Activities in Bukit Lawang
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Trekking
Treks into the Gunung Leuser National Park require a guide and can last anywhere from three hours to two days. Most people opt for two days so that they can spend the night in the jungle, which increases the likelihood of seeing orang-utans and other critters in the wild.
Guide rates are fixed by the Sumatra Guide Association: they are US$10 for a three-hour trek; US$25 for a day trek; and US$45 for a two-day trek, including overnight camping in the jungle and rafting back to town. Prices include basic meals, guide fees, camping equipment and the park permit.
Despite the pressure, take your time in choosing a guide. Talk to returning trekkers and decide how much jungle ti…
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Short Walks
There are a number of short walks around Bukit Lawang that don't require guides or permits, but you'll be lucky to escape town alone.
The canal that runs alongside the river is an easy stroll through the village. In the evening everything gets washed in the rushing waters: frolicking kids, soiled bums, dirty laundry. Activities usually considered private are social in the communal waters.
The most interesting is a 20-minute walk, signposted from the Bukit Lawang Eco Lodge, to a bat cave.
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Tubing
A shed along the river en route to the orang-utan centre rents out inflated truck inner tubes, which can be used to ride the rapids of Sungai Bohorok. Don't underestimate the river though; currents are extremely strong and when the water is high, tubing is officially off limits, though few will tell you this. Several people have got into difficulties on the river, and life jackets are not available.
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