3-Day Bukit Lawang Jungle Trek: Orangutans & Gunung Leuser

A morning in the rainforest tracking orangutans, then a river descent by traditional raft

A 3-day tour from Medan to Bukit Lawang combines jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser National Park with stays in a deluxe bungalow, a full day of guided wildlife tracking, and a return journey with time for Medan's cultural sites. Licensed local guides (ITGA-HPI certified) lead the trek. 10% of tour profits support village schools and conservation projects. The trek runs 6–7 hours with lunch included, and you return to the village by traditional tube rafting down the Bohorok River.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Bukit Lawang and explore

• Pick-up from Medan Kuala Namu airport
• Travel to Bukit Lawang (3-4 hours)
• Explore village or visit bat cave
• Relax at guesthouse

Day 2: Ethical jungle trekking

• Breakfast at guesthouse
• Meet guide at 8:30am
• Trek in Gunung Leuser National Park
• Learn about wildlife and plants
• Lunch in the jungle
• Continue trekking to see more wildlife
• Relax and swim at Bohorok river
• Return by traditional rafting boat
• Arrive back at guesthouse

Day 3: Return to Medan with sightseeing

• Breakfast at guesthouse
• Travel back to Medan (3-4 hours)
• Visit Medan cultural highlights (time permitting)
• Drop-off at airport or accommodation

The experience

The tour starts with a 3–4 hour drive from Medan Kuala Namu airport in an air-conditioned vehicle, arriving in Bukit Lawang by midday. If your timing allows, you can visit the bat cave or settle into your guesthouse before evening. The village sits at the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, a reserve where Sumatran orangutans still live in the wild.

Day two is the core of the trek. Your guide collects you at 8:30am and you enter the jungle for 6–7 hours, moving through the rainforest in search of orangutans and other wildlife. The guide explains the trees, plants used in traditional medicine, and the animals you encounter: Thomas' leaf monkeys, white-handed gibbons, black gibbons, long-tailed macaques, hornbills, peacocks and monitor lizards. Lunch happens on the trail. Late afternoon you reach the Bohorok River, where you can swim and rest in the fresh water before boarding a traditional tube raft that carries you downstream back to the village and your guesthouse.

The final morning brings a 3–4 hour drive back to Medan. Time permitting, your driver will stop at one of the city's landmarks (Maimun Palace, the Great Mosque of Medan, Tjong A Fie's mansion, the Marian Shrine of Annai Velangkanni, or Maha Vihara Maitreya Cemara Asri) before dropping you at the airport or your accommodation.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport from Medan airport to Bukit Lawang and back.
• 2 nights in a deluxe bungalow with a choice of Orangutan Villa, Ecolodge Bukit Lawang, Garden Inn, Sams Bungalows or Wisma Leuser Sibayak.
• lunch during the jungle trek.
• a licensed English-speaking guide for the full 6–7 hour trek.
• and the traditional tube raft ride back down the Bohorok River to the village.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (7 to 70 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sumatra Orang Utan Treks

Is this one for you?Book this if you're prepared for a full day of walking and wading through rainforest with an 8:30am start and raft return in late afternoon. Skip it if you prefer shorter or drier outings.

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Top questions

What wildlife might I see on the jungle trek in Gunung Leuser?

Wild orangutans are the main draw, but the rainforest also holds Thomas' leaf monkeys, white-handed gibbons, black gibbons, long-tailed macaques, pig-tailed macaques, hornbills, peacocks and monitor lizards. Your guide will point out the trees and plants used in traditional medicine as you walk.

How long is the jungle trek and what happens during it?

The trek runs 6–7 hours on day two, starting at 8:30am from your guesthouse. You walk through Gunung Leuser National Park with your guide, stop for lunch on the trail, and return via traditional tube rafting down the Bohorok River in the late afternoon.

What's included in the 3-day tour price?

The tour includes 2 nights in a deluxe bungalow, all meals on the trekking day (lunch), air-conditioned transport from Medan airport to Bukit Lawang and back, and the guided jungle trek with a licensed local guide. The traditional raft ride back to the village is also included.

Who are the guides and what's their background?

Guides are licensed local people certified by ITGA-HPI (Indonesian Trekking Guides Association). They speak English and share deep knowledge of the rainforest, wildlife and local culture. The tour operator ensures profits support village schools and conservation work in the area.

How much time do I spend driving versus trekking?

Day one is a 3–4 hour drive from Medan airport to Bukit Lawang. Day two is the full jungle trek (6–7 hours on foot, plus the raft ride back). Day three is another 3–4 hour drive back to Medan with a cultural stop if time allows.

What's the physical demand of this trek?

The trek covers 6–7 hours of walking through rainforest terrain with a lunch break. You'll wade through streams, navigate uneven ground and climb some slopes. The pace is set by wildlife spotting rather than speed, and your guide adjusts to the group. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.