What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Once in a lifetime experience

  Simone W,Apr 1, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I have just had the most incredible two days in the jungle with Sumatra Orangutan Explore. I have been researching this activity for a while and organised my whole trip to Indonesia around it. I chose this company because of the great reviews and I’m so pleased that I did. The whole experience was incredible from start to finish. The welcome drink and friendly faces were such a nice touch after a long travel day. I booked transfers and accommodation through the company. All of which were fantastic value for money. The first night I stayed in Rick’s Rooms which I loved. It is just a couple of minutes walk down to the main lodge but had a lovely rustic feel. I loved sitting on the balcony watching the world go by. The accommodation at the main lodge where I stayed after my freak was also incredibly modern and comfortable. I would also recommend the meals in the restaurant. All cooked fresh and really tasty. The trek is physically difficult, but absolutely worth it. I cannot speak highly enough of the guides who took us out. Both Teddy and Desen were lifesavers for me. I wouldn’t have got through the tough sections without them. They work so hard, not only guiding the group, but organising snacks and meals throughout both days and do it all with such humility. They were full of such interesting information and I learnt so much from them. They take safety very seriously and even amended the route for me when I was finding it difficult. Whilst we were trekking, I saw other guides calling the animals which made me even more grateful to be with an ethical company where the guides treat nature with respect. A big thank you to Pian too who cooked us a delicious dinner and made our tubing experience super fun! Seeing the wildlife was an incredible experience, but also just hanging out with the guides and other guests on the trek made this trip truly wonderful. If you are thinking about booking this, absolutely do it you will not regret it. Thank you so much Sumatra Orangutan Explore for allowing me to put a huge tick on my bucket list.

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Epic adventure. Unforgettable memories.

  melissatH9215OY,Mar 15, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Such an incredibly amazing adventure. After researching other trekking companies, we finally chose on Sumatra Orangutan Explorer due to their ethical practices. We arranged everything through Iman and Dwi via WhatsApp. They were both extremely communicative and set thorough expectations. We went with a private pick up to/from the airport due to our flight times. The price was very fair and the vehicle we were transported in was a new vehicle with air conditioning, which was a pleasant surprise. The drive from KNO airport to Bukit Lawang was ~5 hours. Upon arrival we were met with 3 scooters…one to take our bags and the other two to take us to the lodge…~10 minute scooter ride away. We enjoyed a delicious late dinner and then were taken to our room. Monkeys greeted us on our balcony and the pitter patter of rain and monkey paws on the tin roof was magical. The next morning our trek guides, Henri and Fabian, met us after breakfast and off we went. We walked to the entry point of the National Preserve and started our adventure. Within the first two hours…we saw an orangutan!!! Initially, she was far up in the trees…but after 1-2 hours, she made her way down and was at ground level with us. I was overtaken with emotion to see her up close. Majestic. Beautiful. There were a couple other guides with other groups, but Heri and Fabian not only helped us to find the most perfect viewing points, but were also the most respectful of keeping a safe space…at least 7-10 meters away. Some of the other guides were getting way too close and making “calling sounds”, which felt too intrusive to me…invading the majestic orangutans sacred space. The other groups left after the orangutan retreated back up into the trees, but Heri and Fabian encouraged us to stick around…and we were so lucky that we did. Alone, we got to watch her build a nest and prepare for her afternoon nap. Priceless. Many people after seeing the orangutan headed back to base camp , we had opted for the 2 day trek and slept in the jungle…so, we forged on. Along the route we saw two hornbill birds with vibrant beaks and many Thomas’ monkeys. I must admit, the trek in the later afternoon was grueling. The slippery mud, the hidden tree roots that were foot traps, the humidity , the steep hills and uneven terrain…made the trek challenging. But, Heri and Fabian were superheroes…helping us up after we slipped and fell and helping prevent injury. Their skill and expertise was invaluable. We finally made it to the camp late afternoon and I took a refreshing swim in the river. Dinner was absolutely amazing and the late night talking while learning new card games are memories that I will cherish forever. I wholeheartedly recommend Sumatra Orangutan Explore, especially with Heri and Fabian. Their knowledge, patience and care were exemplary. I couldn’t have asked for more. ❤️ (Pro tips: Bring at least 1.5L of water, long socks to wear over your pants to reduce leeches (waterproof socks, if possible) , light weight pants (they will get wet and they are heavy to carry out the next day), STRONG bug repellent, and a headlamp for nighttime trips to the bathroom…cheers!)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Best 2 days!!

  Departure01498750666,Mar 13, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  An amazing experience and a must do when visiting Sumatra! Nico and Ipan looked after us so well from the moment we arrived in Bukit lawang till the moment we left. During our time in the jungle they showed such amazing knowledge and experience, happily answering any questions. Thanks to them we saw so many amazing animals and learned so much about the jungle!! At night we played games and talked together with the most amazing food from Abdul. I really couldn’t recommend this trip enough!

  

  

  

  

  

• Best trek (& best guides) in Bukit Lawang!

  Seaside56410758670,Mar 12, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had an incredible trek with our guides, Nico and Ipan. From the evening before the hike until the moment we left the village, they were there supporting us every step of the way. Their knowledge of the jungle was impressive, and they shared so much about the wildlife while making sure we spotted as many animals as possible during the 2D1N trek. We learned a lot about the nature and culture of the area, and we also joked around a lot and had so much fun along the way. We truly loved the entire experience and were so sad to say goodbye. We’ll definitely be coming back someday. If you’re lucky enough to have Nico and Ivan as your guides, you’re in for an amazing adventure! Honorary mention to Abdul - he can do it all! Our chef and the captain of our jungle taxi, we wouldn’t have survived without you!

  

  

  

  

  

  

• An unforgettable experience

  N8721XOmorganeb,Mar 9, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  One of my best experiences! Thanks to Bob, Zuan and Izac for their kindness, explanations, meals and especially their good mood during the trek. I recommend 100%!

• An unforgettable experience

  Mialimbert,Mar 7, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This tour has been the highlight of our trip so far. From the minute arrive, everything is taken care of, from transport to food and personal touches. Everyone at Sumatra Orangutan Explore is so polite, friendly and enthusiastic. The tour itself was an unforgettable experience, our two guides: Jul and Jek were simply brilliant. They were incredibly knowledgable, never failed to make us laugh and we felt completely safe and comfortable in their care. We were thrilled to see two Orangoutans on our first day and a wide range of other jungle animals throughout the rest of our trip. Jul and Jek made sure were well fed the entire time with beautifully laid out lunch and fresh fruit and an incredible evening meal from our camp chef Harry. We would highly recommend and would love to come back!

  

  

  

  

  

• Great experience

  beatricebM846AC,Mar 4, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  An exceptional adventure with competent guides! I recommend closed eyes

  

  

  

• An Unforgettable Adventure with Sumatra Orangutan Explore!

  sophielZ134SO,Mar 4, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  My 2-day trek with Sumatra Orangutan Explore was an absolute highlight of our trip. From start to finish, the experience was magical and deeply immersive. We were lucky enough to have Didi and Rian as our guides, and they were truly the heart of the journey. Not only are they experts who know the jungle like the back of their hands, but they are also incredibly kind, hilarious, and genuinely attentive to everyone’s needs. They created a joyful and safe atmosphere that made the whole adventure feel like a trip with friends. The staff also blew us away with the catering, the food was simply incredible. We honestly ate better in the middle of the jungle than we did in many restaurants! It was fresh, plentiful, and a real feat of outdoor cooking. Regarding the admission fee, we felt it was very well-priced considering the high quality of the meals, the equipment provided, and the level of expertise our guides shared with us. The length of visit (2 days and 1 night) felt perfect for disconnecting from the world, and we were happy with the crowd size, as the team does a great job of keeping the groups small and intimate to avoid a "mass tourism" feel. A quick word of advice for future travelers: make sure you are in fairly good physical condition. This is a real jungle trek, and the descent toward the riverside camp is particularly challenging, steep, and technical. It’s definitely best for nature lovers and adventurers who don't mind a bit of a physical challenge for an amazing reward. We couldn't recommend Didi, Rian, and the whole team more highly!

  

  

  

• An amazing trip

  Relax52432614462,Feb 23, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Firstly the entire team at Sumatra Orangutan Explore were so friendly and welcoming! From our car pick ups, to hotel and restaurant staff we were looked after and had the best time, lovely chats with everyone and the facilities and food were good. The trek itself was physically very hard BUT absolutely worth it. Huge thanks to our guides Pablo and Juan for looking after everyone, being kind, patient, funny and very informative. We saw lots of monkeys but not too many orangutans with the time of year, however it was still an incredible jungle experience! The camp itself, whilst being in the jungle, was clean and camp chef Harry fed us well! The food for the entire journey was delicious and presented so nicely. We had the best time and the jungle taxi home, along with a song was so fun! Shout out once more to Pablo, Juan and Harry for being great company!

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Amazing trek!

  G4724SDjuliel,Feb 16, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Amazing trek with Heri 1 & Heri 2 : we saw a lot of monkeys, we ate very good food and the night at the camp was great and fun! They did our best to make sure we were never missing anything and the whole organization was perfectly on point. The last day rafting to go back to the hotel was very fun and so beautiful! Sumatra Orangutan Explore even arranged the pick up at the airport & drop off, & the hotel is amazing with the river view. Thanks a lot for the amazing experience that we will recommand to everyone!!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
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