Sumatra Wild Escape: Explore the Wild Beauty of Bukit Lawang

A quiet village on the edge of the wild

Bukit Lawang isn't a place with a long checklist of attractions. It's a small, peaceful village beside a fast mountain river, about four hours from Medan, sitting right on the boundary of Gunung Leuser National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site.

That location is the whole point: step out of the village and you're in one of the most biodiverse rainforests on the planet.

The wildlife

The star is the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), critically endangered and found only on this island. But the forest is alive with far more — white-handed gibbons calling at dawn, Thomas leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, hornbills and, if you're lucky, the occasional monitor lizard along the riverbank.

Ways to explore

Trekking is the main event, from a gentle three-hour walk to a five-day observation trek. But there's more to Bukit Lawang than the trails:

• River tubing and swimming on the clear Bohorok
• A jungle kayak day on the Bohorok or Landak river
• The Bat Cave and its rock formations
• Village life by bicycle or becak (tuk-tuk)

Travel responsibly

We're a locally-owned team of licensed guides who grew up here. Keeping groups small and treading lightly means better experiences for you and a healthier forest for the orangutans. Message us any time to plan your trip — book now, pay later.