Visiting Gunung Leuser National Park: What You Need To know!

Last Updated: February 8 2024

If you’re travelling to Sumatra then make sure you visit Gunung Leuser National Park (also known as Mount Leuser National Park). This impressive World Heritage Site covers around 1 million hectares, making it the second-largest national park in Sumatra.

As one of Southeast Asia’s richest tropical rainforests, you’ll find a variety of wildlife here, making it the perfect destination for nature lovers. Honestly, visiting this place was a highlight of our Sumatra trip and we’re sure you’ll love it too.

To ensure you have the perfect trip, this guide will cover everything you need to know about visiting this national park. This includes how to get there, what to do, and where to stay.

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Where Is Gunung Leuser National Park?

Gunung Leuser National Park is part of Southeast Asia’s largest wilderness area. It’s located on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia and borders the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. The park is also nestled by the Barisan mountain range.

There are two main access points for this national park, Ketambe and Bukit Lawang. Ketambe is located around 226 km (140 miles) from the capital city of Medan (by road), and Bukit Lawang is around 85 km (53 miles) away.

Both villages are very remote, so you’ll get a true wilderness experience if you decide to visit (and you definitely should).

The History Of Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra

Gunung Leuser was first designated a national park back in 1980. Along with two other national parks (Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kerinci Seblat), it later became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. This UNESCO Site is known as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

Since the mid-2000s, the local government has agreed to ‘recognize and strive’ to protect an area over double the size of Gunung Leuser, which will be known as the Leuser Ecosystem.

Unfortunately, in 2011, the park was placed on the ‘World Heritage Sites in danger’ list so there’s still a lot of work to be done. It’s threatened by illegal logging and palm oil plantations, among other issues.

Flora & Fauna Of Gunung Leuser National Park

This national park is one of the earth’s most biologically diverse conservation areas. As such, you’ll find a variety of flora and fauna here. In total, there are around 750 different animal species and approximately 10,000 plant species found in the park.

Gunung Leuser is most famous for its wild orangutan population. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can spot Sumatran Orangutans, of which there are only around 13,000 left on Earth.

However, you can also spot a variety of other wildlife in the park, including more than 200 mammals. This includes the Sumatran tiger, sun bear, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, and Sunda clouded leopard. Primates include the gibbon, pigtail macaque, and Thomas leaf monkeys.

Of course, the birdlife is special in this national park too, with there being around 380 species. The hornbills are certainly one of the most impressive birds found here in our opinion!

Visiting Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia

The best time to visit Gunung Leuser National Park

As Gunung Leuser is a tropical rainforest, you can expect high humidity and plenty of rainfall no matter when you visit. Temperatures are relatively high throughout the year, but the climate is still seasonal.

Late April to October is considered Sumatra’s dry season and is when many people travel to the island. During this time, you can expect temperatures of over 30°C (86°F) and plenty of sunshine.

The wet season typically occurs from October to March, with November and December being the rainiest months. During this time, the rain comes down daily. However, if you’re not deterred by this, it’s a great time to visit. Trees bear more fruit in the wet season, so it’s the best time of year to spot orangutans.

We visited Gunung Leuser in February, so right in the middle of the wet season. Temperatures were hot and very humid, but we did spot plenty of wildlife including wild orangutans!

The main areas of Gunung Leuser

As we’ve mentioned previously, there are two main access points to Gunung Leuser National Park; Ketambe and Bukit Lawang. Bukit Lawang is located closer to Sumatra’s capital, Medan (around 85 km away), while Ketambe is located around 226 km away.

Ketambe is a small village in the Aceh Province. It’s located along the Alas River, within the core area of Mount Leuser National Park. According to some articles we’ve read, Ketambe offers more of a wild experience, as fewer travellers visit here as it’s so remote.

We chose to stay in Bukit Lawang as it worked much better for our itinerary. It’s a more popular tourist spot, located along the Bohorok River. Bukit Lawang is located along the edge of the national park, so the jungle is still easily accessible.

When choosing where you base yourself, make sure to weigh up the pros and cons.

How to get to Mount Leuser National Park

This all depends on which area you’re choosing to visit. To give you an idea, we’ll break down the options for both. First of all, there’s Bukit Lawang which is where we stayed.

Bukit Lawang

To reach Bukit Lawang, you’ll likely travel from Medan, Berastagi, or Lake Toba (the main tourist spots). A shared taxi or tourist bus is the most popular option from these destinations. The price will differ depending on your location, but typically you’re looking to pay around 210,000 IDR (about £10.60).

Local buses are also available especially if you’re heading to Bukit Lawang from Medan Airport. Although much cheaper, you’ll have to change and the routes vary so it’s best to research this in advance.

Ketambe

To reach Ketambe, it’s a long bus ride from Medan. If you opt for the local buses, you’ll need to make 4 changeovers, with the journey taking anywhere between 10-20 hours.

Travelling to Ketambe by bus is not for the faint-hearted. With 4 changeovers, the journey will take anywhere from 10-20 hours and cost around 150.000rp for one person. Shared taxis and private cars are available. Although these will cost much more, they are a much more comfortable option.

Where to stay in Gunung Leuser National Park

Based on our own experiences, we’d suggest staying in Bukit Lawang. It’s easier to access and there are plenty of amenities for tourists here, including hostels, restaurants, and shops. Below are some of our top picks when it comes to accommodation:

Budget: Fun Family Guest House

This is where we stayed during our time in Bukit Lawang. As a double room is priced at £4, it’s very basic. However, you do have a private bathroom and we found it to be perfect for us backpackers.

The highlight is the family who own this place. The owner is a jungle guide and is who we did our jungle trek with. He’s very passionate about the environment and we found his tour prices to be very reasonable.

Budget: Thomas’ Retreat Bukit Lawang

This is another great option for a low-cost stay! Thomas’ Retreat Bukit Lawang offers several types of rooms, including family rooms which sleep up to 4 people. Each one offers a private bathroom.

This property has plenty of amenities including an on-site restaurant, outdoor fireplace, and a 24-hour front desk. There’s also a picnic area if you have your own food and bike hire is available.

Mid-range: Garden Inn

This property is still extremely affordable, but it’s one of the most expensive options in Bukit Lawang. Garden Inn is set in a beautiful area, with a garden and terrace area which you can enjoy.

There are a variety of rooms and bungalows available, some of which sleep up to 6 people. You’ll have your breakfast included and benefit from free WiFi. Several rooms also offer a balcony.

Gunung Leuser National Park Tours

In our opinion, you have to be very careful when it comes to booking tours in Gunung Leuser. As this national park is a popular tourist destination, tour guides and companies can take advantage of this.

There are some fantastic tour guides that will take you around the park, but there are others that don’t care about their implications. While we were on our hike, we saw a guide encouraging tourists to feed the monkeys! This is an awful practice as it makes them reliant on humans.

That’s why you should do your research before booking a tour. Although you can book tours with Get Your Guide and Viator, we wouldn’t want to recommend them here, as we don’t know how ethical they are.

From our own experience, we’d recommend booking a jungle hike with Putra (from Fun Family Guest House). He’s an incredible guide and the animals’ welfare is his priority!

Top Tips For Visiting Mount Leuser National Park

Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the best places in Asia for spotting wildlife so it needs to be included on your Sumatra itinerary!

Here are some travel tips to ensure you have the best visit:

• It’s mandatory to visit Mount Leuser National Park with a guide. You’ll also need to pay a daily entrance fee to the national park. Keep this in mind when planning out your budget.

• The jungle trekking tours will differ in price. We recommend shopping around for one that offers the most value for money, but also one that’s ethical. As such, reading the reviews is a must.

• There’s no denying that the humidity here is intense. For the most pleasant experience, wear light cotton clothing. Opt for something waterproof too, especially in the wet season.

• There are ground leeches in Gunung Lesuer. Wear long pants and tuck your trouser legs into your socks to avoid them. Unfortunately, we got leeched a few times but it’s not painful.

• If you’re looking to spot some of the rarer animals in Gunung Leuser National Park (such as elephants and tigers), your best option is to opt for a multi-day hike.

The Best Things To Do In Gunung Leuser National Park

1. Go jungle hiking

Jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Sumatra. It’s the only way to explore the national park and you’ll be hiking for hours through the rainforest.

Hiking through Mount Leuser is an experience like no other, thanks to the variety of smells, sights, and sounds. It also offers the best wildlife-watching opportunities, where you can look out for orangutans in the treetops above, among other species. We spotted plenty of primates (including the elusive orangutan).

Just make sure you’re well-equipped with good-quality footwear. The last thing you want is for your feet to rub while you’re out all day. For reference, our jungle hike lasted around 8 hours!

2. Photograph wildlife

As there are so many incredible wildlife species to be found in Gunung Lesuer, we highly recommend you pack a camera. Better yet, opt for a zoom lens which is what we did. We only bought a £100 camera lens but it got us some incredible photographs and was totally worth the price!

The great thing about exploring with a guide is that they know all the best spots when it comes to wildlife sightings. They’re also happy to work with whatever you need, so if you want a bit of extra time to photograph them, just ask.

Just remember that you’ll be carrying your camera around with you all day, so be aware of the extra weight.

3. Go tubing down the Bohorok River

If you’re after a relaxing experience in Gunung Leuser then why not go tubing down river? As this area is typically hot and humid, tubing offers the perfect way to cool down. Not to mention, you can admire the views and spot wildlife (we actually saw an orangutan perched in a tree alongside the river).

You’ll find plenty of tour operators who offer this activity in Bukit Lawang. Typically, you’ll be tubing down the river for around 15 km (9 miles), which takes approximately 3 hours. However, this may differ depending on who you choose to go with.

Alternatively, some jungle hikes include the option to tube back to Bukit Lawang, rather than hike back.

4. Camp overnight in Gunung Leuser

For those who are feeling really adventurous, why not camp overnight in Mount Leuser National Park? These multi-day tours range from 2 – 9 days (sometimes longer), so there are plenty of options. Of course, be aware that the longer trips can be pricey.

Not only will you have the experience of camping overnight in the rainforest, but you’ll have a better chance of spotting wildlife. The more elusive creatures such as elephants, tigers, and sun bears are typically spotted in the depths of Gunung Leuser, so keep your eyes peeled.

Unless you opt for a 2-day trip, this activity isn’t really suitable for those who are short of time in Sumatra, as this island has a lot more to offer.

5. Relax in Bukit Lawang

After a full day of hiking, there’s no better place to relax than in Bukit Lawang (we can’t speak for Ketambe as we didn’t stay there). Thanks to its location along the Bohorok River, this village is undeniably beautiful and there’s plenty to do here.

First of all, there’s a path along the river which you can often spot monkeys from. There are also some great local restaurants in Bukit Lawang where you can try the local dishes (prices are cheap too).

Swimming is a popular activity here, as the locals take a dip in the river to cool down in the afternoon. There are also tours available that will allow you to explore the surrounding area.

6. Hike up Mount Leuser

Mount Leuser is one of the highest mountains in Sumatra, standing at 3,466 metres (11,371 feet). This mountain is where the national park gets its name and is part of the Leuser Range.

Climbing Mount Leuser is considered one of the most challenging (yet exhilarating) activities in Sumatra. In total, the trekking distance will be around 102 km (63 miles) round trip. This is accomplished over 14 days, and you’ll have plenty of wildlife-watching opportunities along the way.

You need to be pretty fit to accomplish this climb but the rewards are certainly worth it. Just make sure you shop around for the best tour deals and research the provider before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gunung Leuser

How many days do I need in Mount Leuser National Park?

In our opinion, you need at least 2-3 days in Gunung Leuser National Park (preferably more). This gives you the best chance of spotting wildlife, especially wild orangutans which can be quite elusive.

You can either do day hikes into the national park which is what we did, or multiple-day trips are available. These will require you to camp overnight in the rainforest, so it’s whatever you feel comfortable with.

What is a good budget for Gunung Leuser?

Of course, this depends on your travel style but we’d recommend a budget of £65-£75 per person per day. Now, we know this sounds a lot for Asia, but let us explain!

Although accommodation and food here are super cheap (double rooms can be as little as £4), you need a guide to enter the jungle. Day hikes cost upwards of £40 per person (sometimes £60+), so that’s a huge expense. There’s also a daily entrance fee of 150,000 IDR (around £7.50) for foreigners.

What animals are in Gunung Leuser National Park?

There are estimated to be around 750 different animal species in Mount Leuser National Park. This includes over 200 mammals, 380 bird species, and 190 types of reptiles and amphibians.

Interestingly enough, Gunung Lesuer is the only place on earth where elephants, orangutans, tigers, and rhinos all live together in the wild. Other species include sun bears, gibbons, and Sunda clouded leopards.

How big is Gunung Leuser National Park?

Gunung Leuser is the second-biggest national park in Sumatra, covering around 1 million hectares. It makes up part of the Leuser Ecosystem, which spans about 2.6 million hectares.

This national park is part of Southeast Asia’s largest wilderness area, so as you can imagine, it’s vast. As such, prepare yourself for an awesome adventure in the wilderness.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Gunung Leuser National Park

Visiting Mount Leuser National Park is a must for any Sumatra bucket list. With its breathtaking landscapes, incredible biodiversity, and local communities, it’s one of the most unique places on earth.

Whether you’re looking to hike in the jungle, look out for wildlife, or go tubing down a river, there’s something for everyone. Seeing an orangutan in the wild was certainly a highlight of our trip, and it left us with memories to last a lifetime.

If you have any questions about visiting Gunung Leuser National Park, then be sure to get in touch with us via Facebook, Instagram, or in the comments!

Here are some other guides that you may find helpful:

• The Complete Sumatra Travel Guide
• Visiting Sipiso Piso Waterfall In Sumatra
• Climbing Gunung Sibayak in Sumatra

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