Sumatran Orangutan Trekking at Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Indonesia, on the eastern side of Gunung Leuser National Park which is one of the three National Parks in the UNESCO listing for Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.
With its name literally means “door to the hills”, Bukit Lawang is an Orangutan sanctuary, therefore, many people come for trekking in hope to have sightings of the rare Sumatran Orangutans.
-> Jump to the Best Accommodations in Bukit Lawang
Where is it
Indonesia Sumatra Map
Why go
It is one of the last few places on Earth to see the Orangutans live in the wild. It is also famed as one of the top travel adventures to experience.
Mother and Baby Orangutan. Photo by Arian Zweger
When is the best time to go
Most times in the year would be a decent for a visit to Bukit Lawang. You may want to take note of rainy seasons at the end of the year but the rain is mainly only in the evening or at night, so do not worry about it impeding your trip.
You may want to check out local Indonesian public holidays, which means that many local tourists will crowd the village, especially on weekends.
What to see
Orangutan drinking from a cup. Photo by NYC-MetroCard
What to do
Jungle Trekking
Bukit Lawang is one of the best place for jungle trekking as not only you get to bask in the natural jungle that is full of wild flora and fauna that will wow nature enthusiasts. You may have a chance to sight the Orangutans in their natural habitat, though not guaranteed, but possible if you follow your guides’ advises. There is also a nice waterfall on the way to relax and swim. During the trek your guides will also provide you with nice Indonesian food and fruits!
It is not permitted to go into the jungle without a guide but don’t worry as there are many good reliable guides around. Just make sure to ask questions and choose properly to get a quality guide. It would be wise also to check with your guesthouse for recommendations. The price for a jungle trek is 32 USD per day; 80 USD for a 2 days trek with extra of rafting and 3 days trek with rafting can go up is 110 USD. If going for multi-day treks, please make sure you are in a fit condition.
Community note: Please try to make sure your guides do not feed the Orangutans or other wildlife with common food as it may make them sick and in some cases die. Also please try not to get too close to the Orangutans as this would increase the risk of passing viral infections and diseases to them, which will endanger their chance of survival. Do your bit to protect the Orangutans and other wildlife!
Tubing at Bukit Lawang. Photo by NYC-MetroCard
If you have extra time to spend, one quite popular past time is tubing, where one uses an inner-tube to float down the river. Be careful as sometimes the water currents can be strong.
Other activities
You can also visit the bat cave for 5,000 Rp or kayak or just take a walk around the rice fields and rubber plantations, or visit some local projects or shop around the local market.
Orangutan sleeping. Photo by idirectori
Where to stay
There are guest houses dotted along the river in Bukit Lawang that are affordable and reasonably priced, therefore choices are aplenty. Availability of accommodations in Bukit Lawang * here is easy to arrange except during the busy tourist season which is June – August.
Hotel Orangutan
This 3-star hotel is well loved by guests for its friendly service. The clean bright and spacious rooms come with mountain views and they also offer treks and tours. Definitely a gem in this jungle!
Check out the latest prices and reviews on Booking.com *
Check out the latest prices and reviews on Agoda.com *
EcoTravel Cottages Bukit Lawang
New and well sought out by travelers, this cozy guesthouse has rooms with tall ceilings and sun terraces overlooking the jungle and mountains. It is located right next to the Bahorok River, lending to its serene atmosphere. Book early to not missed out!
Check out the latest prices and reviews on Booking.com *
Check out the latest prices and reviews on Agoda.com *
| -> Find the best hotel deals in Bukit Lawang at Booking.com. Free cancellation * |
What and where to eat
Try the local Indonesian food which normally would not disappoint. There are a few restaurants or cafes around that serve good home cook style of Indonesian food. If you want a variety from local food, there are choices of pizza or even vegetarians.
How to get there
Fly in to the nearest city Medan and then from there you can either take a taxi or rent a car/van to get to Bukit Lawang from the airport / hotel.
How to get around
Being a small village, you can cover all around on foot from one side to the other in just 25 minutes. There are three bridges across the river for easy access.
Orangutan at Bukit Lawang. Photo by Stefanie Weijster
Where to go nearby
On the way back to Medan, stop by the famous Lake Toba for a good chill and relax by the largest volcanic lake.
Also on the way, you can visit Berastagi which famous for locals for weekend getaways. You can hike out to the two nearby volcanoes, Sinabung and Sibayak.
For these, you can check with your transports services back to Medan for a stopover or side trip.
Tips
For solo female travelers, you may try to arrange with your guesthouse to join a group of other travelers for your safety.
Bring mosquito repellants and general sanitary needs as although available for sale here, it lacks in choices.
Related Articles
Lake Toba, Sumatra
Diving Pulau Weh, Sumatra
Top 10 Must Visit Places in Sumatra
Hi Pearl, I hope you are well.
I am looking at coming to Indonesia around late February/March this year. Ideally I would like to spend 5 days in Jakarta and 5 in Sumatra – I would dearly love some suggestions.
Hi Richard, I would suggest doing a mixture of these itineraries – 3 days in Jakarta and 7 days in North Sumatra. Happy travels.