Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang, 60 miles (96km) northwest of Medan, is a sprawling tourist village laced along the fast-flowing Sungai Bohorok and bordered by the dense vertical-rising jungle of Gunung Leuser National Park. Its legend is built around the orangutan rehabilitation centre set up here in 1973 and, although the feeding platform has closed, this is still the best place in Sumatra to spot habituated orangutans on a trek.

Orangutan, Indonesia

©Bas Vermolen/Getty Images

Book
Indonesia Travel Guide
Book

Indonesia

Shop $26.99 USD
App
Lonely Planet App on a phone
Brand New!

Get the Lonely Planet App

World Nomads travel insurance
Trusted Partner

Dreaming of Bukit Lawang? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your Indonesia trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Time to book that trip to Indonesia

Lonely Planet Journeys takes you there with fully customizable trips to top destinations – all crafted by our local experts.

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Bukit Lawang