Overview
One Night Changes Everything
The one-day trek gives you a taste of the jungle. The overnight trek gives you the jungle itself. When the last tourist groups head back to Bukit Lawang in the afternoon, your group pushes deeper — into quieter trails, denser canopy, and the kind of stillness you can only find when you've earned it.
By late afternoon you reach your riverside campsite, where your cook prepares a proper jungle dinner while the forest settles into its evening chorus. Gibbons calling. Insects buzzing. The river running just metres away. There are no roads, no notifications, and no rush. Just the rainforest — exactly as it is.
Day two brings the best wildlife window of the trip: early morning, before the heat rises, is when Sumatran orangutans are most active in the canopy. After spotting and photography, you make your way back to the river for the return that everyone remembers — tubing downstream through the jungle all the way back into Bukit Lawang.
Day by Day
What to Expect
Day 1
Into the Forest
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Meet your guide at the trailhead in Bukit Lawang. Brief on the route, safety, and what to look and listen for. Enter Gunung Leuser National Park.
Morning
Trek through primary rainforest at a relaxed pace. Your guide scans the canopy and riverbanks for movement — orangutans, Thomas leaf monkeys, gibbons, hornbills. Rest stops are frequent and unhurried.
Midday
Trail lunch prepared by your guide — fresh fruit, rice, and local ingredients eaten in the jungle. No restaurant could match the setting.
Afternoon
Continue deeper into the forest. Wildlife sightings are often most productive in the mid-afternoon as animals move before the evening. Your guide knows where to look.
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Arrive at your jungle campsite by the river. Set up, cool down in the water, and rest. Your cook prepares dinner over a fire while the forest changes around you.
Evening
Dinner at camp. The sounds of the nocturnal jungle begin — tree frogs, insects, distant calls. Your guide shares stories of the forest and its residents. Sleep under the canopy.
Day 2
Morning Wildlife & River Return
Early Morning
Jungle breakfast at camp. The morning hours are prime for orangutan activity — your guide leads a final wildlife walk through the surrounding forest before the heat builds.
Mid-Morning
Break camp and begin the return route. The trail back takes a different path, giving you a fresh perspective and new wildlife opportunities along the way.
Afternoon
Reach the river and board your rubber tubes. The return to Bukit Lawang is by river — drifting downstream through jungle scenery, with your guide navigating the current. Cool, calm, and unforgettable.
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Arrive back in Bukit Lawang. Your guide walks you back to your accommodation. Pay the remaining balance in cash, exchange contacts, and say goodbye — until next time.
What's Covered
Included & Not Included
✓ Included
HPI-ITGA certified English-speaking guide
Jungle cook and camp crew
Trail lunch with fresh fruit (Day 1)
Campsite dinner (Day 1)
Campsite breakfast (Day 2)
Jungle campsite accommodation
River tubing return to Bukit Lawang
Drinking water at camp
✗ Not Included
National Park entrance fee — IDR 200,000/person (approx. €9.92)
Hotel accommodation in Bukit Lawang
Transport to/from Medan (available on request)
Personal travel insurance
Gratuities (appreciated, never required)
Questions
FAQ
Treks depart from Bukit Lawang between 8–9am on day one. You'll reach the jungle campsite in the afternoon (around 3–5pm). On day two, you return by river tubing and typically arrive back in Bukit Lawang by 3–4pm.
At a jungle campsite deep inside Gunung Leuser National Park, by a river. Camps are fresh for each group and go deeper the longer the trek. Bedding and shelter are provided — bring a light layer for the evening.
Moderate fitness is enough. The trail has some uphill sections and uneven terrain, but the pace is fully relaxed and adjusted to your group. Rest stops are plentiful. Most healthy adults manage comfortably — just let your guide know your fitness level before you set off.
Sightings are very common on the 2-day route — the overnight trail goes deeper into the forest where wild orangutan activity is consistently high. Our guides have known many individuals by name for over 15 years. Sightings can never be guaranteed (these are wild animals living on their own schedule), but our track record is strong.
Sturdy non-slip shoes, a change of clothes, a light jacket or layer for the evening, insect repellent, swimwear for the tubing return, a small daypack, and cash for the National Park entrance fee (IDR 200,000/person). One water bottle is enough — drinking water is available at camp.
No. A jungle trek involves an entire team — your guide, a cook, and supply workers — all booked and paid in advance to ensure your trip runs safely. The 50% deposit secures that commitment. The remaining 50% is paid in cash to your guide on arrival.