Trekking through the jungle to see orangutans in their natural environment is an exciting, unique and wonderful experience. There are only two places in the world where you can observe wild orangutans in the jungle: Bukit Lawang in Sumatra and the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Sadly the popularity of this experience means that there is a lot of unethical / non eco-friendly companies offering these tours, and choosing an ethical jungle trekking company that looks after the jungle and the orangutans isn’t always easy. Our guide will help you choose an ethical tour company to make sure you are protecting these incredible animals when you visit.
One of the main destinations for spotting orangutans in Sumatra is Bukit Lawang, located within Gunung Leuser National Park. Trekking through the jungle of Bukit Lawang offers an extraordinary adventure, allowing you to observe these fascinating and majestic creatures up close, along with other incredible species such as the long-armed Gibbons and the Hornbill birds with their curious yellow beaks. Immersing yourself in the biodiversity of this ancient rainforest is a unique opportunity to connect deeply with nature.
If you would like to learn more about how to embark on an ethical jungle trek to see the orangutans in Bukit Lawang, the costs and what to expect from this magnificent experience, continue reading our article below!
Getting to Bukit Lawang
From Medan
Medan is the main gateway to the region and serves as a base for exploring Gunung Leuser National Park. If you land at Medan Airport, which is about 90 km from Bukit Lawang, the first step is to find transport to the city. You can conveniently call a taxi or a Grab that will take you to your hotel in the centre for about 200/250 Indonesian rupiah (about 10-15 euros).
Transfer from Medan to Bukit Lawang
To get to Bukit Lawang from Medan you have two options:
- Private transport: The most convenient and quickest way to get to Bukit Lawang is to book a taxi (or Grab) from Medan center. The journey takes about 3-4 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. We booked a Grab from our hotel, and between 3 of us we spent the equivalent of about 6 euros each to get to our accommodation in Bukit Lawang.
- Public bus: For a cheaper option, you can take a bus or minivan. To take the bus, you need to go to Pinang Baris station, which is about 45 minutes from the city centre. From Pinang Baris, buses and minivans leave for Bukit Lawang, even if information online is very scarse. This option takes a little longer, four to five hours, and is less comfortable, but offers a more authentic and local experience.
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The different jungle trek tour options
In Bukit Lawang, there are several jungle trekking options to choose from, varying in duration and degree of immersion in the experience. The main types include:
- One-day trekking: This is the shortest option and lasts between 3 to 6 hours. It is perfect for those who want a quick experience while still having the chance to spot orangutans and other animal species.
- Two-day overnight trek: This tour gives you a more immersive adventure, with a night spent in a jungle camp and return by tubing down the river.
- Three-day or longer treks: These extended treks are perfect for the more adventurous and allow you to explore more remote areas of the jungle, where the chances of spotting wildlife are greater. These tours offer a deep connection with the natural environment and a true forest survival experience.
We personally chose the one-night jungle tour. The latter allowed us to have a more immersive and adventurous experience in the jungle than the one-day trek, but without getting too tired (the conditions in the jungle are harsh!).
What to expect from the overnight jungle tour
Day 1
After breakfast and a brief introduction with the guide, the trek usually starts around 9am with a hike through nature trails. You will find giant trees and immediately spot orangutans, and a variety of other animals such as macaques, gibbons, toucans and colourful butterflies. During the walk, your guide will give you valuable information about the flora and fauna of the jungle, explaining the importance of the ecosystem and how orangutans interact with it. You will arrive back at the campsite around 4pm, ready to take a refreshing and well-deserved shower in the river! On this 7-hour walk, there will be many stops and moments to eat, drink, and rest.
The trek is of medium difficulty: there will be many ups and downs, which due to the conditions in the jungle may not be easy. The humidity may make the climbs a little more tiring, and the mud on the ground may make the descents a little slippery and dangerous, especially during the rainy season.
In the evening, you will spend the night at a base camp in the heart of the jungle. Don’t expect luxury! The camps are usually very spartan, with tents or simple wooden or bamboo shelters. We slept on a sheet mattress facing the river, with the sound of flowing water and chirping insects as a soundtrack.
Dinner and breakfast are prepared by the guide, using local ingredients and cooked over an open fire; we had a very good, hearty dinner of rice, tempeh and tofu, eggs, vegetable curry, and for meat eaters, fried chicken.
Second day
The second day starts slowly, with breakfast at a flexible time between 8 and 9am, and departure at 10am (we were quite lazy, other groups left before us). On the second day there will generally be less elevation gain to cover, so it is a little easier. You will arrive at the rafting return point around 1 or 2pm.
The tour will end with a fun ‘tubing’ descent, i.e. rafting in a large raft with ropes that are tied tightly to act as seats. This was definitely one of the parts where we had the most fun!
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Where to Stay in Bukit Lawang: Responsibility and Sustainability
When planning your stay in Bukit Lawang, it is essential to opt for facilities that support nature conservation. Several eco lodges and hostels in the area actively collaborate with projects aimed at preserving the Gunung Leuser National Park and the Sumatran orangutans, allocating part of their profits to animal protection and reforestation of the area.
Hotels in Bukit Lawang View all
In any case, wherever you decide to stay, the important thing is to choose a responsible tour operator to undertake the jungle trek to see the orangutans. Below are criteria to help you understand how to choose responsibly!
Sustainable trekking in the jungle
Trekking to see orangutans in Bukit Lawang in an ethical manner depends on several factors. It is important to choose a tour that allocates part of the revenue to orangutan protection and forest reforestation. Ecotourism can help the local community economically, creating an incentive to preserve the environment instead of destroying it for harmful activities such as deforestation or illegal hunting. It is also crucial that tour operators observe strict rules of behaviour to ensure that orangutans are not disturbed or exposed to danger.
These are the basic rules to protect the health and welfare of the orangutans and the rest of the local wildlife:
- Do not touch or feed the animals: Orangutans can contract human diseases, such as colds or flu, which can be fatal for them. Feeding them also alters their natural behaviour.
- Keep your distance: Always keep a distance of at least 10 metres from orangutans so as not to disturb them.
- Leave no trace: Take all your rubbish with you and do not alter the natural environment.
- Avoid excessive noise: Maintain quiet and respectful behaviour so as not to disturb the wildlife.
- Do not use flash photography: The flash could frighten or disturb the animals.
- Do not visit the park if you are sick: If you have cold or flu symptoms, it is best to postpone the trek to avoid endangering the orangutans.
- Evaluate facilities to avoid ‘greenwashing’: Before booking, it is useful to take a look at reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor or Booking, to find out if the facility really practices sustainable policies or if it is just ‘greenwashing’.
The cost for an overnight jungle experience that meets these criteria is around 120 EUR / 150 USD / 110 GBP.
Our personal experience with an ethical trekking company
We decided to book our trek with the organisation SUMECO (Sumatra Ecoproject). We chose this organisation because they are actively involved in the preservation of the biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park, working for the conservation of wildlife. Their main effort is the rescue of animals, often kept illegally in captivity or as pets. The profits generated from ecotourism go to support this important mission.
Upon our arrival in Bukit Lawang, SUMECO workers picked us up and took us on a motorbike to their beautiful accommodation, Bukit Lawang Hill Resort, on the hill overlooking the jungle. Immediately the owner explained SUMECO’s mission to us, showing us pictures of the rescued animals and explaining the complexity of the issue in a country like Indonesia, where corruption is still a big problem. It was good to receive an educational experience, rather than just promoting a profit-oriented ‘safari’. More responsible operators should offer this kind of knowledge!
Positive aspects
Our guides were invaluable in sharing so much information about the forest, and showed great respect for the environment, leaving no waste behind. They also behaved responsibly with the animals, avoiding luring them with food. In fact, during meals, they asked us to step back to prevent the orangutans from getting too close. The food we were offered was delicious, packed in leaves and biodegradable materials. Thanks to them, we spotted many orangutans and other fascinating species, such as Gibbons and the rare yellow Hornbill.
Negative aspects
Our first impression in the jungle was not the bes;: we quickly realised that we were far from alone. All the guesthouses offered the same route to their clients, and the jungle immediately seemed rather crowded.
Almost immediately we spotted orangutans, an exciting moment, but unfortunately ruined by the sight of dozens of people crowded under the trees, talking loudly and making noises to attract the animals’ attention, with little respect for the natural environment. The biggest disappointment was seeing the guides, gathered at the side of the jungle, smoking and chatting amongst themselves, without bothering to keep quiet or to manage the tourists.
As the hours passed, however, the experience improved. Some of the day’s trekking groups had already returned to their accommodations, and we were able to observe beautiful monkeys and birds in peace, although we still found ourselves at some common meeting points with other groups.
So can trekking be truly ethical in Bukit Lawang?
The idea we got is that by choosing organisations that donate the proceeds of ecotourism to nature conservation projects, trekking can be considered ethical. If you set out with the knowledge that you are not alone, the experience can still be very rewarding. Furthermore, the route offered in the jungle is relatively short and bordered by guesthouses, and we felt that the overall impact on the environment was not excessive. The only aspect we would have liked to have seen improved is more attention from the guides in keeping their tone of voice low and respectful, considering the beauty of the natural setting we were in.
Best time for trekking
✅ The dry season, which runs from May to mid-September, is the best time to visit Bukit Lawang. During these months, the weather is generally more stable and the rains less frequent, making jungle trekking safer and more enjoyable. We trekked in early September, and the rainy season had already partially begun, with daily thunderstorms starting at 4pm. Apart from some sections of the trail being a bit slippery, the trekking experience was not impacted by the rains. However, it was not possible for us to dine outdoors by the river because of the heavy rain that continued throughout the night.
❌ The rainy season, which runs from October to April, is the least suitable time for jungle trekking. November and December tend to be the wettest months, with frequent and heavy rains, often in the form of tropical thunderstorms. However, our guide told us that it is possible to trek into the jungle even during this period, but one must be prepared for muddy and slippery paths, which make trekking more challenging.
What to prepare for trekking
There is a high level of humidity in the jungle. The terrain can be muddy and slippery, and depending on the time of year, there may be the possibility of rain.
For these reasons, it is essential to arrive with adequate equipment.
Our trekking packing list:
- Rain jacket. In the jungle, due to the tropical climate, it can start raining at any time. Better safe than sorry!
- Technical clothing. It is best to prefer technical, breathable and possibly merino shirts. These materials tend to dry more easily and will help you to have dry things on for when you stop.
- Clean clothes for the next day. Overnight clothes are unlikely to dry due to the high humidity in the jungle, so consider bringing a change of clothes for the next day!
- Ankle-length socks for leeches. Although we didn’t see many of them, it’s best to have tall footwear to protect your skin from leeches or plants that may irritate your skin.
- Suitable water-repellent hiking shoes. You’ll have to cross rivers and mud in several places, so to avoid slipping and wet feet, bring high, water-repellent shoes.
- Small trekking backpack. The guides will bring food for you, so just bring a small comfortable backpack with a change of clothes for the next day and plenty of water.
- Energy drinks / Isotonic sports drinks. To replenish salts lost through sweating, it may be a good idea to add mineral salts to your water or buy some energy drinks. Snacks and fruit will be offered repeatedly during the trek.
- Mosquito repellent. Mosquitoes are present in the jungle. Take the repellent with you and spray it every 2 hours.
- Medicines to decongest the nose. If you are prone to colds, consider bringing some medicine or tissues that can help you against the dampness.
Conclusions
In conclusion, trekking in the Bukit Lawang jungle offers an amazing opportunity to observe orangutans and other fascinating creatures in their natural environment. Sleeping in the heart of the rainforest, surrounded by the sounds of nature, is an experience that will remain etched in your memory. However, it is essential to undertake this adventure responsibly and ethically, choosing operators who respect the environment and contribute to wildlife conservation. With the right preparation and a conscious mindset, you will enjoy an unforgettable adventure in the heart of one of the world’s last great rainforests.
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