Bukit Lawang Jungle Trek (Hiking In Gunung Leuser National Park)

Last Updated: February 7 2024

Gunung Lesuer National Park is one of the most magical destinations in North Sumatra. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the richest tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. As such, you’ll find a wide variety of wildlife here.

Although it’s the second-largest national park in Sumatra, there are only two main access points. One of these is Bukit Lawang and we absolutely loved our time here.

If you’re planning a Bukit Lawang Jungle Trek in this amazing national park then we’ve got you covered. This guide will take you through everything you need to know including how to get there, where to stay, and how to choose your tour.

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How to get to Gunung Leuser National Park

There are two entrance points to Gunung Lesuer National Park, Bukit Lawang and Ketambe. Both villages are very remote, but they are accessible, so let’s dive into the details.

If you’re travelling to Bukit Lawang, you can take a shared taxi or tourist bus from the main tourist spots (Medan, Berastagi, and Lake Toba). The price will differ depending on where you’re travelling from, but it will cost you around 210,000 IDR (about £10.60). Local buses are also available from Medan Airport.

If you’re heading to Ketambe, it’s a very long bus ride from Medan (Sumatra’s capital city). Shared taxis and private transfers are available, but local buses are an option too.

If you opt for the local buses expect the journey to take between 10-20 hours. You’ll also need to make several changeovers so it’s not the most convenient option. That’s why Bukit Lawang is so popular. The price is typically around 150,000 IDR (£about £7.50) per person.

Jungle Trekking in Gunung Leuser National Park

Going on an orangutan trek in Gunng Leauser is one of the best things to do in Sumatra! Not only does this national park offer you a great chance to spot these incredible apes (among other wildlife) but you’ll be exploring one of Asia’s most beautiful rainforests.

Gunung Leuser National Park is truly wild and covers around 1 million hectares. There are several different types of hikes you can do in this park so it’s best to do your research. Many people opt for just one day, while others prefer a multi-day experience where you can camp.

No matter which option you choose, just make sure you’re appropriately kitted out as this experience certainly isn’t a walk in the park).

If you’re planning a jungle trek from Bukit Lawang, then you’ll need a guide. To help you have the best experience, we’ll dive into who we chose and our experience a bit later on!

How difficult is jungle trekking in Gunung Lesuer National Park?

When planning a Sumatra jungle trek, you must know what to expect. Hiking in Gunung Leuser is an amazing experience but it’s not without its challenges (especially the humidity).

However, in all honesty, we didn’t find the hike as difficult as we first thought. Sure, we were out of breath at times and very hot, but it wasn’t too bad!

In fact, while hiking through the jungle, we saw people of all ages on these treks. What’s great is that the guides suit the experience to a person’s fitness and age, so you don’t have to worry. If you’re concerned, speak to them in advance to discuss the different options.

Alternatively, opt for a hike with river tubing included. Essentially, you’ll hike through the rainforest and then tube along the Bohorok River back to Bukit Lawang. This means you won’t have to hike back so you can save your legs!

What Wildlife can you see in Gunung Leuser National Park?

As one of the most biologically diverse conservation areas on Earth, it’s no surprise that you can spot a variety of wildlife in Gunung Leuser (also known as Mount Leuser National Park).

Around 750 different animal species call this national park home, including 200 mammals. These include the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, sun bear, and gibbon.

However, Gunung Leuser is best known for its Sumatran orangutans. There are only around 13,000 left in the world and this national park is one of the only places in the world you can spot them.

As well as 380 bird species and around 190 reptiles and amphibians, Gunung Leuser is home to approximately 10,000 plant species. There’s so much to see so keep your eyes peeled!

Going on a Bukit Lawang jungle trek is the best way to spot wildlife. The longer you trek through the jungle, the higher your chances.

How to choose a Bukit Lawang Jungle Trek

When choosing a jungle trekking tour in Bukit Lawang there are a few things to think about. First of all, you want to pick a tour guide who’s suited to you, and who will adjust the trek accordingly to your needs.

Although many people look for an English-speaking guide, this isn’t entirely necessary in our experience. Our guide could communicate well with us, but he wasn’t fluent in English (neither are we sometimes haha), and this didn’t impact our jungle hike at all. As such, we wouldn’t prioritise this one too much!

The main thing we will say is that you want an ethical experience. Some of the tour guides don’t care for the wildlife, only the money that tourism brings in. You want to avoid these tours at all costs as they will only ruin this exciting experience for you.

To book your Bukit Lawang trek, you can wait until you arrive or you can arrange it in advance.

Who should you book your Bukit Lawang jungle trek with?

Although there are tons of great options for jungle trekking tours in Bukit Lawang, we’d recommend going with Putra. He owns Fun Family Guest House which is where we stayed and he’s an incredible guide.

After researching a lot online, we found his tours to have great reviews. He came highly recommended and it was noted by other travellers how much he cared about the animals. Having an ethical tour guide was a necessity so that’s what convinced us.

After talking to Putra, we could see the passion he had for this National Park and its wildlife. He told us that it’s illegal for guides to try and feed the Orangutans to get them closer to tourists but it still happens. Putra told us how angry it made him, and that’s when we knew we had absolutely chosen the right guide!

Our Bukit Lawang Jungle trek Experince

Jungle trekking in Indonesia will leave you with memories to last a lifetime, especially in Gunung Leuser. Unfortunately, as we’d already booked our flight out of Sumatra, we were limited on time, so decided to do a one-day hike into the rainforest.

Our jungle trek with Putra started at 8 am and we returned back to the guesthouse for around 3:30 pm. He really made the most of our time, as many of the other full-day tours we looked at only lasted 5-6 hours.

Repeatedly Putra told us he wasn’t worried about time, and whenever we spotted an animal, he told us to take our time and stay as long as we wanted. This was a huge bonus for us!

Throughout the hike, we also had plenty of breaks, and Putra packed so much food for us. This includes Nasi Goreng served in a bamboo leaf and lots of tropical fruit.

As with many of the local guides here, he was extremely knowledgeable and it didn’t take us long to spot wild orangutans. Thanks to him, we saw seven orangutans, five gibbons, lots of Thomas Leaf Monkeys, and plenty of birds. We also got to see claw marks that had been left on a tree by sun bears.

Although we only did a one-day hike, Putra also offers multi-day hikes. He was telling us stories about previous tours he’d run, including one where his group had spotted a Sumatran tiger and a group of Sumatran elephants!

What Are The Prices Of The Jungle Treks?

The price of a Bukit Lawang jungle trek will differ depending on who you choose and the package you opt for. The jungle treks range from day hikes to 9+ multi-day hikes, where you’ll camp out in the jungle. Naturally, the latter will be much more expensive.

Multi-day hikes can cost anywhere from £70 (for two days) up to £600 (or a week), so prices vary a lot. Unfortunately, we could only fit in a day trek while exploring Sumatra as we were limited on time. A full-day hike with Putra from Fun Family Guest House cost us around £39 each. This included lunch and snacks.

In general, the price of jungle trek tours seems to have increased in the last few years (perhaps thanks to the pandemic). As such, prices may be more now so just keep that in mind. Of course, in our opinion, it’s more about finding a guide that you’re best suited to.

Tips for your Bukit Lawang Jungle Trek

Here are some travel tips to ensure you have the best experience jungle trekking in Sumatra:

• It’s mandatory to visit Gunung Lesuer National Park with a guide. When planning your trip, be aware that there’s also a daily entrance fee to the national park which you’ll need to pay.

• You’ll likely come across ground leeches when you’re hiking through the jungle. To avoid these critters wear long pants and tuck them into your socks. However, even that may not be enough!

• Pack waterproof clothing, especially if you’re visiting in the wet season. Due to the humidity, we’d also recommend wearing light cotton clothing or moisture-wicking clothing.

• If you can, visit with a good quality camera and zoom lens. Although we paid just £100 for our zoom lens, we got some awesome close-up shots of the orangutans!

• Stay quiet while trekking through the forest. If you’re making a lot of noise and raising your voice, you’ll spook the more elusive creatures. Just follow your guide’s lead and we’re sure you’ll get lucky.

Where to stay in Bukit Lawang

Budget: Fun Family Guest House

If you’re looking for a low-cost option check out Fun Family Guest House. This is where we stayed in Bukit Lawang. The rooms are only very basic but cost just £4, and you’ll have a private bathroom.

The main reason to visit this guest house is the owner as he’s a fantastic jungle guide. We did our Bukit Lawang jungle trek with him, and we had such a fabulous experience. The prices are reasonable too.

Budget: Thomas’ Retreat Bukit Lawang

At Thomas’ Retreat Bukit Lawang, you can choose from a variety of rooms. Each one offers a private bathroom and some of them sleep up to four people making this place a great option for families.

If you stay here, you’ll also benefit from the property’s amenities. These include a 24-hour front desk, an on-site restaurant, and an outdoor fireplace. Bike hire is available too and there’s a picnic area.

Mid-range: Garden Inn

Although more expensive than the previous two, Garden Inn is still very affordable. You’ll be staying in a beautiful location and there’s a terrace and garden area that you can enjoy.

Here, you can stay in a room or bungalow, some of which sleep up to 6 people. Some of these rooms also have a balcony. The great thing about this property is that it includes breakfast and free WiFi.

Frequently asked questions about jungle trekking in Sumatra

How long do you need in Bukit Lawang?

For the best experience, we’d recommend spending at least 2-3 days in Bukit Lawang. This gives you enough time to go on a day hike or two, as well as relax in this traditional jungle village.

Some people do spend a day here but in our opinion, that’s not enough. The longer you spend in Bukit Lawang, the more chance you’ve got of spotting orangutans and other wildlife.

Where is the best place to trek with orangutans?

Gunung Leuser is one of the best places to visit if you’re looking to spot orangutans. Both wild and semi-wild orangutans call this place home (there’s an orangutan rehabilitation centre nearby).

Here, you can go out on both day treks and multi-day treks to spot these elusive creatures. You’ll have a local guide with you at all times who knows the best places to spot them too!

How do you prepare for a jungle hike?

When it comes to a Bukit Lawang jungle trek, you’ll want to prepare yourself. The heat and humidity can be a shock to the system, so drink plenty of water and wear light cotton clothing.

In terms of fitness, just make sure you’re heading out on daily walks beforehand. The hiking trails in the park aren’t too treacherous, but you’ll want to be mindful of tangled roots as you go.

Is Sumatra or Borneo better to see orangutans?

We’ve visited both Sumatra and Borneo and each destination has something special to offer. Both of them offer the chance to spot wild orangutans, so the choice is yours.

Gunung Leuser is one of the best places to visit in Sumatra if you’re looking to spot these great apes. In Borneo, Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley, and Tabin Wildlife Reserve are your best options!

Final Thoughts on trekking in Sumatra

Going on a Bukit Lawang jungle trek is a must for any Sumatra bucket list. Not only will you get to hike through an incredible rainforest, but there are endless wildlife-watching opportunities.

Whether you’re after a day tour or an overnight jungle trek, there are tons of options from Bukit Lawang. Just look for a guide who’s most suited to you, and check that the tour will be an ethical experience.

If you have any questions about trekking in Bukit Lawang then be sure to get in touch with us via Facebook, Instagram, or in the comments!

Here are some other guides you may find helpful:

• Visiting Sipiso Piso Waterfall
• Hiking Up Gunung Sibayak
• Sumatra Travel Guide

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