TRAVEL IN SUMATRA with Arc Journeys

 

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SOUTH EAST ASIA GENERALLY Introduction to the Itineraries NORTH SUMATRA WEST SUMATRA Sample Itinerary in SW Sumatra JAVA SULAWESI SUMBA BORNEO MALAYSIA , SINGAPORE & S. THAILAND SEE ALSO: Dossiers on each destination listed  in the MAIN INDEX   What Arc Journeys Offer Tailormade Holidays at standard tour rates in Asia, South East Asia, Australasia, Africa, South America, Arctic, Indochina & UK Arc Journeys design tailor made tours to suit your requirements which need cost no more than a standard tour with equivalent accommodation.. You tell us what you would most like to do or see and we prepare itineraries for you to consider- it's as simple as that!   Arc Journeys is small enough but experienced enough to provide truly personally arranged tours to suit your interests, style of travel and budget. Your enquiry is handled by a single person, who prepares quotes and itineraries in accordance with your requests, free of  charge and without obligation.  David Halford ran his first architecture tour in 1992 and started Arc Journeys (David Halford Travel) in 1992. Angela Molinaro has worked in travel and led tours since 1990. We have experience of travel in over 60 countries and have first hand knowledge of most of the destinations we offer. We are both qualified professional people who aim to provide an efficient but personal service. On tailor made tours we use experienced local staff who bring an extra dimension of knowledge about their area. We also try to arrange trips that have minimum impact and maximum benefit by using local businesses and guides who understand their natural and cultural environment. Unlike many companies that offer tailor made ("custom made", "customized", "bespoke") travel we take the time to prepare itineraries that are unique to you.  For details and itineraries of other destinations please go to the relevant Dossier web page as listed in the MAIN INDEX. We can arrange all this and more: ROMANTIC HIDEAWAYS, HUG AN ORPHAN ORANGUTAN, DOG SLEDDING IN THE ARCTIC, CRUISE IN THE GALAPAGOS, SNORKEL CORAL REEFS, CLIMB VOLCANOES, WHALE-WATCHING, GREAT TRAIN JOURNEYS, JUNGLE RIVER CRUISES, EXCLUSIVE HOTELS OR LOCAL HUTS, TREK THE HIMALAYAS OR THE ANDES, CAMEL, HORSE, ELEPHANT OR WALKING SAFARIS, APPRECIATE ARCHITECTURE, ARTS, CRAFTS, TEXTILES, MUSIC, FESTIVALS, DANCE AND CUISINE. References: Most of our business comes from personal recommendation by our many satisfied clients since Arc Journeys David Halford Travel) was established in 1992. We can provide testimonials from many clients with email addresses that you can contact. You can also look Arc Journeys up in Guidebooks such as Footprint Guides & The Rough Guides or on web Guides such as www.britannica.com InfoHub.com, wild-dog.com, bluedome.co.uk, aolhometown.com etc. Encyclopedia Britannica Internet Travel Guide Award winners- see www.britannica.com       Email:
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Arc Archipelago Journeys SOME TYPICAL ITINERARIES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA We give here a selection of general interest itineraries through the Indonesian Archipelago. You don't have to be interested in any particular subject to appreciate the wonderful diversity of this region. You can benefit from many of the elements of the Special Tours without studying anything in particular. The itineraries are planned so that every tour provides opportunities for plenty of relaxation or activity; swimming in lakes or the sea, appreciating arts and crafts, jungle or volcano walks, seeing wildlife and getting to know unusual cultures. You choose how active you want to be, all walking is optional, which means you do not have to be especially fit, just open to new experiences. The friendliness and hospitality of the people we meet leaves a lasting impression on all our guests and of course you will have the benefit of all our local contacts. The local style small hotels or homestays we usually use are staffed by people who treat us as personal guests, often inviting us to take part in their family or village festivals. We can arrange any kind of accommodation from simple guesthouses to some of the most exclusive hotels in the world, although if you require five star hotels throughout, your itinerary would be restricted to only the well known destinations. These tours are designed to be taken at a sensible pace, avoiding long road journeys so that you have more time to relax and experience the places you visit properly.

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JAVA Java has been the power base of the region for centuries and the monuments of ancient Hindu and Buddhist empires, the effects of 400 years of Dutch rule and a similar period of Islamic society are most evident here. It is best to avoid Jakarta and the teeming north in favour of the royal cities of the south and the mountains of the centre. You can commence in Yogya which is understandably popular for its arts and crafts then move on to Solo which is its mirror image, also built around its palaces and batik trade but a sleepy town with few tourists. The white walled alleys between the main boulevards are reminiscent of the Mediterranean and you can take an optional bicycle tour out to the fields and craft villages. You can stay at the cool mountain resort of Bandungan where cabbages and roses grow between the hot volcanic streams. Many seldom visited ancient temples occupy stunning positions high on the slopes of volcanos so a visit to these is a good way to see the panorama of volcanoes. Activities The many options include: Visits to Borobudur, the worlds largest Buddhist monument, Prambanan and a selection of the lesser known temples. Cycling around Solo, walking in the mountains, fields and spice groves. Volcanic activity permitting we can also visit the bubbling sulphur pools of Dieng. It is possible to combine this tour with Batik or Cooking courses in Yogya (see the relevant Special Tours). Arts and Crafts Yogya and Solo rival each other as the cultural centres of Java and are famous for their artistic achievements stimulated by their Sultan's Palaces e.g. Ramayana Ballet, Gamelan music, Shadow Puppets, Batik textiles, silver and leatherwork. Outline Itinerary Fly into Yogyakarta for the royal dance and music performances and the craft workshops. Borobudur the great Buddhist monument and Prambanan its Hindu equivalent. Dieng Plateau where ancient temples are sited inside the caldera of an exploded volcano amongst the bubbling sulphur and mud pools. Bandungan for an early morning stroll up to another temple site which gives us spectacular panoramas of the volcanic peaks. Sangiran the archaeological site where "Java Man" was discovered. Solo, a quieter counterpart of Yogya built around two palaces. Excursions to Tawangmangu and other sites in the hills. We can arrange many other itineraries in Sumatra and Java including the following National Parks: Meru Betiri, Mt. Bromo-Semeru, Ujung Kulon, Krakatau, Pangandaran, Way Kambas, Kerinci Seblat

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SULAWESI Although Sulawesi (the Celebes) has been the heart of the spice trade and colonial ambitions for centuries, the central areas, cut off by jungles and mountains, remained untouched by the outside world until very recently. The Toraja people who occupy the highlands have been able to retain their ancient ancestor worshipping culture despite raids from their piratical neighbours the Bugis (The original "Bogeymen"). Even those who have nominally become Christian still maintain the lavish ancestor rites that are major public events. Traditional arts are still practised and the beautiful landscape is dotted with picturesque high roofed clan houses which are still being built in the original way. They also build rock cut tombs high on cliff faces decorated with wooden effigies in niches. Activities Walk in the hills, tour the traditional villages, attend an ancestor ceremony, or for the adventurous we can arrange white water rafting and trekking. Outline Itinerary Fly into Ujung Pandang; sailing schooners, offshore islands, orchid gardens and Bantimurung butterfly reserve. Senkang; silk weaving, freshwater birds and floating villages on the lake (we stay with the Princess made famous by Gavin Young's book "In Search of Conrad"). Tanah Toraja highland villages; extraordinary architecture, cliff burial sites and ancestor ceremonies. Return to Ujung Pandang. We have itineraries to other areas of Sulawesi

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SUMBA Although Sumba is a substantial island 300 km long it receives very few visitors except during the annual horseback fighting festivals. Fortunately there are enough good hotels and one well made road which makes it possible to reach the main areas of interest in reasonable comfort. The dry and barren east is reminiscent of Africa and is sparsely populated with villages which still make the famous Hinggi ikat textiles using natural materials. The west is much greener with grasslands where Sumbanese horses are reared. The original megalithic animist society still thrives here. Most of the indigenous people live in their original villages which consist of communal houses with high pointed thatched roofs set in a circle on the top of rock outcrops around ritual sites and the megalithic tombs of their ancestors. Outline Itinerary Fly into Waingapu, visit the villages of east Sumba famous for their ikat textiles. Drive 175 km across the hills to Waikabubak, see the traditional villages of West Sumba and, with luck, an animist ceremony. Fly out of Tamboloka on the north coast. For those who don't mind simple accommodation we can arrange to spend some time on remote west coast where there are endless white sand beaches and many traditional villages.

We also arrange tours in the other islands of the archipelago such as Flores, Lombok, The Moluccas, Irian Jaya, Kalimantan, Borneo, New Guinea, as well as Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Yunnan, Cambodia.

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MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE & SOUTHERN THAILAND Although the Peninsula is divided politically into Southern Thailand, East Malaysia and Singapore, geographically it covers the whole area south of the narrow neck of land between the China Sea and the Indian Ocean called the Isthmus of Kra where Burma and Thailand meet. We have itineraries to cover the whole of this area as well as Malaysian Borneo. The east coast of the Peninsula is the only part of the Archipelago that is significantly affected by the monsoons of Indo-China, so which route is appropriate depends on the time of year. We also take advantage of the rail network from Singapore to Bangkok to provide tours based on rail journeys. The proximity of Sumatra and Borneo means that combining a tour with these is convenient and provides an excellent contrast. Altogether this means that our itineraries can be very varied so we only provide a description of some of the destinations here. Please ask for details. SINGAPORE occupies the tip of the peninsula and although it is an island it is connected by a causeway which allows us to start rail journeys here. Since the time of Raffles it has been the trading centre of the entire region. It is a highly developed modern city state totally unlike the rest of the archipelago. It is dedicated to commerce in all its forms and is a shoppers paradise. MALACCA is Malaysia's most historic city because for centuries before the British moved all trade to Singapore it was they key port controlling all trade between the East and the West. it has a cosmopolitan character with Chinese, Portuguese, Arab, Dutch, Indian, British and Malay influences. Because its power was removed in the nineteenth century, the buildings and unique mixed culture of its former glorious days have remained untouched. KUALA LUMPUR is one of the few Asian cities that has managed to combine impressive modern development with its British colonial charm and original Malay, Chinese and Indian culture. It has some excellent bird parks, orchid gardens, museums and street life. TAMAN NEGARA (National Park) covers a large area of ancient rainforest in the centre of the Peninsula. Wildlife, forest people, river safaris, trekking, swimming and a general jungle experience. KOTA BAHRU is a town on the north east coast where the original Malay culture, arts and crafts are still strongest. We reach it either by the jungle train through the central valleys or via the villages of the east coast. In the dry season we extend the itinerary to the white sand beaches of the Perhentian Islands. PENANG is an island just off the north west coast and was the stepping off point for much of the Chinese and British settlement of Malaya. It retains may of these influences making it a fascinating places to visit. SOUTHERN THAILAND is well known for its tropical paradise beaches. We go to some of the less frequented beaches but there is also much to see besides the sea. We go to out of the way lakes teeming with waterbirds among the lilies, jungle National Parks and exotic Buddhist temples. Return to Main Index      Return to Page Index BORNEO SARAWAK was until about forty years ago the private domain of the self styled "White Rajas". Kuching, their capital still remains a unique and interesting city with the palace and public buildings which they erected to create the trappings of a city in the middle of the jungle. Nearby is Semmengoh Orangutan Sanctuary and Bako National Park accessible only by boat. It has varied habitats from the deserted white sand beaches, through the mangroves which are home to Proboscis Monkeys, giant lizards, mud skippers and luminous fungi and up to the dry plateau. Upriver in the interior there are Dayak villages where you can stay in the Longhouses. Niah National Park has a giant cave which was inhabited by prehistoric man and the archaeological dig where their remains were discovered can be seen. Swift's nest for bird nest soup have been collected from these caves for many centuries and traded with China. The collectors work from precarious bamboo poles hundreds of feet up on the roof of the cave. Mulu National Park is deep in the interior and has varied habitats from jungle to high peaks. This gives it an amazing range of flora and it also has impressive geological formations such as the limestone Pinnacles and the worlds biggest cave system. some of the beautiful stalactite formations are accessible and illuminated or the adventurous can explore further with a guide. The evening exodus of clouds of millions of bats is a spectacle to remember. SABAH was formerly British North Borneo. Its main feature is Mt. Kinabalu, at 4101m the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Its range of habitats from alpine rock faces through every stage down to the rainforest have given it an amazing diversity of species including half the worlds families of flowering plants such as thousands of types of orchid and pitcher plant. For the moderately fit the two day walk to the top takes you through all these zones or alternatively you can explore the lower jungle with a Park guide including a birds eye view from the tree canopy walkway at Poring Hot Springs. The only railway in Borneo is a picturesque mountain line to Tenom where thousands of swifts roost in the main street. Nearby there is an Orchid Centre and a Rafflesia Reserve (the world's biggest flower). Off the coast you can snorkel from the coral islands of the T.A.R. Marine Park. From Sandakan you can visit Sepilok Orangutan Station, Turtle Island Reserve where Giant Turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and Kinabatangan River, home of Proboscis Monkeys, Hornbills and hundreds of other bird species. KALIMANTAN BORNEO WITH MEMBERS OF THE INDONESIAN ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION (See Indonesia page for other destinations in Kalimantan) The Indonesian Orangutan Foundation is run by Indonesians who have been involved in the rehabilitation of orangutans back into the wild after they have been rescued from captivity. They work with schools and local people to spread awareness of the value of conservation generally and caring for orangutans in particular. To spread awareness amongst visitors to Indonesia of the work for endangered orangutans and subsidise their voluntary work, their members run some very special tours to the remote Rehabilitation Station and jungle in Central Kalimantan. The naturalists of I.O.F. are known personally by the orangutans and those still being retrained and living around the camp will come to greet them, and you. The rehabilitated adults are encouraged to stay in the jungle and fend for themselves but orangutans seem to like human company and the ones still in the retraining process are called for supplementary feeding and observation every day when they interact with the Park Rangers who care for them. The young orphans who cannot yet care for themselves have to be taught how to climb and eat leaves. They are particularly friendly at this stage and quite happy to be held. Because Tanjung Puting Reserve is so remote it receives very few visitors so a visit here in the company of experts from the Indonesian Orangutan Foundation is a very personal experience. Part of the work involves observation of behaviour in the wild so you will have the opportunity to get out into the jungle. A remarkable and touching phenomenon in this Reserve is that wild mothers will come to the Camp (where the young rehabilitants roam free) to live with them for a while until they adopt an orphan by mutual agreement. Members of the I.O.F are both Indonesian and English so all the people who conduct the tours speak both languages. Of course they also know all about the rainforest and the other animals that inhabit it such as proboscis monkeys (we also visit the Proboscis Monkey Research Project), gibbons, gharvials and hundreds of birds such as hornbills, herons and kites. We will arrange tailor made tours at any time to suit you which can also be combined with any of our other tours. These normally run for between 4 and 10 days which include staying on the Sekonyer river in a private African Queen style river boat with you own boatman, cook and naturalist guide, visiting the two Orangutan Stations and the Proboscis Monkey Research Station. Natural tannins darken the pure river water and provide beautiful reflections. You can either spend the nights on the boat surrounded only by the magical jungle sounds or in the comfortable lodge or a combination of the two. You can also include time upriver staying in Dayak houses where they will welcome you with Hornbill dances and show you their way of life. Kayaking river trips can also be arranged.

These and any of the other Archipelago Journeys are available as Tailor Made itineraries.

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THE FOLLOWING DOSSIERS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST*

*Special departures with Arc Leaders * Special Interest Tours Worldwide *Scheduled Departure Tours Worldwide

* Sumatra *Java *Bali *Sulawesi * Borneo * Malay Peninsula & Singapore *Pre-departure Information for SE Asia *Special Tours in Indonesia *India * Sri Lanka * Nepal *Bhutan & Sikkim *Ghana * Ethiopia * Tanzania & East Africa * Namibia & Southern Africa * Thailand & Yunnan *Laos,*Cambodia, * Vietnam, *New Guinea * Australia *Peru *Ecuador & The Galapagos *Venezuela *Central & South America Generally *Belize *Canada/Alaska/Arctic * Booking Form & Conditions *Future Arc Newsletters

Alternatively just tell us what you are interested in and we will let you know what we can offer. Our speciality is tailoring tours to our clients specific requirements.

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MAIN INDEX
SOUTHEAST ASIA & INDOCHINA SE Asia in brief Borneo Bali Sulawesi Sumatra Java Malaysia & Singapore Thailand & Yunnan Laos & Cambodia Vietnam INDIA & THE HIMALAYAS India Nepal Bhutan, Sikkim & Ladakh Tibet	SOUTH AMERICA Peru Bolivia Ecuador South America Generally - email us for info THE ARCTIC Canada, Alaska, Newfoundland, Greenland & The Arctic AFRICA Southern Africa Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa Madagascar Ethiopia Tanzania & East Africa	AUSTRALASIA Australia, NZ, New Guinea UK/EUROPE UK & Europe WORLDWIDE Index of Special Interest Topics Whalewatching Diving destinations Illustrated brochure (email us for a copy) Contact Details

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Arc Journeys Destinations

This is a brief description of the regions we cover, go to the MAIN INDEX for links to Dossiers on each destination.

South East Asia

Visit ancient temples and traditional villages, relax in exclusive hideaways, witness colourful festivals, learn about textiles, local cooking or music and dance, cruise jungle rivers, meet orangutans or trek the jungles and volcanoes .... We are acknowledged experts on this region; this is what the Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore Handbook says about us: "Arc Journeys have excellent cultural and natural tours run by people who understand and care for the country, its people and environment."

Australasia

Meet the koalas & 'roos, visit the wineries, stroll deserted beaches, dive The Reef, climb The Rock, experience the open spaces and untouched wilderness. Escape the crowds. Accommodated self-drive, treks, 4WD tours, gourmet cycle tours...indulge in the Aussie way.

India and The Himalayas

Walk through small villages among 8000m peaks, receive blessings from a Buddhist Lama, stay in magnificent palaces, search for rhino and tiger. Himalayan treks, rail journeys, camel & horse safaris, palace hotels, houseboats or homestays...

Africa

Meet the curious lemurs, look out for the Big 5, climb Kilimanjaro, visit villages where time has stood still. Luxury lodges or camping expeditions, Self-drive or escorted 4WD safaris, horseback safaris, rail journeys, treks, fly- in tours ......

South America

Discover the mysteries of the Incas, explore colonial towns and Indian markets, hear the music and festivals, trek the Andes, take great train journeys, cruise the Amazon and the Galapagos, meet blue footed boobies and giant turtles. Small group tours and tailormade itineraries.

The Arctic

Dog sledding, polar bears, birds & whalewatching, cruise Alaska, Greenland or rivers, touch an iceberg, see the Northern Lights or midnight sun, experience the wilderness of the Arctic. Small group tours and tailormade itineraries.

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CONTACT DETAILS

Email

David Halford Travel 102 Stanley Rd Cambridge CB5 8LB UK

UK Tel 0207 681 3175     Fax +44 207 6813175

Australia Tel & Fax +61 2 9475 0151

Home page http://www.travelarc.com  Alternative website http://members.aol.com/ArcJourney/index.htm

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