides. The mountain is also home to red and green forms of N. gymnamphora as well as the striking N. singgalana. On Day 12 we trek back down and return to civilisation and a hearty meal!
Day 13:
We travel into position for our final peak. Dinner in a local restaurant, overnight in a local hotel.
Day 14:
Starting as early as possible, as it is a long day of trekking, we hike up our final mountain to encounter Nepenthes gymnamphora, N. rhombicaulis, an epiphytic new species similar to N. ovata and, for those who are able to make the summit, N. flava. We descend to the base arriving before sunset. We return to town for dinner and a well-earned rest.
Day 15:
We drive back to Medan. On the way, we visit the Minangkabau Royal Palace and arrive in time for a final dinner. We reach the airport for departing flights at 7 pm onwards.
Please note:
A degree of flexibility exists with expeditions in Sumatra due to the nature of the roads and weather conditions. As a group, we can tweak the plan as there are many mountains with different combinations of Nepenthes species that we can climb, depending upon the group’s collective wishes.
Itinerary Highlights
