Nous serons à Bukit lawang mi février et nous voudrions faire un trek de 2 jours , une nuit dans la jungle , essayant d'apercevoir des ourangs outangs , notamment . J'ai essayé de joindre des hotels sur place pour organiser ces quelques jours, avec un guide .( Indra inn , Rainforest ....) Sans réponse, je m'adresse a la communauté . Quelqu'un surement a fait cette expérience , avec quel guide ou hôtel , avez vous des coordonnées de guide , quel tarifs?????? Merci d'avance , à 3 semaines du départ !!!!!
Trek à Bukit Lawang, parc de Gunung Leuser, Sumatra
by Patriciamari
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour ,
Nous serons à Bukit lawang mi février et nous voudrions faire un trek de 2 jours , une nuit dans la jungle , essayant d'apercevoir des ourangs outangs , notamment . J'ai essayé de joindre des hotels sur place pour organiser ces quelques jours, avec un guide .( Indra inn , Rainforest ....) Sans réponse, je m'adresse a la communauté . Quelqu'un surement a fait cette expérience , avec quel guide ou hôtel , avez vous des coordonnées de guide , quel tarifs?????? Merci d'avance , à 3 semaines du départ !!!!!
Nous serons à Bukit lawang mi février et nous voudrions faire un trek de 2 jours , une nuit dans la jungle , essayant d'apercevoir des ourangs outangs , notamment . J'ai essayé de joindre des hotels sur place pour organiser ces quelques jours, avec un guide .( Indra inn , Rainforest ....) Sans réponse, je m'adresse a la communauté . Quelqu'un surement a fait cette expérience , avec quel guide ou hôtel , avez vous des coordonnées de guide , quel tarifs?????? Merci d'avance , à 3 semaines du départ !!!!!
patricia
ouah t inquiete pas, a peine arrive sur place il va y avoir 100000000000 guides qui vont te sauter dessus.
compare les prix et va avec celui qui te semble ok.
les prix sont a mon avis tres eleves mais c est une autre histoire.
sache quand meme que tu peux voir des orang outans sans faire de trek, il suffit d aller visiter l endroit ou il y a la plateforme a repas.
merci ,
oui j'avais parcouru ton post ....mais je voudrai éviter cette ruée à l'aéroport de Medan et boucler cette affaire avant de partir , sachant que nous n'avons pas beaucoup de temps sur place!!!!
patricia
le probleme c est que l indo c est la foire, et dur dur pour organiser a distance.
en plus ca va etre plus cher, et c est pas gagne que les prestations soient au rendez vous.
en tout cas ne reserve pas depuis medan, tout ce que les types font c est de t envoyer chez un pote a bukit lawang, et empocher une genereuse commission.
une fois a bukit lawang c est tres facile d organiser, il y a une tonne de guides, et la plupart sont assez sympas ma foi.
pour les prix je peux pas te dire, j avais fait mes balades tout seul.
ok , je crois que l'on n'aura pas le choix , on verra a bukit lawang . merci encore
patricia
bonjour,
ça se passe comme ça en général:
des ton arrivée à BLawang, tu seras abordé par quelqu'un qui se présente de la part du bureau des guides.( là ou les voitures ne peuvent plus aller plus loin)
et il te fera une offre...soit à leur bureau des guides, soit à ton hotel
Comme ils font cela ouvertement, tu peux y aller en toute confiance.
Ensuite, ils regroupent les demandes fermes de la journée, et désignent un guide (par roulement pour que chacun ait du boulot)
donc ça ne sera pas forcément celui qui t'a fait la proposition qui te guidera pour ces deux jours.
aucune entourloupe là-dedans, C'est pour que chacun travaille sans qu'il y ait de la concurrence sauvage entre eux...
est-ce que ça fait monter les prix???? ça , difficile à dire, mais ça garantie un certain niveau de qualité. Le jourJ, tu découvre ton guide et le groupe ( pour nous, nous étions 10 de toutes nationalités)
le premier jour, c'est le treck, facile pour la première partie car sentiers commun avec des rando à la journée voire demi journée là tu verras immanquablement des orang outan "sauvages". Oui tout est fait pour que les gens qui viennent là pour ça , en famille avec enfant parfois, ne repartent pas bredouilles. la seconde partie est plus dure, plus escarpée, glissante si il pleut etc...mais accessible à tout marcheur un peu en forme.. le soir camp de jungle tres sommaire au bord de la Bohorok River. matelas de 2 millimetres d'épaisseur!! nuit à la hauteur du matelas: tres tres mince, malgré la fatigue. le lendemain, petite balade le matin vers une cascade, puis vers midi, retour vers Bukit lawang en Rafting!!!
des chambres a air de camion, liées entre elles, et des "pilotes" un à l'avant l'autre a l'arriere équipés d'une perche de 3m pour repousser des rochers. 25min de descente, sans crainte excessive car le niveau de l'eau avait bien baissé dans la nuit, la pluie ayant cessé.
Voilà, une expérience tres sympa..bonne ambiance du groupe, bon repas, car un cuistot est là au camp.. et puis, on a rencontre 8 orang outan, assez habitués à la présence humaine il faut bien le dire.
notre guide, excellent et plein d'humour, a ausi une guesthouse/
voici ses coordonnées: son site www.thomasjungletours.com son mail: jungleman_thomas@jahoo.com bon voyage
Jippe
aucune entourloupe là-dedans, C'est pour que chacun travaille sans qu'il y ait de la concurrence sauvage entre eux...
est-ce que ça fait monter les prix???? ça , difficile à dire, mais ça garantie un certain niveau de qualité. Le jourJ, tu découvre ton guide et le groupe ( pour nous, nous étions 10 de toutes nationalités)
le premier jour, c'est le treck, facile pour la première partie car sentiers commun avec des rando à la journée voire demi journée là tu verras immanquablement des orang outan "sauvages". Oui tout est fait pour que les gens qui viennent là pour ça , en famille avec enfant parfois, ne repartent pas bredouilles. la seconde partie est plus dure, plus escarpée, glissante si il pleut etc...mais accessible à tout marcheur un peu en forme.. le soir camp de jungle tres sommaire au bord de la Bohorok River. matelas de 2 millimetres d'épaisseur!! nuit à la hauteur du matelas: tres tres mince, malgré la fatigue. le lendemain, petite balade le matin vers une cascade, puis vers midi, retour vers Bukit lawang en Rafting!!!
des chambres a air de camion, liées entre elles, et des "pilotes" un à l'avant l'autre a l'arriere équipés d'une perche de 3m pour repousser des rochers. 25min de descente, sans crainte excessive car le niveau de l'eau avait bien baissé dans la nuit, la pluie ayant cessé.
Voilà, une expérience tres sympa..bonne ambiance du groupe, bon repas, car un cuistot est là au camp.. et puis, on a rencontre 8 orang outan, assez habitués à la présence humaine il faut bien le dire.
notre guide, excellent et plein d'humour, a ausi une guesthouse/
voici ses coordonnées: son site www.thomasjungletours.com son mail: jungleman_thomas@jahoo.com bon voyage
Jippe
merci Jean Pierre ,
je vais transmettre ton message aux autres participants . Cordialement Patricia
je vais transmettre ton message aux autres participants . Cordialement Patricia
patricia
Bonjour,
Est-ce que tu nous conseilles de passer la nuit dans la jungle? N'y a-t-il pas trop de problèmes avec les moustiques? J'ai lu sur un poste que le camp n'est pas vraiment dans la jungle mais près d'un village qu'en est-il?
Est-ce que tu vois plus de choses qu'en faisant des treks à la journée? La cascade est-il accessible en faisant un trek d'un jour?
Merci pour ta réponse
bonjour patricia
si vous plannifiez visiter le parc des orangs utan, je vous recommande un guide local , s'appelle sinar, je connais bien, un guide tres competent. si vous avez besoin d'infos sur la rando, envoyez moi un mail perso, volontierement, je vous reponds, moi j'habite a medan. merci d'avance jhonny
si vous plannifiez visiter le parc des orangs utan, je vous recommande un guide local , s'appelle sinar, je connais bien, un guide tres competent. si vous avez besoin d'infos sur la rando, envoyez moi un mail perso, volontierement, je vous reponds, moi j'habite a medan. merci d'avance jhonny
bonjour,
si tu veux surtout voir les Orang outan, le treck à la journée suffirait.
le treck de deux J c'est en fait, une grande journée de marche ou on s'enfonce un peu plus sur des chemins plus difficiles. et le lendemain, le principal attrait, c'est la cascade tout pres et c'est le retour en raft. Il n'y a pratiquement pas de marche ni d'orang outan. a 14H nous étions rentrés.
la soirée et la nuit, ça peut être sympa si le groupe est sympa, et si on n'a jamais entendu les bruits de la jungle (en partie masqués par le bruit de la rivière). Nous n'avons pas été génés par les moustiques. le camp, tres sommaire , est à 3km de bukit lawang, environ ('20min en raft)
Jippe
la soirée et la nuit, ça peut être sympa si le groupe est sympa, et si on n'a jamais entendu les bruits de la jungle (en partie masqués par le bruit de la rivière). Nous n'avons pas été génés par les moustiques. le camp, tres sommaire , est à 3km de bukit lawang, environ ('20min en raft)
Jippe
tu nous conseilles de passer la nuit dans la jungle?
C'est inutile.
Le camp pour la nuit n'est vraiment pas loin du village. Tu ne dors donc pas au "coeur" de la jungle.
Le mieux est de prendre une randonnée à la journée avec un petit groupe (j'ai vu des groupes de 20...🤪)et un guide qui n'essayera pas d'attirer les singes en leur donnant des bananes et autres fruits. (Cela ne rend pas service aux animaux car ils n'apprennent pas à être autonomes)
C'est inutile.
Le camp pour la nuit n'est vraiment pas loin du village. Tu ne dors donc pas au "coeur" de la jungle.
Le mieux est de prendre une randonnée à la journée avec un petit groupe (j'ai vu des groupes de 20...🤪)et un guide qui n'essayera pas d'attirer les singes en leur donnant des bananes et autres fruits. (Cela ne rend pas service aux animaux car ils n'apprennent pas à être autonomes)
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Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
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We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots? Thanks in advance for your tips. We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries! Claire and Albert
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Thanks! :)
I’m looking for half-day hikes near Karakol (not Jety-Oguz, since I’ll be heading there separately—max 30 minutes’ drive to the trailhead).
I can find longer treks, but nothing for a short outing!
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From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
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Pascal
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike. It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips! 🙂
Pascal
Hi there,
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge. I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle. In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge. I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle. In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details: We arrive in early August and leave in early September. We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery! We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat? Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Thanks! :-)
A few details: We arrive in early August and leave in early September. We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery! We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat? Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Thanks! :-)
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations. Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations. Thanks so much for your tips!
hi there,
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there? A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions? For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip... Thanks for your tips! Have a great day, Anie, Toulouse
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there? A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions? For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip... Thanks for your tips! Have a great day, Anie, Toulouse
Hi,
I’d like some advice on doing the Camino de Santiago—or part of it—from the Basque Country.
Best,
Hi there,
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice? Best regards,
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice? Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance