Gunung Leuser NP is open!
Gunung Leuser National Park is open
As there has been some confusion online regarding a temporary closure in Aceh, we would like to highlight the important distinction here: Bukit Lawang and Gunung Leuser National Park remain open. Orangutan trekking in Bukit Lawang is still possible. The temporary restrictions currently in place due to forest fires affect areas around Banda Aceh – not Bukit Lawang.
Ethical jungle trekking in the Gunung Leuser Nationalpark
Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang on Sumatra are a truly once in a life time experience. With a little luck you might encounter orang utans in their natural habitat, as well as snakes, monitor lizards, gibbons or tucans. We offer various treks for all fitness levels. Starting from an introductory 3 hour trek to a more advanced 3 day trek with overnight stay in the jungle.
We are a small agency that focuses on supporting the local community. We have a team of dedicated guides who take care of the jungle and therefore do not touch, feed or call wild animals. They also collect rubbish from the jungle during the trek. Our treks are as ethical as possible and we continue to work on getting better.
Read our Code of Conduct for jungle treks in Bukit Lawang.
Our promise
- Ethical Trekking
- No Feeding
- No Touching
- No Calling
- Keep distance to animals
- Collect rubbish
- Small Groups (max. 6 people)
- Licenced Guides
- Highest salary for our guides
- Official prices by HPI
Spend a day in the jungle. The trek includes 6-7 hours of trekking, meals (lunch, fruit) and tubing back to Bukit Lawang. Here you have a higher chance on seeing orang utans.
Spend a day in the jungle. The trek includes 6-7 hours of trekking, meals (lunch, fruit) and tubing back to Bukit Lawang. Here you have a higher chance on seeing orang utans.
Our popular 2 Days/1 Night trek is ideal if you want to spend a night in the jungle. The trek includes English speaking guide, meals, entrance permit, all equipment, tubing.
Go deeper into the jungle, increasing your chances of spoting orang utans and other wildlife. Camp next to the river, fall asleep to the jungle sounds and swim in waterfalls.
Four days deep in the rainforest of Sumatra: you hike through one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, spend the nights in simple riverside jungle camps, and experience the rainforest with all its sounds, scents, and encounters
Five days deep in the untouched rainforest of Sumatra: this trek is perfect for those who want to experience the jungle in its full intensity. You will venture off the usual paths, discover rare wildlife, and fully immerse yourself in one of the oldest ecosystems on Earth.
A personal note from Christine
"Guests want to make sure that their money actually goes to the locals. I can assure you: All income from our jungle treks go directly to our local team in Bukit Lawang. The guides, cooks and porters are paid for their work directly on site. As the managing director of Discover Sumatra, I do not earn anything from the trekking fees. For me, the priority is that the people who work in and around the rainforest every day can make a living from their work and are paid fairly. That is my understanding of sustainable and responsible tourism."
Waterfilter in the camp
We offer filtered drinking water to our guests, thereby reducing the number of plastic bottles used on our jungle treks. We use the Waterdrop water filter at the camp, which removes 99% of all harmful substances from the water. The high-quality coconut shell activated carbon fibres improve the smell and taste, ensure water safety and make drinking more enjoyable.
Read our comprehensive guide about jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang incl. itinerary, prices and guides.
Why book your jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang with us
Great Guides
Experienced tour guides all born in Bukit Lawang. They are all licenced by the ITGA-HPI, the Indonesian Tourist Guides Association.
Low impact
We try to minimise our impact on the environment; our guides collect rubbish in the jungle and we use Waterdrop water filters.
Wildlife
See orangutans, monitor lizards, snakes and other wildlife on one of our junge treks in Bukit Lawang.
Small groups
Our treks take place in small groups of no more than 6 people.
Ethical conduct
We are committed to protecting Gunung Leuser National Park and adhere to strict ethical principles.
Hazzle free
On request we can also organise airport pickup or accommodation before and after the trek
Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang
For questions and bookings please contact us
Frequently asked questions about jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang
When is the best season to visit Sumatra?
Sumatra can be enjoyed all year round, but our high season is from May through to September. November until February is considered the wet season and while we still trek during this time, there is a higher chance of rain.
How much is the trekking?
The prices can be found here.
Where do the treks start?
Our jungle treks take place in Gunung Leuser National Park and we start in the small village of Bukit Lawang on the edge of the national park. The treks start at 9am and we will pick you up from your accommodation in Bukit Lawang.
Am I allowed to give the orangutans food or cuddle them?
No. We respect the orangutans and their habitat. Orangutans raised in the wild are typically shy and territorial, so we try to observe them without disturbing their natural way of life.
Do I need hiking boots? And what should I wear?
Hiking boots are not essentially necessary, you can also use trainers with a good sole. If you want we can also provide you with the local shoes all the guides are wearing. Regarding the cloths comfyness is most important. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. You don’t need to wear long clothes, as there are next to no leeches or dangerous plants.
What is included in the trek?
- We provide you with food throughout the day.
- Bedding per person (if you stay overnight)
- First aid if necessary
- Pickup from your accommodation in Bukit Lawang
- The chance to see orangutans in the wild
- Lots of laughs, learning and memories!
- English speaking guide and own chef (the latte only when staying overnight)
- Admission fee and park entrance permit.
- Filtered water, tea and coffee in the camp (if you stay overnight)
- Tubing back to Bukit Lawang (except 3h trek)
Where do we sleep in the jungle?
You spend the night in a simple, half-open shelter that offers you a protected place to sleep in the heart of the jungle. Large plastic tarpaulins protect you from the rain. The ‘beds’ consist of mattresses about 5 cm thick that lie on the ground and are covered by a mosquito net to keep insects at bay. A blanket is also provided for the cooler hours of the night. Read all about the overnight stay in the jungle camp in Bukit Lawang here.
How can I book?
If you would like to book a trek, please fill out the form below and we will be in touch shortly.
Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang
Have you ever wanted to go on a jungle tour? Maybe see orangutans in their natural habitat? Observe exotic species of snakes, gibbons and toucans? Then we recommend jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang in Sumatra.
We specialise in package tours and treks in Bukit Lawang and North Sumatra, especially in the region around Gunung Leuser National Park. We also offer our jungle tours in this area.
We offer four types of tours to give you the unique experience of jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang.
3 hour trek
The 3 hour trek in the jungle of the Gunung Leuser National Park is ideal as a “beginner’s tour”. Also ideal for families with small children. We start from our base camp in Bukit Lawang and cross rubber and cocoa plantations to the entrance of the national park. From here we explore the jungle with its animals, flora and fauna. We will show you plants that are used for traditional medicine. We do not give any guarantee, but maybe you will see orangutans, gibbons, tucans or turtles. The whole jungle tour lasts 3 hours and ends in Bukit Lawang. The 3h jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang includes entrance to the National Park, an English speaking guide and fruit we will provide you with throughout the tour.
1 day trek
If you want to do an extended tour, a 1 day jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang is a good idea. You will be picked up from your accommodation in Bukit Lawang and also we will go through the cocoa and rubber plantations to the entrance of the national park. The entire hike – including breaks – takes between 6 and 7 hours. After you have explored the flora and fauna in the morning, we will spoil you with a local vegetarian lunch. The tour will continue until the campground near the river Bohorok is reached in the afternoon. There you can cool off and relax in the cool water. You can then decide for yourself whether to return to our base camp or end the day with tubing downstream. The 1 day trek includes entrance to the national park, an English speaking guide, lunch, fruits and tubing.
2 day trek
We also offer the 2 day trekking in the Gunung Leuser National Park, which is very popular with our customers. In the morning we will explore the jungle with lunch until we finally reach the campsite near the river in the afternoon, where you can rest and relax while our cook prepares an Indonesian dinner. Afterwards we will end the evening together by candlelight before you sleep in the semi-open shelter with the sounds of the jungle and the river. The next morning we leave the campsite after breakfast and either continue the jungle adventure or hike to the waterfall where you can swim or relax. After lunch we return along the river to Bukit Lawang. Entrance to the National Park, English speaking guide, meals, equipment (pillow, mattress, blanket, mosquito net) and tubing are included.
3 day trek
The most intensive jungle trekking in Sumatra is the 3 day jungle trek in Bukit Lawang, which starts again at your accommodation and takes us to the campsite where we will stay overnight. The next morning the hike continues through the jungle, where we try to see wild animals and orangutas and learn more about them. After lunch we hike to the next campsite where we will spend the rest of the day and night. The last morning of the jungle adventure can be spent in the camp or at the waterfall. After lunch we start our way back along the river. This trek includes the same services as the 2-day trek.
The 3 hour and 1 day trek can be done from 1 person with 1 guide. So perfect fo solo travelers. Our 2 and 3 day treks are designed for a minimum of 2 people per tour. If you are travelling solo, please contact us in advance. As we have a good network of guides and tour operators, we are sure to find the perfect jungle trekking for you.
Get inspired, browse our tours, or contact us directly – we look forward to creating your tailor-made dream trip to Sumatra.
We started as a tour operator not only because we love the island and the nature, but also to connect and help the locals. We work with a selected bunch of locals for trekking, transport an guiding and also help local NGOs. More about us
About Sumatra
About Us
Contact Info
For questions and booking please contact us.
Proudly support
This website contains affiliate links.
Imprint | Data Privacy | Terms
