ORANGUTAN TREKKING

In the local language, Malay, Orangutan means “people of the jungle”.
 
There are only 7,000 Sumatran Orangutans left in the wild. Of them, 5,000 are in Gunung Leuser National Park. They’re threatened continuously by deforestation for palm oil plantations. Since 1989, their population has decreased by two-thirds.

We flew into the Sumatran city of Medan, excited at the possibility of trekking to see some of the world’s last wild orangutans. After a bumpy bus ride, we reached Bukit Lawang and Sumatra Orangutan Explore.

Bukit Lawang means “gateway to the jungle.”

Not many people make it this far in such a remote area of Indonesia, only accessible by a plane to Medan and a 5-hour bus to Bukit Lawang.

For three days, we trekked for six hours a day, listening to the jungle song of white-handed gibbons, barking geckos, and the rhinoceros hornbill.

It was a sweaty, humid, tiring hike, but it was well worth it to see wild orangutans up close in their natural habitat, along with different species of macaques, apes, and gibbons.

On the first day of our trek, we left Sumatra Orangutan Explore at 9:00am and reached our “jungle hotel” around 3:30pm. We stopped to watch orangoutangs, have nasi goreng in the jungle, and a rainbow of fruits for “trekking energy”.

For one-night trekkers, this is the last destination of the trek—a cozy campsite by the river with a few huts, mattresses, pillows, a “jungle toilet,” and a cooking station manned by chefs from the village.

In just one day, we saw eight orangutans, four semi-wild and four wild, including two mothers with their young. While we relaxed at camp, a wild orangutang even swung past while we swam in the river—it’s paradise!

Why It’s So Important to Choose an Ethical Trek

When we saw another group standing just 1m away from a wild male orangutang, breaking the 10m rule, we were happy we’d booked with Sumatra Orangutan Explore. Our guides, Aril and Amso, always made sure to show respect to wildlife, even picking up the litter of other groups.
 
It’s never okay to disrespect the space of wildlife, especially an endangered species.

Before our trek, we didn’t fully realize how important booking an ethical trek is, but when we saw guides from other companies feeding, calling, and letting guests stand less than 1m away from the orangutans, we were so glad we chose an ethical trek.

With only 7,000 left in the wild, Sumatran Orangutans are a critically endangered species. The way you choose to behave in the jungle has a direct impact on their survival. Since they share 96% of our DNA, orangutans can contract life-threatening respiratory disease from humans. Tourists and guides who feed wild orangutans and stand less than 10m away put the lives of Sumatran Orangutans at risk.

Don’t go to Bukit Lawang to see orangutans without booking an ethical trek.

It’s possible to book a cheaper trek, but it’s not possible to book a more ethical one.

How Many Days Should You Trek For

If you’re short on time, traveling with kids, or aren’t up for more than one day of trekking, the 1 Night / 2 Day trek is perfect. There’s enough time to experience the jungle without two days of tiring trekking. That’s why most people choose 1 Night treks.

The advantage of longer treks are getting to go deeper into the jungle than most trekkers do. If you’re at all interested in wildlife, I recommend spending as long in the jungle as possible. A 2 Night / 3 Day trek means you’ll have more chances to spot wildlife, but treks longer than three days will be a real, immersive experience.

How to Plan Your Trip to Bukit Lawang

How Long to Stay in Bukit Lawang

It’s worth spending at least a full day or two outside of your trek to enjoy Bukit Lawang. You came so far to get here, after all! Not only is relaxing by the riverside with a fresh fruit smoothie amazing, but there are so many classes you can take to further support the local economy.

Sumatra Orangutan Explore has organic soap making, botanical dye & eco-printing, and cooking classes, or you can take a wood carving class from a local carver.

Plan a trip to the Bat Caves or venture out in search of some of the world’s biggest flowers, the Rafflesia and Titan flowers in Batu Katak (as long as they’re in bloom).

How to Get to Bukit Lawang

The cheapest way to get to Bukit Lawang is by tourist bus from Medan. First you’ll fly into Kualanamu International Airport in Medan. The journey from Medan will take 3 to 6 hours and cost 210,000 IDR per person to or from the airport, and 150,000 IDR to or from central Medan. Hiring a private car from Medan to Bukit Lawang costs 700,000 IDR and takes 3 to 6 hours.

Booking through a trekking company is the easiest way to arrange transport. We booked through Sumatra Orangoutan Explore and were greeted at the airport by our friendly driver!

Where to Stay in Bukit Lawang

When you book your trek with Sumatra Orangutan Explore, they give you a discount on their accommodation. This is the best deal, but rooms fill up quickly, so make sure to book ahead of time.

If they’re fully booked or you want to add extra nights to your trip in Bukit Lawang, it’s difficult to find a budget accommodation that will let you book a room without booking a trek through them. Hotel Orangutan has rooms with fans and hot water (not a given in Bukit Lawang!) for 250,000 IDR per night.

For a more unique experience, stay at Orangutan Bungalow right at the edge of the national park entrance for a good chance of seeing orangutans, Thomas Leaf Monkeys, and Silvered Leaf Monkeys right from your bungalow!

Where to Eat in Bukit Lawang

Sumatra Orangutang Explore – Settle in at Sumatra Orangutan Explore’s restaurant for great Indonesian and Western food, jungle-themed cocktails, and even some live music!

NatureSoul – This boho chic cafe is perfect for plumeria-pink smoothies by the river, and delicious breakfast in the morning with fresh baked bread or cinnamon rolls!

Waterstone Restaurant – We saw a sign that said “Best Chicken Rendang,” and we have to agree! At 55,000 IDR, it’s a bit more expensive than other restaurants, but oh is it worth it! Forget KFC. This Chicken Rendang is “finger-lickin’ good”. 

Tips for Making the Most of Your Trek

Even a 1 Night trek is challenging, but nothing good is ever easy, so remember to enjoy the moment and the chance to be in a jungle not many people get to see in their lifetime.

Even if you see other groups going closer to the orangutans, remember these are wild animals that deserve our respect, and just because someone else does it doesn’t make it right. Listen to your guides and respect wildlife.

Practice patient. In the wild, everything can change in a second. You might be waiting long to see any animals and then have the most incredible sighting of an orangoutang. You never know what might happen next, so stay positive and keep smiling!

Plan to have at least half a day in Bukit Lawang to settle in before your trek. Don’t do what we did and fly to Indonesia the morning before. Arriving in Bukit Lawang the day before your trek is doable as long as you’re already well rested.

What to Bring for Your Trek

Wear comfortable, airy clothing. It’s okay to wear a t-shirt, but make sure to wear long pants and long socks to protect your legs from leeches.

Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. The jungle floor is slippery.

Wear a sunhat.

Wear sunscreen.

Bring bugspray.

Bring hand sanitiser, toilet paper and a small plastic bag to carry your used toilet paper in.

Bring a reusable water bottle.  (Save plastic by investing in a Grayl water purification bottle, which lets you fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world.) Carry at least 2L of water per person. You’ll be able to refill your bottles with bottled water at the campsite every night.

Power bank (There’s not much worse than running out of phone battery and not being able to find your way home.)

For overnight treks, pack a swimsuit, a towel, your hygienics, and a personal first-aid kit. The less you pack the better.

Bring a camera with at least a 200mm zoom lens. 400mm or 600mm is even better!

For a full list of my travel recommendations, click here!

Travel Insurance for Indonesia

Whatever you do, don’t travel without travel insurance. Whether it’s sickness, theft, or lost luggage, something WILL go wrong, and travel insurance is your only way of lessening costs!