Sumatran Ethical Expeditions and Trekking

Mooie plek, schoon en lief personeel. Bed lag heerlijk, zeker omdat we net uit de jungle kwamen.

Doordat kamers naast elkaar zaten met een gedeeld dak kon je letterlijk alles horen van de buren. Zowel gesprekken van de buren als families met kleine kinderen. Er was geen warm water en bijna geen waterdruk (wel nodig bij gebruik van douchetoilet).

In 1 woord geweldig. De Jungle trekking van 1 dag gedaan, heel pittig maar na 6 Oerang Oetans gezien te hebben maakt dat niet meer uit. Personeel zorgt enorm goed hoor je.

Niets.

Amabilidad del personal Tranquilidad del entorno Comida muy buena Cama cómoda con mosquitera El trekking estuvo genial

L’emplacement, le personnel, le treck dans la jungle et la cuisine

We had a wonderful experience in North Sumatra thanks to Sumatra ethical expeditions and their crew. We spent two nights in the lodge and we did the 2D1N trek with our amazing guides Pika, Tenjong and Imuh. We will be forever grateful to them for taking such good care of us, for teaching us so much about the jungle and the animals, and for being so kind. I definitely recommend the experience. We were able to spot over 15 orangutans, many monkeys, including the Thomas leaf monkey and some gibbons, as well as hornbills (similar to toucans). The lodge is amazing, with a wonderful view of the nature surrounding this area. They provided us with transport service (shared or private) from Medan airport for a very good price. Breakfast is good as well as the dinner, all of it at great prices. The atmosphere is very calm and welcoming. Many thanks for such an unforgettable experience!!!

n/a

Oman, unser Guide, war der Hammer. Das Personal insgesamt ist Supernett und hilfsbereit. Nette Guesthouse-Atmosphäre

Sauberkeit so lala, Mückennetze mit Löchern, Wasser im Bad blieb stehen, ...

Very friendly staff who are really keen on helping out on any query

The hotwater is very limited, some rooms do not have any at all, others for 2-3 minutes.

The place was very cosy and the rooms were comfortable ! All the staff was just amazing and very helpful ! Thank you for your kindness 🙏🏼 We made the one night jungle trek and it was just an incredible experience ! The camp was very privative and we were alone in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to all the Sumatra expedition lodge team for this unforgettable stay🫶

Only thing is that you can hear the people in the room next to you.

Freundliches und hilfsbereites Personal

Nice calm surroundings off tourist city center with view on a rice patty, very clean room and comfortable bed. Staff was super friendly and everything can be arranged at the lodge. The guides are very respectful of nature.

We had the best time at Sumatra expedition lodge. The room was spacious, clean and had air con and a fan. The family were lovely and the workers were so friendly and helpful. We had amazing meals at the lodge (our favourite the tempeh rengdeng). We also did a jungle trek organised by the lodge. We had the most incredible day with our tour guide Oman and his helper Onkey (sorry if wrong spelling). Oman was so great with 20 plus years of experience in the jungle he was so knowledgeable and we saw so much beautiful jungle and wildlife. He also deeply cared about the environment and was a great advocate for animal wellbeing and safety. We were fortunate enough to see lots of monkeys and observe the orangutan’s up close. Definitely recommend 10/10

Nothing

Muy buena comida y linda ubicación si se tiene vehículo para llegar

Great place owned by the best staff. They were super friendly and helped us with everything. This accommodation is a bit further outside of Bukit lawang but with a tuktuk you get quickly into the center.

The breakfast is a bit overpriced for what you get.

Vey friendly and approachable staff, beautiful views and an outstanding trekking trip.

Very nice Guides on our trip through the forrest. Also very good knowledge about the common animals.

Food was cooked in house and delicious, be sure to order ahead of time to allow fresh meal preparations. Staff and host were very hospitable and welcoming. Spacious room

The view is stunning; peaceful place; hosts are really nice; contact with local villagers is fantastic.

Lightning in the room can improve Curtains in front of the door are too transparent.

Highly recommend, rooms are super confortable, quiet neighborhood and food is delicious. We did the 2 days 1 night jungle trek with them and everything was perfect!! Thanks so much

The scenery

View from reception was nice.

We stayed in room 1. Sound proofing is terrible. There was a wedding nearby, and music was on till after midnight. A water pump is placed right outside the bathroom, and makes a loud wringing sound all night. Terrible sleep. Furthermore the toilet sink didn't have any water flow. Location is away from everything. Rooms were smaller than in the pictures.

Our first stop in Sumatra was at Lilly's Guesthouse, where we were very warmly welcomed by her and her husband Ishako. From the first moment we felt welcome and completely at home. We booked a two-day jungle trek. Our adventure began on the second day after our arrival, together with our guide Iman and a French couple, Carolane and Romain. There was immediately a nice click, and so we trekked into the jungle together. Blood, sweat, but no tears - what an experience! Without Iman, the trek would definitely not have been the same. What a top guy! After two days of trekking and a night's sleep in the middle of the jungle, we arrived safely back at the guesthouse. How happy we were to finally shower again and sleep in a comfortable bed! As icing on the cake, we also enjoyed a wonderful massage - how good that felt! After that we wanted to travel on to Lake Toba, and coincidentally that was also Lilly's plan with her family. Transportation was completely arranged by them, and together we traveled to our next destination. Along the way, we had lunch together, took the same ferry and once again shared beautiful, enjoyable moments. In Tuktuk our paths parted, as we had each booked our own guesthouse, but we met up a few more times. Each time it was a warm reunion! What we really want to say: we felt like one of them. Always hospitable, helpful and with genuine warmth and friendliness. We are very grateful for that. You remain in our hearts. ♥️ Greetings from Ruben & Aurélie!

Nothing.

Nice facilities, airconditioning and nice people.

When we arrived there was still blond hair in the shower and next to the shower. Didn’t feel clean. There is not much privacy as you can hear the other rooms going to the bathroom and talk.

The property is really beautiful and peaceful. It has a little canal and faces out on to the fields and mountains. The building is really modern and the rooms are clean and comfortable. The aircon is a life saver in the humidity! Owners and staff are friendly. The owners helped us arrange transportation to and from the hotel which helped us a lot. There’s a restaurant and a good menu on site, so if you don’t fancy going out you can just stay put. The owners organise the tour for you which seems to be the usual way in Bukit Lawang. The team who looked after us on the tour were great - from the guide, his assistant to the cook. It was a great time and really well organised. The team is very friendly and like to chat with the guests. If you’re a solo traveller or very outgoing it’s a friendly vibe.

The beds have American style comforters on them which are a bit too warm, even with the AC. Most of the other places we stayed had plain sheets on them which we thought was more comfortable. The pillows could also do with replacing I think. The rooms are clean, modern and functional, however there is nowhere to store clothes. If possible it would be really great to add a wardrobe or chest of drawers. As was the case throughout Sumatra the shower was unreliable. But I think that's just to be expected, I didn't mind. This is not necessarily a negative, but just a question of preference. The team runs more like a family or a group of friends, rather than purely a hotel team. They are really friendly and like to chat with the guests and sing and play the guitar. This is really great for some, but may be more difficult if you’re shy. Just something to bear in mind based on your personality.

It was a perfectly quiet and calm place next to the rice fields. The team helped organising transportation and activities and i felt welcome at all times. Highly recommended!!

This is a really special place - a family run property that’s super organised, clean and well situated by the rice paddies (which provide an exceptional view). The food and coffee were great and the staff really lovely and accommodating.

The only downside is it is based away from central Bukit Luwang but everything you need is either at the property or a short walking distance. Also, in exchange for staying in town you get these incredible views.

Lots of windows, spacious room.

We had a fantastic stay, thanks to the incredibly kind and welcoming hosts and staff. Our main goal was to see orangutans, and we had an unforgettable experience with one of their knowledgeable guides. The highlight was spotting three orangutans during a three-hour hike. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Be sure to take the homemade raft back after the hike; the river trip is absolutely beautiful and the perfect way to end the adventure. The accommodations are clean and simple, with air conditioning and a fan that keep the room comfortable and mosquito-free. While there is some construction happening onsite and the property is slightly outside of town, it’s easily accessible—either a scenic 30-minute walk or a quick 10-minute tuk-tuk ride. The food at Sumatra Expedition Lodge is really good and much better than the food we had in town at the resort on the river. Overall, an amazing experience that we highly recommend.

A few mosquitos in the bathroom, but easily dealt with by closing the door. It would have been a 10 if on the river.

Lovely place ran by a very nice family and their team in a peaceful little village not far from Bukit lewang. They arranged my jungle Trek as soon as I arrived which was perfect. Waking up to rice fields and mountain views, what more could you wish for?

No hot water in the shower but it's not a huge issue. It definitely wakes you up in the morning.

Ishako and Lily are great hosts and made me feel very much at home from the moment I arrived. I loved the location on the edge of the paddy fields, but within an easy 15min walk of Bukit Lawang centre. My room was spacious, comfortable and clean and I loved the veranda with its rocking chair!

Not much to complain about really - perhaps a little more choice of food - but this is a lodge not a restaurant so can't complain!

Staff is helpfull

Fantastic stay in Bukit Lawang among fantastic people. Perfectly organized transfer, stay and treks to the jungle with great and experienced guides. I warmly recommend to all nature and local culture lovers!!!

Maybe the room could be equipped with little bit more furniture.

Very friendly and helpful host and guides for the jungle trip. Excellent staff on the trip to the jungle incl. information about the nature, animals and fauna… and they served very good food on the trip 👍🏻😃

-

The personal is amazing and the rooms at the bottom are just perfect!

Everything was great

Super friendly stuff, really clean and nice room, yummy food, very welcoming and helpful Nice and comfy bed after the jungle trek (organised by the lodge!, would definitely recommend the jungle trek)

It’s quite far from town but then the staff is really helpful to organize transport for you so it isn’t a problem really!

Very friendly people

Super friendly hosts. Clean! Mosquito net worked well but restricted size of bed, so that we two were quite limited in sleeping position Location and setup of place is great👍👍😉

Lilly and Kaku were very thoughtful and welcoming people which made our stay super pleasant.

Great host, food, facility!

Nothing

A beautiful guesthouse in a stunning location. Everything was very clean and comfortable. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming. We felt right at home. Thank you Lilly and Ishako for having us and your jungle guides Dion and Alec were amazing we had the best experience ever!

We loved the location and staff was lovely

Nothing

Govinda and Lily were so helpful and friendly. After losing our luggage they made sure to pick it up from the airport. Rest of the staff all lovely and cheerful. Beds very comfortable with good airconditioning. Everything sparkly clean. Would definitely recommend Banana pancakes for breakfast. We then set off for the Jungle with our guides Galin and André who were a great laugh and excellent at guiding us. Overall had an amazing time.

Highly recommended! Location is beautiful, with lovely views, and within walking distance of the village. The people were so nice, it felt like staying with family. Food was delicious. Dion and Andre made our 3 day jungle trek the highlight of our trip! They also provided incredible food while in the jungle. This really is a gem and if you consider coming to Bukit Lawang, go here.

Facilities

I had a disappointing experience at this place. As soon as ( within 30 mins) I checked in I told the staff that my plan changes and I am going to Bukit. I told her to refund for 2 days. She did not accept saying booking.com will not allow me. I wrote to Booking.com. They told me that it depends on the hotel. Finally I did not get the refund. It was very disappointing

Homestay located right outside of Bukit Lawang with a great view and nice owners, very hospitable. Jungle trekking was fantastic: we had a fun and responsible guide (Iman!) and saw a lot of flora and fauna. However, keep in mind that the trek can be tough (hot, steep and slippery) and sleeping in the jungle is very primitive, loud and thrilling (for those who never did it before 🙈🌱🦗🎶). But good guidance, stunning nature and tasty food made it all unforgettable. Rooms in the lodge itself are basic and warm (fan) but clean and overall a great place to start your Sumatran jungle experience.

We had no air mattress or pillows during our night in the jungle and we didn't sleep at all. Some simple camping equipment (e.g. field bed, mattress, headrest, earplugs) would be a major improvement, especially for rookies.

It's a very nice room that has two terraces, a big bed with mosquito net and a fan, but no AC. The view is beautiful from the window. The property is about 20 mins walk from the 'center' of Bukit Lawang, but I think there's actually not much point walking there, since this palce has a restaurant too with really nice food and very reasonable prices. There's also a supermarket in 5 mins walk too, if anything is needed. The owner is from England so it's perfectly easy to communicate in English, but also most of the other staff members speak English.

The tour they offered was about EUR 20-40 (20-50%) more expensive than the other people I talked with got, and I haven't seen any reason for that. The place itself was basically perfect for me, maybe except for the spotty wifi and the power cuts, but right next to the rainforest it's understandable.

Had a great time at this lovely place! The hosts make you feel very welcome, and they help out with every question you have!

Beautiful place to stay and a really good jungle trek with nice guides. Jhony, Havidz and Adam were the best!

The family that owned the hotel were so lovely and very helpful! They organised our 2 day, 1 night jungle trek, very good price and great experience! The food here was also amazing! In the evening they took us around Bukit lawang into the village and spent time with the lovely local playing pool and card games. What a trip we had and for sure will be recommending this place to friends and family 🫶🏼

Nothing, exceptional stay!

It's a lovely place and the people are super super kind. We drank beer and had people playing guitar and singing songs till late. It's a bit isolated from the rest of the village I believe

Very friendly and accommodating owners and great view of the rice paddies from the windows (that covered all the walls) of my room. Lived the true Sumatran shower experience: sluicing buckets of water down my body felt SO refreshing in the humid warm weather.  Also, loved the porch area just outside of the hotel!

A little bed side table light would have been great, the big one could attract many mosquitos.

We really enjoyed our stay here especially because the hosts are so welcoming and friendly. The location is a bit outside of the city but you have a beautiful view on the rice fields. We stayed in the eagles nest which had a very comfortable mattress but it was extremely noisy and the shared bathroom is downstairs without any shower. So I would definitely recommend to take one room with a private bathroom otherwise our stay was great!

Hospitality (super friendly and helpful owners and staff), location (on the edge of the village, with a beautiful view on the rice fields and mountains, while still close enough to reach the village center easily by foot), food (little restaurant that offers delicious breakfast and meals all day around)

Nothing

Very very helpful staff. I will definitely come back.

Nothing to complain.

Beautiful property, great to hang out at, and not in the tourist area. You can get the feel of a local neighborhood. The rooms are clean and spacious.

Bamboo walls can be a bit thin, so bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper!

The staff, beautiful scenery, clean rooms, great food

I liked it the experience!

Liked it!

We really liked the hospitality that Kako, Lilly and the staff gave us. A really warm hearted place. If you go here, make sure you go on a jungletrip! We went for 3 days and 2 nights. If you have good condition this is really a minimum, so you have 2 full days of trekking, we were lucky to see a lot of monkeys and even some apes. The food that was prepared was very good and the guides had plenty of knowledge to share about the flora and fauna. The room was really clean and we had a proper indonesian shower. If you rather want a normal shower book the Kings room instead!

One night there was some music some houses down the road. But well to be fair, they could not really do a thing about that, now can they?

We spent Christmas here and we couldn't have picked a better place. Even before we arrived Lily and the gang made it easy by picking us up in Parapet. The lodge is new and comfortable with big rooms, fan and a wunderful view over the rice fields. All food was very good. Lily and Ishako arranged all our hikings as to our request and we loved it. And they were all so very welcoming and invited us to join with their friends Christmas party. This was one of our best stays in Indonesia. We can highly recommend everybody to stay here. We loved it, thank you, Lily & Ishako & Osaka!

One of the best guesthouses I have ever stayed in - do yourself a favour and book this guesthouse! After a tiring long day of travel to BL I was welcomed with a refreshing complimentary drink, upgrade to my room and ordered the best Gado Gado I have ever had for dinner. The room was beautiful, clean, large and the bed was super comfortable. A highlight of the property is the beautiful scenery and serenity - situated in a quiet, peaceful area overlooking rice paddies, palm trees, mountains and if you’re lucky a volcano can be spotted in the distance on a clear day. The family who own & run this guesthouse are beautiful - made me feel completely at home, helped with anything I needed and we had some great chats overlooking the beautiful rice paddies each night. The owners shared stories of the area and broader Sumatra helping me plan my onward travel, I loved cuddling with their sweet dog Padi and playing with their little boy Osaka. The other staff were also so sweet and helpful. Even though it is a little further from the main area/where I was starting my hike, they dropped me off and picked me up, and have everything on site (food, drinks, shops nearby etc) so not an issue at all. And I much preferred because in this less touristy area that has a real local, authentic feel. I extended my stay one night after my hike and if I had time, would have stayed even longer. Will definitely be back here in the future.

Nothing - it’s perfect!

Really good location and the tour offered was incredible.

Beautiful location, lovely staff and very chilled east going atmosphere!

The location was perfect, the views and comfort were the best! Just a small walk into the jungle from the property and I loved like it was slightly out of the “main bit” would absolutely stay again!

One of my favorite places I've ever stayed! The family that owns it is amazing, so kind and welcoming. Beautiful views, delicious food, and the trekking was a once in a lifetime experience. We had a great guide (Dion) who shared a lot of great info with us. I hope to return some day!

One of the best parts of the accomodation is that it can make you feel like home, even though we were in a far away country. The owners are really helpfull, are involved in your journey, and give you advice to make your stay better. This includes prepping your breakfast, providing the tours, and making sure you are not stranded at the airport. They even helped us a few days after we already left. They open up and give You the freedom to do the same.

It is slightly further away from Bukit Lawang. This is not an issue if you are a couple like we were or if You are with friends or family, but might be a downside if You are a solo traveller.