National park · Indonesia
Gunung Leuser National ParkTaman Nasional Gunung Leuser
Base in Bukit Lawang for a 2-day guided jungle trek (from about Rp 900,000/day) or Ketambe for wild orangutans and quiet trails; go April–September, avoid weekends and the June–early July holiday peak.
Map to the park
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Area
9,500 km²3,668 sq mi
approximate
Established
1980
Best months
Apr–May, Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
- Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
- Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.
At a glance
- Country
- Indonesia
- Area
- 9,500 km²3,668 sq mi
- Roughly 950,000 hectares; boundaries and figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1980
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Gunung Leuser National Park covers roughly 9,500 km² of northern Sumatra across North Sumatra and Aceh, part of the UNESCO Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. It is one of the last places to see Sumatran orangutans in the wild. Bukit Lawang, 90 km northwest of Medan, is the busiest gateway and the easiest to reach; Ketambe, in Aceh, is quieter and wilder, with longer treks and genuinely wild orangutans. Tangkahan, on the park's northern edge, is known for its elephant camp and low visitor numbers.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2004Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, with Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan.
Size and age
9,500 km²3,668 sq mi · national park since 1980
Roughly 950,000 hectares; boundaries and figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- One of the last places on earth to see Sumatran orangutans in the wild.
- Guided jungle treks from one day to a week, sleeping in the forest.
- Bukit Lawang is 3–4 hours by road from Medan, so it fits a short Sumatra trip.
- Ketambe and Tangkahan see far fewer visitors than Bukit Lawang.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanWet season; daily rain, muddy trails
- FebWet; some trails impassable
- MarRain easing; humid
- AprDrier; good trekking
- MayDry, clear; busy at weekends
- JunDry but Indonesian holiday peak; crowds
- JulDry; busy
- AugDry; busy
- SepDrier; fewer crowds
- OctRain returns late afternoon
- NovWet season; leeches and mud
- DecWet; trails difficult
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumatran orangutanAll year · About 10,000 in the wider area; semi-wild at Bukit Lawang, wild at Ketambe. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| White and black gibbonsAll year · Loud dawn calls; often heard before seen. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Thomas leaf monkeysAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Hornbills and forest birdsMar–Sep | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Sumatran elephantAll year · Rare; best chance near Tangkahan or Ketambe. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Sumatran tiger and rhinocerosAll year · Only a few hundred survive; sightings are extremely unlikely. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Medan
Bus or minivan from Pinang Baris terminal to Bukit Lawang, then a becak to the park office.
3–4 h
From Medan (private car)
Hotel-arranged air-conditioned transfer to Bukit Lawang.
3–4 h
From Kutacane
Local transport to Ketambe village, the gateway for Aceh-side treks.
1 h
From Banda Aceh
Public minibus through the mountains to Ketambe.
16 h
From Lake Toba
Tourist minivan from Parapat to Bukit Lawang.
6–8 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Bukit Lawang | Main gateway on the park's eastern edge; guesthouses, ticket office and the old rehabilitation centre area. | Open; entry ticket and guide required for the jungle. |
| Ketambe | Quiet Aceh-side village with a research station and access to genuinely wild orangutans. | Open; guided treks only. |
| Tangkahan | Northern edge with an elephant camp and few visitors. | Open; reached by rough road from Bukit Lawang. |
| Gunung Leuser summit area | The 3,381 m namesake peak and alpine terrain in the Barisan range. | Multi-day guided trek only. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Bukit Lawang) | IDR 150,000–250,000 (≈ US$10–16) | person | 2026 estimate; collected at the park ticket office (check). |
| Guided jungle trek, Bukit Lawang | IDR 900,000–1,200,000 (≈ US$55–75) | person per day | 2026 estimate; includes guide, food and camping gear on multi-day treks. |
| Guided trek, Ketambe | IDR 350,000–600,000 (≈ US$25–40) | person per day | 2026 estimate; group rates, generally cheaper than Bukit Lawang. |
| Tangkahan elephant camp entry | IDR 50,000–150,000 (≈ US$4–10) | person | 2026 estimate; elephant rides negotiable (check). |
| Tubing (inner tube rental) | IDR 10,000–30,000 (≈ US$1–2) | tube | 2026 estimate; strong currents, check conditions. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry ticket permit or guide
Guided trek permit or guide
Gunung Leuser summit trek permit or guide
Park rules
- No unaccompanied trekking
- Entering the jungle without a licensed guide is not permitted.
- Keep 10 m from orangutans
- Do not approach, call or touch them; move away if one comes close. Human contact risks passing disease to a small population.
- Never feed wildlife
- Guides who feed orangutans to force a sighting should be reported; it has made animals sick.
- Check your guide
- Ask whether the guide follows the rules, whether they will lead your group personally, and how many people will be in it.
- Pay in rupiah
- It is illegal to pay for services in Indonesia in a foreign currency, even when prices are quoted in euros.
- Fires and litter
- No fires; carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
Near the park
Bukit Lawang guesthouses
Riverside guesthouses and small hotels at the park gate; book ahead at weekends and holidays.
Near the park
Ketambe guesthouses
Simple rooms in the village; buy supplies in Kutacane.
In the park
Jungle camp
Tents or hammocks set up by your guide on multi-day treks.
Safety
Heat and humidity on treks medium
Strong river currents medium
Getting lost or injured deep in the park high
Wet-season trails medium
Accessibility
- Bukit Lawang village, the ticket office and riverside guesthouses are reachable on foot or by becak with short, mostly flat walks.
- Jungle trails are steep, muddy and root-covered; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Choose guides who keep their distance and never feed orangutans; ask before you book.
- Keep groups small and refuse to be merged into a large group.
- Carry out all rubbish and avoid single-use plastic in the park.
- Stay and eat in the gateway villages so tourism income stays local.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Gunung Leuser National Park?
Park entry at Bukit Lawang is about Rp 150,000–250,000 per person (2026 estimate; check at the ticket office). A licensed guided jungle trek costs from about Rp 900,000 per person per day in Bukit Lawang, or from about Rp 350,000 per person per day in Ketambe. You cannot enter the jungle without a guide, so the trek fee is the real cost.
What are the best hikes in Gunung Leuser National Park?
From Bukit Lawang, a one-day orangutan trek or a two-day trek with a jungle camp and river raft back. From Ketambe, two- to three-day wildlife treks that reach genuinely wild orangutans and a hot spring. The Gunung Leuser summit trek is a 10-day expert route starting near Blangkejeren or Kedah.
When is the best time to visit Gunung Leuser National Park?
April to September is the drier season, with September a good balance of dry trails and fewer crowds. October to March brings daily rain, mud and leeches. Avoid weekends and the Indonesian holiday peak from June to early July, when Bukit Lawang guesthouses fill and trekking groups get large.
Can I see orangutans without a trek?
No. The old feeding centre at Bukit Lawang is closed and the orangutans have been released. You see them only on guided treks inside the park, and sightings are never guaranteed.
Should I choose Bukit Lawang or Ketambe?
Bukit Lawang is easier to reach from Medan (3–4 hours) and has the most guesthouses and guides, but it is busier and the orangutans are semi-wild. Ketambe is quieter, cheaper and has wild orangutans, but it is a long trip from Medan or Banda Aceh.
Do I need a guide to trek in the park?
Yes. It is not permitted to go unaccompanied into the jungle. Book a licensed guide through a guesthouse or the park office, ask if they follow the no-feeding rules, and confirm the group size before you pay.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go