If you’re going to north Sumatra for a few days or weeks of orangutan trekking, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is booking one of the best Bukit Lawang hotels.
Your hotel isn’t just somewhere where you can rest your feet and shower after orangutan trekking. It also dictates which tours you take and who you meet.
During my travels across west and north Sumatra, I heard varied tales of people’s experiences in the hotels of Bukit Lawang. Because the town is so small, the guesthouses quickly gather a reputation, whether it’s good or bad.
When you start browsing the best Bukit Lawang hotels, remember that you won’t find five-star resorts in Bukit Lawang.
What you will find instead is a mix of simple but comfortable guesthouses ranging from mattresses on the floor to two-storey bungalows with views of mountains and forests.
New hotels spring up in Bukit Lawang every year. Therefore, I keep this guide to the best hotels in Bukit Lawang up to date with new openings.
I use the word ‘luxury’ loosely. Most of the hotels in the town are rated one, two or three stars.
Once you have decided where to stay in Bukit Lawang, check out my guides to the best things to do in Bukit Lawang and how to get to Bukit Lawang.
My Sumatra backpacking itinerary provides detailed itineraries 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.
AT A GLANCE:
The Best Hotels in Bukit Lawang
Top Pick
£££
Ecolodge Bukit Lawang has a fierce reputation as the best hotel in Bukit Lawang, hence why the rooms are often booked up for weeks in advance during high season. It also provides some of the best tours in the town.
Best Luxury Hotels in Bukit Lawang
Best Value for Money Hotel in Bukit Lawang
With views of the Landak River, Garden Inn is set in the forest and offers clean rooms and potential monkey sightings. They can arrange trekking tours, but the free Wi-Fi is sometimes unreliable.
Best Value for Money Hotels in Bukit Lawang
Best Backpackers Hotel in Bukit Lawang
Simple and friendly is the best way to sum up Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse & Jungle Trek, which offers basic but budget-friendly accommodation with a restaurant, tour desk and a friendly owner.
Best Backpackers Hotels in Bukit Lawang
The Best Area to Stay in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang is a small, walkable town. Where you stay doesn’t matter too much, as long as you’re within walking distance of the national park entrances.
1. Monkey Bridge
Monkey Bridge, a small bridge over the river, is the centrepiece of the tourist area of the town. It was the centre of my compass, so to speak.
It has direct access to the river and tubing activities, as well as a direct route into the Gunung Leuser National Park. It’s also within walking distance of plenty of restaurants and shops.
Best for:
- Convenience
- Access to the national park
- Tubing activities and direct access to the river
- A central location in Bukit Lawang
Hotels in Monkey Bridge:
2. Jalan Orangutan
Jalan Orangutan is a long road which stretches to the northwest of the town. It is lined with many of the best guesthouses in Bukit Lawang, including Jungle Inn and Sam’s Bungalows. It overlooks the Landak River and the forest.
Jalan Orangutan is considered the best part of Bukit Lawang for wildlife watching from your hotel. Monkey species are often spotted from the gardens of the guesthouses.
Best for:
- Monkey watching
- Views of the river
- Forest scenery
Hotels in Jalan Orangutan:
- Jungle Inn
- Green Travelodge
- Garden Inn
- Sam’s Bungalows
- On The Rocks Bungalows
- Batu Kapal Guest House
3. Town Centre
The town centre of Bukit Lawang is also packed with places to stay. It’s located in the middle of Jalan Orangutan and Monkey Bridge. The main benefit of staying in the town centre is that you can go coffee shop or restaurant hopping and easily browse a variety of tour shops.
It also has a busier, local feel. There are convenience stores and traditional markets.
Best for:
- Shops, restaurants and coffee shops
- A central base
- Busier, local atmosphere
- Traditional markets
- Browsing different tour options
Hotels in the town centre:
What to Expect from the Best Hotels in Bukit Lawang
The first step when you’re choosing where to stay in Bukit Lawang is deciding whether you want to stay in the forest, next to the river or in the town.
Staying next to the forest or river increases your chances of spotting monkey species such as Thomas’ langur monkeys. Deeper into the forest, some hotels also get orangutans visiting their gardens.
1. Wi-Fi
The best hotels in Bukit Lawang typically offer free Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi doesn’t always reach the rooms, so that’s something you will want to check in the reviews of the hotel.
Some hotels don’t have Wi-Fi, especially if they are located deeper into the forest. That’s a compromise you need to be willing to make for the views and potential wildlife sightings.
2. Orangutan Trekking Tours
Most of the good hotels in Bukit Lawang provide their own orangutan trekking services. Some hotels won’t let you stay if you don’t book a tour directly with them, so check the fine print of your booking.
Either way, it’s easiest if you pick a hotel that has good room and an ethical tour review because they can coordinate everything for you.
3. Monkey Sightings
Thomas’ Langur monkeys are often spotted at the hotels.
Monkey sightings are the most common at the hotels along Jalan Orangutan. This usually doesn’t extend to orangutans, because they keep to the deeper forest.
However, reviews of Batu Kapal Guest House (budget accommodation deeper in the forest) mention seeing orangutans in the backyard.
4. Restaurants and Bars
Bambu Restaurant at Ecolodge
Many hotels and guesthouses have their own restaurants. They typically serve simple Indonesian cuisine. If you’re looking for a hotel with a bar which serves alcohol, that’s less common due to the predominantly Muslim community.
However, the hotels Sam’s Bungalows, On The Rocks Bungalows, and Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse & Jungle Trek, Sumatra Cheeky Monkeys, and Batu Kapal Guest House have a bar.
Best Bukit Lawang Hotels for Luxury
1. Ecolodge Bukit Lawang
Location: Monkey Bridge
Reviews: 8.5/10
Price: £££
Ecolodge Bukit Lawang has made a reputation for itself as not only being one of the best places to stay in Bukit Lawang, but also one of the best orangutan trekking tour providers.
Staying at Ecolodge doesn’t come without its challenges: it’s so popular that it is often booked up several weeks in advance during high season.
Overlooking Monkey Bridge, its bamboo restaurant overlooks the Landak River and has direct access to the tubing activities and the national park.
Bike hire is offered to guests who want to explore the town on two wheels. There’s also a lush, green garden and fitted mosquito nets, which add to the rainforest atmosphere.
Facilities: Restaurant, library, garden, bicycle hire, airport shuttle services, tours, and free Wi-Fi.
2. Jungle Inn
Location: Jalan Orangutan
Reviews: 9.1/10
Price: £££
Jungle Inn is one of the most expensive hotels in Bukit Lawang, but with views of the Landak River and a 9.1/10 rating on Booking.com, it’s a quality option.
It offers a Deluxe Double Room for £99, which features a private bath and balcony over the river, or a budget room for £30 with stone features and a mosquito net.
Jungle Inn organises evening entertainment, a rarity in Bukit Lawang, so it’s a sociable option. Still, if you’d rather keep to yourself, there’s plenty of space across the garden, terrace and restaurant.
Monkeys are often spotted playing along the river. Plus, bike hire is available, along with free Wi-Fi.
Facilities: Restaurant, garden, terrace, bike hire, and free Wi-Fi.
3. Green Travelodge
Location: Jalan Orangutan
Reviews: 9.6/10
Price: £££
The reviews of Green Travelodge speak for themselves. Rating 9.6/10 on Booking.com, previous guests have raved about the friendly staff, great jungle tours and airport transfers, and the simple but tasty breakfast.
The staff can arrange orangutan tours and airport transfers, taking the hassle of planning away from you. There’s no restaurant, but breakfast is included in most of the rooms.
Facilities: Breakfast, garden, airport transfer services, tours, and free Wi-Fi.
Best Bukit Lawang Hotels for Value for Money
1. Garden Inn
Location: Jalan Orangutan
Reviews: 8.8/10
Price: £££
If you prefer the peace and quiet of being in the forest and wouldn’t mind spotting monkeys playing in the trees from your hammock, consider Garden Inn to be one of the best hotels in Bukit Lawang for you.
Tucked into the forest alongside the Landak River, just off of Jalan Orangutan, the hotel’s rooms and bungalows are great value for your money.
The free Wi-Fi doesn’t have immaculate reviews and the water is cold in the mornings, but that’s a compromise you will need to be willing to make in return for friendly staff, potential monkey sightings, and the chatter of the rainforest on all sides. The hotel can arrange trekking tours.
Facilities: Restaurant, garden, terrace, trekking tours, and free Wi-Fi.
2. Sam’s Bungalows
Location: Jalan Orangutan
Reviews: 9/10
Price: £££
Sam’s Bungalows is another Bukit Lawang hotel with a keen reputation. Located on the Landak River, the hotel is best known for its sociable atmosphere, clean rooms, and great tour desk. The restaurant serves Indonesian cuisine.
For what you get, it’s incredible value for money – and even better, the reviews say that there’s hot water in the showers.
Sam’s Bungalows has a garden, terrace, a restaurant and bar in Bukit Lawang. The accommodation features room service, a tour desk and currency exchange for guests. At the hotel, rooms are fitted with a wardrobe, bed linen and a balcony with a river view.
Featuring a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries, rooms at Sam’s Bungalows also boast a mountain view. At the accommodation, every room includes a seating area.
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, garden, terrace, tour desk, room service, currency exchange, airport shuttle service, and free Wi-Fi.
3. On The Rocks Bungalows
Location: Jalan Orangutan
Reviews: 9/10
Price: £££
The fact that monkeys are often seen passing through the garden of On The Rocks Bungalows is your first clue to the fact that this hotel is totally removed from the business of the town. Located on the edge of the national park, the views are one of its biggest selling points.
The friendly staff have a great knowledge of the local area and can also arrange orangutan trekking tours. Reviews complain about the Wi-Fi not reaching the rooms, but this is common for many of the hotels on Jalan Orangutan.
Facilities: Restaurant, garden, orangutan trekking tour desk, airport shuttle, room service, bar, and free Wi-Fi.
Best Bukit Lawang Hotels for Backpackers
1. Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse & Jungle Trek
Location: Town centre
Reviews: 9.1/10
Price: £££
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t stay in an epic Bukit Lawang hotel. Made up of bungalows with triangular thatched roofs, Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse & Jungle Trek offers very budget-friendly rooms from 155,000 RP per night for one person.
You’ll be sleeping on a mattress on the floor, but there’s free Wi-Fi, bicycle rental, towels and bed linen and a friendly restaurant which serves tea, brunch, lunch and dinner.
It’s more of a homestay than a hotel, with a very friendly owner called Brian (or is it Bryan?) who can arrange trekking tours and village tours.
Facilities: Restaurant, bicycle rental, tour desk, bar, room service, airport shuttle service, and free Wi-Fi.
2. Batu Kapal Guest House
Location: Outside town
Reviews: 9.7/10
Price: £££
Batu Kapal Guest House is an up-and-coming backpackers’ hotel in Bukit Lawang. It’s based in the forest, a short way out of town, which gives it the benefit of views of the mountains and plenty of peace and quiet. There’s no Wi-Fi out there, but that’s exactly what it’s so appealing. Besides, who needs Wi-Fi when you have a jungle bar and great fishing and cycling nearby?
According to reviews, the team is very friendly and can easily arrange tours. A couple of reviews also mention that they spotted orangutans in the backyard.
Getting there is a matter of 20-30 minutes on a scooter taxi, which can be arranged by the team.
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, tours, room service, and airport shuttle services.
3. Sumatra Cheeky Monkeys
Location: Town centre
Reviews: 9/10
Price: £££
Sumatra Cheeky Monkeys has nailed their branding, with ‘eat, sleep, trek’ being their main mantra. Located in the forest near Jalan Orangutan, it overlooks the river and has good budget rooms. They also provide ethical orangutan tours and a restaurant, so that you don’t need to go out in search of lunch, dinner or cocktails.
Tours and bicycle rentals are available. Otherwise, relax in the hammock and keep ordering the delicious Indonesian food from the restaurant.
Facilities: Restaurant-bar, garden, barbecue, tours, airport shuttle service, and free Wi-Fi.
Summary: Best Hotels in Bukit Lawang for Couples
Luxury: Ecolodge Bukit Lawang
Value for Money: Garden Inn
Backpackers: Batu Kapal Guest House
Best Hotels in Bukit Lawang for Families
Luxury: Green Travelodge (family bungalow)
Value for Money: Garden Inn (family bungalow) or Sam’s Bungalows (family rooms with mountain views)
Backpackers: Sumatra Cheeky Monkeys
Best Hotels in Bukit Lawang for Solo Travellers
Luxury: Ecolodge Bukit Lawang
Value for Money: Sam’s Bungalows
Backpackers: Sumatra Thomas Leaf Monkey Guesthouse & Jungle Trek
Best Resources for Sumatra:
- Check hotel availability on Booking.com.
- Find a tour or experience on Get Your Guide or Viator (note: there’s less availability in west Sumatra)
- Check flight availability on AirAsia.
Suggested reading:
- Sumatra Backpacking Guide: Full North and West Sumatra Itinerary
- How to get to Bukit Lawang
- Things to do in Bukit Lawang
- What to Wear in Sumatra + Packing List
- Lake Toba Travel Itinerary and Things to Do in Samosir Island
- 12 Best Hotels in Lake Toba and Samosir Island
- Harau Valley Travel Guide
- Things to Do in Bukittinggi Sumatra
- How to Visit Puncak Lawang Viewpoint
- Things to Do at Maninjau Lake in West Sumatra
AUTHOR
Katie Treharne
I’m Katie, the owner of Escape Artist Katie. I have been travel writing since 2018, including writing for luxury travel magazines and publications such as Wanderlust.
As well as being a digital nomad who works and lives abroad permanently, I’m a big advocate for offbeat travel and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
I hope you found my article useful – find out more about me here or keep up with my travels on Instagram.