Bukit Lawang Trekking Tour: Orangutans & Jungle Wildlife

A day in the jungle without staying overnight: search for orangutans on foot, then float the river back.

A private, guided full-day trek from Medan to Bukit Lawang, a small village at the edge of the national park, where you walk through the jungle with an experienced guide looking for orangutans, monkeys and gibbons while learning about medicinal plants. Hotel pickup in Medan is included, as is lunch in the jungle and the option to tube raft back downriver instead of walking. You return to your hotel the same evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bukit Lawang jungle trekking tour

• Pick up from Medan hotel at 7am
• Drive 4 hours to Bukit Lawang
• Meet professional tour guide at park
• Trek jungle searching for orangutans
• Learn about medicinal plants
• Take lunch break in jungle
• Continue trekking after lunch
• Option to tube raft back to Bukit Lawang
• Return drive to Medan hotel

The experience

Your driver picks you up at 7am from your hotel in central Medan and drives four hours through scenic terrain to reach Bukit Lawang. Once there, a professional guide who speaks English meets you at the national park entrance and leads you into the jungle. The trek itself is the day: you walk through forest looking for orangutans, monkeys and gibbons, stopping to learn about medicinal plants the guide points out and how locals use them. The terrain is hilly with plenty of climbing, so the physical work is real.

Around midday you break for lunch in the jungle: local food, fresh fruit and water provided. After eating, the trek continues. If your legs are spent by the end, you can skip the walk back and instead tube raft down the river to Bukit Lawang, floating past the landscape you just crossed on foot. Either way, your driver returns you to your hotel in central Medan by evening.

The guide speaks English and is trained to spot wildlife and explain the forest. The driver does not speak English but handles only the driving. You'll need good walking shoes, insect repellent, a waterproof bag, a hat, sun cream and a camera: the additional info section lists everything worth bringing. The operator can also arrange a night's accommodation in Bukit Lawang for an extra cash payment if you want to stay.

What’s included

• Licensed tour guide who speaks English.
• hotel pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• lunch in the jungle.
• fresh fruit and water during the trek.
• tube rafting back downriver if you prefer not to walk.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Demanding physical level

Operated by MAM Holidays Indonesia

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to search for orangutans and explore the jungle in a single day without staying overnight in the forest. The full-day format and the guide's experience give you real time to spot wildlife and learn about the plants, but the terrain is steep and the walking is sustained. Come ready for a physical day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What wildlife might I actually see on the trek to Bukit Lawang?

Orangutans, monkeys and gibbons live in the jungle around Bukit Lawang, and the guide knows where to look for them. Spotting is never guaranteed on any single trek, but the guide's experience and the full day in the forest give you a real chance. You'll also learn about the medicinal plants growing there and how they're used locally.

How hard is the trekking, and what if I get too tired to walk back?

The trek involves a lot of uphill and downhill walking, so a high level of physical fitness helps. If you're exhausted by the end of the day, you can tube raft down the river back to Bukit Lawang instead of walking, floating the return journey while your body rests.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes the guide, hotel pickup and return transport by air-conditioned vehicle, lunch in the jungle, fruit and water during the trek, and tube rafting back if you choose it. Bring good walking shoes, insect repellent, a waterproof bag, a travel towel, a water bottle, a hat, a waterproof jacket, a change of clothes, sun cream and a camera.

How long is the drive from Medan to Bukit Lawang, and when do I get back?

The drive is four hours each way. You're picked up at 7am, reach Bukit Lawang mid-morning, trek and rest through the afternoon, and return to your hotel in central Medan by evening the same day.

Does the guide speak English?

Yes, the tour guide speaks English and leads the trek, explaining the wildlife and plants. Your driver does not speak English but is only responsible for transport.