Village
First-timersAlong the river.
Bukit Lawang village guide
Things To Do In Bukit Lawang
A jungle village on the edge of Sumatra's rainforest, where you trek to see wild and semi-wild orangutans and float back to the village on inner tubes down the river.
8
Hostels in the city
9.6
Average, from 219 reviews
2004
Joins UNESCO
Wild
Sumatran orangutans
3–4 h
From Medan
The orangutans of Sumatra
Bukit Lawang is a small village on the Bahorok river, at the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, part of the UNESCO-listed Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. The park is one of the last places on earth where Sumatran orangutans live in the wild.
From the village, guided jungle treks of one to three days go in search of orangutans, gibbons and hornbills, with nights in jungle camps and a ride back to the village on inner tubes down the river.
Three days is right.
Where to stay
Bukit Lawang is a small village strung along the Bahorok river at the edge of the jungle. Guesthouses line both banks, linked by swing bridges, with the jungle on the doorstep; the further upriver, the closer to the park entrance.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang, in northern Sumatra, sits on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, part of the UNESCO-listed Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra and one of the last places to see Sumatran orangutans in the wild.
The jungle treks are the reason to come: a day, or one to three days with nights camping by the river, with a licensed guide. You are likely to see semi-wild orangutans, descendants of animals rehabilitated here, as well as Thomas's leaf monkeys, macaques, hornbills and gibbons. Treks often end by tubing back down the river on inner tubes.
The village was rebuilt after a flash flood in 2003 that killed many people.
The Bat Cave, a short walk from the village, can be explored with a torch. Tangkahan, a quieter village about three hours away, is known for river bathing and jungle walks, and Lake Toba is about seven hours south.
Free things
Free things to do in Bukit Lawang
Walking along the river and the village's swing bridges is free, and so is swimming in the river at calm spots.
The jungle treks need a licensed guide and park permit; there is no free way into the park.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang's guesthouses and warungs serve nasi goreng, mie goreng, fresh fruit and Sumatran dishes. On jungle treks, guides cook meals by the river, often with rendang or curries.
A meal is €2 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang is quiet at night, with a few riverside bars and guesthouse evenings with guides playing guitar.
A beer is €2 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around Bukit Lawang
Buses and taxis reach Medan, and Kualanamu Airport, in three to four hours on rough roads. Shared taxis are arranged through guesthouses.
The village is walkable. Treks start from the village.
Costs
What Bukit Lawang costs
Bukit Lawang is cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €15 to €25, plus the jungle trek and park fees.
A one-day trek is roughly €40 to €50, and a two-day trek with camping €80 to €120, including the guide, permit and meals. Prices are set by the guides' association.
The currency is the rupiah (IDR), at roughly 17,000 to 18,000 rupiah to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Cards work in tourist areas; carry cash for warungs, boats and small islands, where ATMs are few.
Safety
Staying safe in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang is safe. In the jungle, stay with a licensed guide, keep your distance from orangutans and never feed or touch them; they can bite and carry disease, and feeding harms them.
The river rises fast in heavy rain; follow guides' advice on tubing.
Most visitors need a visa on arrival, best bought online as an e-VOA before you fly, and must complete Indonesia's online arrival declaration, All Indonesia, before landing; check the current rules for your passport.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Bukit Lawang
Jungle treks, a quieter village and the great volcanic lake.
Gunung Leuser
Orangutans in the wild.
Lake Toba
The volcanic lake.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The rainforest is best seen in the drier months.
May to September
Drier season
Bukit Lawang
Easier trekking.
Year-round
Trekking
Gunung Leuser
Orangutans all year.
Hostels
Where to stay in Bukit Lawang
The top-rated places to stay in Bukit Lawang right now, live from Hostelworld.
Sustainable
Jhony's Backpacker
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See Bukitlawang Homestay
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Orangutan Inn
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Ustin Nagoya
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Nora's Homestay and Rainforest
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Backpacker Lodge
Dorms from €4 a night
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Sustainable
Batu Kapal Lodge
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Menjangan Bali Resort
Dorms from €12 a night
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When to go
May to September is drier, but it rains all year.
Jan
Wet
Feb
Drier
Mar
Drier
Apr
Wet
May
Drier
Jun
Drier
Jul
Drier
Aug
Drier
Sep
Wet
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Wettest
Dec
Wet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Humid and wet all year.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupiah locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes jungle treks.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Bukit Lawang travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Will I see orangutans?
Very likely, on a trek with a licensed guide.
Can I feed them?
No; feeding harms them and they can bite and carry disease.
How long should I trek?
One day is enough to see orangutans; two to three days with camping go deeper.
How do I get there?
By shared taxi or bus from Medan, three to four hours.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
Year-round; the drier months are easier.
How much is a trek?
About €40 to €50 for a day, set by the guides' association.
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