Gunung Leuser National Park
BUKIT LAWANG ORANGUTAN TREKKING
Bukit Lawang is a small river village on the eastern edge of Gunung Leuser National Park and one of the very few places on earth where you can still meet wild Sumatran orangutans in their own forest. It is our home village — we were born and raised here, and every trek we run starts a few minutes' walk from our guest house.
What a jungle trek here actually looks like
You leave the village on foot, cross the Bohorok river and climb straight into primary rainforest. Days are spent tracking orangutans, Thomas's leaf monkeys, gibbons, hornbills and macaques with a licensed guide who reads the canopy for movement. Treks run from a half day up to seven days; overnight groups sleep in a riverside camp under tarpaulin shelters and raft back down to the village on the final day.
Getting to Bukit Lawang from Medan
Medan (KNO airport) is roughly three to four hours away by road. We arrange private air-conditioned transfers door to door, which is far more comfortable than the public bus and lets you leave at a time that suits your flight. Many travellers arrive in the afternoon, sleep in the village, and start trekking the next morning.
Where to stay in the village
Our own Villa Paradise guest house sits among the ricefields five minutes by tuk-tuk from the tourist centre, with fan and air-conditioned bungalows, hot showers and a restaurant on site. It is quiet, green and an easy base for treks, the bat cave, the fishing village and cooking classes.
Tours that visit Bukit Lawang
TRIPS THROUGH HERE
3 days · 2 nights
ORANGUTANS CLASSIC
Two full days inside Gunung Leuser tracking orangutans, gibbons and Thomas leaf monkeys, sleeping in a jungle camp by the river, then tubing back to Bukit Lawang.
€172 / PERSON5 days · 4 nights
Jungle & Elephants Combo
Our most popular jungle tour. Combine a 2-day orangutan trek in Bukit Lawang with overnight in Tangkahan, bathing the rescued elephants of the Conservation Response Unit.
€285 / PERSON8 DAYS · 7 NIGHTS
North Sumatra Grand Tour
The full story of North Sumatra: orangutans in Bukit Lawang, elephants in Tangkahan, Karo culture and volcanoes in Berastagi, and a slow finish on Samosir Island in Lake Toba.
€405 / PERSONFAQ
BUKIT LAWANG QUESTIONS
- Will I definitely see orangutans in Bukit Lawang?
- These are wild animals in a national park, so nothing is guaranteed. In practice the great majority of our groups see orangutans on a one or two day trek, and the longer you walk the deeper into their territory you go.
- How difficult is the trekking?
- The terrain is steep, humid and often muddy, but the pace is yours. A half-day or one-day trek suits most reasonably fit walkers with no jungle experience; three days and longer are better if you hike regularly.
- What should I bring?
- Light long trousers, a T-shirt, trainers or trekking shoes with grip, a rain jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen and a swimsuit for the river. We supply food, drinking water, camping gear and a dry bag for overnight treks.
- When is the best time of year to visit?
- Bukit Lawang is trekkable all year. May to September is generally driest; October to December sees more rain, which makes the jungle greener and the rivers higher.
- How much does a Bukit Lawang trek cost?
- Our 3 day / 2 night ORANGUTANS CLASSIC trek is €172 per person including guide, permits, all meals in the jungle and camp equipment. Shorter treks and longer expeditions are priced per person on request.