Trekking Orangutan Sumatra — Attraction in North Sumatra

Shoutout to Bendi and his team, including the guide Ronny, assistant/porter D, the cook Olek, and driver. I did the 2 day/1 night trek with my 2 kids (ages 7 and 9) and saw orangutans and the cutest baby orangutan, Thomas's leaf monkeys, gibbons, long-tail macaques, pig-tail macaques, a peacock, and a green pit viper!

I contacted Bendi on WhatsApp back in January, made a reservation by paying a deposit via PayPal (he sends you a confirmation letter) and followed up with him once I got my flight info. All the treks are just for you and your group, so you don't have to be with other random trekkers.

When we landed in Medan, the driver greeted us in the airport. It took about 3.5 hours to the village of Bukit Lawang where we were dropped off at our hotel. Bendi greeted us at the hotel and we had dinner. The hotel was a very simple accommodation run by a sweet family

The next morning we had breakfast, which is included in the trek package and then headed out at 9a with Ronny and D. Ronny went at a leisurely pace so we could spot wildlife and pointed out cool things like trees with sap that make latex, termite nests, a tree with bear claw marks, dirt dug up by wild boars. We were so excited to spot our first orangutan and it's the most magical feeling ever. We stayed and watched them for as long as we wanted before moving on. There were a few mountains we had to climb up and down to get to our campsite and there were a few steep, tricky spots. The guides were very helpful with my 2 kids and made sure we took enough breaks and were safe.

Ronny and D prepared a delicious lunch of my favorite tropical fruits of mangosteen, rambutan, passion fruit, watermelon and pineapple, as well as fried rice that was cooked that morning.

It took about 5 or 6 hours to get to our campsite, which is next to a river. We were sweaty and sticky and the river was much needed to cool us down. We had a tent structure made of bamboo and plastic tarp and my kids and I each had our own mattress, inflatable pillow and blanket already set up for us, along with mosquito netting. There's a toilet but it's what you would expect one would look like in a jungle.

Our cook Olek, who had walked 1.5 hours to the campsite, prepared for us tea and fruit and later 4 or 5 dishes for a delicious dinner (the campsite has a kitchen). We hung out with our guides and got to know about their lives and culture, played some card games, and fell asleep to the loud sounds of the jungle.

The next morning, we had breakfast and trekked for 3 hours to a different river where we met Olek with the tubes. He had walked an hour carrying 4 tubes to us! We could've had lunch then (Olek had made our lunch that morning) but we opted to eat back at the hotel. The tube ride down the river was about 15 or 20 minutes and it was fun and we were pretty soaked.

The hotel let us shower, then we ate and said our goodbyes to Bendi, Ronny and D. While we only spent 1.5 days with them, we will always remember this experience and the care, kindness, and physical labor that went into our trek. Don't let TOS's outdated-looking website turn you off. Bendi and Ron know the jungle like the back of their hand and I would recommend them to anyone who is thinking about seeing orangutans...

Amazing Jungle trek through Northern Sumatra, Bendi who I contacted on WhatsApp was fast to reply and very helpful to answer my queries before the tour and in getting to Bukit Lawang.

We did the 3 day 2 night tour with transport from Medan which was great, everything was organised for us which was very helpful. Bendi owns this business and by organising a tour with him you truly help local people and your money goes directly to them and not to an overseas owner who removes the money from the local economy, so please consider this if you are stuck between tour companies and support the country and economy of the place you are visiting. I also will add it is completely ethical and i witnessed no feeding of animals from any guides.

The trek itself was great, it was not a far distance we walked each day with pleanty of stops to admire the nature, trees, plants and most importantly monkeys and apes. The camping spots were great with a small river on the 1st day and and bigger one on the 2nd to cool off in which was really needed as it gets hot!

Our guide Imran was great in keeping us entertained with facts about the rainforest and all of the life inside it and it felt more like a safari than a trek! While walking through he always had somthing to talk to us about or a story to tell and his English was amazing and he was genuinely very funny and full of life!

The food we were served was great all the time and I honestly don’t think I have ever eaten as much fruit in my life, all of the monkeys in the jungle would be very jealous if they knew! We also went fishing in the big river and caught nothing… but our guide Imran managed to catch a fish with the rod and under darkness caught lots with a traditional net! So all of the camps had fresh fish for breakfast!

Overall it was a great experience to witness the jungle and didn’t feel like a super busy tourist activity which we really enjoyed, if you are looking to book your Sumatran adventure please do take my recommendation and...

Best Experience Ever! We are a family of four with two teenagers and booked a two-day jungle trek with Trekking Orangutan Sumatra—and it was the best decision we could have made!

From the start, communication with Bendy, the very friendly and reliable owner, was perfect. He was always available via WhatsApp, highly organized, and arranged everything seamlessly, including airport transfers. Even a last-minute flight change was handled within minutes.

The accommodation in Bukit Lawang was spotless, air-conditioned, and centrally located. During the trek, we had the pleasure of being guided by Sardi and John, who were both excellent—knowledgeable, caring, funny, and very attentive. Thanks to them, we spotted orangutans (including a big male), Thomas leaf monkeys, macaques, a hornbill, and even a peacock. They always made sure we felt safe and comfortable, even when cheeky macaques came close.

The food, both at the guesthouse and in the jungle, was outstanding—fresh, lovingly prepared, and carried all the way by the guides. Jungle accommodation is simple but comfortable; we slept well and stayed dry even during heavy rain.

What we especially appreciated: this is a fully locally run company. Supporting Bendy felt right, and 15% of the income goes directly to local people and social projects.

A few tips: • Be prepared for 4–5 hours of trekking each day, with steep and slippery sections. Good physical condition is important. • Bring fresh clothes for the next day—you will sweat a lot. • Don’t expect to be alone in the jungle; treks are popular, and orangutan spots can get busy.

Overall, everything was relaxed, well-organized, and full of unforgettable encounters. Visiting Bendy’s lovely family was the cherry on top. We can highly recommend Trekking Orangutan Sumatra—and please, don’t forget to tip the hardworking...