Thomas' Retreat — Hotel in Sumatra

We recently had the pleasure of embarking on a remarkable adventure with Thomas Jungle Tours, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment we set foot in the jungle to the thrilling raft ride that concluded our two-day tour, every aspect of the experience left me in awe.

First and foremost, I have to commend the outstanding guides who accompanied us throughout the journey. Their knowledge, passion, and dedication to providing an exceptional experience were truly remarkable. They went above and beyond to ensure our safety, educate us about the environment, and make the trip enjoyable for everyone.

One of the highlights of the tour was our encounter with Katherine, Mina's daughter, an orangutan with an intriguing reputation for biting over 100 tourists. While Mina, her mother, might have garnered attention for her past antics, Katherine proved to be a serene and gentle creature. It was an absolute delight to observe her as she gracefully walked into the heart of our group, allowing us a rare and intimate connection with these magnificent creatures.

The trek itself was nothing short of breathtaking. As we ventured deeper into the jungle, we were greeted by a kaleidoscope of vibrant flora and fauna. The mesmerizing beauty of the surroundings served as a constant reminder of the incredible diversity that thrives within these natural habitats.

On top of the captivating trek, the culinary experience provided by Thomas Jungle Tours was a true treat. The food served was absolutely delectable. From the fresh fruits provided during breaks to the mouthwatering Mie Goreng and Nasi Goreng served for lunches, every meal was a delightful fusion of flavors. It was a welcome surprise to savor such delicious dishes in the midst of the wilderness.

The grand finale of our tour was the raft ride into town, which added an extra dash of excitement to our overall adventure. Drifting along the fast moving river, surrounded by towering trees and wildlife, was a breathtaking and memorable way to conclude our journey.

Thomas Jungle Tours proved to be an exceptional choice for exploring the wonders of the jungle. With their incredible guides, fascinating orangutan encounters, picturesque treks, and scrumptious meals, they offer an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

I wholeheartedly recommend Thomas Jungle Tours to anyone who craves an immersive and awe-inspiring journey into the heart of the wild. Be prepared to be captivated by the beauty of nature, enthralled by the wildlife encounters, and treated to an unforgettable expedition from...

We booked Thomas Retreat via booking but contacted him before. To be fair we had the complete package so we can just review the overall experience. By complete package I mean Airport pickup, accommodation and the jungle tour. If reviewed out of context one might feel the transport expensive (600k per direction so close to 40 EUR) but it is a 4 hour drive per direction so 8 hours for the driver). We did the 2 day jungle tour which was 1,5mn per person which is roughly 95 eur. Also that might seem heavy, but we where accompanied by 2 guides in a group of 5, and 3-4 other persons where helping to make it possible. If you see it that way and also that with helping the local people to make a living with an alive rain forest then I think it is one of the fairest deals you get in Indonesia:) So was it worth it? We had an amazing jungle trekking trip seeing different sorts of monkeys and of course some of the last few Orang utans in freedom in the world. The guides were fluent enough in English to explain everything one might want to know during the trip. The camping in the jungle was quite an experience,although one does not sleep too much to be fair :) the tubing back to the village was fun and also a bit thrilling. In Bukit Lawang a European seems still a little exotic and we were asked to be in a lot of Fotos (10) with the locals. The food at Thomas was decently priced and tasted well, the beer was not insanly cheap but if you don't plan to shoot you to the stars it should be OK :) and finally the rooms where basic but functional, we had quite a little lizard problem due to one net over the window being damaged. Also it is not the Ritz and some things are not perfectly in order but then again it is very remote and it costs between 6 and 8 eur per night. So in the end I can fully recommend this retreat for people who care about seeing the last remaining Orang utans on Sumatra and I would definitely do the full thing as it is so much less hassle compared to organizing all on your own and save...

Unforgettable jungle experience with the best guides Tondi & Agil from Thomas Retreat

We started to plan our trip looking for a jungle trip to see the Orang Utans and the wildlife in northern Sumatra and contacted Thomas via WhatsApp. He immediately called us back to confirm our request: we sent him our flight details and that was it. First, we were not sure if we really had booked the trip and the accommodation the nights before and after the trip because we didn’t have to pay anything and all we did was communicating via WhatsApp. Once we landed in Medan, we talked to him again and he told us where we can meet the driver who drove us to Bukit Lawang. Even if the journey took us around 4 hours because of the traffic (especially in Medan) our driver answered all the questions we had while driving through little villages. Arriving at the Thomas’ Retreat, we were greeted with a smile and a welcome drink and had a delicious dinner. The next day, we started our 3D2N Jungle Trek: with a small backpack we set off into the jungle and were warmly guided by our guides while observing all seven species of monkeys that could be seen in the national park. Every day they served us tea & biscuits, breakfast, lunch, fruit platter and dinner without losing the smile on their faces. While the hot dishes were prepared by the cooks in the campsides, Tondi and Agil carried the lunch and fruits in their backpacks so that we could treat ourselves during the walks. After a long sleep, we rafted from the camp to the Thomas’a Retreat on the last day, which was definitely one of the highlights of the whole trip. Later in the evening we met for dinner with the whole group again and Tondi and Agil joined us later. The evening ended with a pleasant get-together and fun filled singing, which Tondi and Agil accompanied with a guitar. We are so thankful for this experience and will never forget the time we had together! If you ever have the possibility to go to Bukit Lawang it’s an absolutely MUST DO with the Thomas...