Primates & Dragons of Indonesia

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing alpha male Orang Utan coming close , a few metres away , to study us. Not sure who was watching who .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pleasant , good interaction with group , readily to impart information ( and repeat )

Advice for Potential Travellers

The second hike in Eco Lodge park was definitely a challenge without providing much more wildlife sightings than the morning walk. Thats the risk you run with nature . If you have any doubts about your fitness then think twice about the afternoon walk . We were fortunate in that a bigger boat was used for our trip ( unplanned maintenance on original boat ) for a group of 8 , so there were enough cabins , each with en suite shower and toilet. The snorkelling was shambolic to say the least. If you were not on deck when decision was made to enter water then you simply missed out. No roster or check for any passengers who were in their cabin . The local leader was a pleasant chap but briefing consisted of " stay together " while he simply took off and left group strung out in the water. No back marker or other crew in water with guests , difficult to spot leader ( he was far away anyway ) and left to own devices in terms of what you might see, no account of differing abilities of group . I have been on live aboards in Maldives multiple times as comparison, there was always leader plus at least one crew ( sometimes more ) in water , briefing on currents , checks that each guest was OK in water , wildlife ,coral etc pointed out and group kept roughly together , leader visible and obviously monitoring the group. All of that lacking on each of the snorkel sessions this trip .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was a great group leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Leeches… in Sumatra even though I was wearing walking shoes, trousers and socks they still got me. I would take gaiters or thicker socks next time.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re glad to hear that some parts of the trip were enjoyable, but we’re truly sorry that the boat accommodation fell short of expectations.

We understand how disappointing it must have been to find the sleeping arrangements and facilities different from what you anticipated. Your feedback about the lack of shared spaces, limited storage, and the discomfort of sleeping on deck—especially during overnight boat movements—is concerning. We also regret any confusion caused by the trip notes and will review them to ensure they more clearly reflect the actual setup onboard.

Your comments are invaluable and have been shared with our product team. We’re committed to improving the clarity of our pre-trip information and the comfort and safety of our accommodations so future travellers can enjoy their adventure without these issues.

Thank you again for your honest review. We hope you’ll consider traveling with us again, and we’ll work hard to make your next adventure a better one.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing an orangutan up close!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was great. She had to deal with some interesting personalities on the trip, and did a great job accomodating everyone's needs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that hiking through the jungle in Sumatra is more strenuous than the description in the itinerary, the boat in the Komodos is challenging, and Gili Trawangan isn't quite the "tropical paradise" they wax poetic about in the itinerary description. While the water is absolutely beautiful and the scuba diving was nice, the island itself isn't nearly as lush and tropical as described. Still worth the visit, but not what I expected based on the description.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that the itinerary left such a strong impression—seeing orangutans and Komodo dragons in the wild, snorkelling, scuba diving in Gili Trawangan, and exploring Bali and its surrounding islands sounds truly unforgettable. We’re also delighted to hear that Elly made a positive impact as your tour leader.

That said, we’re very sorry to learn about the issues you encountered, particularly with the boat and transportation arrangements. Your feedback about the boat’s safety, comfort, and capacity is concerning, and we take these matters seriously. We understand how frustrating it must have felt to sleep on deck, navigate cramped dining areas, and manage limited restroom access. The snorkelling situation and lack of proper support from the local guide are especially troubling, and the activity has already been moved to calmer waters following discussions between our healthy and safety and local teams. The railings on the boat have also been raised higher as a precaution.

We also regret the delays and missed transfers during the Gili Island extension and your departure from Bali. These logistical hiccups are not reflective of the standard we aim to provide.

Your comments have been shared with our product team, and we’re actively reviewing the boat setup, guide training, and transportation coordination to ensure future trips are safer and more comfortable for all guests.

Thank you again for your thoughtful and detailed review. We’re glad you had a memorable adventure overall, and we hope to welcome you on another journey—with improvements in place—soon.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed the time we spent on the boat. The snorkelling with clear clean waters and corals in a better condition than I have previously seen were amazing. To see the Komodo dragons, that have been protected for a significant amount of time ensuring their protection was inspiring, showing that humans can sustain wildlife when the correct measures are put in place. The indonesian people also inspired me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was a fantastic leader a friendly caring individual with a positive outlook and always finding a solution to any problems we may have. I would fully recomend her ever vote for her as leader of the year.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the travel notes given by Exodus and prepare accordingly! Whilst this seems obvious it still amazes me that people do not always have the correct equipment and level of fitness required.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Orang Utans and the Komodo Dragons. Also seeing turtles while snorkelling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly is a great guide. Always there if we needed us. The local guides we used during the trip were also great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring good walking boots/shoes for the jungle. It had rained during the night we were in Bukit Lawang and the jungle floor was very slippery underfoot. If you intend to go snorkelling bring an underwater camera/go pro.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many moments, the very human like and curious orangutans, being charged at by a 3 meter long male Komodo, the tranquility of the temples and the peace just sitting on deck watching the sunrise in the mornings. The walk up the hill on Padar was worth every step to watch sunsetting over the islands.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ely is one of the best. She guided us efficiently and effortlessly through many flights, journeys and experiences over the 14 days. Her enthusiasm never faltered even keeping us company on what should have been her rest days. Her concern for our safety was paramount even sitting in the tender boat watch over us whilst snorkelling. Ely made the trip the fantastic experience it was.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Long trousers a must for the jungle, be prepared because these leech get everywhere!

Most Inspirational Moment

For me as an interested amateur wildlife photographer I have to say that the most inspirational moment was getting such great shots of the orangutans in Sumatra. Wildlife can never be guaranteed but we were very lucky to see as may as we did . I also got some wonderFul shots of the Komodo dragons and Thomas leaf monkeys.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was a fantastic leader and was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about her country and its nature. Nothing was too much trouble for her and she was always concerned about our well being. Elly always took us to great restaurants that she had checked out beforehand. .

Advice for Potential Travellers

I bought my visa on arrival at Medan airport with no problems whatsoever. I chose to change some currency before I got there and was able to pay in IDR though I think a colleague paid in euros. There is a fair bit of climbing both in the jungle and temples so a walking stick(s) are handy . I was provided with a bamboo stick for the jungle. I only went on 3 hour walks into the jungle . I heard that the 6 hour walk was considerably more strenuous with not much more to be gained in terms of wildlife sitings.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing manta rays close up underwater was the absolute highlight for me, but also seeing orangutans and gibbons in the wild and all of the time on the boat were wonderful experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was a truly exceptional group leader who is surely deserving of formal recognition from a tour leader awards programme. Very well organised, caring, helpful, great communication skills, assertive enough to get things done but never anything other than kind to everyone. She knew the trip inside out and made every element run smoothly - there was nothing she hadn't anticipated and sorted. On our free days she accompanied us for free on walking tours of the relevant places, something that is not required of a tour leader and was done entirely out of her own goodwill. She managed a difficult situation when one of our group fell seriously ill and had to be hospitalised, ensuring that he and his wife were supported even when they were on a different island, whilst also delivering the itinerary for everyone else to a high standard. This must have been extremely hard for her but she never gave any sign of it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't underestimate the toll that the heat and humidity of the jungle will take on you, particularly when combined with the jet lag and tiredness after a long flight. Take it easy and don't push yourself too much. The six hour jungle trek in Bukit Lawang is really tough (I didn't do it myself) and the participants didn't see anything more than we saw on the three hour trips. You definitely need walking boots with ankle support - you'll be glad of them several times over the course of the trip and they're worth the extra weight. The boat is not as basic as the trip notes suggest - if you have been on other 'liveaboard' boats you are likely to be pleasantly surprised. There is electricity for charging, space to sit and relax and if you choose to sleep on deck, you'll find it very comfortable and enjoy a good view of the stars. There are multiple en suite bathrooms with showers and plenty of space. Some of the hotels only have bar soap so if you prefer a liquid soap then it's best to take some with you, plus some shampoo and conditioner. It's always hard to get a sense of the fitness level required for a trip as what one person finds hard can differ from another. The challenging factors here are the heat and humidity, and some short but steep up and down hill walks including multiple steps. In Bukit Lawang the paths are rough and full of hazards like roots and fallen trees, and can be extremely muddy and slippery. The pace is always as slow as you need with multiple supportive and sympathetic guides and I never felt pressured to go faster than I could manage. You also do have the option to miss out any of the active elements if you need to. I was very worried about the temple in Bali with the multiple steps but actually it's not too bad at all, as the steps are broken up by stops to see things. If you could manage the 3 hour treks in Bukit Lawang you can certainly manage that. The snorkelling is generally easy in still water with good buoyancy, suitable for beginners, and again well supported. The only more challenging swim is for the manta rays. You need to be ready to go quickly and to stick with the guide and swim fast.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sleeping out on deck on our boat. Baby orangutans playing in the trees. The friendliness of the Indonesians. Snorkeling with manta.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was excellent. Everything you want in a group leader and more. Organised, enthusiastic, warm. She really looked after us and made sure we made the most of our trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking in Sumatra is muddy and slippery. You need walking shoes/boots, not trainers or sandals. And insect repellant. If you have your own snorkeling gear, bring it, you will get good use out of it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Argus Pheasant (aka the 'Sumatran pigeon').

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was Superb. Nothing to suggest for improvement other than a little more research on restaurants.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ignore hotel and accommodation restaurants. There are much better and better value restaurants outside the accommodation. Go in the dry season. We had very little rain (other than the usual afternoon downpours in the jungle).