Trekking with Orangutans in Sumatra: Bukit Lawang or Ketambe?

Why trekking with orangutans in Sumatra

Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered. It's estimated that fewer than 15.000 remain in the wild, and only in very specific areas. See them in their natural habitat. it's a privilege, but also a way to support its conservation.

Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the last shelters where these great apes live in freedom. In addition to orangutans, this dense, humid forest is home to elephants, tigers, gibbons, and dozens of other endemic species.

Make a Trekking with orangutans in Sumatra It's not just about seeing animals, it's a super complete experience in which you'll sleep in the jungle, learn about local culture, eat delicious food and see beautiful jungle landscapes. You'll also contribute to the local economy hiring a tour without intermediaries, we have contacts so you can do it, just Leave us a comment at the end of the article and we will share it with you..

Best time to go trekking with orangutans

The best time to see orangutans in Sumatra is during the dry months, especially between june and august. In this season the rains are less frequent, which makes jungle walks more comfortable. It also prevents orangutans from hiding; they don't like getting wet either.

Another great advantage is that it's the season when there's the most fruit in the jungle. Orangutans They often spend long periods of time in fruit trees, which makes it much easier to spot them. We We were there in mid-July And practically all the orangutans we saw were in trees carGrates of fruit, enjoying a leisurely feast.

Where see orangutans in Sumatra

The two best places to do a trekking with orangutans in Sumatra are Bukit Lawang y KetambeBoth are within the Gunung Leuser National Park and can be reached from Medan, the most connected city in the north of the island with the airports of Kuala Lumpur o Singapore.

we start by Bukit Lawang, the most popular. I'll tell you in advance that it wasn't our choice, nor the option we recommend most.

Orangutan trekking in Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang is the most popular destination for orangutan trekking in Sumatra. This small village, located about 3 or 5 hours per carroute from Medan, is the most accessible entrance to Gunung Leuser National Park. Many local agencies organize daily outings there.

In the Bukit Lawang area orangutans live in freedom, but many were rehabilitated in the past and have become accustomed to human presence (sometimes too much so). Although the rehabilitation center is no longer operational, some guides still tend to feed them to attract them, which alters its natural behavior.

It's true that not all guides engage in these bad practices. But it's something to keep in mind if you want to choose a tour that is as ethical as possible and that guarantees you'll see Sumatran orangutans in complete freedom. That's the main reason we decided not to go to Bukit Lawang.

Doing a very quick search on Google I found images of agencies like the ones I leave below and also of tourists sharing their experiences in which the Photographs show orangutans very close to humans and often on the ground, something very rare in Sumatran orangutans, which are mostly arboreal.

What are the orangutan tours in Bukit Lawang like?

Trekking routes range from short one-day routes to even a week. The most common option It's a 2-day/1-night tour, where you sleep in the middle of the jungle, next to the river. Keep in mind that the campsites are very basic. After finishing the trek, you can return by rafting on the Bohorok River, a very fun activity.

Something to keep in mind is that being a popular destination The groups that are formed are a little large There are about 8-10 people during peak season, and when an orangutan is spotted, several people usually gather. We haven't done a tour in Bukit Lawang, but we've spoken to people who have, and they told us that practically every time they saw orangutans, there were about 20-30 people in the area.

How to get to Bukit Lawang

Getting from Medan airport to Bukit Lawang is quite easy (only 120km, although the carThe road is in poor condition. You can take a local bus from Pinang Baris station to Binjai, and then transfer to a minibus to Bukit Lawang. The entire journey takes about 5-6 hours and shouldn't cost more than €6.

There are also shared minivans From Medan or the airport, more convenient and direct, for about €10-13 per person. If you prefer the faster and more convenient option, you can hire a car with driver for 35-45 €. Ideally, You coordinate it with the company that will take the tour. and guesthouse where you stay in Bukit Lawang.

Prices for trekking with orangutans in Bukit Lawang

The prices for trekking to see orangutans in Bukit Lawang are controlled by the government so are fixedIn addition, the agency can offer packages that also include pickup from Medan Airport, transportation to your next destination, or accommodation in the village before entering the jungle.

• 1 day: 70 €/ pax
• 2 days & 1 night: 120 €/ pax
• 3 days & 2 nights: 170 €/ pax
• 4 days & 3 nights: 250 €/ pax

These prices include official guide, meals, tent and transportation to the park entrance.

Orangutan trekking in Ketambe

Ketambe is a small village west of Gunung Leuser National Park and the perfect destination if you are looking to see Sumatran orangutans in complete freedom and almost alone. Unlike Bukit Lawang, there are no orangutans here, which have been rehabilitated in the past. Sightings are less predictableThis combination was what made us decide on Ketambe, which also fit perfectly in our route through Sumatra.

What are the tours like in Ketambe?

Most travelers choose to do a 2 or 3 day trekking, although there are also longer routes of up to a week. The groups are small; in our case, we were 3 people + a guide and a cook who stayed at the camp. Both our guide and others we met, based on their speech and behavior, seemed to us to be highly committed to orangutan conservation.

Returning to the tour, one of the most common and incredible stops is to go to a thermal river where you can swim in the middle of the jungle. Later we'll tell you about our experience seeing orangutans in Ketambe. And regarding how much you walk, it will depend on you, there are many trails and the guides adapt.

Just like in Bukit Lawang, the camps are very simple, tents, and a rudimentary kitchen located right on the river. Ideal for a cool dip after a day of searching for wildlife.

How to get to Ketambe from Medan

Ketambe is about 240 km from Medan, and getting here is part of the adventure. The cheapest option is to take a public bus to Kutacane (about 9–10 hours), and from there take a labi-labi (local van) to Ketambe, which is just 30 minutes away. The entire journey costs around €8–10.

You can also get there by shared taxi or private car from Medan. It will take about 7-8 hours and the price is around 20€ per person If you share it or a private car for about €60, you can do the night journey which is much more practical. The ideal thing is to coordinate with your accommodation or agency in Ketambe; they will be better than anyone to help you organize it. Let us know if you want to be in contact!

Prices for trekking with orangutans in Ketambe

Prices in Ketambe are lower than in Bukit Lawang. The trekking cost was €31 per day per person, with everything included: guide, porter, meals, camping equipment and access to the park. We paid for 3 days and 2 nights €93 per person. By the way, they gave us the option of Wise transfer or cash. In case you don't have one yet, here are the options. best cards for traveling and not pay commissions, our favorite is TradeRepublic.

Where to stay in Ketambe

There are quite a few small hotels in Ketambe, although you won't find most of them on platforms like Booking. We stayed after the trekking with orangutans one more night in a guesthouse With a beautiful garden owned by our guide's brother. The double room cost about €8; this part of Indonesia has very good prices.

Our experience watching orangutans in Ketambe

We started the trekking in the afternoon, around 14:00 p.m., because we came from Banda AcehWe flew with Susi Air to Kutacane at 11 a.m. and from there took a taxi to Ketambe. We didn't want to waste the day, so We spoke with the guide to start upon arrival, and it was a perfect match.

You can read: Our experience with Susi Air, Indonesia's smallest airline.

Day 1 of the route

We left our big backpacks at the guesthouse where we later spent a night and We prepared one with what we were going to need these three daysThey bring the camping equipment and food; in fact, everything was already there when we arrived.

This first day we walked for about three hours, making many stops. It wasn't tiring at all, although it was hot and the terrain was uneven. Shortly after starting, after just an hour, We saw our first Sumatran orangutan, and before reaching the camp we met several more in some fruit trees where we spent about two hours observing them. You can see videos of the moment in this real and Instagram stories.

Upon reaching the camp by the river, we refreshed ourselves and we set up in the tentAround seven o'clock we had dinner, a meal of several dishes, including a delicious curry, along with plenty of fruit for dessert. After dinner, since there isn't much to do except for a short evening stroll, it's a good idea to bring a book and some... cartas or something to entertain yourself.

Day 2 of the route

The next day we got up around 7:00, had a coffee and took a short walk to the bus stop.car wildlife before having pancakes for breakfast. Then we went walking for just over an hour to the thermal river, where we spent the whole morning enjoying the warm water and the incredible surroundings of Gunung Leuser National Park.

After eating mie goreng (noodles) we rested in front of the river and went out for another walk through the jungle, where We saw orangutans again and admired them for a while.We ended the day with a shower in the river and another delicious dinner.

Day 3 of the route

We spent the last morning near the camp, walking around the area, watching macaques and listening to the river. We also saw Thomas's monkeys and more macaques on our jungle walks. After eating, we started our way back to the guesthouse. and in just over an hour and a half we arrived.

What to carry trekking with orangutans

The agencies and guides provide camping gear and food, so you'll only need to pack the essentials. Here's what we recommend:

• Lightweight, quick-drying clothing: Breathable t-shirts and long pants to protect you from mosquitoes and scratches.
• trekking shoes with good soles and comfortable.
• High socks to avoid leeches, although they give you anti-leech socks if there are a lot of them.
• Raincoat or rain cape just in case, also to protect the backpack.
• Insect repellent.
• Solar protection, cap and sunglasses.
• Bottle (minimum 1,5 L) to refill during the trek (they boil river water)
• Headlamp or flashlight.
• Extreme battery all with carGrab your camera or mobile phone; there is no electricity at the camp.
• Entertainment for the evenings: book, cartas, notebook…
• Small medicine cabinet with the basics (painkillers, bandages, bite cream, etc.)
• Snacks If you tend to get hungry easily, this seemed like enough food for us.

You can read… Best backpacks for traveling Our Favorites! Or Ours essentials for backpacking.

Other places what to see in Sumatra

Sumatra is a gigantic island with plenty to see and do, although the tourist infrastructure isn't very developed. We toured the northern region. For inspiration, you can check out the guides we've written about the island. route through North Sumatra.

• Diving in Pulau Weh
• Banda Aceh, the city of the great tsunami
• Paradise on Pulau Banyak

We hope this Pulau Weh guide cleared up your doubts and encouraged you to visit this Indonesian paradise. We recommend you take a look at the rest of our guides for traveling through Sumatra Follow us now on social media.

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