Bukit Lawang: 3-Day Orangutan Trek & Jungle River Tubing

Summary

Sumatra jungle trek orangutans camping riverside return

You’ll hike deep into Gunung Leuser’s rainforest on this 3-day orangutan trek from Bukit Lawang, guided by locals who know every bend in the trail. Expect close-up moments with wildlife, nights spent camping under thick canopy, simple meals cooked over fire, and a river tubing ride that’ll leave you grinning — or maybe just quiet for a while.

What’s the experience like?

I woke up to something I’d never heard before — this deep, echoing call somewhere above us in the trees. Turns out it was a gibbon (our guide, Dedi, grinned at my face when I asked if it was a dinosaur). We’d started our orangutan trek from Bukit Lawang just after breakfast, boots still a bit damp from the night before. The air felt heavy with green — you know that smell when everything’s alive and wet? That’s how it was. Dedi pointed out some wild ginger leaves and let us rub them between our fingers. My hands smelled sharp and earthy for hours after.

The first orangutan we saw was almost too close. She just hung there, orange fur catching bits of sunlight, watching us like she’d seen it all before. Dedi whispered her name (he seemed to know half the forest by name) and told us about the rewilding project here in Gunung Leuser. He kept reminding us not to leave anything behind — “for them, not for us,” he said. Lunch was simple but good: rice wrapped in banana leaf, eaten cross-legged on a mossy log while cicadas screamed overhead. I tried to eat quietly but kept dropping grains; ants found me right away.

Sleeping in the jungle is its own thing. The tent was basic — more tarp than tent really — but after hiking all day, I didn’t care. There were these moments lying there where I could hear nothing except water moving somewhere nearby and maybe someone snoring (I won’t say who). In the morning, coffee tasted smoky and strong enough to wake anyone. On our last day, we got into these big rubber tubes — “jungle taxi,” Dedi called them — and floated downriver back toward Bukit Lawang. Sun on my face, water cold against my hands, I just drifted for a while thinking about how easy it would be to forget all this once you’re home again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Begin jungle trekking adventure

• Start jungle trek in Gunung Leuser
• Explore unique plants and animals
• Camp overnight at first jungle campsite

Day 2 — Continue trekking and camping

• Trek deeper into the jungle
• Observe wildlife and nature
• Camp overnight at second jungle campsite

Day 3 — Complete trek and river tubing

• Finish jungle trekking route
• Tube down river in jungle taxi
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How long is the orangutan trek from Bukit Lawang?

The trek lasts 3 days with two nights camping in the jungle.

Is food included during the 3-day Sumatra jungle trek?

Yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided during the trek.

Do you need to be fit for this Bukit Lawang orangutan tour?

Yes, travelers should have a high level of physical fitness.

Are guides certified for this Gunung Leuser trekking tour?

Yes, guides are certified by Indonesia Tourist Guides Association (ITGA-HPI).

How does the return from the jungle work?

You return by tubing down the river (“jungle taxi”) back to your hotel in Bukit Lawang.

Are children allowed on this Sumatra orangutan trekking tour?

Infants must sit on an adult’s lap; not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal/cardiovascular issues.

What’s included

Your three days include all meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners), entry permits for Gunung Leuser park, strong coffee or tea each morning at camp, plus tubing downriver back to your hotel at journey’s end.