Gunung Leuser National Park is in North Sumatra covering 950,000 hectares, a fair portion of North Sumatra.
The Leuser Ecosystem lists over 382 species of birds, 105 species of mammals, 103 species of reptiles and 35 species of amphibians. The flora contains some 3500 plant species, and in one hectare you can find 130 different tree species.
It is believed to contain around 300 elephants, 60 tigers and 40 rhinos but the chances of seeing one of these is slim. There are also around 5000 orangutan as well as gibbons, the white breasted Thomas leaf monkey, the long and pig tailed macaques, the white handed gibbon and the cuddly black siamang. Also living in the park are clouded leopards, marbled cat, crocodile and sun bears and over 300 bird species including the rhinoceros hornbill and the helmeted hornbill. The Rafflesia arnoldi, largest flower in the world, can also be found within the park.
Trekking into Gunung Leuser can be arranged at 3 locations - Bukit Lawang and Kutacane/Ketembe and Tangkahan all listed on the map above.
Gunung in Indonesian means mountain. Gunung Leuser, at a height of 3404m, and Gunung Kemiri (3414m), Gunung Simpali (3270m) and Gunung Perkinson (2828m) are all found within this National Park.
All offers some great trekking opportunities. Trekking to the summit of Gunung Leuser can entail a 14 day return trip. Best place to trek from is Angusan which is close to Blanjkejeren.
Best place to trek to Gunung Kemiri is from Ketambe. A return trek is around 5 - 6 days. Trekking from Bukit Lawang is alot longer. A trek from Bukit Lawang to Ketambe can take 5 days.
Permits need to be arranged before entering the park. At both Bukit Lawang and Kutacane there is a PHPA office to arrange this.
Tangkahan, which has elephants and very few tourists. Guides there charge Rp.180,000 for guided jungle treks, though just seeing the elephants is very cheap (free if you know the right people), and rides on the elephants are negotiable. There is a nice hotel overlooking the river there which was going for Rp.50,000 per night in August 2005. Note, however, that fewer buses go to Tengkahan than Bukit Lawang, so conditions are rougher and longer. It is about 2 hours by motorbike to Tengkahan from Bukit Lawang over dirt roads, as there is no direct bus service between Tengkahan and Bukit Lawang, despite being closer together than either is to Medan. Rates for arranging guides to drive you by motorbike to Tengkahan from Bukit Lawang were Rp.220,000 for 3 motorbikes and 3 guides to drive the bikes there and take them back. A face mask and cheap sunglasses will help with dust. The rainy season can make sections of this route impassable.
Bukit Lawang, Sumatra - Indonesia
Bukit Lawang is one of the top destinations in Sumatra, Bukit Lawang is a small village on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park located in North Sumatra. Bukit Lawang means Gateway to the Hills. Bukit Lawang is famous for the Bohorok Rehabilitation Centre now known as the Orangutan Centre.
The Gunung Leuser National Park is home to Orangutan, Thomas Leaf monkeys, Black Gibbons, White Handed Gibbons, the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran elephants, clouded leopards, marbled cat, crocodile, sun bear and the Sumatran Rhinoceros.
Bukit Lawang is 68 km from Medan. A bus trip will take around 3 - 4 hours. The road from Binjai to Bukit Lawang is the worst it has been in 10 years. The good news is that in Dec 2008 they started extensive repairs to the road, resurfacing it in many places.
that have been released to the wild. They often come back for an easy feed. You will need to get a permit to enter the National Park. Ask in your hotel as they can arrange the permit, you can arrange it yourself at the PHPA office at the beginning of Bukit Lawang or you can pay for your permit when you cross the river at the Orangutan Centre. Permit costs 20,000Rp.
Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking
The best way to experience the jungle is to go trekking. You can arrange 3 hours trekking, 6 hours or 1, 2, 3 days or more with the chance of spotting various wildlife as well as some beautiful spots like waterfalls and swimming holes.
The guides in Bukit Lawang need to be certified with the local PHPA office and need to renew their license each year. The guides will generally find you as they are always hunting tourists. Many of the current trekking guides have come from other areas of Sumatra and learned to be guides. If you are looking for an authentic trekking guide who grew up in Bukit Lawang then go to Indra Inn, close to Garden Inn and Jungle Inn. Ask for Iwan also affectionately know as Obiwan. Iwan's grandfather and father were some of the original trekkers to take scientists and then tourists into the jungle so his knowledge was passed down from them. I personally knew Iwan's father and brother, both called Indra and have been trekking with Iwan and totally trust him. He generally cares for the jungle and has a good understanding of the plants and animals that live there.
Cost for trekking is 65 Euros per night per person. This includes your food and coming back via tubing down the river. You can arrange for a half day trek, up to 4 hours for 20 Euros per person or a 6 hour trek for 35 Euros per person.
We now have package tours available for trips to Bukit Lawang from Medan. For more details on the tours check out our Bukit Lawang Tours page.
The guides have various campsites setup throughout the jungle, generally next to the river. Usually with small covered shelters which protect from rain during the night.
A short walk from Bukit Lawang is a bat cave. Cross the suspension bridge to Eco-Lodge Hotel and then turn left. Follow the trail for a pleasant 15 minute walk past corn fields and there is a small sign pointing you to the bat cave. Admission fee to enter the cave is 5000Rp.
Tubing can be easily arranged along the Bohorok river as many of the hotels hire out inflated truck inner tube tires. Be warned that many people have encountered problems. The river runs quite fast along the village and the river can rise very quickly when it has been raining.
Indonesian Cooking Classes
If you are interested in learning to cook some Indonesian dishes, Nora at Rainforest Guesthouses holds cooking classes for 100,000Rp. The classes will teach you how to prepare a 3 course meal, entry, main and desert. A selection of dishes are available for you to select.
there), raft, safety equipment, rafting guides and lunch. If you would like to pre-book one of these trips before you arrive please click here. contact us
Internet, ATM and money exchange in Bukit Lawang
There currently is no internet access in Bukit Lawang. There was one internet cafe operating though closed for business in 2008.
There are no telephone offices like Wartel in Bukit Lawang. The closest of these services is in Bohorok, 10km away. There are no ATMs, bank services or money transfer offices like Western Union. Again the closest of these are Bohorok 10km away or Binjai - over 2 hours by bus. Some money changers have started appearing again in Bukit Lawang although the exchange rate will be lower than you can get in the larger cities like Medan. Sam's Bungalows do money exchange.
How to get to Bukit Lawang
There are tourist buses leaving from most towns in North Sumatra to Bukit Lawang. In Medan you have the option of catching a local bus, very large, slow and crowded but very cheap, 10,000Rp. It will take 3.5 to 4 hours in the local bus as it also stops many times along the way to drop and pick up locals. You will need to get a becak or taxi to the bus depot in Medan - Pinang Baris. It will cost around 35,000Rp for a becak. A taxi will cost aroun 70,000 - 80,000Rp from the centre of Medan to get to Pinang Baris Bus Terminal.
You can also take a mini-bus from Pinang Baris for 12,000Rp. The mini-buses take around 3 hours to get to Bukit Lawang as they do not stop as many times along the way. The mini-buses do not leave from the main bus terminal. Travel down the road that runs past the bus terminal a few hundred meters and your will find the mini-buses outside the large pastry store (you can't miss it).
Private Transport from Medan to Bukit Lawang
If you would like a car to collect you from your hotel in Medan or from the airport and be taken to Bukit Lawang click here to contact us. Price is 600,000Rp (around 49 Euros) for up to 4 people. This is a quicker, safer trip of under 3 hours from your hotel or the airport. The vehicle used is a new air-conditioned Ford Everest SUV.
Read the comments from people who have used this serviceContact us if you have a larger group and a price can be quoted for a larger vehicle.
Accommodation in Bukit Lawang
Local people from Medan flood into Bukit Lawang on weekends, starting Friday night so accommodation may be more difficult to find but generally there are still rooms available.
List of Hotels and guesthouses in Bukit Lawang
Following is a list of accommodation (hotels and guesthouses) in Bukit Lawang including room rates, contact details and hotel reviews from other travelers.
Sam's Bungalows (6 reviews) has 3 rooms. Located right at the top end of Bukit Lawang close to the Orangutan centre. Prices are 80,000Rp, 150,000Rp and 180,000Rp. For pictures and contact details click here.
Jungle Inn (5 reviews) has 9 rooms all with different jungle designs ranging from 70,000Rp - 450,000Rp per night. Prices may go up during the high season (June - August) For pictures and contact details click here.
Eco-Lodge (5 reviews) is one of the best places to stay in Bukit Lawang with 34 rooms with 5 different styles including their brand new Orangutan rooms. From 155,000Rp - 300,000Rp per night. For pictures and contact details click here.
Indra Valley Inn and Restaurant (3 reviews) has 2 bungalows and 2 standard rooms. Located at the top end of Bukit Lawang. Prices from 50,000Rp. For prices and contact details click here.
Garden Inn and Restaurant (1 review) has 7 rooms and one house with rooms between 35,000Rp - 50,000Rp and the house for 200,000Rp per night. For pictures and contact details click here.
Rainforest Guesthouse, (3 reviews) run by the fabulous Nora Rainforest Guesthouse is located just next to the camping ground and opened in April 2008. Room prices from 40,000 For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Nora's Homestay (1 review) also run by the fabulous Nora, is located off the main road running into Bukit Lawang. Prices start from 30,000Rp per night. For pictures and contact details click here.
Wisma Leuser Sibayak prices starting from 35,000Rp. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Rindu Alam Hotel is located right at the bottom end of Bukit Lawang as you first enter the village. They have 40 standard rooms and 4 family rooms. Room prices start from 250,000Rp. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Yusman Guest House is located on the other side of the river via the large suspension bridge. Prices start from 25,000Rp. For pictures and prices click here.
Bukit Lawang Indah Hotel (4 reviews) is right next door to Yusman Guest House. Prices start from 30,000Rp. For pictures and prices click here.
Tangkahan - Sumatra
Cities in Sumatra Indonesia
Tangkahan is a small village on the border of Gunung Leuser National Park located in North Sumatra. It is situated at the junction of 2 rivers, the Buluh River and the Batang River. Tangkahan specialises in eco-tourism activities like jungle trekking and Elephant trekking.
There are 7 trained elephants at Tangkahan which are available for jungle trekking though their primary role is to patrol and protect the National Park from illegal activities like animal poaching and illegal logging. These elephants were original troublesome elephants that were involved in destroying fields and houses in surrounding villages. Now they serve to protect not only the villages but other elephants in the wild.
When you arrive at Tangkahan you need to pay 2000Rp at the Visitors Centre to go down to the river. Then to cross the river it is 10,000Rp per person for 3 days, you can cross as many times as you like.
Elephant camp
The Elephant camp is a 15 - 20 minute walk up river from the visitors centre in Tangkahan. They bathe the elephants everyday at 9am and 4pm. You'll need to purchase a ticket at the visitors centre for 20,000Rp per person before you go to the elephant camp.
There are various options for experience trekking in the jungle on the back of an elephant. There is a minimum of a 1 hour trek up to a 4 day trek through the Gunung Leuser National Park to Bukit Lawang.
Trekking to Bukit Lawang is possible and will take 4 days. For more photos and video of the elephant washing check out www.hellomistertravel.com.
Prices:
1 hour trek 160,000Rp per person
2 hour trek 300,000Rp per person
3 hour trek 420,000Rp per person
For more information and prices for longer tracks contact the Elephant Jungle Patrol via their website www.elephantjunglepatrol.com.
For more information about how you can help save the Asian elephants check out the Elephant Family webpage. They are raising funds to help elephants all over Asia and Sumatra Indonesia. They currently have a veterinarian onsite in Medan, Sumatra who is helping to ensure the health of elephants all over Sumatra.
Hot spring
Just across from the Jungle Lodge is a small cave with a hot spring pouring hot water into the river. There is a large log tied up at the river bank which allows you to lay back and enjoy the mixture of the hot spring waters and cold water flowing down the river.
Waterfall
Just before the Buluh River meets the Batang River there is a small waterfall. You have to walk up a small creek about 100 meters to reach the waterfall. Great for sitting under to get a jungle massage!
There is also another larger waterfall about an hours trek up the Buluh River. Most of the way you need to walk in the river as there are no jungle trails and some sections you need to swim up river.
There are 2 ways you can get to Tangkahan. From Medan there are only 2 buses a day leaving from Pinang Baris Bus Terminal, leaving at 10am and 1pm and taking around 4.5 - 5 hours (longer if raining). The cost is 15,000Rp per person.
Buses leave Tangkahan at 7.30am and 2.30pm to go back to Medan.
You can also get to Tangkahan from Bukit Lawang either on the back of a motorbike, a very bumpy 3 hour trip or hire a 4WD to take you. Prices for a 4WD can be up to 1,000,000Rp (US$83) for a one way trip.
Accommodation in Tangkahan
List of Hotels and guesthouses in Tangkahan
Jungle Lodge (6 reviews) is probably the nicest place to stay. Located 10 minutes walk from the river crossing. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Mega Inn (5 reviews) located right at the river crossing. Prices from 50,000Rp - 85,000Rp per night. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Green Lodge is located right at the elephant camp. Prices start are 85,000Rp per night. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
Bamboo River Hotel (1 review) located right next door to Mega Inn. Price is 100,000Rp per night. For pictures, prices and contact details click here.
More information about Tangkahan
Recently a lot more information is being released on the internet about Tangkahan. Here are some of the better websites for more information about Tangkahan as well as organised travel there:
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