Wondering how to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan, Lake Toba or another destination in Sumatra? I’ve got you covered…
This popular orangutan trekking destination is actually one of the easiest places to get to on the island.
Located in North Sumatra, it’s only 54 miles (86 kilometres) from Sumatra’s largest city, Medan.
It’s also only a few hour’s drive from the island’s largest international airport, Kualanamu International Airport (KNO).
Without further ado, let’s get stuck into exactly how to get to Bukit Lawang – including options such as the public bus from Medan, a tourist bus and private transfers.
I will cover how to get to Bukit Lawang from the airport, Medan, Berastagi, Lake Toba and West Sumatra.
While you’re here, bookmark my blog post on all of the best things to do in Bukit Lawang and my rankings for the best Bukit Lawang hotels.
Want a complete guide to Sumatra? Check out my detailed Sumatra backpacking itinerary for north and west Sumatra.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.
QUICK INFORMATION
Best time to visit: May to September
Time needed: 1 – 5 Days
Flying to Medan? Check flight deals on Skyscanner ✈️
Don’t miss these experiences…
🦧 Overnight orangutan trekking (from Bukit Lawang or Medan) – likely to sell out!
⏰ Short on time? Take this orangutan trekking day trip from Medan.
🌋 Nearby: Hike Mount Sibayak at sunrise (from Berastagi or Medan)
Where is Bukit Lawang?
Bukit Lawang is a small town in North Sumatra.
It’s surprisingly easy to get to, being just a two- to three-hour drive from Medan and Kualanamu International Airport (KNO).
The town is one of the most popular places to visit in Sumatra because it is directly alongside the Gunung Leuser National Park, a large rainforest area with tigers, rhinos, elephants and various monkey species.
An orangutan rehabilitation sanctuary was founded in Bukit Lawang in 1973 to rehabilitate orangutans who were displaced or captured as a result of the logging and rubber industry in north Sumatra.
The semi-wild orangutans can be visited in the forest on a day-long or multi-night trek from the town.
Where to Stay in Bukit Lawang
Ecolodge Bukit Lawang is by far the most popular place to stay in Bukit Lawang; there are rave reviews for the hotel and its orangutan trekking tours.
However, as I explain in my guide to the best Bukit Lawang hotels, there are also many other good places to stay.
Monkeys and orangutans are sometimes spotted from the hotels along Jalan Orangutan (without any trekking), like Batu Kapal Guest House.
Ecolodge Bukit Lawang (£££)
Very likely to sell out!
Garden Inn (£££)
Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse (£££)
How to Get to Bukit Lawang from Medan Airport
If you want to visit Bukit Lawang, the first thing you need to do is fly to Sumatra.
The largest airport is Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), just outside of Medan.
There are cheap direct flights to Sumatra from Malaysia, Singapore and some Indonesian cities.
I recommend comparing the routes and deals on Skyscanner a couple of months before your travel date.
Once you arrive in Medan, you can either check into a hotel in the city or go directly to Bukit Lawang.
If you choose to do the latter, here’s how you can do it…
- Public bus – takes 5 hours and costs 80,000 IDR. You need to take the Damri or ALS bus from the airport to Medan’s Amplas bus station (one-hour journey). Then, take the bus from Medan to Bukit Lawang following the instructions in the section below.
- Train – takes 35 minutes and costs 50,000 – 70,000 IDR. You can then take a Grab taxi to the bus station to take the bus to Bukit Lawang.
- Private car transfer directly to Bukit Lawang – takes two to three hours and costs around 20,000 IDR (£62). Check the availability for a private transfer on Viator.
How to Get to Bukit Lawang From Medan
To reach Bukit Lawang from central Medan, there are several options…
1. Public bus
The public bus from Medan to Bukit Lawang takes 4 – 5 hours and costs 30,000 – 50,000 IDR for tourists.
- Take a Grab taxi to the Pinang Baris bus station in Medan.
- Arrive before 4pm, as the last buses depart in the late afternoon.
- Get off the bus in the village of Gotong Royong.
- Take a five-minute becak to Bukit Lawang for around 10,000 IDR.
2. Tourist bus
Hostels and hotels can organise a tourist bus from Medan to Bukit Lawang upon request. Tourist buses take 3 – 4 hours and cost 150,000 IDR per person.
A tourist bus carries a group of up to six tourists travelling the same route. It’s dependent upon other travellers doing the same route as you, on the same day.
Tourist buses typically depart from Medan around 8:00 am. They drop you off directly at your hotel.
3. Private taxi or transfer
A private taxi is the most expensive but the most comfortable way to visit Bukit Lawang. It only takes 2 to 3 hours but costs around 700,000 IDR (£32).
A private taxi usually fits four people, plus luggage.
4. Tour
Taking an orangutan trekking day tour to Bukit Lawang from Medan is also possible. I did this myself.
A day tour to Bukit Lawang typically involves being picked up from your hotel in Medan very early (around 7am).
After the 2- to 3-hour drive to Bukit Lawang, I spent five hours trekking. After the trek, I had some free time to explore Bukit Lawang before being dropped back in Medan. Lunch and water were included.
You can check the availability for orangutan trekking tours from Medan online:
- 1 Day: Responsible orangutan trek with a local guide.
- 4 Days (3 Nights): Orangutan trekking tour from Medan, featuring overnight camping.
How to Get to Bukit Lawang From Berastagi
The easiest way to reach Bukit Lawang from Berastagi is to take a tourist bus.
Unlike the public bus, tourist buses go directly to the town without stopping in Medan.
1. Tourist bus
The tourist bus from Berastagi to Bukit Lawang takes 3 – 4 hours and costs 250,000 IDR per person. You can book this through your hotel or hostel. They usually depart at 8am.
2. Public bus
The public bus from Berastagi to Bukit Lawang takes 6-8 hours (an overnight stay may also be necessary in Medan).
It costs 50,000 IDR (20,000 IDR for Berastagi to Medan and 30,000 IDR for Medan to Bukit Lawang).
- From Terminal Berastagi, you can take the MURNI Express, Sinabung Jaya or Sutra bus to Medan for 20,000 IDR.
- You then need to take the bus from Pinang Baris bus station to Bukit Lawang.
The problem with this method is that if you arrive in Medan any later than 3 or 4pm, you’ll probably miss the final bus to Bukit Lawang.
3. Private taxi or transfer
Taking a private car from Berastagi to Bukit Lawang takes 5 – 6 hours and costs 800,000 – 900, 000 IDR.
How to Get From Lake Toba to Bukit Lawang
The only viable way to reach Bukit Lawang from Lake Toba is a tourist bus for approximately 280,000 IDR.
Tourist buses can be arranged on the day from Parapat Harbour. The journey lasts 8 – 9 hours.
My tourist ‘bus’ from Lake Toba
Several companies offer this service, and all of them depart around 8am. I also heard that they run buses a second time, in the late morning, for any latecomers (provided there is enough demand).
I recommend that you arrive early to negotiate the best fare and to make sure that you get a seat.
The Parapat/Tuk Tuk ferry
If you are staying on Samosir Island, you will first need to take the earliest 7am ferry from Tuk Tuk to Parapat.
This costs 70,000 IDR and arrives at Parapat harbour around 7:30 am.
The other alternative is to take a private car from Lake Toba, but this will cost around 1,500,000 IDR per car (for 4 – 6 people). This also takes 8 to 9 hours.
How to Get to Bukit Lawang from Bukittinggi (West Sumatra)
Instead of going directly from Bukittinggi to Medan, I recommend that you stop in Lake Toba or Berastagi for several days en route. Otherwise, you’re in store for a very long journey.
If you’re in Padang, not Bukittinggi, fantastic: you can fly directly from Padang to Medan, and then take the bus to Bukit Lawang.
The Super Air Jet flights only take one hour and cost 850,000+ IDR.
I suggest that you check flight availability well in advance on Skyscanner because the prices can vary.
To reach Bukit Lawang from Bukittinggi in west Sumatra, you can either make your way to Padang by bus (a two- to three-hour journey) and then fly or you can decide to do the journey by bus, pausing in a couple of destinations on the way.
Overall, the journey takes 25+ hours (minus the stop in the middle).
By bus:
- Take the ALS overnight bus to Medan (21 – 22 hours).
- Take the bus from Medan to Bukit Lawang.
You will need to visit the ALS bus station in Bukittinggi twice. The first visit is to buy a ticket (at least one day in advance). The second time is to take the bus.
There a three types of ALS buses to Medan:
- Economy (air-conditioned): 225,000 IDR
- Patas (air-conditioning and a toilet): 260,000 IDR
- Super executive (air conditioning, a toilet and extra space/comfort): 365,000 IDR
The ALS bus to Medan
FAQ
The closest international airport to Bukit Lawang is the Medan Kualanamu International Airport (KNO). It is 3 to 4 hours away by road.
You can visit Bukit Lawang from Medan by public bus, tourist bus, private taxi or by taking a day tour. There are international flights to Medan airport.
Suggested reading:
- Sumatra Backpacking Itinerary – start here!
- Best things to do in Bukit Lawang
- Best Bukit Lawang hotels
- What to wear in Sumatra + free packing list
- Lake Toba Travel Itinerary – the world’s largest crater lake
- 12 Best Hotels in Lake Toba and Samosir Island
- Harau Valley travel guide
- Things to do in Bukittinggi Sumatra
- How to visit the Puncak Lawang viewpoint
- Things to do at Maninjau Lake in West Sumatra