Animals - Escape To Sumatra

Ethical Trekking | Animals | Blog | Travel
How to Get from Medan to Banda Aceh and Pulau Weh 2026
Posted onAugust 5, 2026August 5, 2026
Planning the route from Medan to Pulau Weh after Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba or your Sumatra jungle trek? Good idea. Pulau Weh is one of the most beautiful island escapes in Sumatra, but getting there takes a little planning because you need to travel via Banda Aceh and then take the ferry to Sabang. Google…
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Ethical Trekking | Animals | Blog | Travel
Bukit Lawang Orangutan Trekking Guide 2026
Posted onAugust 4, 2026August 4, 2026
Bukit Lawang is one of the most popular places in Sumatra to see orangutans in the rainforest. It sits on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the most important rainforest areas in Indonesia and part of the wider Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. This area is home to incredible wildlife, including Sumatran…
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Ethical Trekking | Animals | Blog | Travel
One Day Orangutan Trek in Bukit Lawang: What to Expect
Posted onJune 23, 2026June 23, 2026
A one day orangutan trek Bukit Lawang experience is one of the best ways to see the rainforest of North Sumatra if you do not have time for an overnight jungle trek. Bukit Lawang sits on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the most important rainforest areas in Sumatra and one of…
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Animals | Blog | Budget Travel | Ethical Trekking | Tours | Travel
The Dark Side of Cheap Jungle Treks: Your 2026 Guide to Ethical Trekking in Sumatra
Posted onApril 30, 2026June 23, 2026
Every year, thousands of travelers head to the Gunung Leuser National Park in search of a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a wild orangutan. But behind the scenes, a battle is being fought between responsible eco-tourism and a “cheap-at-all-costs” culture that puts wildlife and local communities at risk. When planning a trip to Sumatra, many travelers ask…
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Animals | Blog | Ethical Trekking | Travel
Is Bukit Lawang Too Touristy? 3 Wild Alternatives for Orangutan Trekking (2026)
Posted onApril 30, 2026June 24, 2026
So, you’re planning a trip to Sumatra but worrying that the main hubs are getting crowded. If you’re searching for Bukit Lawang alternatives, you aren’t alone. While the village is famous for a reason, many travelers now crave a more raw, authentic jungle experience. Is Bukit Lawang too touristy? The honest answer is: It depends…
Read More Is Bukit Lawang Too Touristy? 3 Wild Alternatives for Orangutan Trekking (2026)
Community Impact | Animals
Bukit Lawang Community Impact: 22 Street Cats Neutered in Successful 2026 Program
Posted onApril 30, 2026April 30, 2026
Our Commitment to Ethical Tourism and Animal Welfare We are so proud to share our most recent Bukit Lawang community impact success story. This week, our team dedicated a long, tough day to a massive sterilization clinic to help our local street cats. While many know us for providing a professional Bukit Lawang trekking price…
Read More Bukit Lawang Community Impact: 22 Street Cats Neutered in Successful 2026 Program

We've had an amazing time with Escape to Sumatra team. Great and reliable organisation, the guides are knowledgeable and always happy to help and answer any questions. What I loved is that the company focuses on making the travel ethical for both the wildlife and also local people. This is so important and unfortunately often omitted aspect, but the team here made it their priority! I can only recommend booking your holidays with them.

Eliška Augustinová

Had a great time joining the 3 days/2 nights Mentawai tribe excursion! It is a once in a lifetime experience and definitely recommended! The tribe was welcoming, it was very interesting to see how they live (even if you can tell some traditions will be slowly lost), participating in their activities and the guide Laijet was very nice. Expect to spend a lot of time sitting, chatting, drinking coffee and smoking! I ended up the experience with a traditional tattoo made by Laijet and I really loved it!

Diana Garzia

Our overnight trekking experience with my fiancé was unforgettable. Our guides, Rendy and Anga, were amazing. knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole journey special. The food was delicious, we saw incredible wildlife, and we had the chance to visit a local village. One of the highlights was the cooking class with a local family, where we learned about their culture and the conservation efforts the company is supporting within the community. If you’re looking to support a company that truly makes a positive difference, I highly recommend choosing this one. It was an experience that went beyond trekking. It was about connecting with nature, people, and meaningful conservation work.

Claudia

Can’t recommend the batu katak jungle trekking with these guys enough. Siddartha and Dikka were amazing guides. Really great company and initiative, employing from the community and supporting conservation efforts.

Remi Pfister

we had such an incredible experience doing the 3D2N trek. real jungle experience, plenty of wildlife (including orangutans!!) & so much to look at. ray and anga were awesome and kept the energy the whole way. thanks so much guys 🥳🥳

Holly Bradshaw

The best experience you'll ever have is here with them, something you simply won't find anywhere else... Trust me...!!

M4SQUAD IQTHA

My boyfriend and I recently did the 2D/1N jungle trek in Batu Katak with Escape to Sumatra and had a fantastic experience. We chose Batu Katak over Bukit Lawang because I had already visited Bukit Lawang and wanted something a little more authentic and off the beaten track. We knew there was a lower chance of seeing orangutans and unfortunately didn't see any this time, but that's part of visiting a truly wild environment! Our guides, Rey and Dika, were excellent and went out of their way to make sure we still had a great trip. We saw plenty of other wildlife, enjoyed some amazing food and learned so much from their knowledge of the jungle and local area. Be prepared though - this is a real jungle adventure! It's hot, humid, challenging in places and there will most likely be leeches. But if you're looking for an authentic rainforest experience, I'd highly recommend it.

Francesca Hardy

We were completely satisfied with our experience with Escape to Sumatra. We joined the 2-day jungle trek in Bukit Lawang, and it exceeded our expectations. Our guides, Fabio and Angga, were fantastic. They were very knowledgeable and showed us a wide variety of animals and plants throughout the trek, making the experience both exciting and educational. They were also very funny and created a great atmosphere throughout the tour. We had a lot of fun with the whole group, which made the experience even more memorable. The food provided during the tour was excellent, and everything was well organized from start to finish. We felt well taken care of the entire time. We highly recommend Escape to Sumatra to anyone looking for an authentic and unforgettable jungle experience in Bukit Lawang!

Lena

We had an amazing jungle trekking experience with Escape to Sumatra. Our guides, Likki and Pele, were fantastic throughout the entire tour. We were lucky enough to see orangutans and gibbons in the wild, which was truly unforgettable. Everything was perfectly organised from start to finish. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all excellent, and chef Genji took great care of us the whole trip. You could really tell the team puts a lot of effort into making the experience special. If you love adventure, nature and wildlife, this is absolutely something I would recommend. One of the highlights of our trip to Sumatra!