If you’re new to jungle trails but crave a close-up encounter with wild primates, Bukit Lawang jungle trekking is an excellent choice. Located on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, this small riverside village offers beginner-friendly treks with a high chance of seeing Sumatra orangutans in their natural habitat. This guide explains what to expect, how to prepare, and how to choose a responsible tour.
Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking
for Beginners
Why Bukit Lawang Jungle treks are so accessible
Bukit Lawang’s trails are less demanding than deep jungle expeditions, yet they provide authentic rainforest experiences. While the jungle is a primary rainforest, because of the paved trails it is very easy to explore. Beginner routes are available from 1 day walks up to 3 day treks.
The secret for an easy tour for inexperienced hikers is to do a private trek to customize the speed and difficulty of the trek to your abilities and wishes. You are accompanied by an experienced local guide that is skilled at tracking wildlife and explaining the rainforest ecosystem, so you don’t need advanced navigation skills to enjoy a safe and rewarding trek. Moreover, there are already camps in the jungle at strategic places, so even sleeping in the jungle is entirely possible for beginners!
Seeing Sumatra Orangutans — What to Expect
The main draw for many visitors is spotting Sumatra orangutans. Since Bukit Lawang has long been associated with rehabilitation and conservation efforts, semi-wild orangutans are frequently visible near trails. Guides will help you respect their space while maximizing viewing opportunities. Expect brief, magical sightings of orangutans swinging between trees, often accompanied by other animals like macaques, Thomas leaf monkeys, hornbills, and colorful insects.
Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking Itinerary for Beginners
- Morning briefing: Meet our guide, receive safety instructions, and learn about local conservation rules.
- Trail walk: A gentle hike through primary and secondary forest with opportunities to stop for wildlife watching and photography.
- Lunch break: A riverside lunch prepared by your personal chef.
- Optional activities: Stay overnight in the one of the jungle camps, or return to the village either by foot or with a tube raft on the Bohorok River.
Click on any of the popular Bukit Lawang Jungle Treks for beginners below for a detailed day to day itinerary and corresponding price.
What to Pack for seeing Sumatra orangutans
It is customary to leave your main luggage behind in Bukit Lawang (you can store it at your accommodation or at our office) and bring only a small backpack with your essentials.
Packing smart makes the trek comfortable. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your arms and legs to protect against insects and thorny plants. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes with grip are essential — trails can be slippery after rain. Here’s the essential packing list:
- comfortable hiking shoes
- long trousers or high socks (against leeches)
- quick-dry t-shirt
- mosquito repellent
- sun cream
- swimming clothes
- towel
- an extra set of clothes
- toilet paper
- flip flops for at camp
- flashlight (smart phones usually have that)
- fefillable bottle (to reduce plastic waste)
- biologically degradable shampoo & body lotion
Bukit Lawang Trekking Safety and Fitness Tips
Beginner treks are suitable for most people with moderate fitness – including for families with children. Guides tailor the pace to the group, so you can take regular rests. Mention your health concerns in advance so that we can plan accordingly. Mobile coverage may be limited in parts of the park, so prepare accordingly. Always follow our guide’s instructions and maintain a respectful distance from wildlife to avoid stress or aggression.
Responsible Trekking and Conservation
Choosing an eco-conscious operator is vital. Responsible guides follow park rules, avoid feeding wildlife, and ensure that tourism benefits the local community. By opting for certified local tours you help protect habitat for the Sumatra orangutans and support ongoing conservation efforts.
We have several different ethical initiatives, ranging from diversity & inclusion programs that make us the only tour operator in Bukit Lawang to have female jungle guides, to conservation programs to turn illegal poachers into deep jungle guides.
Best Time to visit Sumatra Orangutans
While Sumatra’s climate can be unpredictable — tropical showers are possible any time of year – we offer jungle treks on each day throughout the year. When it rains, we just shelter before we continue again.
The more popular months for Bukit Lawang jungle trekking are the typical drier months, from April to October, when trails are typically less slippery and river levels are manageable.
But the shoulder periods October-November and February-March are quite good periods to visit Bukit Lawang as well. While there are rain falls in this period, these are usually short showers. More imprtantly, there are very little tourists in this period, so it will feel as if you have the village and the Gunung Leuser National Park all for yourself!
Historically, December and January, are the wettest months. But climate change is disturbing the historical patterns, and this period can have many moments of beautiful sunny weather as well. Regardless, since the rain season is relatively dry in Sumatra, the national park can be visited all year long.
Price & Booking Process
You can easily find all our itineraries and prices online on our Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking homepage. Since we are a local community, our prices for private tours are comparable or even cheaper than shared tours elsewhere – even for groups as small as 2 people. Instantly confirm your booking request via our online booking form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan?
Fly to Medan. The gateway to Bukit Lawang is the Medan, Sumatra. Fly to Kuala Namu International Airport in Medan. From Medan it is ±3/4 hours driving to Bukit Lawang.
By Local Bus (budget travellers). Most local buses to Bukit Lawang leave from a terminal at Kampung Lalang, on the outskirts of Medan. Local buses can get you here for around 6,000 Rupiah, but you may need to learn a bit of Bahasa Indonesia to survive! From Kampung Lalang, a minibus to Bukit Lawang will cost ±30,000 Rupiah per person, and the journey will take 4-5 hours. Be prepared for a lot of Indonesian music being played by the driver! Last bus to Bukit Lawang leaves at 17.30hrs.
By Luxury Bus. A more luxury option is to take a tourist bus to Bukit Lawang. These depart from near the Grand Mosque in Medan and they are relatively good quality buses (by Sumatran standards) that don’t break down as often as the minibuses. The price for a bus ticket is ±100,000 Rupiah.
Private Transfer (Recommended Option). The most comfortable and fastest way to get from Medan to Bukit Lawang is by taxi. You won't have any hassle of finding the bus terminal and are not restricted to the timetable. If you do a Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking with us, you can book the private transfer directly with us for 750.000 IDR for up to 5 people. You can be picked up at your hotel or airport in Medan.
Note: All shown prices are indicative; they were valid at the time of writing in 2020, but are subject to change
Do you offer taxi service to/from Medan Airport?
Yes. For our longer tours, an airport pick-up and drop off service is included as you see in the corresponding itineraries. For our shorter but popular orangutan jungle treks, you can simply book the airport transfer service when submitting your booking request
Can we fly out on the day the Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking ends?
The short answer is that we advice you to fly out from Medan Airport the day after your jungle trekking ends, and spend a night in Bukit Lawang. In that case you can enjoy a long day of jungle trekking also on your last day.
However, we will accommodate it if you wish to fly out from Medan airport on the same day your jungle trek ends. In that case we will wake up early in the morning in our jungle camp, have a breakfast, tube back to Bukit Lawang and then drive to Medan Airport. The earliest we can get to Medan airport on the day your tour ends is around 2 pm.
In case you wish to fly out on the same day your orangutan tour ends, we kindly ask you to mention this in the booking form.
What is the best period for the Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking?
Orangutans can be seen all year round as part of a jungle trek from Bukit Lawang.
From a weather point of view, the best period to visit Bukit Lawang is in dry season in the period April - September. The busiest period is July - August.
The wettest period is December - January: There are still mostly periods with sunshine but also frequent heavy rain falls typically at the end of the afternoon.
The shoulder periods October-November and February-March are quite good periods to visit Bukit Lawang as well. While there are rain falls in this period, these last just for a few minutes. Also there are very little tourists in this period, so it will feel as if you have the village and the Gunung Leuser National Park all for yourself!
Where to Stay in Bukit Lawang?
A recommended accommodation in Bukit Lawang is Ecolodge . It is a beautiful facility and it also donates parts of the proceeds to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.
Another recommended accommodation is Sam's Bungalow .
Will I see orangutans with the Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking?
Although the jungle is rich with wildlife and orangutans, there is no guarantee that you will see orangutans or any other wildlife. Our guides will do their best to ensure you see as much as possible.
It is very rare for a group to not see orangutans. The longer the tour you choose, the higher the chance of meeting orangutans.
It has never happened to us that for a 2 Day tour or longer, we have not seen a single orangutan, but we can obviously not guarantee this for the future.
Can we feed the orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park?
Absolutely NO! We treat orangutans respectfully, keep our distance, do not touch them, and do not feed them. The orangutans here are wild, and should be treated accordingly. You will see however that we can nevertheless get quite close to orangutans because they are so peaceful in their nature.
Feeding orangutans may at first sight seem innocent or even a kind gesture, but it will make them aggressive towards humans, lazy to find their own food, or even sick.
We believe it is our responsibility to respect nature and educate our clients about the fragility of it. And we know that travelers will treat our jungle with the same respect once they understand the environmental consequences of our behavior.
What shoes should I wear in the jungle?
The most important function of your shoe in the jungle should be that it protects your ankle (rigid sole) and is closed (no sandals).
Only then comes the question whether your shoes should also be waterproof or not. It is important to realize there is hardly no way to keep dry feet in the jungle. Waterproof shoes are usually quite thick, and as a result your feet would get wet from sweat. Moreover, it is not comfortable to have warm shoes at tropical temperatures.
In our opinion, the best hiking shoes in the jungle (and generally in Indonesia) are light hiking that protect the ankle and shoes that dry fast, such as Palladium shoes.
How is the sleeping comfort in the jungle camp?
With our the jungle trekking tours, you will be staying overnight in jungle camps. You'll be sleeping in a tent with a mosquito net. But beware that the tour is quite a back-to-basic experience, including the sleeping. Specifically, the mattrasses in the jungle camps are very thin. You can consider to bring your own pillow and manage your expectations:-)
Are there toilets in the jungle camps in Gunung Leuser National Park?
Yes, there are simple squat toilets at the jungle camp sites.
Is the Bukit Lawang jungle trekking suitable for children?
Yes. Children really love this jungle trek. For groups with children (but older than 4 years), we prepare extra equipment and guiding and take a less challenging route, and most importantly: We make many stops to just play.
Please read our article about How to visit Bukit Lawang with Children.
Is there an ATM in Bukit Lawang?
There is only an ATM on the MasterCard network. Visa/Plus cards will not work! We advice you to bring cash with you to Bukit Lawang and not count on the ATMs. The nearest ATM outside of Bukit Lawang is in Bahorok, which is 15 minutes by becak (tuk tuk).
Orangutan tours in Sumatra vs Borneo?
Among the best places in the world to see orangutans, are Gunung Leuser National Park (Sumatra) and Tanjung Puting National Park (Kalimantan). We offer tours in both places with certified, local guides.
Both are quite well accessible by air from Jakarta. Which of the two is better, depends on your personal interests and on your budget.
Generally speaking, orangutan tours in Bukit Lawang are suitable for adventurous travelers that like relatively long treks, are in shape and/or have a low/mid budget. The transportation is by foot and the accommodation is typically in basic jungle camps.
In contrast, the orangutan tours in Tanjung Puting are by boat as you cruise through the river, and the occassional treks are very easy and short, and the accommodation is typically on the boat. Although this cruise is still relatively cheap for Western standards, it is 2 to 3 times more expensive than the jungle treks in Bukit Lawang.
In case you are interested, check out our Borneo Orangutan Tours in Tanjung Puting.
Where can we leave our big luggage during tour?
All accommodations in Bukit Lawang offer a free storage service for your luggage while you do your jungle trekking.
In case you do not have an accommodation or there is any other reason this option does not work, then we will store your luggage in Bukit Lawang during the trek.
How much should I tip the guide and cook?
Tipping is common in Indonesia, and the staff will be extremely happy and flattered if you decide to do so.
Eventually, the tip of course depends on how satisfied you are with the service and on your budget. The official advice from the Bukit Lawang Tourism is to tip 70.000 IDR per person per day, but you could of course deviate from it depending on your personal situation and satisfaction.
Note: Please notice that these are pre-Covid advices. Covid has completely devastated the economy in Bukit lawang and pushed many - including the guides that you will meet - into poverty, as you read here. So your tip is not only a gesture of appreciation, it will make a real and big difference to the lives of your guides and their families. Thank you very much for supporting the local community.
Bukit Lawang for Beginners – An Unmatched Jungle Fun!
Bukit Lawang can be deeply rewarding for inexperienced hikers. It’s not your typical resort destination — it’s better. It’s a chance to disconnect from screens, explore the wonders of the rainforest, and spark a lifelong love of nature and conservation.
When done right — with a private tour that respects your family’s needs — Bukit Lawang for beginners is not just a safe, but an unforgettable adventure.
