Ida Guest House & Jungle Trekking

After landing in Kuala Namo Medan Airport, our booked transfer driver was not there. We booked a Grab taxi and found Ida Guest house while we waited for the car. Muhdi the Manager contacted me immediately to confirm and offer transport and a Jungle trek. He was so helpful and welcoming. The room was absolutely lovely and had spectacular views of the river and jungle. Clean and fresh and had an extremely comfortable bed. Food was delicious in the restaurant. We were lucky enough to have Jungle De and Yuda and the hilarious chef and Frank Spencer type Andy as our guides. De's knowledge was second to none in the Jungle. He showed us a viper, macaques, Thomas leaf monkeys, turtle, male, female and young orang utans, hornbills, toucan, insects and told us all about various trees showing us cinnamon, rubber trees and quinine amongst many others. He was happy to be in our videos for our channel Far Cry Rebels and told us about the palm plantations and Jungle. The lunch was huge, Nasi Goreng and a delicious fruit buffet. Dinner was cooked in camp while we bathed in the river and rested our weary bodies. The trek had been hot, humid and physically demanding and it was blissful to feel the cool water on our skin. In the evening, after pots of tea, coffee and biscuits, Andy served us a spectacular buffet of chicken rendang, vegetable curry, rice, potato fritters, fried tofu and prawn crackers and we played some brilliant Jungle games while fireflies danced in the trees. The following day, was hotter still and we left camp after a delicious breakfast of warm club sandwich with scrambled egg, cheese and vegetables and fruit. The start was a big uphill scramble using roots as aids. Yuda was so helpful, holding our cameras while we negotiated tricky bits. We stopped several times for a breather. We ran out of water so De kindly shared his. We had a fruit picnic at the highest point which was so hydrating and welcome. The rest of the trek was easier and it was joyous to reach the camp and tubing launch point. Andy drove the raft down the river as we sang songs and waved to people on the banks. Another raft raced us and we laughed hysterically when Andy fell in. It was simply one of the best experiences of our lives.

I had a TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE with the owner of the Guest House!!! I booked a room for me and my kids and during the check in, the owner arrived (a lady) and started to ask me what was my plan for the following day. I requested to go to the room to rest because I was coming from a tired trip and that I would think later to the plan for the following day. She asked me if I would go to trekking to spot Gorillas and I answered yes, I will. Then she started to inquire me with whom I would go, she was very rude. I was surprised and I request to bring me to the room to rest. She just denied to bring me to the room until I would tell her the company name for the trekking. After check the name in my phone (I didn't even remember it), she DENIED to gave me the room and she said ''WE HAVE NO ROOM FOR YOU'', this is bec I didn't book the trekking with her. Worst experience in my life with accommodation, I could not believe it, all in front of my kids!!! After that I contacted the trekking company which help me providing another accommodation. Unfortunately I couldn't denounce her in the booking application because I had to cancel the booking, I was afraid to be charge for no show.

I start out by saying, there is nothing I didn't like!! The hotel facility is located in "downtown" Bukit Lawang, a few steps from the river. Muhdi, and entire staff, are very attentive, very kind, and extremely helpful in all things about travelling, seeing, and most of all, enjoying northern Sumatra. Muhdi help organize a 2-day/1-nite trip jungle trek ... as a solo traveller, I wanted to join another group to keep costs down ... Muhdi was able to help me. When not trekking in the jungle, I enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner in their open-air restaurant/lounge overlooking the river. These past days in Bukit Lawang will probably be the highlight of my stay in Sumatra.

Our host at Ida guesthouse was very helpful and friendly. Rooms were clean, bathroom very new. All basic but very comfortable. Good breakfast and a nice choice of Indonesian & western dishes in the restaurant. Great views on the river & jungle too.

Everything was perfect. The trekking was really great with 2 amazing nights. You will eat more than in a restaurant with tea, coffee and a looot of rice! Jungle, rafting, monkeys, turtle, snakes and orang utan. I recommend