2 Days and 1 Night Ethical Jungle Trek

My girlfriend and I joined the 2-day, 1-night jungle trek with Sumatra Orangutan Explore, and it was without a doubt one of the most beautiful and emotional experiences of our entire trip to Indonesia. We arrived in Bukit Lawang late in the evening, in the pouring rain, and the staff immediately took care of us, bringing us and all our luggage to the lodge by motorbike. The lodge is beautiful, entirely surrounded by nature, and waking up on the balcony overlooking the river and jungle was already an experience in itself. Special mention also to the banana pancakes at breakfast — some of the best I’ve ever had! The following morning we met our guides, Bobby and Pugar, and our adventure inside Gunung Leuser National Park began. It would be impossible to describe everything we experienced during those two days. Walking deep into the Sumatran rainforest, surrounded by its sounds and wildlife, was something we will never forget. We spotted Rhinoceros Hornbills, Thomas’ leaf monkeys, pig-tailed macaques and, of course, several Sumatran orangutans, including an impressive adult dominant male — an encounter that left us speechless. What made the experience truly exceptional, however, were Bobby and Pugar. They were fantastic from beginning to end: knowledgeable, funny, incredibly attentive and genuinely passionate about the jungle and its wildlife. Every encounter with the animals was handled in the most ethical and respectful way possible, always keeping the animals’ wellbeing as the priority. This philosophy is something we really appreciated about Sumatra Orangutan Explore. They taught us so much about orangutans and the rainforest, answered every question and took care of every little detail — even preparing and arranging fresh fruit during our breaks as if it were a work of art! At camp, Anto was our super chef, preparing delicious meals for us in the middle of the jungle. After dinner, Pugar even entertained us with card tricks and magic, and we spent the evening laughing together before falling asleep surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. The following day brought more trekking and wildlife encounters before the perfect ending: rafting down the river back to Bukit Lawang. A huge thank you to Iman and the whole Sumatra Orangutan Explore team, but especially to Bobby, Pugar and Anto. You made us feel safe, welcomed and part of something truly special. More than simply seeing orangutans, you allowed us to experience the Sumatran rainforest in a way we will carry with us forever. Two days were not enough — we already want to come back for a longer trek! Thank you for giving us memories we will never forget. Terima kasih, Bobby, Pugar, Anto and Iman!

The most amazing and magical experience thanks to Apri (jungle guide), Eko (guide assistant) and Roni (chef), our jungle family! We were so lucky to see Orangutans each day (even in the camp), and many other species over the 4 days. Apri, always smiling. He has great knowledge of and respect for the jungle. Very enthusiastic and his humour helps you to keep going. Eko, very friendly. He is also a great spotter. He spotted mama and baby Orangutan for us and also put so much effort in to preparing our jungle lunches. Roni, master chef. Every day very tasty food (in the middle of the jungle). Great guy! Absolutely wild taxi out of camp, rafting down the river rapids. Truly exhilarating, topped off by a Hornbill flying over the river, the one animal i thought we won't get to see, but were incredibly lucky!!! I recommend this company so much, and Apri, Eko and Roni you made this experience so very special! Thank you 🦧

Alang and Rian are the best guides! They took really great care of my 7yo son and even gave us a glimpse into the wildlife and beautiful people of bukit lawang. Our group of 6 started off at 9am with a nice walk into the village before crossing a colourful suspension bridge into the forest. Within 1 hour of walking in the forest, we spotted our first sighting of leaf monkeys in the middle of a rubber tree plantation. We were lucky to catch 3 orangutans upclose in the next hour. The guides reminded us to keep a distance from the apes and not to open our bags in front of monkeys in general. It was dry and humid but not too bad for my 7 year old. There were some parts that were steep for us and the rain made it very muddy but it was all fun! My son enjoyed the river crossing before reaching our campsite. Nice swim and relaxing dip in the river after a hot day. We bonded over food and games before it rained heavily but we were kept dry and warm in the well equipped sturdy huts! It continued to rain till the next day around 11am before we started heading back into the jungle. On day 2, we caught rhino hornbill, wild tortoise, snakes and more monkeys. Upclose with a mother and child orangutan was the highlight of our day 2. And to end it off was a really fun river tubing otherwise known as jungle taxi! Alang was our captain and he guided us up and down the rapids. Both Alang and Rian ensured our safety and well being of our group. They were detailed and took pride in their job! We are humbled by their honest way of living and knowledge of the jungle. Thank you Sumatra Orangutan Explore for the awesome jungle experience!

We had an amazing two days (one night) in the jungle. We were accompanied by two very knowledgeable and respectful guides Putra (Pablo Escobar) and Rian (Gosling). We choose this company because they organise only ethical jungle trips and support the local community with their revenue. As promised they picked us up from the airport, drove us to Bukit Lawang, and helped us settle in our room. We had an wonderful meal overlooking the jungle and river. After our meal we had a briefing to make sure we had every equipment with us for the tracking. In the jungle we saw loads of orangutans, Gibbons, black siamang, pigtail moneys and many more. The guides cooked for us and the trip was simply the best! Again, big thanks to you Pablo (Putra) and Rian! We had an wonderful experience in the jungle with you (and PATRICK!!!).

The two-day jungle trek was a very special and unforgettable experience for us as a family with teenage children. The impressive nature and diverse wildlife thrilled us – we were able to observe numerous animals, especially monkeys, Thomas langurs, and orangutans. Furthermore, there are hardly any mosquitoes and so far no dengue cases are known. Our guide Jul and his assistants Rangga and Heri brought the fascinating world of the jungle closer to us with a lot of knowledge and passion. Thanks to their warm, humorous, and likable nature, there was a great atmosphere at all times. Even though it became physically exhausting at times due to quite steep ascents and descents, they always ensured good spirits and motivation. Especially with Jul, one could feel how much heart and soul he puts into the jungle. We can recommend this provider unreservedly and warmly. Many thanks to Jul, Rangga, and Heri for these fantastic and unforgettable days!

Super experience with a super team. I thank Riki, Idriss and Ram for their guidance, their advice, their humor, and the beautiful things that we were able to see thanks to them. It was incredible.

A great experience that allowed us to learn many things about the jungle and the animals that inhabit it, but above all, incredible encounters with orangutans, many other monkeys, and extraordinary birds. Our guides Juan and Jaka were wonderful: friendly, funny, and enriching. Perfect organization. Great

We had a great experience in the jungle with our guides Dean & Rayen. Our whole trek went seamlessly and both our guides were extremely helpful but also respectful for the jungle and the animals in it. Ensuring we weren’t getting too close and even picking up cigarette butts in the jungle that careless smokers had left behind. My husband and I were both the oldest and unfittest in our group and nothing was a problem what so ever. If we needed an extra rest or some help going up or down they were always there for us. Both guides put in so much effort with all our meals and just generally making sure we were looked after. We saw so many wild orangutans and various other monkeys. I highly recommend this trip.

We had an incredible time with Jul, Rian, and Gowo, our 3 guides who took great care of us throughout the duration of the trek. An enriching experience that we will never forget. Special mention to the homemade meals, which were all delicious. Respect for the environment and animals in eco-tourism was a real plus for us Thank you 🙏🏼

Unique experience!! Our guides, Heri and Heri, were exceptional. Highly recommended!