Wild Sumatra: Hangin' with orangutans!

Bags packed, passport in hand – let the adventure begin! Today, you're taking off for Indonesia. Your destination? Sumatra! Just the thought of the lush jungles, steaming volcanoes and wild nature that awaits gives you goosebumps. As you fly across continents and time zones, the first chapter of your intrepid trip draws ever closer. Tomorrow, you'll be landing on Sumatra – ready for vast green expanses, tropical warmth and dreamlike moments!

There it is: your new adventure playground! Sumatra, the island in Indonesia's far west, welcomes you with dramatic volcanic landscapes covered in dense, deep green rainforests – a precious natural gem that's home to orangutans, wild tigers and, as of today, you too! And who better to show you the island than a local guide? Even on the drive from the airport to your accommodation, your guide's passion for their homeland is infectious. Palm forests and rubber trees dot the sides of the roads as you cruise to Bukit Lawang – about which your guide can tell you all sorts of interesting facts. After soaking in the sights and learning one new thing after another, you have a nice rest and prepare to experience pure jungle!

Goodbye, civilisation! Together with your guide, you head deep into Sumatra's tropical rainforest. The 7,900-km² Gunung Leuser National Park now demands your full attention. You catch a glimpse of an orangutan in the distance, then suddenly notice something moving overhead. Above you is a troop of macaques swinging gracefully from tree to tree. The sounds of exotic animals echo through the green thicket, and your guide repeatedly points out colourful birds perched on huge mahoganies. Before you know it, you've made it to your very own jungle camp. A tent is pitched for you on the spot, and now you have a simple but adventurous place to sleep beneath the canopy. A typical Indonesian dinner simmers over the campfire, and you hardly realise that night is falling over the rainforest. Then curiosity strikes; you've just got to know what kinds of animals are roaming through the undergrowth now. So together, you and your guide set off on a search to see what you can discover.

Your breakfast cooks over the campfire, and your hiking boots are already tightly laced. Today, yet again, you're just too curious about which animals you'll encounter and get to cross off your list of must-sees. Whether it's orangutans, gibbons, Thomas Leaf monkeys or hornbills, there's just so many! And thanks to your guide's watchful eyes, it's quite the sure bet that you'll see them all. You sit quietly and look expectantly into the dense greenery when suddenly, you can see them. The treetops begin to sway, and one great ape after another emerges. Their dark, gentle eyes seem to be watching you, too. Welcome to the orangutans' living room! Goosebumps spread across your body, and a whispered 'wow' escapes your lips. After a while, it's time to head back. On your paddles, get set, go! You hop on a dinghy and paddle to your accommodation, where you spend the evening replaying the day's experiences in your head and revelling in moments you'll never forget.