We were generally satisfied with the service offered by this travel agency. Our Guide, Alfin, was absolutely wonderful throughout the trip: kind, helpful, funny, and always attentive to our needs. The journeys, although sometimes long, took place in good conditions, making travel rather easy. The hotels chosen were overall very good, with a special mention for the Bukit Lawang EcoLodge, which was particularly nice.
We generally enjoyed the organized trip, however, we would like to express our deep dissatisfaction with one of the Things to do: visit the so-called elephant sanctuary. Although this is presented on the agency's website and by staff as an ethical activity, the reality is quite different. The elephants are parked in a small enclosure, forced to obey orders to lie in the river, ridden by the trainers and used as mere entertainment for tourists. This is far from an animal-friendly practice, and it has been a deeply disappointing and upsetting experience for us. One thing is certain: if you love animals, don't participate in this activity.
We encourage the Agency to review these Things to do and to ensure that they are truly in line with the ethical values that are put forward.
The excursion to see the orangutans was amazing, although we were a little surprised by the number of tourists and the fact that guides feed the animals to attract them... amazing in a nature park ...
That said, this activity remains a unique and unforgettable experience.
In conclusion, we appreciated the overall organization of the trip, the quality of the hotels and especially the kindness of our Guide, but we hope that the agency will take these feedbacks into account to improve the experience of its future guests.