A photo of the kids at the 3 schools with their new uniforms or school supplies.
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Beyond the Trail: How Your Support Reached Remote Aceh

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We recently completed an intense Aceh relief mission to provide support to communities that are still struggling to recover. When we started Escape To Sumatra, we knew we wanted to do more than just show people the beauty of our rainforests. We wanted to be there for our community when things got tough. This past month, we completed our most intense mission yet, and I want to share the reality of what we saw on the ground in Aceh.

The Escape To Sumatra team delivering supplies during our Aceh Relief Mission to remote villages.
Destroyed houses and temporary tents seen during our Aceh Relief Mission three months after the disaster.
A massive uprooted tree blocking roads in Aceh following the devastating floods, documented during our Aceh Relief Mission.

A Mission Powered by You

This mission wasn’t funded by big corporations. It was funded by you. Every dollar raised through our GoFundMe and every booking made with us during December and January went directly into our relief cars.

We were a small team—just five of us—with two cars packed to the roof with donations. It was a hard, exhausting day of driving and unloading, but seeing the impact made every mile worth it.

A photo of the kids at the 3 schools with their new uniforms or school supplies.
Local school children receiving new uniforms and supplies as part of our successful Aceh Relief Mission.

The Reality in the Villages

We managed to reach 4 remote villages that have been struggling since the disaster. While it’s a relief that electricity has been restored, the visual of the destruction is still overwhelming.

  • 3 Months in Tents: Many families have been living in temporary tents for three months now because their houses are still in ruins.
  • Schools and Students: We visited 3 schools, delivering much-needed school supplies and new uniforms. Seeing the kids back in uniform gives a sense of normalcy that these communities desperately need.
Community members in an Aceh village receiving critical aid and supplies from the Escape To Sumatra team during our Aceh Relief Mission.

The Success of Our Aceh Relief Mission

The true success of our Aceh Relief Mission was measured by the smiles of students in 3 different schools and the relief on the faces of families in 4 remote villages. This Aceh Relief Mission was a massive undertaking for our team of five, but seeing 2 full cars of donations reach those who have been living in tents for three months made every hour of driving worth it. While this specific Aceh Relief Mission has come to a close, the impact of the school supplies, uniforms, and community support will last much longer. We are incredibly proud of what this Aceh Relief Mission achieved through your GoFundMe contributions and our winter earnings.

car full of donations in Aceh for remote villages
car with donations for local schools in aceh

Is it Safe to Travel to Sumatra?

I’ve received many messages asking about the current situation for tourism. It is important to be honest: Sumatra is open and needs your North Sumatra visits now more than ever.

  • Safe Areas: Popular destinations like Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba, and Berastagi are completely safe and unaffected. Your visits to these areas help us continue our charity work.
  • Aceh Roads: While many roads in Aceh have been cleared, some parts of the province remain heavily destroyed. Logistics are difficult, but the main travel routes are improving daily.

What’s Next for Escape To Sumatra?

Because of your incredible generosity, we have already received donations for our 4th mission.

However, with Ramadan approaching, we are taking a moment to breathe and plan. We aren’t sure of the exact date for the next trip yet, but we are committed to seeing this through until every family is out of those tents.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We aren’t just a trekking company; because of you, we are a lifeline.

With love,

Team Escape To Sumatra

Children in a remote village smiling after receiving school supplies and uniforms during our Aceh Relief Mission.

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