ETHICAL TREKKING PIONEER IN BUKIT LAWANG
HOW TO GET TO BUKIT LAWANG
First you have to get in Sumatra as Bukit Lawang is located in North Sumatra, about 3 to 5 hours from Medan & Kualanamu airport (depending on the traffic). The best airports from which to get here are Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta. From there take a short flight to Kualanamu airport (around 1 hour). We recommend Air Asia which offers very good flight deals ! Then there are 3 transportation options to go to Bukit Lawang according to your budget, time & comfort: private car, tourist bus or public bus.
If you are doing a roundtrip in Sumatra you can also come to Bukit Lawang from Berastagi and/or Lake Toba by tourist bus (shared car).
Once you are in North Sumatra, you have to reach to small village of Bukit Lawang,
at the entrance of the Gunung Leuser National Park!
It takes approximately 3 to 5 hours from the Kualanamu airport to Bukit Lawang depending on traffic
but also on the time and the day at which you travel. If you book mid-day, early flight
or late flights, it will only takes about 3 hours by private car to go to Bukit Lawang!
If you are coming from Medan city / Kualanamu airport there are two means of transportation to go to Bukit Lawang : you can either take the cheap public bus or book a private car with us!
If you are doing a roundtrip in Sumatra, you can come from Berastagi (5 hours) and Lake Toba (7 hours) to Bukit Lawang but also go from Bukit Lawang to Berastagi and Lake Toba but also Singkil or Banda Aceh by private car or tourist bus (shared minivan).
Once in Bukit Lawang, wheter you arrive at the Gotong Royong bus station or are dropped off at the entrance of the riverside walk, we will pick you up. As most of the guesthouses are located next to the river, they can only be reached by foot. So we will pick you up and drop you to your guesthouse (around 10-20 min of walk).We will also pick up your luggage by motorbike. Same for your return from Bukit Lawang to Medan, Berastagi or Lake Toba.
FROM KUALA NAMU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MEDAN TO BUKIT LAWANG
OPTION 1
Public Bus
Time: 5 hours
Comfort: Low
to Medium
Price: 80,000 IDR
OPTION 2
Tourist Bus
Time: 3/4 hours
Comfort: Medium Plus
Price: 190,000 IDR to 250,000 IDR
OPTION 3
Private Car
Time: 3/4 hours
Comfort: High
Price: 700,000 IDR
for the car
Please note that the tourist bus & private car transfers can only be organized for our guests
FROM MEDAN AIRPORT TO BUKIT LAWANG
1. Public Transport
Travellers on a smaller budget can opt for the public bus to go to Bukit Lawang. Choosing this kind of transportation will be an unforgettable adventure as you will share the bus with local people, it’s cheaper, but it takes longer and it's not really comfortable.
You have to take 2 different bus to reach Bukit Lawang:
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First take the local ALS bus (Antar Lintas Sumatera/orange color) from Medan Aiport to Binjai, it takes around 2 hours and cost around 50,000 IDR per person.
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Once arrived at Binjai bus station, you have to take a tuk-tuk costing 5,000 IDR to Tanah Lapang Binjai terminal or you can stop directly at Binjai Supermall and take the bus there!
Please note that the last buses can be at 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm or 7:30 pm (no fixed hours, welcome in Indonesia!) so please be sure to reach Binjai before 4:30 pm otherwise take the tourist bus!
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Then take the L300 or PS bus from Tanah Lapang Binjai terminal or from Binjai Supermall to Bukit Lawang. It takes around 3 hours and costs 30,000 IDR per person.
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From here, take a becak (tuk-tuk) for 10,000 IDR to Bukit Lawang or ask us to pick you up by motorbike for free (call or text us 1 hour before on whatsapp : +6282304187433). Once at the entrance of Bukit Lawang one of our guide will pick you up with your luggage and drop you to your guesthouse by walk.
2. Tourist Bus Organized by Sumatra Orangutan Explore
If you are on budget but looking for a bit more comfortable option, we can organize for you a pick up/drop off from/to Medan Kuala Namu airport by tourist bus (6 seats shared car).
The tourist bus pick up at the airport is running from 1 pm to 3 pm and you can be asked to wait if some other people arrive after you or need to be picked up in Medan. For the drop off back to the airport by tourist bus there is only one departure per day from Bukit Lawang at 08:30 am so be sure to have a flight after 2:30 pm. We can arrange this option for you!
Tourist bus costs 210,000 IDR per person from the airport. If you're the only one to pick up they will charge for 2 people 420,000 IDR. It will take around 3 to 5 hours to reach Bukit Lawang according to traffic.
3. Private Car Organized by Sumatra Orangutan Explore
If you are looking for a more comfortable and faster option, we can organize for you a pick up/drop off from/to Kuala Namu airport service by private car for maximum 4 people. If you're more than 4 please contact us to know the fare for a larger car.
This pick up/drop off service includes transport by private car with air conditioning to/from Bukit Lawang and pick up or drop off from/to your guesthouse in Bukit Lawang. Your driver will also stop on the way at ATM and/or Money Changer if needed.
Private car costs 700,000 IDR per car for maximum 4 people with luggage. It will take around 3 to 5 hours to reach Bukit Lawang according to traffic.
FROM MEDAN CITY TO BUKIT LAWANG
1. Public Transport
Travellers on a smaller budget can opt for the public bus to go to Bukit Lawang. Choosing this kind of transportation will be an unforgettable adventure as you will share the bus with local people, it’s cheaper, but it takes longer and it's not really comfortable.
Here is your itinerary to reach Bukit Lawang:
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If you come from Medan city you have to reach the Pinang Baris bus station located a bit far away from the city centre (about 8km). The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi (we recommend Blue Bird taxi). Ask your driver to drop you at Mawar bakery (1km from the bus terminal) as you can directly take the bus to Bukit Lawang from there. Please note that the last buses can be at 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm or 7:30 pm (no fixed hours, welcome in Indonesia!) so please be sure to be there before 4:30 pm otherwise take the tourist bus!
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Once at Mawar bakery, take the local bus to Bukit Lawang. It takes around 4 to 5 hours to reach Bukit Lawang and takes several stops on the way. It costs around 30,000 IDR if you have luggage. Go out from the bus at the bus terminal in Gotong Royong, a small village just around 5 minutes from Bukit Lawang.
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From here, take a becak (tuk-tuk) for 10,000 IDR to Bukit Lawang or ask us to pick you up by motorbike for free (call or text us 1 hour before on whatsapp : +6282304187433). Once at the entrance of Bukit Lawang one of our guide will pick you up with your luggage and drop you to your guesthouse by walk.
2. Tourist Bus Organized by Sumatra Orangutan Explore
If you are on budget but looking for a bit more comfortable option, we can organize for you a pick up/drop off from/to your hotel in Medan by tourist bus (6 seats shared car).
The tourist bus pick up in Medan city is running from 8 am to 4 pm and you can be asked to wait if some other people arrive at the airport you or need to be picked up in Medan too. For the drop off back to the airport by tourist bus there is only one departure per day from Bukit Lawang at 08:30 am so be sure to have a flight after 2:30 pm.. We can arrange this option for you!
Tourist bus costs 150,000 IDR per person. If you're the only one to pick up they will charge for 2 people 300,000 IDR. It will take around 3 to 5 hours to reach Bukit Lawang according to traffic.
3. Private Car Organized by Sumatra Orangutan Explore
If you are looking for a more comfortable and faster option, we can organize for you a pick up/drop off from/to your hostel/guesthouse in Medan city service by private car for maximum 4 people. If you're more than 4 please contact us to know the fare for a larger car.
This pick up/drop off service includes transport by private car with air conditioning to/from Bukit Lawang and pick up or drop off from/to your guesthouse in Bukit Lawang. Your driver will also stop on the way at ATM and/or Money Changer if needed.
Private car costs 700,000 IDR per car for maximum 4 people with luggage. It will take around 3 to 5 hours to reach Bukit Lawang according to traffic.
TO/FROM BERASTAGI, LAKE TOBA, SINGKIL & BANDA ACEH
1. Tourist Bus Organized by Sumatra Orangutan Explore
If you are doing a roundtrip in North Sumatra, you might come from Berastagi or Lake Toba to Bukit Lawang or maybe you want to come to Bukit Lawang from Berastagi or Lake Toba.
The cheapest transportation mean then is the tourist bus, a minivan with air conditioning shared with other tourists that aim to reach the same destination.
We can organize the pick up/drop off service by tourist bus for you including the pick up / drop off from/to your guesthouse in Bukit Lawang for you and your luggage :
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The tourist bus from/to Berastagi takes around 3 to 4 hours and costs 230,000 IDR per person. Departure at 08:00 am from Bukit Lawang. Contact us if you want to know the departure time from Berastagi to Bukit Lawang.
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The tourist bus from/to Lake Toba (Parapat harbor) takes around 8 to 9 hours and costs 270,000 IDR per person. Departure at 08:00 am from Bukit Lawang. Contact us if you want to know the departure time from Lake Toba to Bukit Lawang.
2. Private Car Organized by Sumatra Orangutan Explore From/to Berastagi & Lake Toba only
If you are doing a round trip in North Sumatra and you are looking for a more comfortable option, we can organize for you a pick up/drop off service by private car from/to a Berastagi and Lake Toba for maximum 4 people. If you're more than 4 please contact us to know the fare for a larger car.
This pick up/drop off service includes transport by private car with air conditioning to/from Bukit Lawang and pick up or drop off from/to your guesthouse in Berastagi & Bukit Lawang. Your driver will also stop on the way at ATM and/or Money Changer if needed.
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Private car from/to Berastagi (your accommodation) costs 800,000 IDR per car for maximum 6 people. The trip takes around 5 hours.
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Private car from/to Lake Toba (Parapat harbor) costs 1,400,000 IDR per car for maximum 6 people. The trip takes takes around 8 to 9 hours. Possibility to stop at the Sipiso Piso waterfall and the Berastagi fruit market.
