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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to experience Sumatra’s wild beauty away from the tourist hotspots where you can really connect with nature while making a real difference?
Our Travel Roots Connect to Nature Program is designed to place you at the heart of vital conservation efforts. As a volunteer, you will support the protection of critically endangered orangutans and Sumatran tigers, assist local farmers in sustainable land use, and help restore damaged rainforest ecosystems through hands-on reforestation.
Your journey begins on the edge of the world-famous Gunung Leuser National Park — home to one of Earth’s last remaining intact ecosystems where orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and elephants still coexist. During your stay, you’ll work alongside experienced conservation teams and local communities, gaining insight into the challenges and solutions for wildlife protection in this fragile environment.
Key activities include:
• Orangutan nest monitoring and wildlife tracking – Join surveys to locate and record orangutan nests, observe wild orangutans in their natural habitat, and collect data on feeding trees and movement patterns.
• Tiger conservation and camera trapping – Set up and monitor camera traps along key wildlife corridors, help check and collect footage, and contribute to vital research on Sumatran tiger populations.
• Reforestation and wildlife corridor restoration – Plant native trees, care for nursery seedlings, and help expand crucial forest corridors that connect fragmented habitats for wildlife.
• Local farmer support and agroforestry – Assist in planting shade trees, preparing compost, and helping farmers develop sustainable practices that reduce deforestation pressure.Every day offers something new — from trekking the jungle in search of wildlife signs, to engaging in community projects that promote sustainable living. This is your chance to connect deeply with nature while leaving a positive footprint on Sumatra’s future.
By volunteering on our Travel Roots Connect to Nature program in Sumatra, you will:
• Contribute directly to orangutan and Sumatran tiger protection efforts
• Take part in vital reforestation work to restore and reconnect rainforest habitats
• Gain hands-on experience with wildlife monitoring, nest surveys, and camera trapping
• Support sustainable farming practices that help reduce deforestation
• Work alongside passionate conservationists and local communities
• Immerse yourself away from tourist hotspots in the natural beauty and culture of SumatraWhat to Expect – A Day in the Life of a Connect To Nature Volunteer in Sumatra
Each day on this program offers variety, adventure, and meaningful work. Your time will be balanced between forest fieldwork, community engagement, and reflection. Activities change depending on conservation needs, but a typical day might look like this:
6:00 AM – Jungle Patrol or Nest Survey
Start the day with a trek into the rainforest, helping record orangutan nests, wildlife signs, or clearing illegal snares along key trails.8:00 AM – Breakfast at the Eco Camp
Enjoy a nutritious meal of local dishes and fresh fruit at the volunteer base.9:00 AM – Camera Trap and Reforestation Work
Head out to set or check camera traps in known tiger corridors, or join the team planting trees to restore habitat.12:00 PM – Lunch and Rest Break
Refuel and relax, either at the lodge or at a shaded site in the field.1:00 PM – Farmer Support or Nursery Care
Spend the afternoon helping local farmers with composting, shade-tree planting, or tending native seedlings at the reforestation nursery.3:30 PM – Conservation Data & Group Reflection
Assist with entering field data, review camera trap images, or join a conservation talk by the team.4:30 PM – Free Time
Relax at the lodge, swim in the nearby river, explore jungle trails, or take part in a cultural activity like local cooking or crafts.Every day is different — some may involve longer jungle treks, wildlife corridor clean-ups, or special community events. The work is meaningful, and the connections you’ll build with people and nature will stay with you long after you leave.
Your Impact as a Volunteer
Choosing to volunteer on this program means becoming part of a powerful movement to protect Sumatra’s endangered wildlife and restore its forests. Your efforts in orangutan nest monitoring, tiger camera trapping, and anti-poaching patrols contribute directly to the survival of species on the brink.
Every data point you help collect, every snare you help remove, and every wildlife corridor you help restore plays a role in securing a future for these incredible animals.
Your impact goes beyond wildlife. By supporting local farmers and promoting sustainable practices, you’ll help reduce deforestation and create green livelihood opportunities that last. The work you do inspires change, helping local communities transition from forest exploitation to conservation. Together, these small actions build a brighter future for both people and nature.
Your Home in the Rainforests of Sumatra
Volunteers stay in our jungle-style yet stylish accommodation — a unique eco-camp designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings while providing the comforts you need for a restorative night’s sleep.
Sleeping arrangements
The jungle camp offers single or shared rooms equipped with comfortable beds, fresh linens, and mosquito nets. The camp is built using natural materials and designed to work in harmony with nature, allowing you to fall asleep to the sounds of the forest and wake to birdsong each morning.What’s provided
• Quality bedding and mosquito nets
• Shared bathrooms with eco-friendly facilities
• Solar-powered lighting and limited charging stations
• Rainwater collection for showers and sinks
• A communal space for dining, relaxing, and socialisingMeals & nutrition
You’ll enjoy three fresh meals a day prepared on-site, featuring local ingredients and nutritious, mostly plant-based dishes. There is always plenty of fruit, rice, vegetables, and occasional fish or egg dishes. The camp caters to most dietary preferences and ensures that all meals are prepared sustainably.Staying at the jungle camp means you can truly connect with nature — enjoying the peaceful surroundings while still having the little luxuries that make your stay comfortable and memorable.
History
A good initiative begins by addressing the problems that surround it.
Our trusted partner is a local enabler organisation dedicated to protecting the Leuser Ecosystem — one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Founded to combat forest encroachment and promote social and climate justice, the organisation focuses on conservation, community empowerment, and sustainable development.
Recognising that real change comes from within, the team launched the Serimba Community, a network of over 200 local residents in Batee Meucanang. This community group works as a force for positive change, helping to restore the forest, protect native wildlife, and shift mindsets from exploitation to conservation.
Mission & Vision
The mission is to safeguard the Leuser Ecosystem through nature-based solutions that address both environmental and social challenges. By promoting sustainable livelihoods, green job opportunities, and alternative business ecosystems, the organisation strives to ensure that forests are not only protected, but provide lasting benefits to local communities.
The vision is of a future where people and nature thrive together — where restored habitats support native wildlife, including critically endangered species, and where local communities act as the guardians of Sumatra’s natural heritage.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fee
Duration Fee (EUR) Weekly Equivalent
1 week €447 €447/week
2 weeks €864 €432/week
3 weeks €1251 €417/week
4 weeks €1608 €402/week
5 weeks €1935 €387/week
6 weeks €2232 €372/week
8 weeks €2856 €357/week
10 weeks €3420 €342/week
12 weeks €3924 €327/week
Payment Terms
• Fees are due 30 days before your start date.
• If applying within 30 days of arrival, full payment is due within 48 hours of confirmation.What’s Included
✔️ Private Accommodation
✔️ 3 nutritious local meals per day✔️ Airport Tranfers
✔️ Clean drinking water, teas and coffees
✔️ Access to basic kitchen facilities
✔️ Laundry access
✔️ Pre-arrival support and assistance
✔️ Cultural and conservation orientation
✔️ Volunteer coordination and on-site support
✔️ All activity materials and tools
✔️ Certificate of completion
✔️ Welcome pack full of essential and helpful info
✔️ Domestic transport to and from your work placement
✔️ Expert guidance from local conservation professionals
✔️ Full support before, during, and after your program
✔️ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✔️ So much moreYour Investment in Wildlife, Culture & Yourself
Volunteering in Sumatra isn’t just about the impact you make—it’s also about the transformation you experience. This is your chance to step into a meaningful role, learn new skills, gain fieldwork experience, and form powerful cross-cultural connections.
You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of conservation, community, and your own potential to influence positive change—wherever life takes you next.
Where You’ll Be – The Heart of Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem
Your volunteering adventure takes place in the Leuser Ecosystem rainforest, one of the last places on Earth where orangutans, Sumatran tigers, rhinos, and elephants coexist in the wild. This vast, tropical rainforest is a UNESCO-listed wonder, known for its rich biodiversity, towering trees, and winding rivers.
You’ll be based near Batee Meucanang Village, West Labuhan Haji District, South Aceh Regency, Aceh, 23761 — a peaceful, rural community on the edge of the forest. Here, you’ll experience life at the gateway to the jungle, surrounded by breathtaking nature and traditional village culture.
The region enjoys a warm, tropical climate year-round, with lush green landscapes fed by seasonal rains. It’s a place where you can truly disconnect from modern life and reconnect with the natural world.
Indonesia – A Land of Diversity and Spirit
Indonesia is a vast and breathtakingly diverse archipelago made up of over 17,000 islands—and Sumatra is one of its wildest gems. Known for its dense rainforests, volcanic landscapes, and rich cultural traditions, Sumatra offers a raw, immersive experience unlike any other part of Southeast Asia.
Sumatra is home to some of the world’s rarest wildlife, including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, elephants, and rhinos—all clinging to survival amid growing human pressures. It’s also home to some of the kindest, most resilient communities you’ll ever meet, many of whom live in harmony with the land and are eager to welcome volunteers who come with open minds and big hearts.
Expect warm, humid days, afternoon rain showers that feed the rainforest, and golden sunsets over jungle hills. Expect stories, songs, smiles, and a thousand new perspectives. Most of all, expect to grow.
Free Time Activities
When you’re not working on conservation or community projects, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy in your incredible surroundings. Your free time is the perfect chance to soak up the natural beauty and culture of the region.
• Jungle hikes and wildlife spotting – Explore nearby forest trails and see what wildlife you can spot, from birds and primates to unique insects and plants.
• River swimming and tubing – Cool off in the clear streams and rivers that run through the rainforest.
• Local cooking and crafts workshops – Learn how to prepare traditional Acehnese dishes or try your hand at weaving or other local crafts.
• Village visits and cultural exchange – Spend time with local families, visit the market, or join a community event.
• Waterfall treks – Hike to hidden jungle waterfalls for a refreshing dip and stunning photo opportunities.
• Relax at camp – Unwind with a book, journal about your experience, or simply listen to the sounds of the rainforest.
Every moment offers something new — whether you’re out exploring or simply enjoying the peace of the jungle.
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