A Complete Guide to Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang

How Many Days to Do Orangutan Trekking?

3 Days 2 Nights Trek (Highly Recommended!)

When I arrived in Sumatra, I met a Dutch woman who had done the Orangutan trekking before me. I asked her how many days I should spend in the jungle, and she said, "As many days as you can." I'm so glad I listened to her, as I ended up doing the 3D2N trek, and it was incredible! Every moment of it. So, a huge shout out to you, Emma!

At first, I was on the fence between doing the 2D1N or 3D2N, but after doing the latter, I definitely recommend you go with the 3D2N option as you will be spending more time in the jungle, and that is hands down the best part of the experience.

You are not essentially seeing more orangutans with the 3D2N tour, as we were mostly focusing on the trek as the trail got more and more challenging, but you will have more time to chill in the jungle, swim in rivers, shower at waterfalls, and get to know your teammates even more, and I think that is what makes it fun.

My teammates were awesome. We have 2 Belgian siblings and one British solo traveler, shout out to Celine, Philippe, and Cassie, and we were able to connect really well on this trip. It wouldn't have been such an awesome experience if it were not for the 3D2N trek. I wouldn't have had enough time to get acquainted with them if we were only hiking for 2 days.

The camp on the second night was also way prettier than the first night's camp, with a bigger river to swim in, more areas to explore, and you will have plenty of time to enjoy the area in the morning.

On the third day, you will have time to enjoy a waterfall nearby or hike further to see more orangutans in the morning. Once you are done, you will be rafting back to Bukit Lawang on a 45-minute wild ride along the Bahorok River. What better way to end an epic trip than to raft back!

If you are active and have time to spare, I highly recommend you go with the 3D2N trek. The price of the tour is 2,800,000 IDR (170 EUR/180 USD) per person. The second day is a little bit challenging as you will be going up and down steep trails, but that should not prevent you from doing this tour. Trust me, you won't regret it!

2 Days 1 Night Trek

If you are a little bit short on time, but you still want to spend overnight in the jungle, which is an awesome experience in its own right, you can also go with the 2D1N tour.

The first day will mostly be spent spotting Orangutans, similar to the 3D2N itinerary. On the second day, you will hike around to see more Orangutans until mid-day, when you will then descend to a river and raft your way back to Bukit Lawang in about 25 minutes.

Although you are not spending as long in the jungle, you will still have plenty of opportunities to see the orangutans, so if you think 3D2N is too much, go with this itinerary instead. The price of the tour is 2,000,000 IDR (120 EUR/130 USD) per person.

1 Day Trek

Last but not least, if you do not fancy spending a night in the jungle, then you can go with a 1-day trek. The trek should take about 6-7 hours starting at 9 AM and it should follow a similar route as the previous 2 itineraries, but instead of hiking to the first camp, you hike back to Bukit Lawang the same day.

This is recommended only if you are short on time and you really can't sleep in the jungle. Otherwise, I would go with the 3D2N or 2D1N itineraries instead as it's not often you are in a place like Bukit Lawang, so I would recommend you make the best out of it. The price of the tour is 1,150,000 IDR (70 EUR/76 USD) per person.

How and Where to Book Orangutan Trekking Tour?

You don't really have to book the orangutan trekking tour in advance as you will find there are a ton of tour operators in Bukit Lawang that run these trips every day. These tour operators are often associated with accommodation there, so you can often ask your accommodation's reception and they should be able to organize one for you.

That said, if you choose to book it with your accommodation, you can't really choose which company to go with as your options are pretty limited, and you will have absolutely no idea if your tour is ethical or not. I've seen a few groups of tours that were feeding the orangutans and luring them, which is against the national park's rules. Yet, the tourists were still doing it, and the guide did nothing to stop it.

Personally, I booked the 3D2N tour in advance with Sumatra Orangutan Explore as I was traveling solo and I wasn't sure if there were any tours I could join on the day of my arrival. It turned out great for me as they put me in with another solo traveler and we got an awesome guide (huge shout out to Tesen!) who is really knowledgeable about orangutans and the jungle.

If you are planning to do the same itinerary as I do, do not hesitate to reach out to Sumatra Orangutan Explore and plan the trip with them. Ask for Tesen if you want an awesome guide for your trip to Bukit Lawang!

Which Tour Company To Do Orangutan Trekking With?

I cannot recommend Sumatra Orangutan Explore enough. They were prompt in responding to my queries, the upfront payment process was smooth, and they briefed us about ethics, what to do, and what not to do in the jungle, and they stood by it the whole trip, which I admire. It goes to show how serious they are about sustainability and the ecosystem as a whole.

Plus, they gave us a nice little introduction gift including an eco-friendly soap to use in the river, locally sourced souvenirs, and much of the money we paid goes into helping the preservation of the orangutans and supporting the local community.

If you want to have the same experience as I do, be sure to reach out to Sumatra Orangutan Explore in advance and see if there is a tour you can join. I'd say, reach out to them about a week in advance and they will help you find a group to join.

How Much Does Orangutan Trekking Cost?

• 3D2N tour: 2,800,000 IDR (170 EUR/180 USD) per person.
• 2D1N tour: 2,000,000 IDR (120 EUR/130 USD) per person.
• 1D tour: 1,150,000 IDR (70 EUR/76 USD) per person..

What are the sleeping and toilet arrangements like?

For sleeping arrangements, you will be sleeping at camps by a river and your group will be put in the same covered area with each having their own mosquito nets, cushioned mats, and pillows. It's pretty basic, but it gets the job done and all things considered, it was pretty comfortable given you are in the middle of the jungle.

Keep in mind, though, that the river can be quite loud, especially at the second camp, and if it rains, the tarp roof can create a thundering sound all night, so make sure you pack an earplug with you. For me, it was alright and I could sleep just fine most nights, but not so for my European friends 😂.

For toilet arrangement, it was surprisingly good. At each camp, you will find a tarp-covered toilet with a proper toilet seat and a bucket of water, so you can do your business in private. Anything that doesn't require me to dig a hole to do my business (Rinjani, I'm looking at you) is good enough in my book.

Things to Know Before doing the Orangutan Trek in Bukit Lawang

• Bring Cash: There is no ATM in Bukit Lawang and some tour operators prefer you pay them cash, so be sure to get enough cash to pay for the tour and a few extra just in case, before you travel to Bukit Lawang.
• Wear Long Pants and Socks: The forest in Bukit Lawang is infested with leeches, and you do not want anything below your belt to be exposed to them, so be sure to wear long pants and socks for the trek.
• Do not feed the monkeys: It's against the national park's rule and it makes the monkeys more aggressive when you feed them as anyone who went to the Monkey Temple in Bali can attest.
• Do not make noise to lure them: Also, do not make noise to lure the monkey in. I've seen a few tourists doing it and my guide was shaking his head. Do not be that person in the jungle!
• Keep your distance: Do not get close to the monkeys and always make way when they approach you.
• Do not leave anything behind: This goes for all hiking and trekking trip, do not leave anything behind except your memories. Avoid using plastic bags while in the forest, and clean everything when you leave.
• Book accommodation on the day of your arrival and on the day you leave: Be sure to book accommodation on the day of your arrival as the tour doesn't include the accommodation. You will be arriving back in Bukit Lawang around 1 PM on the day the tour ends and unless you have a flight to catch that day, I highly recommend you spend the night, so you can explore Bukit Lawang. The shared taxi to Medan is at 8:30 AM in the morning anyway, so you will probably have to stay another night to leave Bukit Lawang.

3 Days 2 Nights Orangutan Trekking Itinerary: My Experience

Day 0: Arriving in Bukit Lawang and Initial Briefing

I was traveling from Berastagi via Medan and I arrived in Bukit Lawang around 7 PM. The taxi dropped me off at the main road, and then my tour company, Sumatra Orangutan Explore, brought me to their guesthouse for a brief rest.

I haven't met my group yet during the briefing, but they did provide me with basic information on the tour, how to behave when encountering the orangutan, and what to expect during my trip. They also gave me a welcome drink, locally sourced souvenirs, and organic soap for me to use during the trek.

This is also where you will pay for the tour, excluding the upfront money, so make sure you have enough cash for it. Sumatra Orangutan Explore allows me to pay with Wise, which is extremely convenient as I did not have to get money out at all for this trip. After the payment, I retreated to my accommodation nearby (Garden Inn) and prepared for the trek the next day.

Day 1: Orangutan First Encounter

At 8:30 AM, I had my breakfast at my accommodation. (You can also get another breakfast with the tour as it is included in the price.) By 9 AM, I met my guide and my fellow teammates. We took a mandatory group photo in front of the hotel and made our way towards the jungle.

We walked through the tourist market and across a suspension bridge before arriving at the trailhead for the jungle trek. Right off the bat, we saw several macaques hanging along the trail. They are very respectful and always keep distances, unlike the macaques you find in Bali, so there is no need to be alarmed.

The first day's hike was pretty straightforward with a few ups and downs. We stopped quite often as we hiked through the jungle and during the first half of the day, we encountered 2 groups of semi-wild orangutans, which was awesome.

These semi-wild orangutans used to be raised by humans when they were kept as pets. After the rehabilitation program, they were successfully reintroduced back to the forest, and they are often friendlier towards humans. You can find them hanging out around human settlements all the time.

Although seeing orangutans is never guaranteed, these semi-wild orangutans are pretty common to see, and you will likely see 3 to 5 of them on your first day. It's the real wild ones that are harder to see.

We were lucky to be able to see a wild orangutan as we were taking a break from the hike, and out of nowhere, an orangutan swung itself onto a tree above us. Even my guides were shocked to see it, and it looked like it was curious about our bags and what we had in them.

Thankfully, it wasn't aggressive towards us and was just observing us as we slowly packed our bags and continued our journey. My heart was racing when I saw one right above our head; it was pretty exhilarating.

We stopped for a break every hour or so, with a few fruit breaks in between, where they would cut up fresh fruits for you to replenish your energy throughout the day. You don't even need to pack any snacks on this trip as they feed you really well here.

Lunches are either Nasi Goreng or Mie Goreng, and they are often cooked and packed in the morning. We had lunch and continued our journey to our first camp for the night. It took us 8 hours, including many MANY breaks, to reach the first camp.

We arrived around 5 PM, just in time before the sunset, so we spent the evening showering and swimming in the river before we gathered for dinner at around 7 PM. The dinner is more elaborate with many dishes to try. They were all delicious!

During the night, our guide, Tesen, kept us occupied until late with his jungle games, from card tricks to puzzles that made us question our reality 😂. It was awesome. We played "President", a card game where everyone tries to get rid of their cards as fast as possible to become the president of that round. In Thailand, we called it "Slave", and we had a few different rules, but it was fun nonetheless.

After about 11 PM, we all went to bed. Since we were camping by the river, the sounds from the river and all the birds were surprisingly soothing. I slept like a baby that night.

Day 2: Real Jungle Trekking

On our second day, we all woke up around 8:00 AM and had breakfast with sandwiches, cheese, fried eggs, and coffee at around 9 AM. We then started packing our bags and backtracked the same way to the ridge before heading over to our second camp.

Since you went down a rather steep trail on your way to the first camp, you will have to make your way back up again, so make sure you are prepared for it. If it rained the night before, the trail might still be slippery, so please be very careful.

Right after we got up to the ridge, we stumbled upon another orangutan. This time, it was semi-wild and extremely curious about us, so much so that it kept coming close to us as we tried to avoid being in its way. It was the closest I have ever been to an orangutan, and it was exhilarating.

Right here is where I saw two obnoxious tourists from Brazil who kept making sounds to lure the orangutan in. They kept trying to feed it with the leftover food and their guide did absolutely nothing. While everyone was quietly observing, these two kept shouting and getting closer to the orangutan, it was horrible. Please do not be like these two tourists!

After the first encounter, we had a little break before we powered through the jungle to get to the second camp. The trek is much longer and steeper than the first day, so we had to manage our time a little more carefully than on the first day.

By around 1 PM, we got down to a small river where we took a break and had lunch. Some of us, including Celine 😂, couldn't handle the humidity so she just jumped into the river while we waited for lunch. Not gonna lie, it was very humid for me, who was born and raised in Thailand as well.

After lunch, we had to make our way back up again and it took us about 1.5 hours before we arrived at our second camp. The second camp is breathtaking both in terms of scenery and scale. The river is much bigger than the one at the first camp, and the first thing we did when we arrived was jump right into it.

Since we arrived around 3:30 PM, we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy the river. It was so refreshing, especially after the strenuous hike we just did on our second day. We just sat in the river and talked until nightfall.

We were served dinner at around 7:30 PM, and we gathered under a tree to feast, congratulating ourselves for completing the hike. We spent only a few hours talking that night before we headed to bed, as all of us were exhausted.

The second night was a little harder to sleep because the sound from the river was extremely loud. It was also raining heavily at night, which made the sound even worse. I slept okay, but none of my friends slept well that night.

Day 3: Rafting the River

On our third day, we began with a great breakfast of banana pancakes, biscuits, and crackers. Today, we had the option to either hike back up to see more orangutans or cross the river and swim at a waterfall, and all of us unanimously agreed to go for the waterfall.

It was an awesome change from all the trekking as we crossed the river on a tube, and hiked for about 3 minutes to a small waterfall, where we spent an hour swimming and getting a massage from the waterfall 😂. Really, it was both comfortable and painful at the same time, which is exactly like a Thai massage, haha.

Our guide was also painting monkey faces and tribal patterns on each of us as we chilled out at the waterfall. We had the waterfall to ourselves for quite a while before people started showing up. I really enjoyed my time at the waterfall, and I am glad I went for this instead of another hike.

We took it really slow on our third day, and after we got back to our camp, we had lunch before we started packing our bags and preparing for the raft back to Bukit Lawang.

Rafting the Bahorok River was another highlight of the trip. We were placed on multiple tubes attached by ropes, and our guides navigated the strong current of the river back to Bukit Lawang. It was both exhilarating and soothing at the same time, as we finally had time to enjoy the scenery without having to do anything.

Of course, you still have to hold on to your life as your guide navigates the river. At one point, I shouted for more, and I immediately regretted it as you can see in the picture 😂.

It took us about 45 minutes before we arrived in Bukit Lawang. Make sure you put sunscreen on after the waterfall, as I forgot and I had a pretty bad burn from being exposed to the sun for so long.

Once we arrived back in Bukit Lawang, we sat in the river, taking in all the awesome experiences and memories we had together before we went our separate ways. I spent another night in Bukit Lawang before taking a shared taxi back to Medan at 8:30 AM, concluding my orangutan trekking trip.

Where to Stay in Bukit Lawang?

Budget

Ida Guest House & JUNGLE TREKKING

$ | Double Room

See Availability

👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Garden Inn

$$ | Double Room

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High-End

Jungle Inn Bukit lawang

$$$ | Double Room

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View More Hotels

When is the Best Time to Do Orangutan Trekking in Bukit Lawang?

The best time to do the orangutan trek in Bukit Lawang is during the dry season from June to August, preferably during the weekdays as it can get pretty crowded on the weekends. This period is the peak season and there will be many travelers sharing the trail with you.

If you want to avoid the crowds, you might consider visiting during the shoulder season in May or September. That said, the jungle in Bukit Lawang can get pretty muddy when it rains, and since it is a rainforest, you can expect it to rain even when you are there during the dry season.

I did the trek in mid-June, and thankfully for me, it only rained at night, and it was sunny during the day, so we didn't have to deal with muddy trails too much. There were a few tourists, but never too many to handle, and you would only meet other groups at camps or when someone found an orangutan. It was very manageable, so don't hesitate to visit Bukit Lawang during the peak season.

How to Get to Bukit Lawang?

Tourist Bus: One of the best ways to get to Bukit Lawang is via a tourist bus, which your tour guide should be able to organize for you, especially if you are coming from Medan Airport. You will be joining other tourists on a shared taxi to Bukit Lawang, and they will drop you off in town where your accommodation should be able to pick you up to travel further.

The journey from Medan Airport with a tourist bus should take about 4-5 hours and cost around 200,000 IDR per person.

Private Taxi: If you are traveling in a group, you can also ask your orangutan trekking company to help organize a private taxi for you. Coming from Medan Airport, it should take about 3.5 hours and costs around 700,000 IDR per car.

Public Transportation: If you want to save some money, you can also take the orange ALS public bus from the airport's exit to Binjai, where you can transfer to another bus/minivan to Bukit Lawang. It should cost you around 100,000 IDR and take about 5 - 6 hours.

If you are coming from Lake Toba or Berastagi, you should also be able to organize a tourist bus via your accommodation and it should take you either directly or via Medan. The journey should take about 8 hours, costs 250,000 IDR, and 6 hours, costs 200,000 IDR respectively. Go with PT Bagus company if you can as I found them to be a bit better than other operators.

How to Get Around Bukit Lawang?

Bukit Lawang is not big, and you can pretty much walk everywhere in town. The Orangutan Road, where most of the accommodation is located, is only wide enough for motorbikes. So, you might have to walk a bit to your accommodation when you arrive. If you book an orangutan tour or accommodation beforehand, they will pick you up on the main road and take you to your accommodation.

What to Wear and Pack for Orangutan Jungle Trekking?

Since you will be going on a multi-day trek in a rainforest, these are all the things you should pack for the trip:

• Cash: This is very important as there are no ATMs available in Bukit Lawang. Be sure to bring enough cash for the entire trip with a few extra, just in case. Some tour companies allow you to wire transfer or use Wise to pay for the tour, but some require cash, so be sure to inquire them before arriving.
• Toilet Paper: Don't forget to pack a roll of toilet paper, so you can do your business in the jungle. The tour does not provide you with one.
• Breathable shirts: It can get pretty hot and humid in the rainforest so make sure you pack a few breathable shirts for the trip.
• Long Hiking Pants (For Women): The rainforest is infested with leeches and you are going to want to wear long hiking pants for this trip. For women, you can go with leggings, but make sure that it is thick enough to avoid mosquitoes biting through it.
• Long Hiking Socks: Again, the forest is full of leeches and you do not want anything below your belt to be exposed to be sure to wear long socks when hiking.
• Sturdy Shoes: You will be hiking in the rainforest with many steep trails, so I would recommend wearing sturdy shoes that can handle that kind of terrain. These Timberland Shoes are my go-to hiking boots in most situations, but for more breathable shoes, check out this hiking shoe (for women).
• Flip-Flop: Shoes to wear at the camp if you are staying overnight.
• Waterproof Outer Shell Jacket (for women): It can rain anytime in the rainforest even in the dry season so it is always a good idea to pack a rain jacket/poncho just in case.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item as you will have plenty of chance to swim in the river and you are going to need this when you are rafting back to Bukit Lawang.
• Microfiber Towel: Make sure you pack a microfiber towel for the trip, preferably the one that is quick to dry as you will likely use it every night for the river shower.
• Binoculars: If you are not into photography and just want to observe the monkeys, you can also pack a good pair of binoculars for your trip instead.
• Sunscreen: You are going to need this when you raft back to Bukit Lawang as you will be out in the open for more than 30 minutes.
• Insect Repellent: Rainforests in Indonesia can be quite unforgiving when it comes to insects and mosquitoes, so be sure to pack a DEET insect repellent and cover yourself with it when you are out and about in Bukit Lawang.
• First-Aid Kit: Bandages (for blisters), painkillers, disinfectant wipes (the next best thing to showers), and tiger balm are always in the first-aid kit that I have with me when I go on a hiking trip. If you have personal medication, be sure to pack that too.
• A Water Bottle: For sustainability, please bring your own water bottle instead of relying on plastic bottles in the jungle. You will also be hiking all day without a place to replenish your water so be sure you have one that is at least 1 litre or more.
• A Backpack: This is what you will use to carry all your essentials like water bottles, toiletries, and clothes, for the entire trek, so you need a backpack that is at least 30L capacity or more, like Osprey Daylite 35L Travel Pack or Langly Alpha Globetrotter Backpack, for photographers out there.
• Good Low-light Camera: Since you will be in a thick rainforest where natural light doesn't shine through very well, your camera should be able to handle low-light well. I highly recommend either the Sony a7IV or Sony a7CII for this trip.
• Fast Telephoto Lens: The jungle can be pretty dark and the monkeys often move around a lot, so if you want to capture sharp images of the orangutan, you are going to need a fast zoom lens, preferably a 70-200mm F2.8 lens. I had the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GMII lens lens and it has worked wonders.
• Power Bank: There is no electricity at the camp so if you have electronic to charge, be sure to bring at least 20,000 mah power bank, so you can keep your phone and camera juiced up for the trip.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: 12go is a great place to look for bus and train schedule and buy tickets online in Southeast Asia that would otherwise not have been available in English online.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Indonesia

I hope this travel guide will help you plan your trip to Indonesia. I have visited Indonesia more times than I could count, and I have written many articles about the country.

If you are looking for more articles about Indonesia, here is a selection of articles that might help you plan your trip to Indonesia even more.

• For a complete itinerary to Sumatra, check out: One Month Backpacking Sumatra Itinerary.
• Being the largest volcanic lake in the world, you can't visit Sumatra without visiting Lake Toba. Here are the 10 Awesome Things to do in Lake Toba, Sumatra.
• Want to travel to Lake Toba from Medan, but not sure how? Here's a guide for you: How To Get From Medan To Lake Toba.
• Berastagi is home to some of the most accessible volcanoes in Sumatra. It's definitely worth a stop if hiking a volcano is on your bucket list. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Berastagi.
• For West Sumatra, your journey will likely begin in Padang, the capital city of the province, with a ton of things to do. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Padang.
• Get off the beaten path in Sumatra and visit Bukittinggi, the old capital of the Pagaruyung Kingdom, and explore the highlands with this guide: 12 Best Things to Do in Bukittinggi.
• Want to visit Bukittinggi? Here are all the best ways you can travel there: How to Get to Bukittinggi: A Complete Guide
• One of the best islands to visit in Sumatra is Mentawai. It's not just a place for surfers. You can enjoy the beach, snorkeling, and even spend days living with the Mentaway tribe. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Mentawai.
• If you want to visit and live with the Mentawai Tribe in the jungle for a few days, this guide is for you: Visiting the Mentawai Tribe: A Complete Guide.
• Not sure how to get to the Mentawai Islands? Here is all the information you need from ferry schedules, costs, and more: How to Get to Mentawai: A Complete Guide
• Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Indonesia? One Month Itinerary for Indonesia.
• Are you planning to travel to Indonesia as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• If you are visiting Bali for the first time, here is a travel guide to get you started: 10 BEST Places To Visit In Bali.
• Jakarta is a massive city unlike any other, and there is quite a lot to do here if you know where to look. Here are the 8 Best Things To Do in Jakarta.
• Yogyakarta is a great cultural and historical place to visit in Indonesia, and there are plenty of things to see and do there. Here are the 9 Best Things To Do in Yogyakarta.
• Did you know that there is an island in Indonesia that is free of tourists? One of them is Karimunjawa, a true hidden gem island of Java. Here's a complete guide on how to travel to Karimunjawa island.
• Looking for an article that summarizes a trip through the Java island? Check out my photo essay of Java, Indonesia.
• Lombok is now gaining in popularity, but one of the best things you can do on the island is to trek Mount Rinjani, a volcano on a lake in another volcano on an island. Here's a complete guide on how to trek Mount Rinjani.
• Gili Trawangan is one of the most popular Gili islands in Lombok, and even though it's crowded, you can often find solitude if you know where to look. Plus, it's cheap. Here's an article about exploring Gili Trawangan.
• Komodo Island is one of the most unique experiences you can never experience anywhere. Here's a backpacking travel guide on how to explore the Komodo Islands (what to do, which cruise to pick and more).
• Want to visit Kelimutu lakes? Here's a complete travel guide on how to get to Kelimutu lakes in Flores.
• Flores is another great island that deserves way more credit than it receives. There's the Komodo islands, Kelimutu tri-colored lakes, and so much more. Here is a 10-day travel guide for Flores and Komodo Island.
• Watch a travel video I made about Bali, Lombok, and Flores here: Nusantara, a journey through Bali, Lombok, and Flores, Indonesia.
• Not convinced by my words about Indonesia and Southeast Asia? Check out my photographic journey through the subcontinent: 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia.
• Wondering where you want to go next? How about Timor Leste? Visit Timor Leste Travel Guide page for more information about traveling to Timor Leste.
• To see all articles about Indonesia, visit the Indonesia Travel Guide page.
• Looking for more travel guides for Southeast Asia? You can find more on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.