Welcome to Exploring Sumatra
Hi! We are Agung and Charlie, a couple who live and travel in Sumatra (and occasionally further afield!)
We adore animals, nature, music, and sunshine, and love exploring the natural bounties of this wonderland.
We started our Sumatra travel blog – Exploring Sumatra – because we think this magnificent island is one of the most under-rated regions of Indonesia.
There’s very little info about travelling here, and we want to bring Sumatra into the limelight and help the intrepid travellers who want to explore this mindblowing part of the world.
If you’re looking for epic Sumatra destination guides, Sumatra travel tips and advice, inspiring stories, photos, videos, and more, you’re in the right place! We ADORE Sumatra and want to share it with you!
I was born and raised in North Sumatra, in a small village called Rumah Sekolah, not far from the Gunung Leuser National Park.
From when I was young, I loved animals and nature, and spent my time swimming in the river and exploring the jungle – in between school, of course.
I always knew I wanted a job that allowed me to spend my time in nature. As soon as I could, I moved to Tangkahan – an ecotourism village not far from my home – to learn how to be a jungle guide and ranger.
I taught myself English while working in a restaurant, and became a guide to take tourists on jungle treks into the National Park.
Now, I love exploring Sumatra with my wife Carly and sharing the incredible things I see with other people.
Agung's Story
Carly is an ex-zookeeper and veterinary nurse/writer from New Zealand who ran away from “home” in 2015 to live in Sumatra. Her love story with Sumatra started back in 2009, when her zoo work took her deep into the jungle in South Sumatra to work with rehabilitated orangutans.
After that, she found herself coming back year after year, visiting different areas and spending more and more time in the spots that truly felt like home.
When the call of Sumatra became too strong, Carly left her job as a primate keeper, sold everything, and jumped on a plane.
Many years later, Carly and I are now married and living in our dream location – Lake Toba in North Sumatra.
Carly's Story
