Review Author: Nicky

Review Date: 04 Aug 2025

Review Body: Our trip to Ketambe was outstanding. From collection from our hotel, to delivery back to a different hotel, it was long, but seamless. On the first day of our 3d2n (5days total) journey, my husband felt unable to continue and we had to return to the Thousand Hills, but Joseph arranged for me to rejoin my group the following day. We had some thrilling encounters with orangutans, including an alpha male and saw gibbons, macaques and a selection of birds and insects and trees. We bathed in river jacuzzis and hot springs, and ate delicious food prepared by our guide who worked tirelessly to make our trip memorable. He succeeded. I felt much more comfortable in a place where the animals are truly wild and it was lovely being off grid. We played cards and chatted and our guide set us some brain teasers to keep us entertained by candlelight in the evenings. It is hot and hard going, and I never thought I’d sleep but I did, and it leaves you feeling a sense of accomplishment! An experience absolutely not to be missed. Thank you all

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Imogen

Review Date: 26 Apr 2026

Review Body: Just finished a 3D2N orangutan jungle trek and what an experience it was!! 🐒🌿 We were lucky enough to see so many orangutans, including mums with babies (honestly unforgettable), plus loads of Thomas leaf monkeys and macaques along the way. The jungle itself is incredible and beautiful. Huge shoutout to our guide Ish (not sure spelling?! ) who completely made the trip. He was super knowledgeable, funny, and always smiling. He really looked after us the whole time and made sure we were okay, which we massively appreciated. You could tell how passionate he is about the jungle and wildlife. The hot springs were such a highlight — the perfect way to relax after long hikes. And the food was lovely, especially considering we were deep in the jungle! Camping is definitely on the basic side, so maybe not one for those who love luxury 😅 but honestly, it just adds to the adventure. Everything was really well organised from start to finish, and overall it was just an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Would 100% recommend!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Susannah Hewson

Review Date: 26 Mar 2025

Review Body: What an amazing adventure! We did the 3D2N Orangutan trek. We were picked up and driven to the beautiful One Thousand Hills guest house. Joseph was lovely and could cook up amazing food in the tiny kitchen. We set off with our guide Ish (sorry for the spelling) on our trek. He said his English was bad but we thought it was great. He was so informative about the jungle and all that lived there. He was also great at spotting the animals. We saw lots of orangutans, including a baby which made my day! Our camp was great and Tamund (again sorry for the spelling) cooked us more food than we could eat for each meal! We ate by candle light on an evening, it was just amazing. The trek was at points tricky but Ish was always there to help. We crossed the river a couple of times and that was also a little scary but added to the adventure! When we arrived back at the guest house what had felt quite basic at the beginning suddenly felt like luxury. I would highly recommend this trip.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ralph Gartner

Review Date: 20 Aug 2026

Review Body: We loved everything about this experience. It met and exceeded our expectations. Arri our guide and his team were masterful in there jungle knowledge and there cooking! We saw giant possums, monkeys, many Oragutang and spent a wonderful afternoon at the hot springs … heaven. The food was amazing - all cooked over a single wood fire. We were well looked after by assistants Gede and Caspero. Thousand Hill guesthouse, where we started and finished the 3 day trek was terrific with beautiful gardens, loverly simple comfortable rooms and the wonderful host Joseph. If you want a true jungle trekking experience this is the place!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Francesca

Review Date: 19 Aug 2025

Review Body: The transfers from Medan and the trekking was amazing. Very well organised. The guide and the porters were the best. We travelled with children and they had the best time. The food during the trekking was very good too. If you want a private tour make should you specify it again when at the accommodation before the trekking. The 5 stars review is for the organisation, the transfers and the trekking, not for the accommodation in Ketambe

Review rating: 5

Review Author: AndreeaLotak

Review Date: 04 May 2018

Review Body: Great Place to Stay and Base for Exploring Gunung Leuser. The bungalows and rooms at Thousand Hills are really nice and excellent value for price, while the staff is very friendly and helpful. Joseph is an excellent host who helped us organize our stay in and departure from Ketambe. The restaurant and common areas are great for hanging out and relaxing with a glass of fresh squeezed juice, surrounded by the beautiful garden and the mountains of Gunung Leuser National Park. What we loved most were the treks we did in the national park with one of the tour guides who works with Thousand Hills. Said was an excellent guide, from Ketambe and with a great knowledge of the trails in the jungle. What was the most important was his care for the environment and concern for the conservation of Gunung Leuser. He is one of the more experienced local guides and truly cares for minimizing the trace left behind at the camps. Udin, the assistant guide and cook made delicious food, helped greatly with spotting wildlife, especially during the night walk around camp, and was just as kind and friendly as Said. Trekking in Gunung Leuser is spectacular because of the wild encounters with orangutans, for the solitude on the trails and for the complex ecosystem of the lowland forest. While the dense trees and vegetation hide a lot of the wildlife, you are at all times surrounded by the sounds of the rain forest: insects, birds, monkeys, shrews, hornbills and many more. And with the eyes of an experienced guide you can also see the many resident Thomas-leaf monkeys, some hornbills, rarely the gibbons, snakes, lizards, and orangutans. While the rain forest seems minimally touched by humans along the trails, the camp areas along the river show a lot of signs of people passing by and leaving plastic rubbish behind. It's important to keep the guides and ourselves responsible for not leaving anything behind and sometimes for collecting some of the garbage thrown away by others.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: infoaddict

Review Date: 19 Nov 2014

Review Body: Best Accommodation In Ketambe. Spent a few nights here at the start and end in June 2014 and loved it. When we stayed it had only been open a week and we were some of the first guests there. We had done a lot of research and most places in Ketambe seemed a little run down. But the Thousand Hills was beautiful. We were taken there by our guide Jhony Jungle, who now recommends all his guests stay here, as it is by far and a way the best option in Ketambe. After a very long journey from Medan we were really happy to have somewhere so lovely to stay. The layout is a restaurant and dining area and then the bungalows are set behind in the gardens. There are a couple of duplex bungalows and (I think) a couple of detatched bungalows. All of them are tastefully decorated and have en-suite western flush toilet and shower (cold). There are big windows that open onto the verandah to allow a welcome breeze through the room. On this verandah you have chairs and tables where you can relax. The beds are massive and extremely comfortable The establishment is run by the "flamboyant" Joseph. He and his staff cooked some superb food from a quite extensive menu. The availability of an ice cold Bintang, was also much appreciated. We loved the place when we arrived but absolutely adored it after 2 nights in the jungle. If you book your trip to Ketambe with Jhony as your guide (and I thoroughly suggest you do), then he will take you here. But if you arrive solo, then look here first and I guarantee you will look no further. Apart from looking for wild orangutans in the jungle, Jhony and Joseph can organise lots of other trips around the area on the back of motorbike or even by car. In conclusion you could ask for no more than a combination of Jhony as your guide and Joseph as your host.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Bart L

Review Date: 21 Sep 2017

Review Body: Great and very friendly. My girlfriend and I (25yo) stayed in Ketambe for 6 days (including 3 days in the jungle) and had an awesome time in Thousands Hills Guesthouse. The atmosphere is very relaxed and delicious food is available all day (although during dinner with many guests it might take a while to be prepared). Joseph (the owner) speaks very good english and helps with everything. We had some troubles arriving in Ketambe from Medan and Joseph was easily reachable by mail and phone and helped arranging a taxi for the last part of the trip (23:30). Easiest way of getting in Ketambe from Medan is by mailing Joseph to arrange a private taxi from the airport or go to Medan city centre with the local A.L.S bus (20.000 Rp and 1.5h), taking a BTN minivan (90.000 Rp and 7-8 h) to Kutacane and then a labi-labi/becak/taxi to the questhouse (25/50/100.000 Rp and 1h). The rooms are private cabins with a ventilator and klamboe, a veranda and and a private shower+toilet (only cold showers which was no problem for us). The garden is beautiful with many spots to sit and chill. We also saw several Thomas leaf monkeys in the trees around and you can also swim in the river nearby. We did a 3 days (2 nights) jungle track with Herman and it was awesome. We saw a dozen Orang Otangs, many other monkeys, special trees, colourfull insects, huge butterflies, tasted many fruits, etc.. There was ample possibility for swimming. The porter, Budi, cooked delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner for us! Joseph, Widi and Ahmad thank you so much for making our stay in Ketambe so pleasant!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sebastian Elmaloglou

Review Date: 25 Jan 2025

Review Body: Incredible Jungle Adventure with Seek Sophie in North Sumatra I recently had the privilege of experiencing an unforgettable 6-day trek through Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra, organized by Seek Sophie, and I can’t recommend this trip enough. The entire experience was nothing short of amazing, and it has easily become one of the highlights of my travels. Our guide, Buyung, was incredible. His knowledge of the jungle was unparalleled, and his passion for the environment and wildlife was truly inspiring. Every day, he made the trek both educational and exciting, and we always felt safe under his care. The trek itself was challenging but rewarding—immersing ourselves in the lush, vibrant jungle of Gunung Leuser was an experience I’ll never forget. Joseph, the owner of the guest house in Ketambe, deserves special mention as well. Not only did he organize the entire trip, but his hospitality went above and beyond. The guest house was by far the best in town, offering cozy accommodations, a stunning garden to relax in, and fantastic homemade meals that were an absolute treat. Joseph’s warmth and dedication made the whole experience even more memorable. From the seamless booking process with Seek Sophie to the last step of our trek, this adventure was top-notch. If you’re looking for an authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience with local guides who truly know and love the area, Seek Sophie is the way to go. This trip is hands down one of the most memorable and rewarding journeys of my lifetime.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: JohannesH1607

Review Date: 02 Sep 2017

Review Body: Heavenly entrance to the jungle. We (a family of four, youngsters between 15 and 17) stayed in Thousand Hills guest house for four days at the beginning of July enjoying a two days jungle trip with Salman, the Jungle Man, and an one day rafting trip. The guesthouse with its beautiful garden, the cosy cottages and the comfy terrace is a perfect place to experience the beauty and calmness of the jungle around Ketambe. Joseph as the owner of the guesthouse is a gentle host and his staff is providing you everything you need for a pleasant stay including delicous breakfast and dinner. The highlight of our visit was the trip to the jungle, for sure. And Salman, the Jungle Man, made this trip an unforgetable journey to wild Orang Utans, Thomas Leave monkeys, birds, butterflies and all the amazing plants and trees of a primary rain forest accompanied by the soft sound of the jungle. Salman is able to tell you everything about the fauna and flora you will see, always taking care that you can enjoy the beauty around and don't miss any of the hidden secrets of the jungle. During the jungle trip you have plenty of time to enjoy the awesome scenery of animals, rivers, huge trees, hot springs, steep and muddy trails (if you want to go for that) and the stunning interaction of light and shadows. And Salman guides you through this paradies giving you the feeling of adventure but in a safe and gentle way. You can arrange your trip directly with Salman (he is an independent guide) or Joseph will take care about that.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Dario B

Review Date: 16 Dec 2014

Review Body: Great accommodation with a 5*-chef. We stayed at Thousand Hills in November 2014 for 4 nights - and we really loved it! As soon as we entered the place we were surrounded by flowers, it felt like holiday. It's in the middle of nowhere, but it's really nice! :) We stayed in one of the kingsize bedrooms. The rooms are small but nice. Everything is new and well equipped. The beds are nice and have a mosquito net. You even find a rack to dry your clothes. The bathroom is equipped with a western style toilet and a shower (not just a mandi). The only disadvantage is that there is no hot water, but as the weather isa hot it's not really an issue. The best thing about this place is the owner Joseph and his skills as a chef. We had the best spaghetti ever there! Joseph's dishes are just amazing. He has also some vegetarian options available. Everything is cooked in the open kitchen space and you can see how your delicious meal is prepared. In the morning you can choose between pancakes and toast - and you get a lot of fresh fruits. We paid 150'000 IDR (around 15$) per night and the breakfast was included. Conclusion: We really loved this place and would recommend it to everybody. Hint: If you need a good driver to get there from Medan give Ali Jonggi a call (+62 812 60721512). We never had such an attentive driver before. Even though the road is rough we had a very pleasant ride with him.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rachelle L

Review Date: 25 Nov 2015

Review Body: Add to your bucket list! I went for a solo 5 day trek in the Leuser Nataional Park from Ketembae with 3 local tour guides. Josep takes good care of his guests. Salman the Jungleman, Ali and Kokok showed me the greatest time imaginable. I felt like I was amoung family as they were so friendly, caring and fun. They were knowledgeable about the area and were able to show much of the wild flora and fauna. We walked in the tracks of wild elephants, spotter iguanas and lizards, and come across a black cobra. I saw various primates of course. Seeing wild orangutans was a worth every penny. Waking up to the sound of gibbons and deer in a natural paradise is an experience you'll never forget. It was so beautiful and peaceful with colorful birds flying ahead and fireflies drifting about, the climate was surprisingly versatile. The cloud of butterflies over the hot springs near the waterfall at the end of the trip was magnificent. I would recommend this trip to anyone and I will definitely go back. I hope the Indonesian government will work with environmental and animal activists to keep this precious area from palm plantations. I couldn't imagine Indonesia without its wildlife.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gillian

Review Date: 12 Sep 2024

Review Body: Our experience at One Thousand Hills was wonderful, from start to finish! The driver picked us up at the airport and took us on the long journey to Ketambe. We arrived at One Thousand Hills tired but happy, Joseph and the team gave us a friendly welcome and we checked into our cosy cabin room amidst lush gardens. They were all so kind and helpful during our stay - advising us on the best experience for us with our seven year-old daughter. We had tasty home-cooked meals throughout our stay and they also packed lunches for us. Our guide in the rainforest, Is, was fabulous, and gave our daughter the VIP treatment, carrying her over logs and fallen trees, helping her with slippy areas and carrying her through the river! We had a wonderful time spotting orangutans, flowers, fungi, reptiles and insects! And our most favourite moment was making it across the raging river to relax in the (very hot!) hot spring whilst Is gave us the most delicious pineapple to eat! Thank you to everyone, we will always remember our trip to One Thousand Hills and the beautiful Ketambe rainforest.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: dbana

Review Date: 10 Jan 2018

Review Body: A beautiful place to stay. We only stayed here one night on our way from Kedah to Kutacane, and we wish we could have stayed longer! It's a very nice place to hang out and relax. We had no cell service in Ketambe. I understand Joseph, the owner, has a wifi hotspot that he allows guest to use, but we didn't need/use it so I can't comment on that. The clean bungalows are very reasonably priced for how nice they are, and the gardens are gorgeous. It's obvious that Joseph put his heart into this place. The food in the restaurant is also very good. Joseph speaks English very well, and really bailed us out when we had a fiasco with our flight out of Kutacane after we left the guest house. The people at the airport told us we didn't have seats (even though Joseph had already called just that morning to confirm that we did). We got in touch with Joseph, who went above and beyond calling the airline again, communicating back to us, etc. It all worked out at the end but without Joseph's help, I am not sure what we would have done.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Pekochan11

Review Date: 04 Oct 2016

Review Body: Beautiful Guesthouse and Great Staff. The owner Joseph is very kind and welcoming. My arrival at Ketambe got delayed so I called Joseph to let him know. He was very polite and calm as I was concerned if I could start the trekking upon arrival. He organized a wonderful trekking and awesome guide, Iwan. The 1 night/2 days trekking in Leuser National Park is one my unforgettable experiences. Despite the fact my trekking was rather sudden, Iwan ran to the store to get foods for trekking. He is so good at spotting Orangutans and monkeys and he is very knowledgeable about them and the jungle/village. He is a great cook as well. We saw lots of Orangutans, monkeys and birds. Relaxing in the hot spring and great vegetarian meals were perfect. After the trekking, I stayed in the bungalow of Thousand Hills. The location is nice and quiet. The beautiful garden and friendly staff makes me want to stay there again. Joseph is so considerate to explain how to get to Banda Aceh in detail.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: sophmob

Review Date: 03 Aug 2017

Review Body: 9 Orangutans in three days! We arrived after an 8 hour drive and were warmly welcomed by the Thousand Hills staff. They have a lovely Garden with many little spots to relax. The rooms are simple but cosy. It has all you need: a bed (with mosquito net), a ventilator, toilet and shower outside. There is no warm water but depending on what you like it isn't a tragedy. The staff is very friendly and take good care of your every need. They provide jungle treks with a guide and a porter. You can choose how long you want to go trekking from 1 day up to 6 days. You can meet your guide in advance and discuss your trip. We had the good fortune to have Salman the Jungle Man as a guide and we highly recommend him. He knows the jungle well, gives interesting information on fauna and flora, has great humor, takes your preferances into consideration and loves a challenge. We would defenitely visit Thousand Hills again.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: ClaudioGuerrieri

Review Date: 19 Sep 2015

Review Body: Great!!! No words are good enough to explain the beauty and the value of this small resort. Josep welcome his guests with love and he always try to give anyone the write advise, sometimes even against his own business. The place itself is a small paradise, fantastically maintained with beautiful and colourful flower everywhere. The restaurant is a little expensive, but it worth to have food there. Is very nice and tasty, but, how i said before, Josep, very altruistically, will suggest you other cheaper place to go for eat. There is not wi fi, but Josep allow guests to use his computer when is needed and, once here, you will discover which don't have wi fi in that place is a blessing and not at all a problem... Rooms are beautiful, clean, characteristic, with a lot of care... the quality of sleep, in the middle of the nature's cuddles, is great... Amazing location... Definitely recommended and deed...

Review rating: 5

Review Author: gaia o

Review Date: 20 Apr 2015

Review Body: Best guesthouse in Sumatra! This place is amazing, and I can safely say that this is the cleanest, friendliest and most beautiful place we have stayed in Sumatra, maybe Southeast Asia even. The owners are super nice, helpful and friendly and while there are always local people hanging out there that you can socialise with in the common areas, there is complete privacy at the bungalows. The bungalows are spotless, the bed is super comfortable, and the garden surrounding them is just amazing- with all sorts of plants and even has a small river running through it. Also, the food is so nice, with most of the vegetables being organically grown in the garden and the prices are very good! I can't recommend this place enough, we had a wonderful time there and we are looking forward to going back. Thank you guys! :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alex S

Review Date: 22 Jul 2019

Review Body: The best guesthouse in Ketambe. I checked a few guesthouses in town and this was the best one! The bungalows are very good, are located in a nice garden with flowers and each bungalow has a terrace. The staff is friendly, the food good and the price for the bungalow is OK. So, we had a great time during our 4 night stay. They also have reasonable prices for taxi's to other places. So yes, we loved our stay. The only 'drawback'of thi guesthouse is the location in the village. It's the most eastern guesthouse and the national park is on the westside of town. So the walk is a bit further than from some other guesthouses in town. By the way, in February we spotted 10 orang utans from the road through the park. Yes, you can do a jungle trekking, but you can also try it without a guide from the road!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: sonic1902

Review Date: 23 Nov 2014

Review Body: high standard for jungle location. Stayed two nights here as part of business trip to understand conservation challenges in the region. I believe you can fly to somewhere local but we had an 8 hour car ride from Medan, and be warned, the roads are very very rough with huge potholes so it's a bone-shaking journey! The bungalow was great - extremely simple, but plug socket, mosquito net and flushing toilet were most appreciated. The water was hit and miss on our visit - the shower was barely a trickle and the loo flushed only occasionally, but I don't think this is a common problem. The food was sometimes spectacular (simple but supremely flavoursome) other times just good, so I guess it depends on who's cooking. The location is awesome, surrounded by jungle on all sides. loved it x

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Today you will arrive in Ketambe, where your adventure begins!

Itinerary Description: Evening: Dinner, spend the night at the guesthouse in Ketambe

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Jungle trek with wildlife.

Itinerary Description: Morning (8am): Begin trek in the jungle, spotting of orang utans, monkeys, gibbons, and birds Afternoon: Arrive at campsite, lunch, continue trek in the jungle Evening: Return to camp for dinner

Itinerary Day 3

Itinerary Summary: Apart from enjoying wildlife, you'll also get to soak in a nice hot spring!

Itinerary Description: Morning: Breakfast, begin trekking Afternoon: Lunch, hot spring Evening: Fishing, dinner

Itinerary Day 4

Itinerary Summary: Today you'll return to Ketambe for an overnight stay.

Itinerary Description: Morning: Trek out of the jungle after lunch Afternoon: Return to Ketambe for an overnight stay in guesthouse

Itinerary Day 5

Itinerary Summary: Today you'll be returning to Medan.

Itinerary Description: Morning: Depart Ketambe for the drive back to Medan